THE PURPOSE OF SHOWING

I was ina very interesting discussion on a chat list this week regarding the show ring -  It seems to me that those who are not involved and do no show have very strong opinions on what it is all about and they miss the mark by a wide margin.  It is a very involved and intense competition to say the least.

I have to wonder if these people have been rejected when attending a show or because they have poor quality dogs feel they need to strike out at all the things wrong with our sport. So I am going to try to shed some light on a very heated subject -

YES - it is a very closed  society and as we read earlier can be considered  to be very cult like by some.  But if you have no interest in pure bred dogs then it would seemed closed to you.  I don't care about motorcycles or motorcycle gangs but the people who love them love them with a passion.   They have get togethers, travel around the country together but it is not for me so I don't worry about what they do unless it breaks the law in some way.

But people who do not show seem really vindictive over the whole show ring program.  We hear that it is too political, too snobby, too closed minded, only handlers win and half the dogs that are champions do not deserve it.  Is it any wonder people don't like us???

Personally I don't think anyone has a right to critize something they have never done.  It is way too easy to misunderstand half of what is going on.  We just finished watching Westminister and already rumors are flying about the peke that won.  It is easy to sit in an arm chair and judge.  In the ring is a whole different matter and we only have a one sided view .  It would be nice to put on these special glasses and see a 3 D and life like.

For those who don't like showing or the "politics" my suggestions is don't do it.  No one forces anyone to show.  It is a sport some enjoy it some don't but for breeders it is an invaluable tool.