It’s Not What’s Wrong With Showing, It’s Who’s Wrong!

Dog showing is an interesting sport, or game, or as many call it, a fancy. It brings together a melting pot of people who are rather obsessed with dogs and in particular their breed and their dogs. It showcases fabulous dogs and you get to meet friends who share your crazy passion. It sure is something which can be tons of furry fun!

But then there is the other side, you know, the darker side of things; bringing out the cruel and unkind and for whatever reason this part of the fancy is gaining momentum and ugliness. Lately I keep hearing, “it is not what is wrong with dog showing, but who is wrong”.

Imagine if you will a ring full of dogs and someone outside the ring, rambling off ugly comments about a dog (yours or anyone’s), or adults glaring at another competitor, or some of the yelling matches we have all witnessed. This is not a fantasy world, it’s a sad reality; and it really needs to stop!

So ask yourself, what to do? Most people say nothing or do nothing when they witness poor behavior, and to them I say, you know the phrase if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem (yep, I think it applies).

There are Codes of Ethics in the AKC and in each Breed Club; there are Codes of Ethics in the various Professional Handlers Associations… But are they helping or being enforced? In my personal opinion, I am thinking not so much.

Now I will take this to another level, and that is when “adults” target or aim their cruelty toward our “youth”… Think it does not happen, well, think again. Then apply it to your child, your grandchild, or to yourself as a young child. We need to encourage every junior (and new person) that even tries our sport or is remotely interested. So ask yourself, are you an encourager?

Personal story number one: I was at a dog show out of my area, ringside at juniors, and there were a few “adults” tearing down an out of town “junior” (not mine). Sorry, people, but don’t go there or act like that with me around. I turned to both these “adults”, and said, yes this “junior” is from XYZ, as am I, and this “junior” is a fabulous handler with a fantastic dog”. This stopped the conservation, or at least stopped it around me. Good Lord! Am I the only person who thinks, and knows, this is wrong!

Personal story number two: At a local fun match where a “junior” was showing and she took breed and went on to the group. An “adult” competitor was ringside haranguing the “junior” and her dog. What she did not know is that the junior’s mother was in earshot. Honestly, the junior’s parents nearly pulled her from this sport of dog showing that she loves as they do not want her subjected to these types of “adults” (bullies) and their ugliness. Again, this is beyond ridiculous; it’s completely unacceptable! But it is tolerated by the masses, including professional handlers, especially if someone has a large wallet or a top dog.

We are all told you need “thick skin” to be in this sport, but really? Why? Are we just giving these people a “free pass” to practice ugly behavior?

And then, of course, there is social media, where dog clubs, including most national breed clubs and the American Kennel Club don’t think unsportsmanlike behavior in these formats is under their control or influence in essence giving people another free pass to berate and belittle someone. Hmmm, are these things not “unsportsmanlike behavior”? We all know they certainly are!

If you don’t like a person, don’t get involved with them. TRY to at least be neutral, and not hostile! Another phrase comes to mind, “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”.

If you don’t like a dog, don’t breed to it. Try to remember that dog is someone’s pride and joy. Maybe it’s their first purebred dog or first show dog. And in any conversation about any dog try my 3-2-1 method: find 3 things you like about the dog, 2 things you would change, and then 1, an overall summation. It is much kinder than a petty criticism of any dog, yours or your competitors.

Don’t like a judge, or their judging preferences, well you don’t have to enter and show under him or her. But on the other hand, you might TRY to share some educational information, or point them to a good breed mentor; or even as hard as it may seem, TRY to understand their logic and/or choices.

Don’t like a junior, or maybe you feel entitled to say or do (or allow) things regardless of if it HURTS them… Sorry, this may sound harsh and I don’t want it to be, because I am really a very kind person; but I am taking a stand and I say enough already, because YOU, quite possibly, are what is wrong with this sport!

I don’t know what I think writing these words will do, but I can HOPE it inspires the good side in our sport start to stand up against the dark side so we can focus on the dogs, on friendship, on fun, and most importantly on helping to propel this sport to be better and better in the future. In my opinion, this means we help all newcomers, we support all juniors, and we stop the ugliness when we see it or hear it. Please don’t think it does not apply to you. You are in this sport and if you want to be part of the solution (not part of the problem), stand up and be heard please!

Posted by Liz on Jan 10 2024. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.