Start with Why?
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by Debra Vey Voda-Hamilton, Esq. Hamilton Law and Mediation, PLLC www.hamiltonlawandmediation.com
“Why do we breed and show dogs?
It is certainly not to get rich.”
We all read with profound sadness articles recounting the loss of Jagger, the Irish Setter, after the Crufts Dog Show. It struck particularly close to home because I breed, own and love Irish Setters. My life has been shared with these beautiful dogs since eighth grade. Having bred and shown them since 1984 under the Rumraisin prefix they have won best in show, national specialties, obedience, field and performance titles. It is difficult to read about any dog getting poisoned. When you read about a dog of your beloved breed arriving home and dying after competing in a show as prestigious as Crufts, it gets personal.
One thing I observed, in social and other forms of media, was just how clearly dog show people showed the world the compassion they had for each other. The Irish Setter Club of America sent a condolence card to our friends across the pond. We hoped it would provide some small solace at such a terrible time. Many of our English counterparts come stateside to attend our National and are members of our National Club. A number of us have travelled to England for Crufts, the Irish Setter Club of England’s Centenary (2008) and are members of the UK National Club.
We are now confronted with the horrible fact that someone (or more) poisoned several dogs who were at Crufts. It may or may not have happened at the dog show. It may or may not have been a competitor. It could have been a spectator or other outside faction. If we were all watching each other’s back, something this sport is known for, how could this have happened?
This terrible incident started me thinking about why we do what we do. In the world of dog shows, it is the people and their dogs that make this sport what it is. We all love our dogs with every fiber of our being. They own us at hello in the whelping box or as we take them home as puppies from our breeder.
Why we participate in this sport can be complicated. In most instances, it is due to our passion about our dogs. We raise and love these beauties and are committed to our chosen breed. Exhibitors take the time and provide the effort to educate others about their breed. We are members of our national and local clubs. Our passion keeps these dogs sound and healthy. If we show our dogs in any AKC, UKC or other venue event we take time to condition and train them to compete successfully. They assume their place as our companions and partners in the sport.
The dog show world is a close-knit group. For the most part, we look out for our friends. One only need look at events held by Take the Lead, an organization created to support the fancy here in the US, to find us contributing funds for the support and well-being of other dog show people who may have fallen on difficult times. These kinds of fundraising events are held during large dog show weekends and provide us with the opportunity to be generous with our time and money to people we may not know personally as well as socialize as a group.
When one looks around a dog show, it seems to be a place where competitors feel secure. Everyone is taking care of their colleagues and the dogs. The fact that someone was able to poison Jagger is unfathomable. We all look out for each other and our dogs. Isn’t that part of the ‘why’ we do this? We recognize there are good and bad parts of this sport, its people and competitive nature. An example of the good and bad can be seen when one competitor compares their definitions of a breed standard with their colleague. We each hold our own mental picture of the correct description of our breed. If we are honest with ourselves we should be able to see where we have met this mental picture and where we have not. Criticism of a type should never end in jealousy nor the taking of a dog’s life. These conversations can be peaceful if you take a step back and remember that the differences in the dogs and the opinions of judges are the reason we compete in the sport.
Why do we breed and show dogs? It is certainly not to get rich. Understanding why you spend all your time and money showing your dogs in breed, obedience, rally, agility and in the field can lead to more peaceful participation. Think about why you do it instead of how well you are doing at it. If you do, your satisfaction with the sport will increase exponentially. I tell my puppy buyers that I sell family companion dogs, not show dogs. What they turn this beautiful puppy into is up to them. All I want is for my dog to be an integral part of their family. The fact that they can put a lead around their dog’s neck and actively compete in any conformation or performance venue is icing on the cake.
When you look around the dog show arena how many people in your breed are friends? How many people outside your breed do you know? Will you be able to count on all or most of these fellow competitors in an emergency? The camaraderie that comes with this sport knows no bounds. If I am on an airplane and hear someone talking about their show or performance dog I turn around and say hello. We are kindred spirits. I probably don’t know them. They may have a different breed of dog. However, there is this unspoken connection which enables you to engage in a conversation. We both speak a language and take part in a sport few people understand.
Our dogs are not simply companions, they are our partners in a sporting venue. This is a big part of why we do this sport. It is one of the reasons we all watch out for our neighbor’s dogs at the show/event. We know how important these dogs are to us, our colleagues and everyone involved in any area of the sport of dogs.
With the tragedy at Crufts still fresh in our memory, let us think about why we do this. Maybe we need to say hello to the person who sets up next to us at the next show more often. This would begin a relationship for the day, weekend and beyond. We can watch their dogs and they can watch our dogs when it is our time to be in the ring. Otherwise, we may need to hire someone to come along with us to the show simply to be at the set-up while we are away showing our dogs.
It is up to us as exhibitors, owners and animal lovers to band together recognizing we are in this together. It truly is but for the grace of God goes our dog. If the only reason we compete in dog shows is to win and when we lose we leave or downgrade our competitors, maybe we should rethink our participation. I suspect, most of us are here for the camaraderie, sharing of ideas and information and assistance that comes when needed from comrades in arms. If this is true, then we must find out how this happened. It is only from gathering all the information surrounding this tragedy that we can brainstorm a way to prevent it from happening again.
Next time you go to a dog show ask yourself why you are there. We all want to participate in the show and leave with our beloved show companions intact. Forging new relationships may be the best offense against this invisible threat.
Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=74508
Posted by ralbee
on Apr 18 2015. Filed under Current Articles, Editorial, Featured.
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