Robin Gates
1. My husband, Paul Holser, and I live in McKinney, Texas, with our Manchester Terriers and Boston Terriers. I love both breeds, but my dedication to Manchesters has a deeper cause since they are considered endangered in their country of origin. I have been showing dogs since 1994 when I got my first Manchester Terrier from Wilane Manchesters, Bill and JoAnn Emrick. While I showed dogs off and on from 1994 to 2006, I did not fully commit to showing regularly until I graduated from college – UT Dallas in 2006. I did not have the space to actually start breeding in my home until 2009. I have since bred 11 Manchester Terrier litters while working full-time and traveling for work. When selecting our kennel name, we wanted one that truly represented Manchester Terriers and their personality. Sagacity (pronounced suh-ga-sity) having the quality of being discerning, sound in judgment, and farsighted wisdom. It was the perfect name to define not only our dogs but our way of managing our breeding program.
2. Manchesters are a hearty and overall healthy breed that is versatile and fits into many lifestyles. That being said, terriers are not for everyone. The biggest concern breeders face today is homes not prepared for the training that Manchesters require and the natural prey drive that was bred into them hundreds of years ago. People must respect their tenacity and they will find a near-perfect dog.
3. Dog shows are vying for the attention of a society with hundreds of social distractions. Attention spans are shorter and people are looking for the next best thing. Dog shows need to change with the times, so they stay fresh and interesting for more people. I know many want dog shows to be for the purists, but a mix of competitors allows diversity within the sport. I personally have shown to all levels of judges, from long-timers to provisional. I have found that the large majority of judges respect the sport and want to do the best job possible with the entry they have in front of them. We just hear more about the judges that people are disappointed by. In the end, we are paying for an opinion, and we can take it or not enter in the future.
We have a choice. I personally am fine with the number of shows because travel has become so expensive for many who want to enjoy the sport. Having smaller shows across the country gives lots of people the opportunity to compete. On the other hand, I always thought it would be an interesting idea to have multiple locations across the country where all shows were held. Clubs would just rotate in and out. Vendors could stay set up for weeks at a time and everyone could share in the cost. It would help smaller clubs that want to fit a day in here or there. Of course, something like this would take coordination and planning. One can dream.
4. Montgomery is the pinnacle of the dog show world for a terrier enthusiast. It is the place to see thousands of terriers and watch the best of the best compete. I had the pleasure of winning Breed at Montgomery and competed in the regular and brace Groups. Stepping into that ring allows everyone to be a part of history for a group of dogs that are the tenacious and the true. Every breeder should attend at least once.
5. As with everything in life, taking the good and moving past the bad is how we best navigate our world. Social media allows us to quickly communicate, post show changes, and alert others to fun events. While some abuse the power of social media, many manage it well and it has created more inclusivity. If you consider decades ago, people seldom left their area of the country or knew what others were doing until a newsletter or article was published. Now it is at our fingertips. Just remember, because the negative people post the loudest, it does not mean they are the majority or right. The bad part of social media is it is easy for people to vent, and a firestorm starts without all of the facts. We all have a choice on how much we want to participate in social media; do what works for your own mental health.
6. Animal rights groups and the anthropomorphizing of dogs have taken a huge toll on dog shows. We all love dogs and love the companionship they offer. Traveling across the country with my dogs and competing in shows allows me to build bonds with them and enjoy showing people how special they are to me. When someone wants to treat them as children and not allow them to be dogs, they are harming centuries of breed traits. When AR groups decide dog ownership is bad for dogs, then we are up against people who will never understand why their stand is detrimental. It is not until we lose our rights as dog owners and breeders that people will realize the damage they have done. Working together would better serve the dogs, but I am not sure that will happen in my lifetime.
7. Electronic communication, live broadcasts of shows, online entries/results, and the addition of breeds into the AKC allows for reaching more people and more positive interest. It is a slow process and when people say they don’t see the change, that is to be expected. Change takes time and patience.
