Vanya was her name. I remember her vividly. She was a puppy from Guide Dogs for the Blind. My siblings and I raised nine of them. While they all did not become Guide Dogs, they did all go on to lead lives of extraordinary service to humans.
Here in Dogshowlandia, the home of fair play and equal op- portunity there are a couple unspoken truths, A: certain breeds win way more than others, and B: professional rep- resentation tends to have a beneficial effect moving things along in that direction.
There is a saying that ‘All Dogs Go to Heaven’. That makes sense since all dogs actually come from heaven.
There is no other explanation when you really observe how much happiness dogs bring into the world.
You know where the ADSJ stands regarding the current judging approval process. This virtual give-away program undermines the credibility of all those conscientious judges who have spent most of their adult lives preparing themselves to judge the breeds for which they are now approved.
There have been numerous articles written on the handling of show dogs, and a good many books as well.
One of the thorniest questions asked when looking for the next How do we meet the supply and demand for purebred dogs by family companion is, where should I get my dog?
Some breeds are known to be notoriously challenging, no place for the weak or clueless. At the top of that heap there are a few where only ironclad experts and demented thrill-seekers dare venture. Then there’s the Doberman ring.
Some time ago, while we were sitting around telling lies and talking smart, a long-time hunting partner of mine posed an interesting question.
It takes a village to put on a dog show. Many people must be involved in planning, organizing and working at any show, but few jobs are as underappreciated as that of the ring steward.
