Measuring Progress: Opportunities Abound for Breed Mentoring

Measuring Progress: Opportunities Abound for Breed Mentoring

Many years ago, I found myself sitting ringside next to Ric Chashoudian at an all-breed dog show. The ring in question was filled with terriers doing what terriers do, and the retired handler of such legendary show dogs as Kerry Blue Ch. Melbee’s Chances Are, Lakeland Ch. Jo Ni’s Red Baron Of Crofton, and Smooth Fox Ch. Ttarb The Bratt was transfixed on the sparring that was taking place just a few yards away. My focus, on the other hand, was on the handler to my left. I was completely star struck and sat motionless in my chair, wondering if I’d be interrupting him if I asked, “See anything you like?” (I wouldn’t have asked that, really.) Actually, I couldn’t think of anything to say to the man who by that time was judging dogs instead of handling them. I just knew who he was and would have liked to have shared a conversation with him—however brief—about dogs and dog shows. Today, all these years later, I still wish I’d said something. Who knows what we might have talked about while sitting around that ring?

Ringside can be the perfect spot for spending time with friends at a dog show, but it’s also a great place for impromptu mentoring sessions. Around just about any show ring, meaningful conversations can happen wherever two or more people gather to “talk dogs.” Introductions can lead to enlightened interactions, and those exchanges can result in a better understanding of a specific breed or a heightened awareness of what’s actually going on between dog and handler, handler and judge, judge and steward, steward and exhibitors, exhibitors and spectators, and spectators and the sport of purebred dogs. Those interactions can even convert a defender of doodles into a purebred empresario with the zeal of the newly converted.

At one show recently, I stopped to watch the judging of a rare breed that is not often seen—in or outside the show ring. This breed possesses both beauty and utility, with a coat that can be found in quite a few colors and color combinations, despite the fact that the solid-colored brown dogs are primarily exhibited. At this particular event, however, coats of many recognized colors were on parade. The display of dogs in the ring for Best of Breed was so arresting that I had to stop and stare—and contemplate how the various colors and markings fooled the eye into thinking each dog was an entirely different breed. And as I was studying the dogs, I heard a voice say, “You look like a guy who’s interested in brown dogs.” Well, I am, but how did the lady know that my own breed comes only in this single color? Maybe we’d met somewhere previously, though I didn’t recognize her. Or perhaps she knew me and knew “my” breed; however, it turned out this wasn’t the case either. She simply saw me watching intently and wanted to mentor me on “her” breed. She even gave me a zip drive which I took home only to discover it contained an Illustrated Standard, several breed-specific articles, and a study guide comparing the Breed Standard with that of several similar breeds. By stopping to watch the judging of a rare breed, I not only met a parent club-approved breed mentor, I was generously provided with “take home” material to add to my personal library. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

My new mentor’s generosity got me thinking of ways in which all of us can be better prepared to promote our breeds and the sport of dogs to the people we encounter around the show ring and throughout our daily lives. Although a zip drive can be useful in this regard, it has its limitations and needs to be on-hand should a spontaneous promotional moment present itself. In fact, portable data storage devices like zip drives, memory cards, CDs, and DVDs are further limited by each user’s computer. (I needed a USB adapter to be able to review the material I’d been given.) Of course, websites and social media platforms exist to spread the word about a breed or an upcoming event, but these have addresses that need to be communicated accurately, either verbally, in print, or increasingly, via a QR code. These patterned matrix codes can easily be included on brochures, pamphlets, tri-folds, and business cards (all of which many “old-school” dog folks still use), but they can also be utilized to greater effect on websites, social media platforms, and, more importantly, on smartphones.

Imagine you’re standing around a show ring (or waiting at the veterinary office, shopping at the feed store, or walking around the park) and someone stops to say hello to your dog. After some friendly chitchat, your new acquaintance asks you a few well-meaning questions about your dog. “Is she a doodle?” No, she’s not. “Is she a rescue?” No, she’s a Standard Longhaired Purebred registered with the American Kennel Club. “She’s a what, registered where?” asks the now curious visitor. Hmmm… that’s an opening for a quick mentoring session. But maybe there’s no time to get into things. Maybe your dog needs to be in the ring in a few minutes or you’ve got to head back home in a hurry. (Or maybe you simply don’t have the energy to talk.) Well, imagine having the ability to share access to all of your knowledge and that of your breed’s parent club members in less than a minute. It can be done, and it’s as easy as scanning a QR code. All that’s needed is for both parties to have a smartphone.

If every purebred dog breeder, exhibitor, and club member with a smartphone had their website or their organization’s QR code stored among their contacts, it would allow for quick and easy introductions that could have a lasting effect. All that’s required is for the other person to open their phone’s camera, point to a QR code on your phone, and select the option to save the contact information. On your end, you would have already created an electronic business card in a VCF (vCard file), or similar, format. These files are fully customizable and may include color and a logo. The contact information provided might include your name, phone number, email and web address, or it could share the breed parent club’s contact info or that of a local all-breed or training club. Maybe we could all have a QR code in our list of contacts that links to the AKC, easily exposing people to the organization that is doing so much to preserve, protect, and promote purebred dogs and the sport that needs new participants who care about the welfare of all dogs in society. What better way to share the wealth of information that we collectively possess with others who may be unaware of each recognized breed and the many fun and rewarding activities available to people and their dogs today. And let’s not forget the social implications of getting a registered purebred—meeting new people who are just as dog-crazy as you are. Just think of the wealth of information that legends like Ric Chashoudian could have shared if only they’d had a smartphone and a QR code at the ready!