Published by Elise Paffrath
Reviewed by Brenda Tenten

If you are interested in dog sports in general, Dog & Handler is a new magazine containing features on handlers and dogs involved in various sports including Flyball, Herding, Heelwork to Music, Obedience, Service Dogs in Sport and Canine Disc competitions as well as our own beloved Agility. Its mission is to highlight the special relationship that exists between dog and handlers who train and perform in various sport activities.

Description: A new American bi-monthly magazine ‘covering sports for all dogs’

.Regular features include:-

• Speak! Letters from Readers
• Reflections from The Editor
• Agility
• Obedience
• Herding
• Disc Dogs
• Flyball
• Heelwork to Music
• Service Dogs in Sport
• Calendar of American Events
• Web resources
• Classified adverts

Best features: The magazine covers a diversity of ‘sports’, from the usual agility and flyball to herding, ‘disc dogs’, freestyle (heelwork to music), and ‘agility on wheels’. Because it is geared to the American market, a  knowledge of American rules and terms is an advantage.

The competitive side of most of the ‘sports’ is emphasised. In addition to sport,’ there were interesting articles about rescue and setting up your own club.

As in our own agility publications, a calendar of events is included, and adverts for some really interesting sounding camps and training classes.

Worst features: Akin to UK Agility publications, there is a tendency to over-report  results, i.e. a resume of the competition including the results, then a list of the results, and perhaps also a commentary on the results.

Those directly involved in the competitions reported would find this more interesting than others. 

As this is the first edition, the articles were a bit limited, appearing to rely on contributions from a close circle of friends rather than independent articles, and therefore also tending to explain the ‘sports’ and organisations a little too much.  I think this will improve as the magazine becomes more interactive with the readership.

Overall rating: An excellent first edition for competitive American dog owners in a wide range of canine activities. It was good to read about other sports rather than just the narrow field of one’s own choice.

Price: USA - $28 for a year’s subscription of six editions. Canada - $34 per year (US funds); Rest of the World - $44 per year (US funds)

Value for Money: Comparable to UK Agility magazines, but covering a wider range of activities. It is more specialised than commercial dog magazines for pet owners. 8/10

Design & Format: Format is A4 size, black and white throughout including reprographics. It is printed on a non-glossy but good quality paper and has few printing errors. Overall there is a high quality of writing and pictures.

Comments: It will be interesting to look at the same magazine in about a years time to see how it has developed. At present it has a rather tentative, ‘toe-in-the-water’ feel about it, but it has the breadth of outlook that could make it a real success. The diversity of its interests might make it seem a little superficial eventually, unless it increases in size or, more likely, in frequency.

The Reviewer
Brenda Tenten has been doing agility for approximately 14 years. She lives in Huddersfield with her Border Collies and two lurchers (one of each sex). A member of Newton Heath DTC and instructor, she also judges.

By day, Brenda is a Deputy Headmistress.

The Editor & Publisher
Elise Paffrath attended her first agility class with her then five year old mixed breed rescue dog, Breeze, in January of 1993. Irreversibly hooked, she soon-after joined the nearest agility club (CATS of Keene, NH) and has since served on many committees, as an instructor and as co-editor of the club's monthly newsletter.

Breeze has since earned her USDAA (United States Dog Agility Association) MAD (Master Agility Dog) title, is one leg away from her USDAA ADCH (Agility Dog Champion) title, and has qualified several times for both the USDAA and NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council) Nationals. Breeze bested the scores of 225 dogs from around the country to win the Time Gamble class at the 1998 USDAA National Championships and last year, at age 11 1/2, finished in Sixth place in the Veterans Grand Prix.

Elise's younger dog, four year old Scout (also a shelter rescue mixed breed) took time off from trick training last year to earn her USDAA MAD title and has also qualified and competed in the USDAA and NADAC National Championships.

In addition to teaching weekly, year-round classes and the occasional seminar in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, Elise is a USDAA judge, serves as Associate Editor for the USDAA's quarterly newsletter, the Dog Agility Report [TM], was a Scriptwriter and Assistant Producer for USDAA Film's production of the 1997 Grand Prix video and also contributes articles regularly to Clean Run, the sport's premiere American training magazine.

One observation from Elise Paffrath: While the reviewer is certainly free to express her impressions such as 'articles were a bit limited, appearing to rely on contributions from a close circle of friends rather than independent articles,' it is interesting to note that in reality of the dozen or so contributors to that issue of Dog & Handler, six of them I would not know if I bumped into them on the street! Of the authors, there are only two that I would call friends, and perhaps two that I'd describe as acquaintances. Just thought I'd mention that!

From Deb Locke... What I was most impressed about is that every dog sport was included - agility, obedience, flyball, herding, freestyle, frisbee, you name it! And rescue, bless the editor's heart. Its layout and 'personality' reminded me of the early Clean Runs. Its got that honest New England look!

You can never have too many agility magazines!

From Angelica Steinker... I just got my first issue of this magazine. It definitely surpassed my expectations. I really enjoyed reading about all the dog sports even though agility is my main thing. I think this will be a fun magazine. I can only agree with Lori, Elise has a good thing going here.

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