WHY YOU SHOULD VOLUNTEER AS A "BUCKET BITCH"
The term "Bucket Bitch" is what a lot of dog show assistants are called.
Being a "Bucket Bitch" is a lot of hard work, with long days. You can never "clock out" as the dogs are an around the clock job, if a dog is sick through the night the "bucket bitch" is usually the one caring for the dog. You need to approach a handler that you respect and look up to and ask if they need any help at the dog shows (they probably do!), they are a wealth of knowledge, and if you can find a Professional Handler that specializes in your breed even better!
Usually when you first start working for a handler your responsibilities are the basic needs of the dogs and understanding the concept that the dogs always come first, cleaning crates, filling water buckets, changing beds, cleaning the truck, cleaning the set up, bringing dogs to ringside, bringing dogs back to the set up, and putting dogs out to be exercised. Once you have been working for a handler for awhile and you have mastered all of that, they will start to teach you basic grooming, washing out legs and drying them, chalking etc. as well as running dogs to ringside, exercising dogs, and making sure all the dogs have clean water and clean beds. Then as your basic grooming skills grow they will start to teach you harder things like scissoring, clipper work and so much more, they will start to give you their trade secrets and little tips and tricks to make your life easier and your dog look better. They will teach you how to hide faults and how to extenuate their good attributes. They will also start to let you feed all the dogs, teaching you about the different supplements they use, what they do and why they use them, what to do if dogs dont eat, why we don't use spoons to mix the food we use our hand. (Each dog has their own special diet with different supplements for different reasons). They will teach you so much more then just showing and grooming dogs!
They will also work with you on how to exhibit dog's in the show ring should the Handler not be able to make the ring because of a conflict. They will work with you on the best way to stack each dog, the fastest and easiest way possible to make the dog look the best without having to fight them if they are a difficult dog, they will work with you and your movement with the dogs so that you the handler are virtually invisible while moving around the ring.
If you were not fortunate enough to be a Junior Handler and have lots of people mentoring you this will help you tremendously, if you are fortunate enough to have been introduced to this sport at a young age your mentor should be continuing to work with you on all the different patterns used in the show ring (triangle, reverse triangle, "T", "L", etc) they should also work with you on your breed standards on whatever breed your showing (In Canada, Junior Handlers can borrow any dog for Junior Handling, in the U.S.A you need to own the dog in order to show it in Juniors). Some of these handlers have been showing dogs for over 30 years , they are not only a wealth of knowledge on your breed but probably tons of others. Learning about other breeds can help you more then you think.
Being a "Bucket Bitch" in the show world can also help you when you show your own dogs, your mentor has worked with you on your grooming techniques, your handling techniques and so much more. If you are physically able to do so we really encourage people (if they want to compete in conformation) to find a mentor close to them that they highly respect and look up to and ask them for help, either by you going and working for them, or by you asking if they can help you when they have a minute, or by asking them to help you before or after the show starts. Most handlers encourage new people in the sport and are willing to help! If you need help finding a good handler in your area please feel free to reach out to us!
Being a "Bucket Bitch" is a lot of hard work, with long days. You can never "clock out" as the dogs are an around the clock job, if a dog is sick through the night the "bucket bitch" is usually the one caring for the dog. You need to approach a handler that you respect and look up to and ask if they need any help at the dog shows (they probably do!), they are a wealth of knowledge, and if you can find a Professional Handler that specializes in your breed even better!
Usually when you first start working for a handler your responsibilities are the basic needs of the dogs and understanding the concept that the dogs always come first, cleaning crates, filling water buckets, changing beds, cleaning the truck, cleaning the set up, bringing dogs to ringside, bringing dogs back to the set up, and putting dogs out to be exercised. Once you have been working for a handler for awhile and you have mastered all of that, they will start to teach you basic grooming, washing out legs and drying them, chalking etc. as well as running dogs to ringside, exercising dogs, and making sure all the dogs have clean water and clean beds. Then as your basic grooming skills grow they will start to teach you harder things like scissoring, clipper work and so much more, they will start to give you their trade secrets and little tips and tricks to make your life easier and your dog look better. They will teach you how to hide faults and how to extenuate their good attributes. They will also start to let you feed all the dogs, teaching you about the different supplements they use, what they do and why they use them, what to do if dogs dont eat, why we don't use spoons to mix the food we use our hand. (Each dog has their own special diet with different supplements for different reasons). They will teach you so much more then just showing and grooming dogs!
They will also work with you on how to exhibit dog's in the show ring should the Handler not be able to make the ring because of a conflict. They will work with you on the best way to stack each dog, the fastest and easiest way possible to make the dog look the best without having to fight them if they are a difficult dog, they will work with you and your movement with the dogs so that you the handler are virtually invisible while moving around the ring.
If you were not fortunate enough to be a Junior Handler and have lots of people mentoring you this will help you tremendously, if you are fortunate enough to have been introduced to this sport at a young age your mentor should be continuing to work with you on all the different patterns used in the show ring (triangle, reverse triangle, "T", "L", etc) they should also work with you on your breed standards on whatever breed your showing (In Canada, Junior Handlers can borrow any dog for Junior Handling, in the U.S.A you need to own the dog in order to show it in Juniors). Some of these handlers have been showing dogs for over 30 years , they are not only a wealth of knowledge on your breed but probably tons of others. Learning about other breeds can help you more then you think.
Being a "Bucket Bitch" in the show world can also help you when you show your own dogs, your mentor has worked with you on your grooming techniques, your handling techniques and so much more. If you are physically able to do so we really encourage people (if they want to compete in conformation) to find a mentor close to them that they highly respect and look up to and ask them for help, either by you going and working for them, or by you asking if they can help you when they have a minute, or by asking them to help you before or after the show starts. Most handlers encourage new people in the sport and are willing to help! If you need help finding a good handler in your area please feel free to reach out to us!
