QUESTION FOR ALL SHOWSIGHT READERS
What New Year’s Resolution would you like to see the Dog Show Community make?
Thank you to everyone who offered opinions on this month’s topic.
The following is a selection of the responses. Want to voice your opinion to the fancy? Follow ShowSight’s Facebook page for the monthly question prompt! And don't forget to CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO SHOWSIGHT!
To be kinder and friendlier to spectators at shows and be more aware of the impression we exhibitors make upon them. We complain about the shortage of new people in our sport but I continue to see exhibitors ignore or even be rude to spectators and families visiting the shows and strolling through the grooming areas. Pay attention to these people, smile at them, make them feel welcome, show them that dog shows are fun and why they should want to be part
of it!
Too often exhibitors are sour-faced, tense, complaining, and snappish. Who wants to participate in an activity where the people are nasty? Let’s resolve to a lot nicer, both to the spectators and to each other. —Vicki DeGruy
Stop raising entry fee’s! —Anonymous
To find ways to educate owners, breeders and the general public about responsible dog ownership. —Anonymous
Stop being so nasty and uninviting of new comers to the sport. —Anonymous
There is judges, ring steward’s and the AKC Reps enforce the rules for owner handled. there was a show this past weekend where a professional handler accepted a owner handled ribbon the judge the ring steward and this person should have known that they were not eligible for it. This took the chance of another person who is doing owner handled away from them.
I have heard of a few judges that don’t care because there is owner handled and they don’t want to deal with it but they’re forgetting one thing if it wasn’t for the owner the handler and the breeders there would be no shows for anyone professional or non-professional could you please look into this and get this changed and enforced.
I did not participate in this show but I know of a few people that did and it was taken away they didn’t even get a chance because the judge didn’t pay attention nor the ring steward or the AKC rep that was there. —Anonymous
If we intend for the conformation shows to increase instead of decrease, we need matches—lots of them. They hook newbies in, let them win small awards which garners motivation. Matches—a thing of the past but helpful to the future! —Joan Krumm
Be kinder to each other and newcomers to showing. —Susan McGee
Everyone needs to make a resolution to stand up for our sport and dogs and fight the AR folks who are trying to take it from us. —Anonymous
Be nice to each other., be very nice to new and Junior exhibitors—they are our future. —Georgette Schaefer
I have been showing dogs 51 years. The New Years Resolution I would like the show community to make is believe in your dogs. Winning at all costs with an unsound dog doesn’t do your breeding programs any good. Not to mention the future of your breed. Be honest with yourself, do what is needed to breed to the standard.
Should a newbie come for a show dog, don’t sell them a pet, work with them show them how to handle and groom, teach them how to be a team with their dog. These newbies are the future of our breeding programs and dog shows.
—Julia Swanson
Find a way to make people treat one another, new and old, much better than they now do. —Anonymous
That they would judge the dogs by the standard and not the person at the end of the lead. —Anonymous
Make new participants feel included and give them all the support they need to continue. —Anonymous
To really learn about the breeds you’ve been given and seek out people who do both conformation and breed based performance as mentors. To put dogs first above friendships and favors. —Anonymous
Kindness to all, but especially new exhibitors!
—Anonymous
Be much more sportsmanlike. Refrain from using vulgar language on show sights. Respect one another whether you win or lose. —Jane Naimark
I would love to see the dog clubs bring back the local dog shows to encourage interest in the sport and to make the sport more visible to the public. —Anonymous
That AKC, once they approve a license to judge followed through to see that all those approved follow each breed’s standard in awarding the dogs. In the last year, and I have shown for 50 years, there are more justified complaints from both amateurs and professionals about the overall quality of the judging. There are some fine judges but we are paying the same entry and handling fees whether our dogs enter the ring under these or totally ignorant or biased judges. —Carol Beans
“Because I know that most of my puppies will not become show dogs, I resolve to breed and raise healthy, well-socialized dogs that will make good pets, and to place them in loving homes.” —Anonymous
I would like to get rid of owner handler. I would like to see Professionals only allowed to compete in best of Breed classes.Another thought is limit them in the lower classes. I would like to see the AKC go away with the silver gold etc championships as this has made shows top heavy in BOB. Would open the door for more class dogs to finish. —Anonymous
Recertification of judges on current breed standards.
—Anonymous
Programs to encourage good sportsmanship between all exhibitor, professionals as well as owner handlers with penalties for lack of compliance. —Judie Posner
Allowing neutered dogs to compete in an altered conformation class. —Anonymous
To be kinder to each other and for breeders to stop fighting with each other before the Animal Rights activists take all of our rights to own pets away. —Cathy Clapp
Support each other in right to choose what is best for our breeds, whether it is removing dew claws or docking. Stay united. —Anonymous
Better educated judges. —Anonymous
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