A visit with ALFONSO ESCOBEDO
Photo © Derek Glas
What is your biggest challenge With shoWing toy dogs, but specifically affenpinschers? Speaking specifically of Toy dogs, especially Affens, they are very social but independent at the same time, they want to be with their people at all times, but a newcomer has to earn their love and trust. I find they are typically very sen- sitive physically and emotionally. They do not withstand extremes of temperature or environmental changes well. It is a full time job to make sure they get the care, attention and affection they need to thrive in show ring. What is the most difficult part of your job? If you mean psychically, our utmost priority is keeping the dogs happy and healthy; we spend most of every day doing just that. If you give the dogs trust and love, they will give you everything they can in return. The hardest part about this job emotionally is when the dogs retire from the show ring. We get so attached to all the dogs, we treat each dog in our care as if it were our own. I strongly believe that is how you create a team inside and outside of the ring. When the time comes for them to retire from showing, it is always a tough transition for us, but we know they will go home to be spoiled and loved and that makes it easier for us to accept. We are so lucky to have such great clients and that allow us to share a little part of their dog’s life with them. in terms of entries, do you find parts of the country to have more dogs in competition (affens again)? Absolutely, in my area, we have very few Affens, it is rare to ever see more than two entered at any show. I think it just depends on where the breeders are located and what they currently have to show. There seem to be more Affens being shown on the West and East coasts. Who Was your mentor in dogs? What handlers have you been associated With that helped you develop your handling career? at What age did you become involved With exhibiting and handling? My main mentors in dogs were Jorge and Susie Olivera. I apprenticed under them for nine years. They taught me
so much not only about animal husbandry, grooming and pre- sentation of all breeds but also how to interact professionally with clients, judges and peers. I also had the pleasure of hav- ing a couple years spent with Scott Sommer, fine tuning my scissor work. I first started to go to shows in Mexico at 14 years of age, as you can imagine the shows are a lot different there than they are here. I moved to Arizona when I was seventeen and went to a couple of local shows where I ended up meeting Jorge, and the rest is history. At Jorge’s is also where my love affair with Affens began. I was able to be surrounded with so many beautiful exam- ples of the breed, and really gain a passion for the particular grooming and care they require. at What age do you choose a puppy or advise your clients to make a choice (as it applies to toy dogs)? I find that Toy dogs, especially Affens are very slow to mature. One can assess overall head type and also make and shape them at a young age. I really like to hold on to an excit- ing prospect until I can see what their actual structure and balance is going to be, plus how they are going to carry them- selves and what their temperament will be like. This is usu- ally after 12 months old. do you exhibit out of the us or mainly in this country? for example crufts or the World shoW, etc. I haven’t had the pleasure to travel out of the United States for shows, although it is definitely something that I would love to do—certainly going to Crufts or the World Show to exhibit, or even just to spectate. We have two different dog show vehicles. We have a Sprinter van for long trips, and a box truck for local or bigger shows. Both are insulated, Climate controlled and outfitted with all the features available to keep the dogs comfortable and happy at all times. hoW many dogs do you travel With? We typically travel with around fifteen dogs of all breeds on a normal weekend. We will typically have more at the bigger circuits. What do you travel in? car, van, motor home?
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