Table Talk ·November 25, 2020
Entries closed this past Wednesday for the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin and the lead-up shows to it. Preliminary entries have been calculated and the lead-up shows have entries ranging from 3367 on Tuesday to 3763 on Thursday. The limit of 4500 dogs was not reached. The lead-up shows are superintended by MB-F (www.infodog.com). The AKC National Championship, held on Saturday and Sunday, and the NOHS finals on Friday are superintended by Onofrio (www.onofrio.com). Breed counts for these shows are on the Canine Chronicle website (www.caninechronicle.com), however, totals are not yet available. I don’t believe that the 4500 dog limit for the National Championship was reached, and I would guess the primary reason for this is our foreign dog fanciers will not be joining us due to the pandemic.
I will do my best to keep everyone posted regarding plans for the shows, and I look forward to seeing everyone there!!
The first all-breed shows in California were held this past weekend in Corning, California on an Indian Reservation. While the shows were advertised as outdoors under cover, the shows were actually held in an enclosed building on a dirt floor. After a bit of a rough start, the club addressed exhibitor concerns regarding crowded conditions by delaying the show to move equipment, chairs, etc. in order to alleviate the concerns as much as possible. There were some exhibitors who were not comfortable with the conditions and left after the first day. Sadly, negative posts–including photographs–were posted on social media. I am deeply saddened by this behavior. The majority of the fancy is working very hard to keep our sport moving forward. I cannot understand how posting this type of thing on social media can help that effort.
Going to the show committee or the AKC Representative to voice a concern about conditions is certainly in order. To give the general public an opportunity to view our sport in a negative vein seems unproductive to me.
The shows in Chandler, Arizona this past weekend were also held on an Indian Reservation. While the premium list and judging program stated that the club would be performing temperature checks and issuing daily wristbands, this was not done. Many exhibitors entered these shows with the understanding that these precautions would be taken and were disappointed when they did not take place. Exhibitors voiced their concerns to the Show Committee about a judge who appeared to be symptomatic and the judge was asked to leave. Kudos to the show committee for their responsiveness to this difficult situation. The best advice to all is if you have symptoms or do not feel well, please stay home.
The Thanksgiving Cluster was held this past weekend in Massachusetts at the Big E in Springfield. Strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines was followed and all felt safe throughout the weekend. A big thank you to the hard-working show committee.
Putting on shows during these unprecedented times is difficult at best. Everyone can do their part by following social distancing, wearing masks correctly, and not taxing the show committee even more by requiring them to police these guidelines. If we all do our part, we will be able to maintain our shows until this pandemic is behind us!
Entries On Time, one of the popular entry services, has announced that they will no longer accept entries for dog shows superintended by Onofrio Dog Shows. Their decision is based on the feeling that they cannot provide the best service to their clients for Onofrio shows based on the current business practices which have included not accepting third party entries, delaying the acceptance of entries not done through the Onofrio website, and opening shows at odd times. Those fanciers who use Entries on Time will have to do their own entries for shows in which Onofrio is the superintendent. This will, in all likelihood, require utilizing Onofrio’s online entry system.
AKC Club development sent a letter to all Clubs licensed to hold AKC conformation events clarifying the policy that the management of events must be the responsibility of the club licensed to hold the event. Clubs cannot transfer their name to a third party for the purpose of holding a show, and the club must be responsible for hiring judges, etc.
The fancy is mourning the loss of our dear friend, Roger Hartinger. Roger passed away last week after a short hospital stay. He was 86 years old. Roger and Paula, his wife of 64 years, could be seen hand in hand at most dog shows. Their admiration for one another was heart-warming. Roger was loved by all who knew him and will be sorely missed by the fancy. Our condolences go out to Paula and Roger’s many children, grandchildren and friends.
I was saddened to hear that Basset Hound fancier Col. Robert E. Booth passed away recently. The loss of Col. Booth will leave yet another vacancy in our sport. Our sympathies go out to his family and friends at this most difficult time.
Celebrating birthdays this week are: Elliott Weiss, Courtney Bastian, Elizabeth ‘Cromicles’ Salewsky, Tami Luddeke, Heather Lindberg, Jennifer Costandinitis, Curtiss Smith, Cathi DiGiacomo, Margaret Poindexter, Matt Hoagland, Colton O’Shea, Jamie Souza Bartlett, and Bonnie Wagaman. May each of you have the happiest of birthdays filled with love and kindness.
It is hard to believe that it is Thanksgiving already! I hope you all enjoy your holiday!
Be safe, stay well, and be kind! Remember: Nobody’s perfect. We all make mistakes. We say the wrong things. We do the wrong things. We fall. We get up. We learn. We grow. We move on. We live!! See you all soon! Until next time…
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