Page 24 - Chow LIfe - Spring 2019
P. 24

Will They Stay OR Will They Go?


                                                       by Cathy Clapp

          It isn’t unusual for the subject to come up at shows,   what they think the breed should be is all that really
          club meetings, or just between show-going friends    matters. And interestingly enough, they usually have
          about newcomers to our sport and our breed – or      not read the AKC “Rules Applying to Dog Shows”
          the lack thereof. Often the discussion is of how we   either. Their losses are never due to the fact they have
          can attract more people or how do we keep the ones   a poor quality dog, an ungroomed dog, a dog that
          that have already jumped in. However, it rarely seems  doesn’t know how to gait and stand for examination
          to come up as to the differences between our new     or the simple fact they don’t know how to do basic
          exhibitors and why some stay and others fade away.   patterns like a triangle. Instead every loss is either
                                                               political or because the judge was an idiot.

          I’m a member of a group on Facebook called
          “Learning To Show Dogs.” No, I am not a newbie.      Some of these individuals do come around and
          I have more than thirty years’ experience and that’s   recognize they might actually need help. They start
          exactly why I’m there. When the group was first      to realize it might be harder than they thought it was
          formed the admins asked those of us with experience  going to be after watching a dog show on television
          and perhaps advice to offer to join to help out      or a handling demonstration on YouTube. They come
          those that were novices and had lots of questions.   to appreciate that they might really need advice from
          Many were lacking mentors or so new they didn’t      someone with experience and truly begin to listen to
          realize they should have one. I have been a fairly   answers when they ask questions rather than talking
          active participant since I have plenty of learning   just to hear themselves speak. They ask for assistance
          experiences to share. I’m also a firm believer in    to learn to groom and how to present their dog.
          learning by Osmosis – why make the same mistake      These new exhibitors that “woke up” have a chance of
          that someone else has before if they’re willing to   making it for the long haul. Those that do not learn
          share what went wrong?                               from their mistakes most likely will not make it to
                                                               five years and in the process, the regular exhibitors
          In participating in this group it becomes even more   in the area will avoid them because they just are not
                                                               very pleasant to be around. Of course this will be
          obvious that it doesn’t matter what the breed, there   due to the fact they are a “threat” rather than to the
          are similarities across the board with those new to   simple reason that no one wants to listen to them any
          the sport of showing dogs. New exhibitors for the    more than they have to. Who wants to hear constant
          most part, seem to loosely fall into one of several   complaints about handlers winning and how things
          categories.                                          ought to be done?

          One of these is the “Know-it-all.” They think they   The next type of new exhibitor is the best kind to
          know everything there is to know about the breed     have – the “Sponge.” This person not only reads
          and how dog shows should be run. They refuse to      everything possible and researches on the internet,
          accept advice (even when they ask) from those with   they go to shows in person to observe and talk to
          experience. They will go from one exhibitor to the   others in the breed that they have or are interested in.
          next asking for an “honest” opinion of their dog     They sign up for every class and eagerly attend with
          and not liking any of them, will continue until they   their dog to learn as much as possible before entering
          find someone that says what they want to hear. They   their first show. They work to develop a relationship
          might take the part in the standard about the dog    with at least one longtime breeder/exhibitor and
          being “natural” to the extreme. There are those that   go to them for help in learning how to properly
          don’t do something as simple as brush the dog out    groom for the ring. They may get on some’s nerves
          and cut the toenails or might not even give them a   because they never seem to run out of questions, but
          bath. They certainly aren’t going to do any trimming   at least they are listening to the answers. These are
          though some is allowed. They do not go to handling   the people that will do their best to learn from their
          classes because they “read the book” and know how    mistakes and always want to be better than they were
          it’s “supposed” to be done. They go in with the plan   the last time they were in the ring. If their dog isn’t
          to show all of us how you “really” should show a     really of the quality to show, they may continue for
                 dog. They’ve never actually read the entire   first-hand practice while they look for a puppy from
                 breed standard because their interpretation of   a show breeder. They will go to that breeder or if not

        22
   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29