Why Do Dog Handlers Put Treats in Their Mouths at Dog Shows?
When showing their dogs, dog owners put treats in their mouths to keep the dog’s attention focused on the owner’s face to put the dog in a good posture for the judges.
They use human food, such as chopped-up hot dogs or pieces of steak, and always pick something the dog enjoys.
If you know anything about dogs, you will know that most of them are obsessed with treats!
Dog owners use treats to train and control their dogs.
This is very important in dog shows as they want judges to see their dogs in the best possible way.
By putting dog treats in their mouths, the owners know that the dog’s full attention will be focused on the owner’s face.
This focus on the owner’s face creates what dog show handlers call “expression.”
By this, they mean that the dog’s posture, facial expression, and body language look focused, intent and impressive.
So dog owners do this because it is an effective way of getting their dog into an excellent position and posture to give them the best chance to impress the show judges.
Also, some dog owners believe that the dogs value the treats more if they come from the owner’s mouth.
To the dog, it seems like their owner (and the pack leader) is sharing their food with them.
If this is correct, the perception of added value means that the dog is even more likely to behave well and be rewarded with such a highly valued treat.
NOTE – If your dog always wants to eat, you might find this post about why dogs are always hungry useful.
It’s Also Really Handy for the Dogs Owners
Dog show handlers have a lot going on in the ring.
They have the dog to control. They need to make sure it looks great.
They have the leash in their hands. They sometimes need to hold the dog’s head and tail.
They might have a spray bottle, a cloth to wipe off the dog’s drool, and a brush to fluff up their coat.
They must also consider themselves and ensure they look good alongside the dog.
So there is a lot to do with their hands!
Keeping the treats in their mouths can free up their hands for other jobs.
Some owners even spit the treats into their dogs’ mouths to save using their hands!
This might sound crazy, but if you watch carefully, you will see some dog handlers doing exactly this and spitting treats to their dogs during the show.
How much do dog show handlers make?
Salaries for dog show handlers vary based on reputation, experience, area of expertise, education, and certifications: Median Annual Salary: $28,880 ($13.88/hour) Top 10% Annual Salary: $56,000 ($26.92/hour) Bottom 10% Annual Salary: $19,610 ($9.43/hour)
Why do dog show handlers put treats in their mouth?
With the Super Bowl (and the halftime Puppy Bowl) played out, its time for the next blockbuster sporting event of the season: the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Much like their human counterparts, these four-legged competitors have trainers and coaches with their own strategies and techniques to help their stars shine on the famous green carpet at Madison Square Garden.
More than 300,000 pups have practiced their paws off to impress the sharp-eyed judges since the first show took place in 1877. As you can imagine, a lot takes place behind the scenes of this venerable event.
So we decided to get the scoop on some inquiring-mind questions from show chairman Thomas H. Bradley, 3d; Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show cohost David Frei and handler Clint Livingston, whos made it into Best in Show five times.