From The CC Vault: Dog Show Dads

By William Given

Originally published: May 2021

Despite all you might hear or read, the sport of purebred dogs is not dying. Some of the nay-sayers will quote statistics about lower entries and clubs folding due to lack of a working membership. The simple truth is, people get older, retire and move to warmer climates. The demographics of our sport change, they always have and will, and will continue to do so. As for entries, maybe the entries for some shows are smaller, but some have grown larger. There are also more clubs with more shows and exhibitors have more to choose from than they ever have before, so they can be more selective about where they want to go. Now, back to my point and that being: if the sport was dying, I have no doubt it is the fathers of the children who love this sport who would somehow find a way to keep it alive.

If you spend as much time around the juniors’ ring as I do, you do not need statistics to tell you the sport is alive and well. You can easily see it in the eyes of the young people who come to compete in Junior Showmanship and the dads that are there to support them. Some of them are the awkward looking fellows either holding a dog, fetching something, taking bad pictures, or sitting ringside with white knuckles. Others are seasoned exhibitors helping their children become the next generation of dog show enthusiasts. The inexperienced dads may not always be quite sure what they are watching, but they know the look of excitement on the faces of their children. They know their children enjoy participating in a sport they love is a wonderful thing to observe. A hint to newbies out there: When a child is smiling in the ring at the end of judging, it means all is well and a shaking head means the opposite.

I want to sing the praises of Dog Show Dads, and Granddads and say thank you. They are the task-oriented guys doing unpacking, hauling, setting up, packing and loading dogs and the vast amounts of gear their children need to exceed. Although you may not always see them, these men are not an endangered species. They are there every Saturday and Sunday (work schedule permitting). These men are the backbone of the Junior Showmanship experience their children enjoy. The good news is: it is pretty easy to be a great Dog Show Dad.

First the Good

The young men and women who have been bitten by the dog show bug have little time for anything else. It is a passion that leaves some barely enough time for school and homework. Caring for a dog and putting its needs ahead of your own teaches responsibility, love and sharing. For most kids, participating in the sport requires learning time management and careful planning. The competition of Junior Showmanship pushes young people to try their best and to constantly improve. It builds a strong understanding of teamwork, self-motivation and forms unique social bonds between people and animals. It makes our sons and daughters happy. They love it, and there is little, if anything, in the whole world, they would rather be doing. Dog show dads are great facilitators for building these skills.

Then the Bad

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88 – May, 2021

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