Friday, July 25th, 2025.
9am - 5pm with 4 hands-on, instructional sessions and a handling skills competition.
Spruce Meadows - Calgary, Alberta. Our seminar will be held in conjunction with Mastergroom Canada!
Dog show enthusiasts of all levels are invited to participate!
Hosted by Allison Alexander of Leading Edge Dog Show Academy. Allison won more than 750 Best in Shows and made up thousands of Champions in her successful career as a Professional Handler, starting in 1987.
This is the seminar for you!
Spend a day with Allison Alexander for expert handling demonstrations, the opportunity for real-time, hands-on feedback while you work with your show dog, and instruction tailored uniquely to your needs.
At the end of the seminar, you will have the opportunity to put your skills to the test in our handling skills competition. PLUS receive a take-home video critique from Allison!
This is an Advanced Handling Seminar
This seminar is open to all: whether you are new to dog shows or have spent years in the game!
However, in this seminar we will focus on advanced handling skills - that is, how to make you your very best. While we do ask that you know the basics (and, we'll help you learn before the seminar), no matter where you are in your handling skills this seminar will allow you to improve and move on to a more advanced level!
For beginners: When you purchase your seminar ticket, you will receive access to our online portal. There you will find FREE beginner-level handling resources to help you get started. We will also recommend further learning. If you have questions, please email us!
[$249]
Spend the day working with your dog and Allison. You will watch all demonstrations and then work with your own dog for hands-on feedback from Allison. This is the ticket you need if you are bringing your dog and wish to learn hands-on, as well as participate in the handling skills competition.
[$50 Add-On to Working Ticket]
In addition to your Working Ticket, Leading Edge Dog Show Academy will professionally film you and your dog in the handling skills competition. Allison will then critique your presentation skills and create a personalized video that will be sent to you after the seminar - yours to keep and refer back to for life!
[$174]
Attend the full seminar with 'ringside' access to observe all 4 sessions and the handling skills competition. This is the ticket you need if you are not bringing your dog and wish to watch and learn.
[9:00am - 11:00am]: "Ice-Breaker" Ring Procedure & The Difference Between 'Training', 'Handling', and (Ideally) 'Showing'.
Allison will act as the judge as all students complete a ring procedure with their dog. Allison will provide you with a "score" to kick things off - Are you SHOWING your dog? Are you only HANDLING them? Or are you still stuck TRAINING your dog? Allison will discuss and demonstrate the critical difference between training, handling, and showing.
[11:15am - 1:00pm]: Achieve the Fast Stack with Speed, Consistency and Confidence.
In order to truly showcase your dog, you need to be able to stack them QUICKLY - what we call "The Fast Stack". To achieve this, you must stack not only quickly, but with consistency and confidence. Allison will demonstrate the fast stack, and then it's your turn! Each student will stack their dog, while timed, and receive feedback from Allison on how to stack quickly and confidently every time. We will also work with each dog-handler pair to determine how to improve the overall silhouette of their stack.
Lunch [1:00pm - 2:00pm]
Plus shop at the Mastergroom Canada trade show!
[2:00pm - 3:15pm] The "Spotlight Gaiting Method" To Gait Your Dog With Consistency
When gaiting your dog, you need to make sure that the judge sees their absolute best movement, at the right moment. Allison will take you through the "spotlight gaiting method" to learn how to recognize the key moment when gaiting your dog, and how to make sure your dog looks perfect, when it matters. Allison will demonstrate the method and each attendee will practice until it's perfected. We will also work with each dog-handler pair to determine how their dog moves their best.
[3:15pm - 3:45pm] Your Takeaway: How to Draw Attention To Your Dog In A Positive Way
The final takeaway we want you to gain from our seminar is how to draw attention to yourself and your dog in a positive way in the ring. This can be a differentiator to your success - whether it be a showstopping free bait, your dog showing their personality, the way you gait your dog, or something else - Allison will work with each handler to determine what they can do to STAND OUT in the show ring!
[4:00pm - 5:00pm] Handling Skills Competition: Put Your Skills To The Test, with Guest Judge
Now it's time to put your handling skills to work! All students will compete in a handling skills competition by completing a 'mock dog show', judged based on their handling skills and specifically how well you showcase your dog. Prizes will be awarded for Best Overall and Most Improved!
At the end of our seminar, we will host a handling skills competition! In this competition, you will complete a "mock dog show" and receive placements based on how well you showcase your dog.
A guest judge will join us for the handling skills competitions.
All working ticket attendees will receive feedback from Allison on your handling skills. Prizes will be awarded for Most Improved, Best Overall, and more!
Interested in our Personalized Video Critique? We will film you in the handling skills competition!
Believing that you should always do what you love, Allison Alexander became a professional handler in 1987 and presented Canada's top dogs for over 30 years. Allison has bred, owned, groomed and handled many breeds across all seven groups and has finished more than 2000 champions!
With more than 750 All-Breed Best in Shows, she is proud to have been highly awarded at such prestigious shows as Crufts, the World Dog Show, Westminster Kennel Club, and the AKC Invitational.
In 2017, Allison launched Leading Edge Dog Show Academy, the world's first online dog show training school. Her mission is to help mentor a new generation of dog show enthusiasts through innovative video-based grooming and handling lessons. She looks forward to working with enthusiastic students as they perfect their skills on the way to the winner's circle.
Presented by Lynn Professional in collaboration with Groomania
We're thrilled to host our Handling Seminar in conjunction with Mastergroom Canada, making its grand return in 2025.
Mastergroom will be held at Spruce Meadows from July 25th - 27th. We encourage you to check out all of their great events, vendors, grooming seminars and grooming contests! Click here to learn more about Mastergroom Canada.
"Can I bring more than one dog?"
Working Ticket students can participate in the handling seminar with only one dog. If you wish to bring more than one dog to the seminar, you will only be able to participate with one dog per session. However, we strongly recommend only working with one dog to get the most benefit from this seminar.
Email us at [email protected] or use the yellow 'Contact Us' widget at the bottom right of your screen.