I have just attended three wonderful benched shows in a row, all with different characteristics –?Golden Gate, Westminster, and Chicago. However, they all had one feature in common, they all attracted the general public with what we call “great gates.” Detroit is coming up after I write this, and I anticipate that they will also have a fantastic gate.
Shepherd fanciers are a different breed of cat. We know we have the greatest breed of dog in the world and generally we prefer specialties to all-breed shows. Specialties are where we find the tough competition—where the rubber meets the road. German Shepherds certainly have made their mark at all-breed shows though.
Noise, movement, and stimulation are everywhere! However, those who focus are usually far ahead of the “game” in being prepared and responding correctly and promptly to any requests. Those who are lost in their own revelries usually are penalized in some form for their lack of attention, especially at a dog show. In my opinion, there is not enough attention being paid to what is happening in the ring, outside the ring, and just about anywhere on a show grounds.
After much observation over the course of my quarter century I can only describe what is happening as a transformation of our sport.
The Pekingese Club of America ended 2009 on a high note as we celebrated our 100th year with the Regional and National specialties in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Wyndham airport hotel. The PCA was formed in 1909 in New York City by a group of socialites who appointed JP Morgan as the first honorary President. We’ve come a long way from the days when our National was a posh society event in the ballroom of the Plaza Hotel on Central Park South in Manhattan, but this parent club still holds its privileged past in high regard.
The AKC reminds us that the principles of sportsmanship are the prime reasons why our sport has thrived for over one hundred years. I would hate to think that these years may be coming to an end.
It is important to teach younger people, if they are truly interested. I do my best to do this and so do many others. Young people cannot or should not be forced to learn about our sport. There are a few young people who truly want to learn. They will be the backbone of our sport in the coming decades. It is important for young people to have the talent to look at a dog and evaluate them in their mind with the picture of what this breed should look like, and not be afraid to discuss this with experts in this breed.
How do our viewpoints impact the way we go about the business of evaluating respective merit? How do our priorities differ or vary? What impact does experience have? How well, or otherwise, do we translate educational experiences into acceptably valid practice? These are some of the things which seemingly always fascinate the mind.
96 – February, 2010 by Kimberly Silva What made you decide to become a judge? We handled dogs for twenty five years, and judging dogs was a natural progression. I always hoped to be able to contribute to the sport by judging. Who, if anyone, has influenced your style of judging? There were a number [...]
