There are many conventional 9-to-5 jobs that the majority of people go into after high school or college, but some graduates find their way with more “outside the box” professions which the general public may not be fully aware exist.
One of these unconventional vocations is the live-in assistant for dog kennels and dog handlers. This somewhat unique position also exists in other sides of the animal industry, such as with horse ranches, catteries, exotic animal sanctuaries, and more.
Specifically, in professional dog show handling, it is not uncommon for a handler with a large string of dogs to have one or more assistants who live on the property for months or even years at a time. These live-in assistants help in the care and presentation of the dogs that also live there. These dogs may include client dogs, personal dogs, or a combination of both.
One of the current successful Shetland Sheepdog handlers and breeders in the nation, Mendy Gleason, went “whole hog” into her assistant’s position as a very young adult when she moved from Colorado to Texas to work for Guy and Thelma Mauldin.
Guy Mauldin is one of the most heralded dog breeders and handlers in the history of dog shows, commonly referred to as “The Godfather” by many breed fanciers.
“I was drawn to this position to learn more about the breed from an expert in the field,” Mendy says of her early days as an assistant. I approached Guy Mauldin during the National Specialty after seeing the quality of dogs he was exhibiting.”
Mendy had taken note of several dogs within Mauldin’s breeding program and wanted to create Shelties of her own with ties to Kismet—the kennel name of Mauldin’s dogs.
“I was intrigued by his breeding program, as well as every exhibit that he brought to that National Specialty show,” Mendy explains. “I wanted to learn more about the breed and the sport of showing dogs, and that was my carrot.”
Mendy, who does not come from a dog show family, quickly learned about, and adjusted to, a heavy workload after her move which can only be described as constantly demanding.
Many dog shows end late on a Sunday, and preparation for the next show begins on Monday with a Wednesday morning deadline for completion… just in time for the departure to the next dog show. “The daily life as a live-in assistant for me was non-stop,” Mendy shares. “Animals require around the clock attention and care.”
“The constant prep of unpacking, scrubbing, and repacking is not for the faint of heart,” cautions Mendy. “There is also the maintenance of show coats and all the remaining dogs in the kennel. Most top handlers are on the road 260-plus days a year. Most of your days are spent at events or getting to and from the next.”
Assisting a Professional Handler the way Mendy did, however, is not the only way a hard-working individual can experience life as a live-in assistant.
Sydni Adams, who currently works at the boarding kennel and doggie daycare facilities of Kenlyn Kennels in Edgerton, Wisconsin, is a live-in assistant who has actually never shown a dog in her life—at this point.
Sydni is actually in the process of getting her first puppy, a Japanese Chin, and plans to get a start in the dog show world later in the year, though she has not yet dabbled in Conformation or any dog sport. However, she had been working at the facility as an employee for some time before the opportunity to create a live/work lifetsyle presented itself out of circumstance.
“I was provided the offer as a live-in assistant after working as a kennel and daycare employee for about a year, Sydni notes. “I lived at home with my father previously, and he bought a house across state lines. I was provided the offer from the business owner to prevent me from leaving the company. I was actually completely unaware of the existence of a position of this nature until that offer had been extended.”
Outside of some increased hours, and not having to drive back and forth to work, Sydni says her day-to-day work life has mostly remained the same. In other aspects, though, it has been a bit of an adjustment.
As Sydni explains, “A large amount of availability is always expected—with good reason—as I have been provided with an amazing opportunity, especially considering how difficult it is to be able to live alone with rent prices increasing.”
The expectations for those who live on the property supersede those of the employees who live in their own residences, which is natural and typical of situations like Sydni’s.
“Calling out is for legitimate emergencies only, as well as higher expectations to perform well at the tasks I’ve been given,” Sydni shares. “I have keys to buildings, and sometimes responsibilities such as bringing a dog to the vet in an emergency outside of work hours. Life and work become integrated together and my lifestyle has changed, but I love my job and am blessed to be a part of this company with the opportunity to reside on the premises.”
Mendy and Sydni’s very different live-in assistant experiences, however, are not the only two options that exist. There are varying degrees to which one can serve as a live-in assistant that tend to differ by the individual handler or business owner.
Some people in dogs serve as temporary, or seasonal, live-in assistants. One of these is Lindsey Heins, who resides in Arizona but has currently gone away to assist a handler in Texas during the summer.
Lindsey shows and competes in dog sports with just two dogs of her own, and she spends the remainder of her time preparing and caring for a handler’s client dogs. She’s taking away a lot from the experience to learn some more of the finer details of what goes into assisting a professional—and consistently just showing up.
“Every little thing involved in showing dogs matters,” Lindsey says. “From scooping poop to holding dogs ringside. If you want to learn, do whatever you can do to help at a dog show. I found the right people to help and support me, while being able to help them achieve their goals as well. If you believe your dog has what it takes, and you want to show, go learn.
Lindsey emhasizes, “It really is a journey. It’s about the love of dogs and the determination.”
