Travel is a given when you're in the fancy. If conformation is your discipline of choice, one of the most important journeys you can take each year is to your breed's national specialty. Don't quibble about the cost; your national represents an unparalleled educational opportunity and one worth getting to, whether it's with a Greyhound or on a Greyhound.
If you're new to the game, limit yourself to one dog that's easy to travel with, or better yet, go without a dog, so you can totally focus on the entry and the people in your breed you'd like to get to know. Volunteer to work on a committee - great specialties don't happen by themselves - and attend seminars when they are offered. In my experience, novices tend to fixate on their own dogs, spending time up in their rooms grooming when they should be at ringside, soaking up the proceedings, introducing themselves to important breeders they might only get to meet once a year at a national, asking relevant questions, and taking every advantage of this learning opportunity.
Once you've been in dogs for a few years, you'll be better able to juggle your time, getting your dog ready for his class without overlooking the all-important puppy classes (what are your peers producing?), Bred-by (fanciers make such a strong statement by supporting this class and showing fanciers what they have been proud to produce and take into the ring), the Specials, the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch entries (parents and offspring), and the sentimental Parades of Veterans and Title-holders (where your pedigrees, quite literally, come to life).
Check out Alice Bixler's thorough feature "What's So Special About a Specialty?" (page 40) for more nuts-and-bolts advice on making the most of your next national experience.
For junior handlers, the ultimate dream might be to work for a professional and attend the occasional out-of-state show weekend or extended circuit. But forget spring break; boot camp may be a more fitting analogy. A professional handler's first concern is for the dogs in his care. While responsible for the juniors as well, this shouldn't be a babysitting function. And how do you balance schoolwork and chores at home with show travel?
Writer Robyn Christensen talked to juniors, professional handlers who are parents themselves, and drew on her own experience to make "A Junior's Perspective: Working for a Professional Dog Handler" (page 36) a useful guide to young exhibitors and their families alike.
If field dogs are your passion, no one needs to remind you of the time spent driving to indulge your love. Planning is key to make every aspect of the trip a success. No one sets out expecting a calamity to befall them but Mother Nature, road crews, and mechanical failures have foiled many a well-organized road adventure. James Spencer has probably lived through every outdoor bungle you can name. Consult his "Hitting the Road with Your Field Dog" (page 30) to make your next trip a less harried one.
Drive safely, arrive alive, and enjoy the company of your dogs and your peers to the fullest.
