I want to improve my coverage of subject matter and my upload schedule. I usually put this project off then would forget about it until the last minute which caused a really bad habit later on in the semester. Due to the fact that I would put this project off I never covered the subject matter of each post as well as I could have. I also wish I had included more interactive things within my posts that viewers had more to do then just read my post. 

I feel like I could have also promoted on other social media outlets other than just the one designated by the instructor.I even said multiple times within posts that dog people live on Facebook so if I had promoted on that platform I would have gotten more traction. 

I enjoyed speaking with people in the dog show world about things they enjoyed in the sport. I also enjoyed pi king this topic because at first I was not going to do something like this and it made me confront somethings I needed to deal with. 

I feel like this experience will benefit me later one because I learned more about promotion than I realized I did. I also found out that I truly enjoy managing content. Maybe not my own but definitely other people’s content. 

I will use the tools I learned with this project later on when helping my mom promote her new grooming business and with my own future jobs. 

My most popular week was February 17th through the 23rd. I got 14 views and 12 visitors that week. My most popular post was the first post introducing myself. It got 14 views. I think this was my most popular because I put the most work into making it look appealing and I asked several friends in person to look at it. I may have asked several times and been a little annoying about it. 

I think the most surprising part of the data was that one of my posts in the middle of this experience got more views than the others, besides the first post that got the most, I don’t really know why it got more views because I did the same thing for that post that I did for the others What surprised me the most with my twitter sats was that the majority of my posts for this class got less engagements than my normal posts which makes me a little sad that my friends who follow me don’t care about what I’m doing to better my future. 

We now are grooming pets to make money. My mom is a dog groomer. She once had her own shop in California in the early 90s. We built the new kennel with the idea of later on making it part of a grooming shop, but that was a much later idea. Since, like most dog handlers, we are unemployed, Mom has decided to open up shop.

When we first moved to our new house, all the neighbors came peeping around because we were doing all this construction. It is a small town, and they were just being friendly neighbors, so we told them about our job and what the building would be used for. Immediately they were asking wed groom their pets. Mom kept saying things like not now, maybe in a few months, and ill let you know. Well, two weeks before the local lockdown began, my mom groomed our neighbors’ dogs. Then after the state of Texas started opening up businesses, my mom has begun grooming more clients dogs. It is nowhere near the money we are used to, but it is something to work with.

We had to decide what her rates world be and what all she would offer. We also had to get her some new equipment because most of her grooming equipment was almost thirty years old. Its been a slow start, but lately, she will have at least two clients a week come in with their dogs.

Most of the dogs we’re seeing in for grooming are old house pets that are mutts. Because of the Texas summer heat, the owners are asking for their dogs to be shaved down. My mom hates shaving down older dogs because they have much more sensitive skin, and you have to be careful not to clipper or brush burn them.

https://wahlusa.com/pet-grooming/expert-advice/why-routine-brushing-may-be-harmful-your-dog

Although my mom didn’t want to start grooming so early, I’m glad we can do something to make some money while the dog shows have been put in a standstill.

Dog shows most definitely won’t be happening for a while. There were supposed to be shows all summer, but a lot of them keep getting canceled. Most dog handlers, including my parents, have been unemployed for almost 8 weeks now. Everyday bills haven’t stop though. Several of our friends had to let go of their assistants and cut back on major expenses. There will be a dog show in Perry, Georgia in about 6 weeks.

https://www.onofrio.com

Due to the expected large numbers of exhibitors, there already has been a limited entry put in place. Meaning that when an exhibitor goes on to Onofrio’s webpage to enter a dog at the show, there will only be so many of each dog breed allowed to enter. I recently woke to Terry James, an employee of Jack Onofrio Superintendents. He informed me that the Perry, Georgia kennel club is already getting hateful emails about how they should be ashamed that they are putting on a dog show. He as well as already gotten some very series emails about attending as well. He has to work the show because he is one of the only superintendents that can handle the amount of high stress and large workload the show is expecting.

Dog handlers need to get back to work so Terry, myself, and many others support the show and understand that there will be many new rules about how the show must now be run. Some of the new rules include, “all exhibitors and judges must wear protective face masks at all times,” “Due to social distancing rules, the grooming areas will have the designated 6 feet of space around each area,” “the use of hair dryers will be prohibited.” There will be many people who find these new rules tedious and try to break them, but if they do, they will be asked to leave the show site and not return.

