Meet the Professional Handler: Claudio Da Cruz Conceição

Meet the Professional Handler: Claudio Da Cruz Conceição

1. How did your journey as a professional handler begin, and what keeps you passionate about this career today?

Claudio Da Cruz Conceição: I started very early because of my love for dogs. I started by attending Obedience classes, then I became an assistant in those classes. Shortly after that, I started handling dogs, training them for shows, and showing dogs belonging to friends. Later, this activity became my profession. It is a pleasure to be able to work with what we love. As a mentor in my career as a handler, I would like to highlight Divoney Rasera, from whom I learned a lot, not only about showing different breeds of all Groups but also about organizing and managing show kennels. What keeps me motivated and happy with my work today is the same thing that motivated me in the beginning: my love for dogs.

2. What does being a “professional” mean to you, both in the ring and beyond? How do you preserve the traditions of being a true professional (and not a self-proclaimed one) and how do you ensure the safety of the dogs in your care?

Claudio Da Cruz Conceição: Being a professional means treating your profession with all the care and competence you can offer, to provide the best experience for the owner and also for the dog, treating them with dedication and focus, observing their particularities and training them to achieve the best results, not only in conditioning for the rings but also looking after their well-being and their physical and mental health, always observing and respecting the individual limits of each dog. Within the tradition, I understand that this profession is something that requires many years of experience and people who can help you in the process of continuous learning, which is what characterizes it.

3. Can you walk us through your preparation process before stepping into the ring with a dog? From conditioning and training to mindset, what does it take to deliver a top-level performance consistently?

Claudio Da Cruz Conceição: The correct daily management of my kennel is the basis of everything. When I go to a show, it is simply so that my dog can be evaluated (as he should be) for his qualities and for my work together with him. What I do beforehand is simply a consequence of the daily work and dedication.

4. What changes have you seen in the sport over the years—for better or worse? What’s your perspective on judging trends, show formats, exhibitor behavior, mentorship, and the influence of social media?

Claudio Da Cruz Conceição: This is very difficult answer, lol, because it could cause some controversy, but I prefer to be truthful in my answer and for the trust you have shown in interviewing me: Honestly, very little has changed for the better. This is easy to see in some low entry numbers at some dog shows. Our sport is turning many people away due to “some” judgmental tendencies of some referees, some club directors, and even some exhibitors. Regarding social media, I think it is very important not only to publicize the winning dogs but also to open doors for opportunities like this interview so that we can be heard in some way.

5. How can we teach Juniors the importance of continuing to learn about different breeds, care and training, grooming and handling, and the value of keeping the essence of the sport alive?

Claudio Da Cruz Conceição: The new generation is very important for our sport, because with them we can have the hope of a change in our beloved sport, for a future in all aspects. I realize that we have some talents developing in the dog show rings. I think that in order to continue these new talents, we should teach them that the BEST IN SHOW is just a small recognition for all the work done during a long and dedication-based effort. So, talk to more experienced handlers and judges, watch videos, read about breeds, dedicate yourself to training, and be dedicated not only to winning but to having a general knowledge of your profession and sport. Learning to have good daily management in your kennel is much more important than anything else in this sport, because without good daily management you will not achieve the conquests inside the ring.

6. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the dog show community today? Where do you see growth, and where is improvement needed? Are there positive trends that give you hope for the future of the sport?

Claudio Da Cruz Conceição: We know that challenges exist in everything we do in life, so they will always exist in any situation. What I don’t see is the willpower to try to improve for “EVERYONE,” without games of interest. The only positive trend that I can see, and I pray that this really happens, is that the future, as I said in answer (5) above, is this new generation of Juniors that is appearing to try to do the best for this sport, because from this generation new ones will appear: handlers, serious breeders, club directors, people who want to contribute for the better and keep our sport alive.

7. Lastly, what would you like the fancy to know about you? Outside of dogs, what helps you stay balanced, grounded, or inspired? (Any hobbies, interests, or people in your life who help you recharge and bring your best self to the ring?)

Claudio Da Cruz Conceição: First, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to use this space; you make a difference and, in this way, you also contribute to our sport. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Well, everything we do with love and affection becomes healthy. I do everything with love for dogs. Everything I have and everything I have known in life was provided by them. I am also a black belt in judo and jiu-jitsu, and I have won some important titles (World Champion, Pan-American Champion, International Champion, among others). This is a sport that I have practiced since I was eight years old, so I am used to winning and losing. And my greatest inspiration is my family and my mother, who raised me to be an honest man, so family will always be the basis of everything.