Did You Know… You Have The “POWER”!

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134 – May, 2026

By Michael Canalizo

As I started to pen my next article, I had a very different thought in mind. But after a four day set of shows in Western Canada last week…I had an epiphany of sorts.

I know the CC articles are well read by a broad range of those in the dog sport. This month’s article could resonate as a gentle reminder to many who have a few years under their belt, but anyone relatively new… Pay Attention!

The owners and breeders who exhibit their dogs have such an amazing advantage over and above anyone else in the ring. It starts long before you get to the show. You have that personal connection and oversight of your charge, which is key. You know their little quirks, and they in turn know how to respond to your hand and mindset. You control their condition in coat and muscle, both important aspects to be in place before you enter the ring. I know (at least I hope) you expose the young ones to the strange noises that can happen at indoor shows, or you hang umbrellas over them so its no surprise when they catch a glimpse of one along a ring on a sunny day, or having to run under a flapping tent at a windy outdoor event. They figure out that the shiny, bangling bracelets you wear (with bright red nail polish) are okay… and the odor of a overpowering perfume or a a nasty scent of tobacco are all part of the experience when checking their bite. (I recommend always doing a full mouth exam, even if its not part of the expectation of your breed because many clubs are bringing in international opinions, and they have a serious expectation that full dentition is a major issue in every breed, and they will be calm for the quick front-only exam). You might add “making sure a puppy understands what ‘rain drops’ are” to this list. I learned long ago that my coated Afghan Hounds need to figure out that those little droplets aren’t something bombing them from outer space. I wish I had a video of the day, but it was long before cell phone videos. In the video, I carry a puppy under a blanket to the van so she doesn’t get wet…roll her in a crate from said van right under the tented grooming area next to the ring…groom her to perfection and proudly parade into the ring with this immaculately prepped puppy. The words “Take her around” comes from the judges table. I move 5 feet, and after the next 20 feet–after passing the tent line on a rainy day–this elegant, aristocratic, perfectly coiffed puppy becomes a ball of black hair squirming and contorting herself into a pretzel, staring up to the Rain Gods attacking her; and no, a quick recovery was not in the cards.

Click here to read the complete article
134 – May, 2026

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Posted by AnthonyA on May 14 2026. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.