Table Talk • July 16, 2025

If you have not had the opportunity to read the article, The Fancy Is Full But Are We Letting People In in our July issue and also online at https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/the-fancy-is-full-but-are-we-letting-people-in/, I encourage you to do so. The article, authored by Matthew Stroud–who returned to the sport as an adult after participating in Junior Showmanship–gives a great perspective about mentoring, kindness, and the need for fanciers to get involved with their local club. He encourages seasoned fanciers to share their knowledge and be welcoming and supportive to those with less experience. This is a great article for people new to the sport to read, so please point them to it if you have the opportunity. As new exhibitors learn to navigate the sport, with assistance from those of us who have been around the block a few times, I am hopeful they will share their knowledge with the generation to follow.

Remember: Every expert was once a beginner.

Every handler fumbling their first leash, every artist unsure of their first stroke, every speaker, coach, groomer, healer, rider, dreamer – we all had our first time.

We all had to learn the rules, the etiquette, the rhythm. In sports, in work, in life – and yes, even in the dog show ring. How to move through a pattern. How to read a judge.  How to hold a lead with confidence. We all got corrected. We all got it wrong. 

So why do we forget? Why do some wear their experience like a crown instead of a compass?

Gatekeeping doesn’t build better communities. Kindness does. Mentorship does.  Patience does. Because no title or trophy relaced humanity. 

So, here’s to the beginners – the ones asking questions, making mistakes, still figuring it out. You’re brave. You’re learning! 

And to the veterans: Let your legacy be how many people you lifted, not how many you judged. Be the reason someone stayed, not the reason they quit.

(Author Unknown)

Don’t forget to purchase your raffle tickets for the Penn Ridge Charitable Foundation. You can purchase tickets from Holley Eldred, Lois DeMers, Blake Hansen, Kevin Chestnut, or Tuni Conti.  If you are not going to be out and about and would like to purchase tickets, send me an email at deb.cooper@caninechronicle.com. If your travels take you to the Keystone Cluster, please make plans to attend the party on Saturday, August 9^th after Best In Show at the Lebanon Expo Center. The evening is a great opportunity to spend time with friends and support many great causes such as the George Ward Scholarship Fund, Take The Lead, the Canine Health Foundation, and others!

There was a celebration of life for Brian Meyer, yesterday, July 15^th. In lieu of flowers, Brian’s family requests donations be made in his honor to Take The Lead or the Canine Health Foundation.

Lesley Potts is learning the hard way about what happens when you do not listen to doctors’ orders!  Sadly, she has a stress fracture in her knee and will be taking a mandatory month off to allow her knee to heal. Rest up, my friend! There are many more left-handed circles for you to run.  We look forward to having you back at shows in a month.

Condolences to Laura King on the recent loss of her father. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

Paul Clas, Chrystal Murray, and family are off on another grand adventure! Enjoy your trip to France. We wish you safe travels and nothing but fun while you are on your journey.

Happy anniversary to lovebirds Andrea and Jack McIlwaine. Best wishes for many more happy, healthy years to come.

Fanciers celebrating birthdays this week include: Paula Nykiel, Terri Erickson, Courtney Grogin-dieckman, Tammy Bohlke, Mari-Beth O’Neill, Paul Clas, Angie Lloyd, and Kristin Lyons. Have a great trip around the sun, my friends.

As Matthew Stroud so eloquently stated: “The fancy doesn’t need to change who it is – just make more room for who’s next. Let’s open the door a little wider.”

Be safe out there, my friends! I’ll see you soon down the road! Until next time…

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Posted by Liz on Jul 16 2025. Filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.