Page 18 - Online Spring 2022 Newsletter

small, especially when the breed BOB the following year and a year
contains a "well-owned" dog that later added a third, thus giving him
is on a roll and is merely expected his title. Her dog is the example that
to add to its tally of tickets prompted the article, but I regularly
automatically. Of course, if other see dogs that are clearly of champion
worthy dogs stay away it makes it so quality being passed by judges simply
much easier for the expected dog to because they are not well owned or
sail through to another victory, but well connected. It is little wonder
clearly many judges do not inspire that exhibitors become disillusioned.
the confidence in exhibitors to go to
the expense and trouble of entering Much work has gone into developing
and showing under them. the Kennel Club's Judges Competency
Framework which will result in a
Unfortunately it seems that often completely revolutionary method for
rules are circumvented by exhibitors judges to progress in the future. In
who are deemed to be "at the top" theory the emphasis will now be
yet surely these are the very people placed on proven ability and
who should be setting an example?
knowledge rather than connections.
There was something of a happy However this will only succeed if
ending to the Blackpool story in that integrity exists at all levels and that
Dianne Smith's Reserve BIS winning has to be the ultimate hope.
Pomeranian won his second CC and

Editorial Addendum:

To add balance I thought I would write a short postscript here of my own
experience as a novice shower in order to illustrate that there is another
side to the above correspondence…
My first ever show - qualified for Crufts from a good sized class.
18 months in - first CC and Junior Warrant with another of my
Keeshonden.
2 years in - first Champion and by now 5 CCs.
5 years in - first ever homebred litter, kept two to win Top Puppy and Top
Junior in breed with the two different pups in the same year and another
Junior Warrant AND won the Utility Puppy Group at The National
Championship Dog Show.
At 8 years of showing experience - Dog World Top Keeshond 2013 and 13
CCs with my now Champion homebred boy and then…
… Well, then I quit showing for good because it’s what I had always said I
would do if I ever reached 13 CCs with one dog - and I keep my word!
The above is not meant to be a brag - I’m not mentioning any of my dogs
by name - but it is meant to be an illustration that in our breed even if you
are not ‘a face’ and still a relative newbie it is possible to reach the heights
if blessed with a really great Keeshond. But it’s also true that, as in any
competitive sport, you have to be determined and develop a thick skin and
there will always be the odd individual you are best to avoid but that’s just
life. Ed.

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