Like many of you, I spend quite a bit of time on the road driving to one dog show or another. Living in southern New England, a “long drive” for me is an enviable three or four hours, but it’s still enough time that I am constantly buying audio books.
“Rescue is the Best Breed!” proclaimed the sign. Another proclaimed, “Adoption is the Best Option.” Several mixes paraded about with harnesses that read “Adopt Me!” or “Rescue Me!” There was a “Kiss-a-Bull” pit bull rescue kissing booth—-yeah, that’s not a lawsuit waiting to happen. Many families were walking around trying to outdo one another with their rescue’s sad tale with the dogs in question at the end of their leads. We were at the Houston World Series of Dog Shows last week.
Most of us can pretty easily define “kennel blind.” We think of the people who post little snippets of their breed standard along with a photo of their dog who objectively does not meet the description. But, more and more, it seems like there is a trend towards another kind of kennel blindness: those people who will happily tell you what they would like to improve in their own dogs, but are completely incapable of seeing the good in other people’s dogs.
We asked experienced AKC judges two questions about current issues affecting our sport.
Here’s what they had to say…
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has made the news quite a bit these days. Contrary to recent reports, they don’t spend all their time on the headline stuff. In fact, one of the biggest developments these days is…well, if you’re reading about it here, obviously it’s dog-related JFK, North America’s busiest international travel hub, also ranks as the number one international air freight gateway.
Many years ago Long Island, New York was the Gold Coast of top-notch dog kennels, dog clubs and exceptional breeders. Fanciers with momore than sufficient funds housed many, many of their chosen breed together and they had the kennel help to manage such large endeavors. Those major operations are virtually gone now. Michael might have been the last of the “exclusive kennel managers” of this type. I’m not sure who houses 30-50 dogs with a full staff in what is now a highly urban area.
My fellow American dogs, I’m speaking to you from the boss’ cluttered office. While it’s not oval, a good many policy decisions have been made within its walls and most of them have affected me. So, I am here to issue a warning about something that could bring a cloud to the future for some of you who are enjoying life in the field. I’m speaking, of course, of dog shows and the show ring.
Most American exhibitors know little, if anything, about Canadian dogs shows and the pleasures to be had showing their dogs north of the border. Yet, many Canadian Kennel Club events have a certain charm that one finds lacking at too many of our shows here in the United States. They also have features that the American Kennel Club should consider implementing.
Take two fingers, starting at the top of your shoulder, and trace the bone that runs horizontally from the top of your shoulder blade (scapula) to the bone (sternum) that sits vertically in the center of your rib cage.
Showing dogs is the only sport that, by the payment of an entry fee and with no training whatsoever, you can compete directly with a professional. There is no other organized sport in which you can do that. The amateur is competing against someone who makes their livelihood from showing dogs.