The hope of a show still being on will bring many handlers to the Perry, Georgia shows, but there will be significant changes to our norm. I am sure there will be many who won’t go to the show out of fear and I’m sure the weekend will be full of drama because of the new rules.

Coronavirus has shut everything down for dog people. We won’t have dog shows until maybe August. The thought of all the bills we are now going to be struggling to pay scares me. It terrifies everyone in this business. Dog people live on Facebook, so most of them are posting weekly updates about how things aren’t going well for them.

My mom and dad helped found a charity almost 19 years ago to help people in need in the dog show world. When my uncle passed away in our home 19 years ago, my parents missed a dog show because they had to clean up all the things that happened after my uncle died in the house. They didn’t know how they were going to pay for the cleanup crew and all the vet bills of dogs getting loose and hurting/killing themselves. That weekend there was a dog show happening in Monroe, Louisiana. Five of my mom’s friends put together a raffle and fun match to help raise money for my parents. After that, my mom wanted to continue to help dog show people who couldn’t afford to get the help they needed to so they created The Southern Handler’s Charity League.

Nothing is different during this trying time; the charity is doing everything in its power to help dog show people. There are vendors making masks instead of dog beds, then selling them and donating them to local hospitals. Another vendor is making t-shirts for the charity, and selling them. Half of the proceeds is going to the charity to help handlers at this time.

To buy a mask visit: https://www.facebook.com/fmsdogbeds/

We know the coronavirus is a thing, and she’s here to ruining our plans for the near future. Well, the weekend before spring break technically started, I was going to a dog show. I had to wait for a ride, so I was in my dorm room all day Friday. I was the last of all my friends to leave San Marcos because, for a while, I didn’t know if I had a ride to the dog show or home. I woke up Friday with the plan of a handler who goes to Texas State, driving me to the show in Navasota, Texas. She texted me an hour after 8 that friday morning saying she wasn’t going anymore because of all the “coronavirus stuff” going on. 

After that phone call, I had no plan and no idea how I was going to get to my parents. 

I was pacing around all morning, calling anyone I could. Everyone at that point had no idea if the show in Navasota was happening at all. Because a big show in Louisville, Kentucky, was canceled after only two of the five days of showing was completed. 

Needless to say, everyone was stressed. Everyone was waiting to drive down to the show until the Navasota local government announced that it was okay for us to have a dog show. I finally got a ride and would be leaving San Marcos at 5 that Friday evening. 

I arrived at the show complex at 9 that night. There were several great handlers there besides my parents. One of which, who is a family friend, being Clint Livingston.

“You guys know I live in Colorado. Normally I would stay down here for the next three weeks going to shows and visit my parents, but with all of this going on I don’t think I’m going to stay. Next weekend has already been canceled, and my parents are in the age group that is a high risk, so I’m going to drive home while I can.” 

Clint Livingston

He also began talking about how if shows continued to canceled, he wouldn’t be able to keep all four assistants that he has. For a vast majority of dog handlers shows are their only source of income to the thought of shows being canceled for the next 4 months was scary. All weekend you could hear everyone talking about how another show had canceled and that no one knew where to go or what to do. 

The American Kennel Club web page had already begun posting all the show cancellations. This put more people into a panic because, as of that weekend, there were no shows through May. That would be two months without pay for many handlers. This is going to be a trying time for our sport, but we have to stick together and wash our hands. 

AKC Event Cancellations

After we were finally done on Sunday, my parents and I began the five-hour drive home stopping at any grocery store we could to get what they had left because we didn’t have all the essential cleaning supplies we use every day in the kennel. Mrs. Rona really made everyone scared and little irrational. 

If you’re a professional dog handler, your day is jam-packed. 

For every dog show, there’s a printed schedule sent out by Jack Onofrio (a superintendent company) a week before the show, so exhibiters have the information before the day of. The schedule states when, where, and who is judging the breeds. Judging begins at 8 a.m on the dot.

My day starts at 6 o’clock in the morning, though. At most shows, we (my mom, dad and I) have at least 20 dogs to take care of before we can even get them ready to show. All handers start this early due to the large number of dogs they show. 

We have a Renegade custom built motorhome so that we can transport and care for the dogs correctly. The back of our truck can hold up to 32 dogs with the custom-designed crates. So long story short here is that we can carry a large number of dogs to the shows, and we have to start bright and early to get them cared for. 

