The growing list of canceled shows is distressing to anyone who loves the sport of purebred dogs. Every day seems to bring a bit more bad news. However, we are not here to talk about cancellations specifically. We are here to celebrate the valiant efforts of those trying their damnedest to make sure the show goes on!
There has been plenty of conversation about what the return of dog shows and other events will look like in the post-quarantine age of COVID-19. Opinions run the gamut from “I am never coming back” to “Wherever it is, I will be at the first show that sticks”. As we begin to try to imagine what shows and trials will look like, suggestions range from measured thoughts and concerns to the ludicrous.
Germany is quite rightly famous for its Autobahn, beer, wurst and of course its automobile industry. However, something that never quite seems to make the ‘Top Ten Things Germany is Famous For’ list, and in my opinion a contribution that is far more important (than cars, beer or sausage) for bringing joy to millions all around the world, are the numerous dog breeds that have also come from this country.
The worldwide need for explosive detection and parole dogs continues to grow despite the fact that there are more than 80 million dog owners in the US. The shortage quickly followed the events of 9/11, Brussels, Boston, Las Vegas, New York and London. According to government sources, the U.S. has historically been buying about 90 percent of its detection and patrol dogs from European breeders. Other countries have also relied on these European breeders for the same dogs, and European vendors have become the middleman who brings dogs to several locations for the convenience of the buyers. Most of the dogs are sold without pedigrees because most buyers have no interest in breeding. This system works, but not without some fault. There are issues involving the quality of the dogs, the cost and time required to train them and the fact that only about 35% of those purchased successfully complete their training and ultimately become working dogs (3). Guide dogs have a somewhat better success rate at about 50% (4).
The Great Pyrenees was named for the Pyrenees mountain range, which forms a natural border between France and Spain, where they have been used as flock guardians for millennia. In Europe, the breed is called Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Their ancestors were likely the primarily white mountain flock guardian dogs from thousands of years ago in Asia Minor. They are renowned for their devotion to their flocks and their shepherds and their families. Many people recognize some breeds as dual dogs, succeeding in their original function as well as the show ring. The same can be said for flock guardian dogs. Many of these breeds we see in the show ring also work to protect livestock and other animals.
The virus came in deadly silence. One by one, it stalked its victims. There was no immunity against it. Clinics and hospitals around the U.S., and the world, soon were overwhelmed with patients; fatality rates soared. Sound familiar? It should: the canine parvovirus outbreak in the late 1970s did to dogs what the 2020 coronavirus (covid-19) outbreak is doing to humans.
There are numerous stories of heroic canine rescues and dogs that either have been trained or have learned to detect seizures, low blood sugar and some forms of cancer among other health issues. We all know that dogs are sensitive to our emotions. If there is tension and stress in the house or happiness, dogs respond. If you are having a good time, the dog always gets in on the fun. If you are feeling down or having a bad day, they seem to know and will put their head on your lap or a paw on your knee. If you are angry, they know to stay out of your way. But what about all those occasions when dogs do something intuitively, in many cases, things for which they have never been trained or taught? There are times when dogs display a “sixth sense” that is downright spooky.
This issue of The Canine Chronicle celebrates the Sporting Group, an impressive collection of breeds developed to do a specific job over a specific terrain. Looking at the array of sporting breeds today, we can’t help but be amazed by the courage, perseverance, and creative eye of the breed’s founders.
We live in challenging times. Our best efforts are needed to rise to this challenge, navigate our way through the maze, and successfully find the way out. Judges face these dilemmas in ways as individual as they are themselves. Read these thoughtful responses. Try to walk in their shoes. Could you?
