Table Talk · March 4, 2020
The Beverly Hills Kennel Club show for 2020 is a wrap. The entries were up by several hundred dogs each day; and the club and all involved have done a great job of returning this show to its former glory. This year, as has been the case for the last few years, the show was taped for television and it airs on Palm Sunday, April 5th (not Easter Sunday like the last couple of years). The producer of the show does a beautiful job portraying the Beverly Hills Kennel Club show as a glamorous, star-studded event, which in turn is terrific outreach for the public. While this production in the past couple of years has not had the educational perspective of other dog show productions–such as the Westminster highlight show–it does give visibility to the sport of purebred dogs which encourages the general public to attend shows and potentially get involved.
I continue to worry about the lack of concern and respect for the handlers and their dogs behind the scenes. In my humble opinion, the group ring that is set up for the show is quite lovely and would be sufficient to also host the Best in Show competition, which would make the taped for television day run much more efficient and allow the show to conclude before 8 PM at night. The ring set-up for Best in Show is not only an unrealistic portrayal of a dog show, but it is sub-optimal for handlers and dogs. The shape of the ring for Best in Show is not what handlers and dogs are accustomed to and moving dogs to show them at their best can be very difficult, if not impossible. Spectators and exhibitors are moved to a different area of the grounds for Best in Show judging and this transition takes more time for set-up at the end of a very long day. Exhibitors, of course, have a choice. Even with the concerns outlined above, the entry continues to grow, and the general public loves to watch a beautiful dog show on TV! Everyone can check out the end result on Sunday April 5th on NBC.
On the opposite coast, the Barkaritaville shows in Tallmadge, Ohio were enjoyed by all. The club and volunteers have done a sensational job making this show fun for all and they have also done a wonderful job of fundraising for worthy causes within our sport.
Next up for me is Louisville, Kentucky where we will bring you Table Talk Live! coverage. Please remember to reach out to me at deb.cooper@caninechronicle.com if you have a few minutes to help out with a breed priority segment, or if you have a special interest story that you feel the fancy would like to hear.
Jason Hoke has been very busy recently! He has been working on a new restaurant/bar venture called D’Vino in Madison, Wisconsin which recently had its soft opening. The actual opening will happen soon so when you are in the Madison, Wisconsin area, please make plans to stop in! Jason took a break from the restaurant to travel to Minsk, where he judged this past weekend. Congratulations on the new venture, and safe travels, my friend!
Poodle fancier Terri Meyers has been diagnosed with Lymphoma. We are all pulling for you my friend, and we know you’ve got this! Please keep Terri in your thoughts as she fights against this ugly disease.
Celebrating birthdays this week are: Dale Sunlin, Maria Arechaederra, Lesley Potts, Judy Cooper, Tuni Conti, Diana Hadsell, Lois DeMers, Red Tatro and Keith Bailey.
Please remember this my friends: You are never too important to be nice to people! Travel safe, hug your dog, and be kind to your fellow exhibitors and club volunteers. Until next time…
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