Editor’s MESSAGE
s exhibitors make plans to attend their breed’s National Specialty this year, many will consider the option of entering their dogs in the Bred-By classes—often under an experienced breeder-judge. Competitors whose dogs are eligible typically choose these options as much for the benefit of the crowd gathered ringside as for the opinion of the judge in the center of the ring. The seasoned breeder understands that a bred-by dog demonstrates not only the latest hopeful’s singular conformation but also that of its ancestors as well. Knowledgeable spectators appreciate this too and are able to see the links with the past while considering how useful a dog or bitch (or the sire or dam) could be to their own breeding plans. A Fourth Place in Bred-By can be a sig- nificant victory indeed, especially when the placement initiates a conversation about a potential breeding. This year, with just over half of all AKC recognized breeds listed as “low entry,” the role of the breeder has perhaps never been as critical to the welfare of purebred dogs as it is today. In some breeds, each breeding that results in typey, healthy puppies can be viewed as insurance against the perma- nence of extinction. Master breeders and knowledgeable newcomers understand this, and that is why their appearance in the Bred-By classes is so important.
If you’re making plans to attend your breed’s 2024 National, please consider entering your bred-by dog or bitch in a Bred-By class. