Owner Handlers – Trial, Tribulation, and Triumph

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294 – March, 2022

By Amy Fernandez

The owner/handler has always been an awkward constituent in this sport. Theoretically, as AKC endlessly proclaims, everyone competes on equal footing. However, the holes in that idealistic portrayal have been apparent forever. Over a century ago Watson wrote:

“A beginner when dogs are being judged, seeing that a good many of the ribbons go to a select number of those who are showing dogs, is apt to conclude that it is impossible to win against these successful showers. The disappointed exhibitor, chagrined at want of success, is apt to attribute it to the connivance on the part of the judge and the men who win so many prizes.”

Keep in mind that dog shows had been around for more than 50 years when he made that point. And the flaws in the argument were inescapable, as he conceded. “Bear in mind that no dog should rely on past records to win, any more than a racehorse does but ought to win on its merits as shown….if the judging is done by a capable man in a proper manner.” In other words, there’s a whole lotta ways for the wheels to come off this train. Watson devoted many subsequent pages to training, conditioning and presentation advice, which by 1907 had already become an acknowledged cornerstone of success.

That said, it’s equally important to note that the entire practice of formal presentation was still a relatively new twist on competitive dog evaluation. As we know, the dog show concept evolved from myriad informal gatherings, some rooted in function and others conceived in a more entrepreneurial or social context. However, across the board, any interesting canine specimen was welcomed into the mutual admiration society.

Click here to read the complete article
294 – March, 2022

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