Handler Packets

[jdarling]

At the Western States Regional this year, they had a great program printed up that you could buy for $1. It gave a photo of each of the handlers and/or their dogs, the breeding on their dog, and a little bio about them. There was also basic herding information, etc. So the program was aimed more towards the spectator.

 

I recently copied and printed out miniature running orders and laminated them for the handlers for the Sun Valley trial. In the event it rains, you don't need to worry about your running order getting wet. The few that I did last weekend were a big hit at the Regionals, so I made enough of them for all the handlers this weekend.

 

As a handler, have you been to many trials where they hand out a "handler's packet" of sorts? If so, what was in it? What did you find useful? And what did you get that you felt you could have done without or thought would have been more useful had it been done differently?

 

Thanks.

Jodi

[Smokjbc]

At the Western States Regional this year, they had a great program printed up that you could buy for $1. It gave a photo of each of the handlers and/or their dogs, the breeding on their dog, and a little bio about them. There was also basic herding information, etc. So the program was aimed more towards the spectator.

 

I recently copied and printed out miniature running orders and laminated them for the handlers for the Sun Valley trial. In the event it rains, you don't need to worry about your running order getting wet. The few that I did last weekend were a big hit at the Regionals, so I made enough of them for all the handlers this weekend.

 

As a handler, have you been to many trials where they hand out a "handler's packet" of sorts? If so, what was in it? What did you find useful? And what did you get that you felt you could have done without or thought would have been more useful had it been done differently?

 

Thanks.

Jodi

 

The main thing I look for is the updated running order- I think the laminated idea is great! Also, details on the handler's dinner . To me, the most important thing a trial can provide after good location,judge and sheep is COFFEE .

 

Some trials do a goodie bag with treats for dog and handler (i.e power bar, milk bones) which is nice. I also like to know about the hosts, the ranch, etc so a nice profile about who is hosting the trial and the history of it is appreciated but neither of those things being absent would affect my opinion of the trial.

[Wendy V]

One year, a clever trial host snuck some condoms into a few bags...

[hsnrs]

Is this for a BC trial? We were in a trial last weekend but no goodies; only our started sheep title completed (AKC). N

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

The bios and pedigrees make sense for something like the Western Regionals. I'd love to see that at all trials of that sort and I'd love to be able to purchase them off the internet, too, from remote trials! It would be awesome to have a reference for dogs I have very little chance to see.

 

We often do teeny laminated running orders, hole punched, so you can hang it around your neck on a bit of yarn, for flyball tourneys. Don't wince - it's something I really appreciate as someone who is a chronic running order loser - and one that people who run several dogs at a trial would really appreciate, I bet. Or those who are working the trial.

 

I'd also love address information and background on the trial director, host, and judge(s) - I like to send thank you notes when I have this information (to the director and host, not the judge, that's kind of brown-nosey IME ).

[stockdogranch]

The mini laminated run orders were GREAT! I could keep it in my jacket upper pocket, even in the SNOW, and therefore kept track of how much longer I would have to be in the cold weather (I guess I've been in SoCal too long!) And I'm with Jamie--give me the details of when and where the FOOD is at the end of the day!!

 

A

[Carson Crazies]

One year, a clever trial host snuck some condoms into a few bags...

 

Were they lambskin?

 

And, in an attempt to be actually on topic here... what about a packet or two of those hand warmers - y'all know which ones I mean? If it's cold. If it's hot, maybe a singles pack of baby wipes? I mean, if you're talking a goodie bag kind of thing... and I'm all about some goodie bags.

[Shoofly]

Were they lambskin?

 

You're baaaaaahhhd. what was really funny was to make note of who got one or two condoms, and who got a bunch of them - the packets were personalized.

 

Handler packets --Amanda does a great job of these at the Kingston trial and they're chock full of freebie stuff. Ink pens are good, note pads, hats. She has lapel pins made up with the image used for that year's t-shirts, that's pretty cool. The Bluegrass folks do a nice job too, and the Finals people. Samples of dog foods, Frontline, that sort of thing, those are nice. I love a good program with sire/dam info.

[airbear]

I made little sheep cut-outs out of sculpey, wrote the name of the trial on them, and affixed a magnet to the back. Wasn't sure if anyone would actually want a little homemade fridge magnet, but when I go to other handlers' houses, more often than not, there's the little sheepy cluttering up decorating the fridge!

 

Ironically, I have a complete ban on fridge magnets and other tchotkes in my place, but other people seem to appreciate them.