Interview with a Professional Handler – Angela Chase

Interview with a Professional Handler, Angela Chase

Where do I live? How long have I been in dogs?

Angela Chase: I live in Dawsonville, Georgia, which is a suburb of Atlanta. I have been in dogs 17 years.

When did I decide to become a Professional Handler?

Angela Chase: I decided when I was in high school. All I could think about was dogs and working with the dogs.

Who did I apprentice under and for how many years?

Angela Chase: I apprenticed under Ernesto Lara for four years, off and on, when school allowed, and CJ Favre for almost eight years after high school. I ended up taking over CJ’s clients when he retired when COVID hit. Some other people who heavily influenced me are Elaine Paquette and Rhanda Glenn.

How many shows do I typically attend each year?

Angela Chase: I usually attend shows on 2-3 weekends a month.

How many dogs do I generally show on a given weekend?

Angela Chase: I generally show around 5-10 dogs per day.

How do I decide which all-breed shows to attend? What about specialties?

Angela Chase: There are lots of factors: judging panel, location, and whether there is going to be an entry to obtain the goals of my clients. I try to attend each national for my clients, and the major specialties.

Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Do I have a kennel?

Angela Chase: My facility is currently heavily under construction, as I’m renovating an older kennel. It sits on 10-1/2 acres with a house. Currently, it’s a nine-run kennel with indoor/outdoor runs that, when the weather is nice, the dogs have complete access to. There is also a grooming and bathing area as well as a large paddock. It’s heated and air-conditioned for the comfort of the dogs.

My big goal is to build a new kennel and training facility on the property, and to make it a doggy ranch where the dogs don’t want to go home.

What’s it really like to be “on the road” with a group of show dogs?

Angela Chase: It’s a lot of work and long hours, and constantly thinking on your feet. But I enjoy seeing the dogs come out of their shell and blossom.

Am I going to Orlando? If so, what are my goals for my current string of dogs?

Angela Chase: Yes, I am. We started a bunch of young Specials this year, so we are mainly going so that breeders can see my clients’ breeding programs and what we have to offer the fancy.

Just for laughs, do I have a funny story that I can share about my experiences as a Professional Handler?

Angela Chase: I had always enjoyed helping Elaine Paquette with her Bouviers, but they had a bad knack for being completely attached to her and not really wanting to show for anyone else whenever she was in the ring. During COVID, Elaine sent me her Special, “Leia,” to show because she couldn’t cross the border into the States. Elaine met me in Dallas to show her to get ready for the National, and Leia was completely attached to me and didn’t give one care that Elaine was there. The tables had turned.