Page 25 - Chow LIfe - Spring 2019
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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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