Page 25 - Chow LIfe - Spring 2019

local, someone they have developed a relationship world. They simply have other interests and having
with to make sure they properly prepare their new finished their one dog, they move on to something
puppy for the ring. These are the exhibitors that else. It doesn’t mean they are bitter or angry or even
learn and grow. They will eventually “leave the nest” disappointed – it just means they usually showed
and strike out on their own and begin to develop the dog because a contract required them to or the
their own ideas for breeding and presenting their breeder talked them into it so they did it to see if it
dog to its best. They keep a healthy relationship was something they might want to continue with or
with their mentor and other breeders without being sometimes, just to prove they could. And because
either clingy or obnoxious. They understand that no they didn’t really have that spark of excitement and
person, kennel, or dog is perfect but learn to work interest going into it or develop any real relationships
with what they have to become the best of their with other exhibitors, the little interest they had
ability. These are the exhibitors that are not only wanes quickly. Like old friends meeting at a reunion,
going to be around well past the five year mark, but they say they’ll “keep in touch” but it doesn’t happen.
are a pleasure to know and associate with.
Probably the hardest type of exhibitor to have around
Remember those dances in high school? The is the “Clinging Vine.” This is the new exhibitor that
classmates that just stood along the walls, hoping starts out like the “Sponge,” asking questions and
someone would ask them to dance? Well, there are showing all of the signs of someone really interested.
“Wall flowers” in the dog show community too. They They find a mentor (or mentors – they often manage
aren’t loud or obnoxious when they win or lose, just to associate themselves with several) but then latch
quiet and keep to themselves. It doesn’t mean they on to them like a leech. They will hardly make a
don’t want or need help, but usually that they are too move without consulting at least one of them. They
shy to introduce themselves. If you have someone don’t learn to groom because they always say they
new appear in your breed that you start to see can’t “do it as good as you” and someone else always
regularly, take the initiative and introduce yourself ends up grooming their dogs for them. The breeders
to them. Invite them to lunch or your local club they latched onto as mentors are both distressed
meeting. They are usually an introvert afraid to make and flattered. They feel needed and used at the same
the first move, but will start to open up if you do. time. They don’t know how to say the word “no” and
Even if they don’t ask a lot of questions to start out become enablers of the behavior. The “clinging vine”
with, they listen to everything you say. Often they’ve never has to learn to do anything for himself because
read everything they can get their hands on and have nobody will shove him from the nest. In turn,
been silently monitoring an email list or Facebook those that have been helping start to feel drained
group. Even when they’ve been around for a while and become less and less interested in showing
they’ll still usually be quiet in their accomplishments themselves because it is no longer fun like it used
because they just aren’t good at blowing their own to be, but has become a burden. No problem for the
horn. They will probably never be good with large clinging vine though – they just find someone new
groups of people and may gain a reputation for to latch on to and start sucking the life out of them.
being “stuck-up.” They will help anyone who asks This is the type of person instead of having shown
but reaching out to others just isn’t natural for them. ten years, has done one year ten times because in
But one day they might surprise you by telling you reality, they have never really learned anything other
something you told them years earlier when you than how to use people.
didn’t realize they really were actually listening.
That’s when you realize how many years it’s been and
that they are a “sponge” incognito. You also realize So what can we do as experienced exhibitors to
that they have become a very good friend as well as encourage more people to come and share our world
contributor to the breed. with us? First, when someone calls you looking
for a puppy that is interested in showing, don’t
immediately discount them because they haven’t
Then there is the “One Hit Wonder.” Yes, they really shown before. If you think about it, very few of
do exist in the dog show community. Often they us were born into a show-going family. Most of
wanted a really nice quality dog as a companion and us got our start somewhere else, and often with a
were talked into showing by the breeder. They may companion-quality dog. Yes, you risk putting a nice
learn to do the grooming & handling themselves, or puppy into the hands of someone who may not turn
they may hand the dog over to the breeder to show. out as a real show home, but if it is a good home,
Showing is not their priority and just something isn’t that really more important in the long run? Or
fun to do. Often when their dog has completed its to cover yourself, have a contract. I know
championship, they are done with the dog show of one breeder in another breed that does --

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