says WHAT’S ONE WAY DOG SHOWS CAN ATTRACT NEW PARTICIPANTS?
QUESTION FOR ALL SHOWSIGHT READERS What’s one way dog shows can attract new participants?
Thank you to everyone who offered opinions on this month’s topic. The following is a selection of the responses. Want to voice your opinion to the fancy? Follow ShowSight’s Facebook page for the monthly question prompt!
When a person only needs a major give them entry credit for next dog show so not to have to pay continually for a major possibility when majors are so hard to find much less win! Also not penalize those who show up because those who needed a major didn’t show up because it wasn’t a major! Have judges give extra consideration to the dog who wasn’t professionally handled as to what the could of been if handled professionally which is done a lot but novices think they should of won just because they see no real difference between their dog and the one that won! Also if a novice is having problems possibly give some advice! —Anonymous I think the one thing that made me proud of the dog world is the responds everyone chipped in and helped with the Tex- as hurricane Harvey. People jumped I and donated supplies, food, crates, anything they could think of. You see so much hate in this world and for people to stop what they were doing and helped people with their dogs, the people and the clubs. My husband and I went to Rockport, Texas one month after the hurricane and the horrible conditions the animals and people were living in was unspeakable. You make new friends and let people know that the dog show world people are wonderful people. —Pam Berg Osborne I believe that there is no longer pride in owning a pure- bred dog. If the public can be swayed away from the “design- er” mutts then owning an AKC breed could entice the new owner to experiment with his new acquisition. That’s what happened in my case but I stumbled into show people along the way—46 years ago! —Anonymous New members starting kennels and showing need local mentors, to be made welcome, treated much better and even helped. —Anonymous
people in touch with one another; each one encouraging the other. —Arlene Grimes
It has become to expensive for a family activity. Judging needs to be better, I see judges putting up dogs that should be sold as pets. Too many handlers. The handler should have to be trained or licensed. Anyone can call themselves a handler if they show dogs for another person. People at the shows should be more helpful to new exhibitors. Too many people take up to much room at shows, giving a new person no where to groom their dogs. I think AKC has tried every- thing they can think of to attract new people. Clubs need to be aware of new people and help them to find a space to groom. It is good they have a new exhibitor briefing, make sure people are aware of this. —Anonymous I think if clubs have at least one day of special events, like the 4-6 puppy event or the OH event. These help as well as more of the obedience classes now being offered at shows. They allow all dogs to join in and to me that is a win/win for everyone. Anything that encourages people to do more with their dogs is a positive step for all involved. They aren’t just throwing food at it, they are taking time to train and inter- act with their dog. It is hard as the younger folks have all been bombarded with the ‘rescue mantra’, so they aren’t even aware there are events their mixed breeds can participate in. A campaign to inform with billboards, newsprint ads, social media ads may be a way to get more people to recognize there are fun things to do with their dogs and anyone can join in. —Carol D’Aloisio Stop driving away older exhibitors, as they’re your best reference to others on the rewards of participating in the sport of dogs. —Anonymous
Judges education on dog anatomy, structure and function. —Anonymous
Have a variety of judges to show to, instead of constantly repeating judges. —Anonymous
Stop putting up dogs due to the merits of the handler. Mediocrity is being rewarded far too much in favor of power- ful handlers. —Anonymous
A couple of months before the local kennel club show, offer free handling classes one night a week, maybe through the local Recreation Dept or 4-H clubs. It gets to the people that have a purebred and have wondered about participating but either didn’t know how to go about it. It also puts those
Make it easier to find majors or once majors are only needed give back money for shows that were entered but not
124 • S how S ight M agazine , O ctober 2018
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