After caring for the dogs, we then have to get “dressed” ourselves. This isn’t just putting on regular clothes and calling it good. If you have seen the televised dog shows, then you’ve noticed that the handlers and judges wear suits. That isn’t just for TV; we do that every day we show. 

After you’re taking care of next comes the grooming of the 8 a.m breeds. At this point, you most likely have 30 minutes to groom all the dogs that show first.

Due to a large number of dogs entered at shows, there is always a scheduling conflict because not every breed we show can be judged at different times. So we often have to be at two places at the same time. This can cause a lot of stress. 

I am an assistant, so I don’t usually show unless it is vital. Instead, I am continually grooming the next dogs and making sure they make it to the show ring on time. I don’t just use the official printed schedule to time out my day. I handwrite a schedule with only the information I need that way, I don’t have to look through everything to find what I need. 

My parents have the hard part of keeping track of where and when they need to be somewhere. Also they make sure the dog they have to show is there too. Basically, the whole day is a constant hot mess, but somehow we always get all the dogs to the ring.

This is only a brief explanation of my day because soon I want to make a video of one day at a dog show and share it with y’all.

Most of us have pets. The vast majority of our  pets live inside with us. People who show dogs as a profession, or otherwise known as dog handlers, usually have a large number of dogs with them. They do own some of them, but mostly the dogs belong to other people. This is very common with dog handlers. That’s how they make money. Owners pay handlers to care for and show their dogs. This is not as easy as you would think. You have to have the proper equipment to care for such a large number of animals. 

A large number of dogs most handlers have in their care leads to them having what is commonly called a kennel. Kennels are where handlers can keep a large number of dogs in a safe and easily assessable place. Kennels are safer for handlers because they usually have custom-built areas where the dogs can get the exercise necessary for showing condition. A dog food company called ProPlan even has blueprints for people so they can have a fantastic kennel. 

These buildings are generally on large plots of land away from other homes, so a large number of dogs don’t bother people with their barking. 

Now don’t worry, these dogs still get the love they deserve. Just because handlers have a large number of dogs doesn’t mean they don’t get the attention they would get with their owners. Most professional handlers have what we call assistants. They are payroll employees who help care for the dogs. All kennels have housing for the full-time assistants who live in and care for the dogs. 

The most important part of a kennel is safety. The building itself must be able to handle a large number of dogs and be able to keep all the grooming, feeding, and health equipment.  Fenced in areas for the dogs to get out and exercise are also very important. My parents are currently building a kennel at our new house. We have had the explicitly made, so the dogs are as safe as possible but also able to still be dogs who have fun and get dirty. 

Some people think just because show dogs have to be pretty and clean that they live a sheltered life, but actually, they probably get out and do more than your pet. Show dogs have to be “in condition,” which means they have to be a healthy weight, their hair must be as healthy as possible, and even their teeth have to be healthy. When a client sends their dog to my parents, the dogs usually get put on a diet and exercise regiment. My parents want the dogs to be as perfect as possible so they can win.  

I really didn’t want to do a blog about dogs. Yet here I am doing what my mom said I should do all along. I really hate it when my mom is right. I guess that’s just the angsty teen in me. Hi, I’m Taylor Chaffin, I’m a Digital Media student at Texas State University. 

My parents show dogs for a living. Yes. Show dogs. I realize very few people in my audience will know what this means, so I’m dropping a link showing just part of what they do. Typically, if we met in person, I would describe it as the thing that comes on after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you are like more than half the American population, you’re still confused because you turn to the football game. Although, if you don’t turn to Fox or whatever channel that broadcasts the Rose Bowl, then you’ve seen a part of my life. 

Now that you’ve watched Best In Show at the Philadelphia National Dog Show, let me tell you that winning that show isn’t that big of an honor. It’s just another dog show that just so happens to get recorded for television. It’s not even on Thanksgiving. That show happened the week before Thanksgiving, and all the dog show people already know what happened because they thrive on posting everything on Facebook. The purpose of that show is to get pet owners interested in products and to have people see pure breed dogs. 

I quite literally grew up at dog shows. My mother’s water broke at a dog show in Ft. Worth, Texas. Ever since I’ve celebrated my birthday there. There are a group of people who were my mother’s friends that I now call my family because they have watched and cared for me my entire life. I don’t have a very close relationship with my actual family. Still, the family I’ve created at dog shows is like no other.

I hope to show you all the world that I grew up in and love. Although it is full of drama it is a part of the world I feel more should get to know. I’m hoping to speak to people who have no idea what a dog show is and also friends from dog shows.