Discussing the Sport – Marjorie Martorella

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By Francine Reisman

From the archives of The Canine Chronicle, April, 2014

Marjorie Martorella has been involved in the sport of dogs since 1968. In 1974 she had her first pointer litter and the Marjetta prefix began many years of success. A top breeder, Marjorie also became a professional handler and in 1981 was granted her license to judge. She bred over 150 champions including the Westminster Best In Show Pointer, Ch. Marjetta National Acclaim.

I would like to thank her for taking the time to answer these questions about our sport .

FR: Entries have declined throughout the U.S. over the past decade. Why do you think this has happened? Why did people in the past stay in the sport as long as they did as opposed to the “Five Year Wonders” of today? Do you think exhibitors had a more even playing field in the past? If yes, why is that?

MM: There are many reasons entries are down in the US. The impact of the animal rights agenda has been very effective in making the public feel guilty about buying a purebred dog rather than getting a rescue dog. They have also been instrumental in getting local communities to put dog limits in place so people can keep fewer dogs than in the past. The designer dog craze also added to this problem.

Additionally, the cost of keeping a dog and raising a litter is very high. Veterinary prices are through the roof. Before one breeds, there are many tests that are recommended in each breed. Shipping costs are very high and so is the cost of surgical implants. Many of us are paying $2,500 for c-sections. If we don’t breed, we don’t have dogs to show.

If you look around the shows, you notice the age of many of the exhibitors is 50+. Other than the kids who grew up in the sport, few young people are involved. There are many reasons for that. The economy is a major factor. Young people have trouble finding jobs after graduating and many are forced to go back and live with their parents. Those who are working are struggling to save to buy a home and start a family. There is no money for a luxury hobby like showing dogs.

I think there were always “five year wonders” in the sport. The difference today is that there are fewer of them!
In the past, an owner/handler did have a chance of reaching the top with their dogs. An accomplished owner/handler with a good dog could get top awards. It is more difficult today due to the number of shows. The average owner has to work and is unable to attend every show. Only the professional handlers can attend each and every 4 or 5 day circuit week-in and week-out.

FR: Did exhibitors and handlers travel the way people do today? Was flying dogs around the country an important part of the dog game years ago? Why do you think people take dogs to shows around the country as they do now?

MM: When I got into showing dogs in the early ‘70s people drove to shows. The only time we would fly was to a national specialty or one of the prestigious shows such as Santa Barbara, Westchester, Philadelphia and, of course, Westminster. In the mid-eighties, all of that changed and handlers started flying in and out of circuits. Again, the average owner cannot compete at this level. Only dogs being campaigned and sponsored by wealthy owners can compete at that level. For a while, the frenzy would start in November and December. Now it starts January 1st!

FR: How has the demise of the big kennels affected the sport today? Where do the top winning dogs come from now?

MM: The big kennels had a greater chance of producing high quality dogs, not only due to the number of dogs being produced but because of the line-breeding that was being practiced. In the breed I am involved in, I see little line-breeding. People are importing dogs from all over the world without doing any research on the background of these dogs either in regards to health or quality. These dogs are being used in breeding programs and, as a result, there is little consistency in the quality or the ability to produce quality exhibits.

FR: How do you feel about the 4 and 5 day “weekends” of shows? What was the longest circuit of shows back in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Do you think the level of conditioning today is better or worse than in earlier days? What about grooming?

MM: The “Tar Heel Circuit” was the longest circuit in the states for a long time. I believe there were 7 days of shows in one building. The AKC then stepped in and put a limit on the number of consecutive days a circuit could have. We all know that circuits have been very clever in circumventing these rules with a day off between the shows. I personally would not want one of my dogs competing week-in and week-out at this level. I don’t breed dogs to live in a box. I want my dogs to have a good life, which includes exercise. It is virtually impossible for a handler to keep all of the dogs in their care in good muscle tone when they are on the road constantly. Special care may be possible for the priority dogs, but not all of the dogs in their care. It is simply impossible.

Grooming has certainly changed. When I started showing Irish Setters in the ‘70s, the dogs would be bathed on Friday night and a towel would be used as a blanket to keep the top coat straight. No dryers were used and they certainly weren’t brought to shows. Dogs weren’t bathed at the shows. If you presented a dog like that today, it would look like an unmade bed in comparison to the competition. One of my pet peeves is the excessive use of dryers on the coated breeds. The quality and texture of the coat is altered. It is hard to have a harsh coat when the dog is bathed and blown dry everyday of a circuit.

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