I recently spent an enjoyable few hours judging seven big Groups of 4 to 6 Month Beginner Puppies at a local show. Not surprisingly, the puppies were confident and took the experience in stride. In contrast, many of their owner-handlers were nervous first-timers, holding the show lead in two hands and not knowing where to keep their bait. This was a relaxed, rather informal show, so I appreciated having the opportunity to pass along tips to the exhibitors to reduce their anxiety and help them enjoy their time in the ring. After the judging, while photos were being taken, several of the exhibitors explained that they had heard about the show through the grapevine or on Facebook, and curiosity prompted them to enter. Not many had been coached by their breeders. They had more fun than they thought they would, held their rosettes proudly, and stayed to watch more of the show. The steward and I were gratified to hear that we had answered many of their questions, explained the judging process, and made the experience less intimidating.
Now, what if clubs and breeders all over the country treated the 4 to 6 Month Beginner Puppy competition as a teachable moment?
With all of us in the fancy bemoaning the lack of new blood being injected into the sport, surely the influx of new owners with purebred puppies represents a win-win situation if we seize the opportunity to engage and recruit.
Decades ago, AT&T coined a now familiar slogan, “Reach out and touch someone.” That message still resonates today, although we have many more electronic means by which to do so than we had then.
Beyond answering new owners’ feeding and grooming questions on an as-needed basis, breeders can be proactive by reaching out to owners about participating in Conformation and Performance events, or simply joining the local kennel club. If you’re close enough, arrange a puppy party where owners can meet one another and have the chance to evaluate the littermates. Stage a mock dog show in your backyard or a park, set up some Agility equipment, team up with a Lure Coursing group… we do so much with our own dogs that new owners may never have experienced firsthand. With such an array of Performance activities available today, an enthusiastic novice with a well-socialized puppy that doesn’t quite make the grade for Conformation showing can have a blast in some other venue.
Clubs can do a lot at the grassroots level to encourage new owners who may be lacking a local breed mentor. Host an open house that you can publicize in a Facebook neighborhood group for new dog owners, and let your members mingle among the attendees. Of course, bring along membership application forms and flyers for your next event. Give a handling class and bring along some ribbons and toys for all the participants. These get-togethers are so much more relaxing than trying to engage new people at an actual show where members are tied up stewarding, exhibiting, or in some other volunteer capacity.
Back in the day, we had matches where novices could enter and learn the ropes. Those have become a rarity, but we do have the 4 to 6 Month Beginner Puppy competition. While they require pre-entering and are presided over by an AKC judge, thus a little more formal than a match, they are still a great learning opportunity for young puppies and novice exhibitors. Judges are kind and we all have a few laughs as everyone goes through their paces.
Over and above these suggestions for bringing new exhibitors into the fold, we should all see ourselves as ambassadors to the fancy. That means taking a personal interest in a neighbor that we know has purchased a new purebred dog, or introducing ourselves by phone or email to a nearby new owner who just acquired a puppy from a non-local breeder friend.
The effort we make will be repaid ten-fold in entries, new club members, and volunteers to sustain the sport we all love.
