Worthy or Worthless

July, 2012

by Dr. Bob Smith

Recently, a highly successful breeder of Whippets asked of her “Friends” on a social media page about the value of Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes at National Specialties. This question and some of the responses from the readers prompted a look at these non-regular classes.

Why do National Clubs include those classes in their offerings? Is the only purpose to offer exhibitors/breeders the chance to showcase their breeding programs? Is that the only reason that specialty clubs offer these classes, if and when they do? If the purpose in offering these classes is to showcase breeding programs and breeding stock, why are there so few entries? Why do some National Specialty clubs not offer these classes?

Since most clubs require that the Get of the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch be entered in regular classes at a specialty, there seems little reason that the stud dog and dam (brood bitch) could not be entered. The entries at the specialties would certainly be increased and the attendance may increase because of the chance to see the stud or dam of a litter being showcased with those offspring. What are the reasons, from a breeder’s and/or owner’s standpoint, that there are so few entries? Is it money, location, judges, or lack of interest by the club leadership and membership? The lack of entries just does not happen. There are reasons. Maybe a club show committee might begin to examine those reasons through a survey, focus group, or suggestion box. However the answers are discovered, they should be sought after and, once found, decisions made to restore the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes to their former status.

If potential breeders are planning to attend a specialty to look for potential breeding stock, how disappointing is it when they receive the premium list and find that those classes are not offered? Or even more devastating to potential breeders is to find only one or two entries of Stud/Get or Brood/Get.

It appears that some national and regional specialty clubs have stopped offering these competitions altogether. Does that speak to the goals of the National or Regional clubs or maybe more to the agenda of a show chairperson? Just asking!

So, back to the original premise of: How valuable are the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch competitions? If a club doesn’t offer a showcase for stud dogs and brood bitches, where else can an interested breeder have the opportunity to see several offspring of a particular dog in the ring with the Stud Dog or Brood Bitch. As a former breeder of a few litters of Cockers, I relied on the breed magazines, other breeders of the same breed, and word of mouth to help me decide which Stud Dog to breed to my bitch. That personal research was enhanced by attending a few National and Regional specialties and watching the dog(s) competing in the Specials classes for BOB ND watching the SD/BB classes. Being there in person and absorbing all I could from talking to breeders, handlers, and owner-handlers helped me educate myself on the merits/demerits of a particular dog or breeding line. I certainly benefited from watching competition in the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes where I could compare the offspring of several stud dogs and dams up close and personal! I remember one national specialty where there were 12 stud dogs and Get in the ring at the same time. That class was remarkable! The Brood Bitch class with the requisite number of Get was almost as large. What a learning experience for a breeder, or anyone as far as that is concerned.

So where does one go for that kind of information when the SD/BB classes are not offered? Researching the internet probably has taken the place of researching at ringside in the absence of SD/BB classes. The worldwide web is wonderful and there is nothing quicker in providing information and lots of it. But the internet does not take the place of “in person” observation. In my opinion, the web is more like an animated magazine than like sitting at ringside and talking with other breeders, etc.

The other part of this equation has to do with the reason(s) the clubs do not offer the classes: the lack of entries in those classes may have been the reason of their demise. If there are fewer and fewer entries in the SD/BB classes, then there might not be a reason for offering the classes. If there are no entries, the end of the classes might be at hand.

However, the absence of entries might be thwarted by making the SD/BB classes more prominent, more exciting, worthy of being spotlighted….maybe like the Showcase or Top Twenty events that have become highlights of some National Specialties. I encourage show committees and trophy chairpersons to examine what emphasis is given to these classes. How are the classes promoted? Do club members/breeders ever receive an inquiry about the prominence of, or lack thereof, opportunities in which to showcase their breeding programs? When the classes are offered, “when” are they offered? At the end of the long day of competition? Why not create a night of Stud Dog and Brood Bitch competition? Why not give nice, or even lavish prizes/awards or maybe even money? Why not make the competition a highlight of the national or regional specialty? IMHO, this class should be the highlight of the competition!

This former breeder/owner/handler, and now judge hopes that these classes do not fall by the wayside. They are too important to the future of ANY breed to become a relic of a National. Breeders shouldn’t have to only rely on researching a stud dog and/or its get on the internet or from the advertisements from magazines.

My suggestions to breed club shows committees and boards of directors: Make the Stud Dog/Brood Bitch classes a focus of your specialty! Publicize the classes! Offer great prizes! Celebrate the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch and the owners and breeders of the dogs and bitches and their offspring that are entered! Do something different! Make a difference! Think out of the box! Make this competition a “worthy” one!

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