Summary: Owner Handler Secrets to Success: Make a Plan and Be Consistent<br> Remy Smith-Lewis, breeder, owner, handler of Portugese Water Dogs, shares the secrets that took him to the top, winning his National Specialty as an owner handler.<br> <br> Remy Smith-Lewis, winning best junior handler.<br> <br> Smith-Lewis said he did not come from a "dog" family. He was awestruck by his breed when the San Francisco Giants began using the dogs to retrieve balls that were hit over the fence.<br> <br> He started as a junior handler, worked for professional handlers Sally George and Bill and Taffe McFadden. He showed his first big winner to multiple Best in Show awards and a national specialty win before turning over the dog's career to the McFadden team to manage.<br> <br> "I was at a place in my career that I really needed to decide what to do and focus on it," said Smith-Lewis, who began his career at Google and now works for a new tech start up in the Bay Area.<br> <br> Remy Smith-Lewis handling his Portugese Water Dog to Best in Show at Del Monte Kennel Club under judge Pluis Davern.<br> <br> His recommendations to owner handlers working a full time job is, "You CAN do it!" But his secrets are: dedication, making sacrifices, having a plan, keeping on a schedule and staying consistent.<br> Condition, Condition, Condition<br> Whether it is road work, coat work or trimming, competitive dogs MUST be in condition, Smith-Lewis noted. If that means skipping company happy hour in order to spend the extra time brushing, bathing, biking or trimming your dog, that's what needs to happen.<br> "Complaining about handlers always winning is the easy way out," Smith-Lewis said.<br> Owner handlers need to remember that dogs need routines, Smith-Lewis noted. The dog can’t always be on the couch. And the owner needs to find a mentor and *listen* to the mentor.<br> <br> Smith-Lewis laughingly recalls a favorite admonition from one of his early mentors, Bill McFadden, "God gave you two ears and one mouth, use them wisely."<br> <br> "We need to break away on our own at some point," Smith-Lewis said. "But a mentor's job is to guide you back onto a good path when you get too far out of line."<br> <br> One final suggestion? "Join an all-breed club and work and learn," Smith-Lewis said.<br> <br> Want to hear more from Owner Handlers? Check out these past episodes:<br> <br> <a href="https://puredogtalk.com/57-best-in-show-how-an-owner-handler-competes-with-the-pros-tricia-stanczyk-2/">57 &#8211; Best in Show: How an Owner-Handler Competes with the Pros &#8211; Tricia Stanczyk</a><br> <br> <a href="https://puredogtalk.com/25-patricia-trotter-legendary-breeder-author-and-akc-judge-vin-melcas-norwegian-elkhounds-2/">25 &#8211; Patricia Trotter: Legendary Breeder, Author, and AKC Judge &#8211; Vin-Melca&#8217;s Norwegian Elkhounds</a><br> <br> <a href="https://puredogtalk.com/103-ed-thomason-tips-for-the-owner-handler-from-a-breeder-owner-handler-turned-professional-dog-handler-2/">103 &#8211; Ed Thomason Tips for the Owner Handler &#8211; From a Breeder Owner Handler Turned Professional Dog Handler</a><br> <br>
