2020 Sporting Group Hall of Fame
2020 Sporting Group Hall of Fame
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Take The Lead – The Who’s, What’s and Why’s
As Take The Lead enters its 28th year of operation, we find that in spite of everything, there are still many involved in our sport that don’t know who we are or what we do!
The Big E – Eventually
Who can forget being a kid sitting in the backseat of the family vehicle–heading to a vacation, special event, or holiday celebra-tion–when the trip seemed interminable? Remember the words that came from your mouth with a pout? “Are we there yet?” was the usual whine every parent heard at some time during our childhood travels. We were simply too eager for the journey to be over and to get on with the good stuff ahead. It didn’t matter that there were coloring books, cards, electronic games, and lots of snacks. Even the reassurance that we were getting close now was not comforting. Eventually, enough was enough.
Recovering from COVID with Patience and Grace
The appearance of COVID and the resulting world-wide pandemic has turned our lives upside down. The human toll is beyond measure. Yes, we can count cases of infection, hospitalizations and deaths. What we really cannot measure is the trauma. Deaths in the United States have surpassed 400,000 and 35% of people who survived the illness are facing on-going debilitating symptoms. Families and friends are mourning. Healthcare workers, first responders and others in direct contact with the sick and dying are beyond tapped out; physically, mentally and emotionally. The self-employed in a variety of fields are watching their business and financial resources drain away. In the best of situations, we are sorely missing our friends and activities.
Winthrop Rutherfurd and his Unparalleled Westminster Record
There’s no getting around the fact that dog people are absolutely fascinating. The nature of this sport pretty well weeds out all of the rigid conventionalists. Let’s face it; this is no place for anyone dedicated to straightforward, predictable outcomes. Competitive conformation is endlessly complicated and ever-changing in one way or another. Those who are attracted to the game and choose to stick around and ultimately succeed; well, you know that the rest of their life is bound to be a bit off-center.
The Head
For every breed, the head is the hallmark of its type. Details of head type are critical elements in terms of establishing that vital link between type and function. The head could be considered as the most vital structural element to assist the dog in performing its traditional function. Therefore, it goes without saying that the general structure of the head is dependent on breed and function. No aspect of head type is arbitrary or vague, although semantics can sometimes give that false impression. Proper head structure dictates a dog’s ability to do its job.
When You Have to Throw Away The Book
For 75-80 percent of the dogs in any sporting breed, or for that matter, just about any breed in the seven groups, conventional training methods for whatever you are asking them to do will get the desired results. In other words, these dogs can be successfully trained “by the book.” Another five percent or so of the dogs in any sporting breed have absolutely no interest in birds or any aspect of their job in the field. For these field misfits it’s probably best, for the mental health of both you and your dog, to seek some performance activity that doesn’t involve hunting or, in a lot of cases, retrieving, if you don’t want your dog to be a total couch potato. That brings us to the 15-20 percent that can be good performers in the field but for which conventional training methods are ineffective and can be downright detrimental to achieving success.
Ted Eldredge – A Legacy Built on the Irish Setter
Before I write a word about Irish Setters, I should confess my journalistic bias because this is the breed that got me hooked on purebred dogs. Don’t ask me to explain how or why. But I vividly remember the life changing moment when I saw a neighbor walking his new dog. It stopped me dead in my tracks. I was enthralled and nobody can match a six-year-old when it comes to non-stop please…please…why not?? Well, Mom never gave in to my Irish Setter obsession, which was clearly the sensible decision from a parental standpoint. She also nixed the Bloodhound, the Bluetick and the Saint Bernard, but as we know it merely forestalled the inevitable.
Hempstead Plains – Scene of America’s First Real Dog Show
It looks like outdoor shows are headed for a renaissance. They’re nice, but let’s face it; the drawbacks can be substantial – regardless of the season. Wind, rain, heat and bugs are just a few of the existential factors that constantly threaten our careful plans. So many aspects of the experience are unpredictable, but one bit of preplanning is always a safe bet – set up the show on a nice smooth, flat piece of turf. Exhibitors of Toys and coated breeds know precisely what’s at stake. “Take them around” has a whole new meaning if you are dodging potholes and tumbleweeds.
The 411 on Hiring a Handler
Now, I will wager that there are plenty of professional handlers out there who would like to see an article titled, How to Select the Right Clients. However, I thought it might be interesting to talk about hiring a professional handler and discuss why, why not, and maybe some do’s and don’ts.
