Page 35 - K9 News - Issue 15 - March2021
P. 35
putting notches on their bedposts I was off at were founded by very colourful individuals. They
committee meetings held in smoky back rooms prefer to be kept in power by grey suits who
in run-down pubs as from a young age I had never rock any boats and nod when asked to.
become involved with several local dog clubs; Rebels become outcasts and anyone with new
to them having such a young enthusiast was I ideas that challenge the way things have been
daresay something of a novelty. done for generations by the establishment is
viewed with great suspicion and even disdain.
Having been brought up the way I had
been, it went rather against the grain to refer It is assumed these days that people don’t
to someone who was old enough to be my know how to behave, have no ethics or
grandparent by their Christian name. (I hope the scruples, as we find more and more “Codes of
use of that expression doesn’t offend anyone Conduct” being published to rigidly govern all
by the way, but in our multi-belief world it seems manner of levels of the sport. Are people really
that some have become overly sensitive about widespread morons? Some of the guidelines
what some of us merely regard as traditional and regulations suggest that they must be.
values.) However eventually I was worn down
and I acquired several close friends who were When you are a rank beginner everything is
mainly women of my mother’s age, leading her crystal clear. Life in dogs is very much a “them”
to actually accusing me (in the pre-enlightened and “us” situation and demarcation lines are
days) of being a gigolo! totally apparent. However, if you then stick with
it and achieve a modicum of success the waters
But I digress … the truth is that there was become somewhat muddied. With achievement
much greater respect for our elders and betters will come further opportunities – to become
in those days. Today it is not uncommon for involved with clubs, and to maybe begin judging
relative newcomers to address the old die- your own breed. As your involvement deepens
hards in their breed, and also leading judges, so do the chances of your every move being
by their first names, without having been invited misinterpreted increase.
to do so, and make it patently obvious that
they believe they know more than their seniors Ever since I can remember one of the most
do! They think nothing of telling judges what frequently heard complaints at dog shows is
they thought of their opinion (provided it didn’t that of judges “putting up their friends”, and of
coincide with their own of course) and then in course the complaint will always come from
the post-show aftermath take to their keyboards those who were standing down at the wrong
with gusto as they proceed to decimate not end of the line that day. I have had occasion
only the poor judge who failed to recognise the to point out many times to those who are thus
merits in their self-acclaimed superstar, but the complaining that when anyone first comes into
poor creatures whose misfortune it was to beat the sport, they have no friends. Logically they
it. Social media has a lot to answer for – could will gravitate towards people in the same breed
you actually imagine some of the BS you read who are showing the same type of dog they are,
online ever being submitted as a “Letter to the possibly with similar breeding, and oftentimes
Editor”? friendships will develop based on nothing more
than the fact that they see the breed through
There are basic good manners which should similar eyes and appreciate the same “type” –
be preserved at all costs in terms of behaviour even though in those early days they may not
and sportsmanship, and then there is political really fully understand what the word means. As
correctness which is the scourge of our time goes on they may use each other’s stud
generation in my opinion. This results in the dogs, exchange puppies or whatever, as their
dumbing down of so many aspects of our sport, vision of the breed continues to coincide. There
whilst at the same time weakening the backbone will come a day when that first judging invitation
of society itself. Freedom of expression is arrives … what to do? Should their friends show
discouraged by the very establishments that under them?
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / MARCH 2021