As you peruse this month’s issue, which features owner/handlers and their charges, you will notice something that is indicative of the purebred showdog industry itself. You will notice that there are a lot of owner/handlers out there!
I am sure you see this as stating the obvious, but even though it is apparent that breeders and owner/handlers make up the bulk of the entry at most dog shows, many in that group find themselves feeling like second-class citizens of the dog show world.
How could this be? How could a group that is obviously in the majority feel like they have little or no voice in our industry? There is no easy answer to this question, but I have a couple of suggestions along with some steps toward the solution to this problem.
First of all, let’s remember that many of us started out by showing our own dogs. It may have been in juniors, or as adults in the regular classes. Do you remember your first show? I sure do. I was second in a class of two and I left before winners bitch was judged. It was just my luck that the bitch that beat me was awarded winners bitch and someone had to track me down so I was able to come back and compete for reserve; I didn’t win. However, it was a valuable lesson to me and I never left again until judging was completed.
I think everyone who has shown a dog has a story of how they were humbled early in their competitive experience. Luckily, for me, there were people to help me learn the ropes along the way.
I tell this story because I think that sometimes we treat the owner/handler with a lack of courtesy. Treating exhibitors with respect and helping them navigate the difficult terrain of our sport is the duty of everyone that shows dogs. We need to make everyone feel welcome because they are the lifeblood of the Sport of Purebred Dogs. Action such as this would go a long way toward making the owner/handler, whether novice or experienced, feel like they are on even ground with everyone else.
Another problem that some owner/handlers face is the difficulty of competing, economically, with professionally handled dogs. This is really only an issue at the specials level of our sport. The economic disparity wasn’t as palpable decades ago because there were far fewer shows available week-in, week-out. However, the show dog world we live in has changed, most notably in the last 10 to 15 years. Now, four- and five-day circuits are common. Unfortunately, the proliferation of long circuits effectively eliminates many owner/handlers chances of ever having the top dog in their breed, let alone their group, etc.
The only solution to this problem is one I have addressed many times before in this space – a separate competition and ratings system for owner/handled dogs. You can refer back to my previous editorials for details of my ideas, but this separate competition would help to encourage owner/handlers to remain in the industry after they have finished their dog’s championship.
These are but a couple of the issues that today’s owner/handlers face. This group is a vital and essential part of the sport and we need to do whatever we can to maintain their interest.
Best In Show & Multiple Best In Specialty Show Winning
GCh.
Ch. Sunteckel’s Samuel II
#1 Dachshund - All Coats - All Breed & Breed*
A Top 20 Hound*
Sammy with Lorene Hogan and Sharon Lutosky
Owners: Sharon Lutosky
& Terry Abst
Breeders: Jan & Kevin Schirmer
Handler:
Lorene Hogan
In 2009, Sammy was the top winning longhaired Dachshund with a Best In Show and multiple Specialty Best In Show wins.
Following that banner year, Sammy has maintained that high standard and is currently the top winning Dachshund, all coats, all breed and breed. His consistent placements in the group ring has garnered him a top 20 Hound rating*.
His strong gait and commanding ring presence are some of the characteristics that Sammy is passing on to his progeny for a new generation of champions.
