The American Kennel Club recently sent a survey to AKC all breed and parent club officers, delegates, and show chairs. The letter accompanying the survey said the following:
The American Kennel Club Board and Staff are currently considering ways to attract and retain participants in the conformation sport. The objective is to consider changes which will result in a better experience for Clubs, exhibitors, and the general public. The goals are to improve entries, level of participation, and, in turn, the financial performance of our show giving Clubs. The information you provide will be summarized and be presented to the Board of Directors in August.
As active members of the dog fancy you understand the challenges the conformation sport is facing and we are sure you have ideas on how to improve our sport. What we seek are ideas…ideas on how to improve the conformation show, thoughts on how to attract new people into the sport, and ways to attract the general public to shows so they can learn what purebred dogs are and why purposely bred dogs are important...
The survey was sent on behalf of the AKC Board of Directors. I applaud AKC for reaching out to the clubs and their members for help in addressing the myriad problems they currently face. Declining registrations, declining entries, lack of attendance, and generally bad public relations for purebred dogs are just a few of the problems AKC currently faces. I am happy to see they have recognized these problems, are facing them head-on, and they are asking for help.
My opinion is that there are numerous issues that must be addressed in order to correct the above-mentioned problems. However, the main problem is attracting new people to the sport. I think that comes through making the shows fun again. We also need to figure out how to get the general public to come to shows.
It seems to me that the perception our industry has given to those on the outside is that dog shows are:
1) only for people with lots of money or power, or both.
2) dominated by insiders and professionals, neither of whom are particularly welcoming of newbies unless they want to buy a dog or hire them for their services.
3) prim and proper events full of stressed-out exhibitors. The general public sees events that really aren’t much fun at all.
There are many other issues as well, but I think that every club needs to make a concerted effort, with assistance from AKC, to promote their show to the local community and make their shows interesting and fun. AKC needs to have liaisons to the local clubs to assist them with promotion and planning.
I am not sure how much interest there is from most small clubs to promote their shows to the general public. If there is, I feel many club members don’t know where to start. This is the same with planning shows and making them more fun. I think, when shows were growing, it got so easy to make money and grow entries that we forgot why most of us started showing in the first place. Now, when we need to make changes to the way we do business, hardly anyone knows how to do it.
There are a few shows around the country that exhibitors talk about every year. They love the atmosphere of these special shows and, in turn, the camaraderie that they experience. In short, they have fun. That’s what any recreational pursuit is about and, somehow, we need to put the fun back in dog shows. Maybe AKC’s survey will bring the ideas needed to inspire the organization and clubs it represents.
Multiple Group Winning
Ch.
Bayshore N’ RV Queen Victoria
America's #1 Parson Russell Terrier*
Group First • Judge Mrs. Glenda Dawkins
Owners: Yvonne Herrera
J. Frank Baylis
Breeders: Sharon Youngblood
J. Frank Baylis
Handlers:
Jane & Greg Myers, DHG
Assisted By:
Erika Bigott
Victoria’s show career got off to an auspicious start as she finished her championship in 6 shows with a Best of Breed from the 12-18 month class.
She quickly began winning Terrier groups as a special and was the #1 Parson Russell Terrier Bitch in 2009.
This year has brought much more success for Victoria and she is currently the #1 Parson Russell Terrier* in the nation. Her outstanding type and showmanship has been rewarded at shows across the country.
Victoria is the pride and joy of owner Mrs. Yvonne Herrera and when she isn’t on the road with handlers Jane and Greg Myers, she is at home with Yvonne where she vies for attention amongst several Golden Retrievers, an Umbrella Cockatoo, four cats, and a rabbit. Needless to say, she is never in need of a friend to play with.
In her free time, Victoria attends American Saddlebred horse shows with Yvonne.
The Herreras are proud to present Victoria to the fancy and look forward to watching her continue to excel in 2010.
