“Have we taken the fun out of dog shows?” my friend asked me the other day. This question came from left field as we were actually talking about a football game at the time.
I wittily responded, “Uh, I don’t know.” He was dead serious and, truthfully, I hadn’t thought about it. He asked me if our shows have gotten to the point where we take them too seriously. He questioned whether we have reached the point where judges, exhibitors, show committee members and superintendents cannot make light of certain situations without fear of potentially offending someone and being punished for it.
So, here’s the ultimate question? Has our sport progressed to the point where it has become such big business that the participants who subsidize and support it can no longer enjoy themselves while participating? Are dog shows so important; is there so much on the line; has our sport become so uptight that something that might be intended as a joke should elicit punishment by AKC because it ticked a few people off?
What’s the answer? Frankly, I don’t know. I do know one thing, though. I long for the Sam Pizzino’s, Lou Harris’s, and Lena Basquette’s of the world to continue to show their personalities in the ring and enjoy themselves while continuing to do a competent job. Is there anything wrong with this? Not as long as they are not acting inappropriately or unethically. I know that some would like to see everyone in the sport cut from the same cookie cutter mold, the same non-abrasive cloth, and behave as mind-numbed automatons. I don’t think this is going to happen in my lifetime, thank god. People will be people no matter what the consequences. They are going to present themselves differently. And let’s face it, different is sometimes good.
So how do you feel? Would you continue to attend dog shows if they were monotonous, boring homogenized events filled with people who showed no emotion whatsoever? Of course not. The reason we go is to watch people and have people watch us. We hope that we can be one of those lucky few winners so that we can celebrate our victory by pumping our fist in the air, patting our dog on the back and shaking our competitors’ hands. The emotions at the shows are intense and it is that same intensity that attracts us to them. You cannot participate in any competitive event without being somewhat emotional. Isn’t it the responsibility of those who judge them to help keep us on an even keel by tempering those emotions with their own? I happen to think it is.
I think it is time that we, as a sport and as a society, thicken our skins and realize that we may not like some of the actions of others. That doesn’t make them wrong, just different. Every action does not necessitate consequences. Don’t misunderstand me, sometimes people do bad things and they are wrong. But many times we take the smallest of actions and blow them totally out of proportion. There are times when we must turn our heads and ignore the little things. If we don’t, we may drive away those people that we need the most. Trust me, you will miss them when they are gone.
Owned By:
Sandra Middlebrooks
Jackie Harrington
Sara Winsted
Bred By:
Kathleen Morton
Sandstorm Salukis
Presented By: Erin Roberts
Bubbles’ pedigree is the combination of many top Salukis that have and continue to make an undeniable impact on the breed for generations. Some of these outstanding dogs include:
Blue Nile – “Slik” – owners-breeders Sara Winsted and Michael McMillan
Windstorm – “Lucky” – owner-breeder Starr White
As a multiple Best In Show winner, Bubbles already has, in limited showing, proven herself to be an athletic Saluki who possesses beautiful type, grace and soundness. We are looking forward to an exciting future with her as she strives to attain the legendary status of her illustrious ancestors.
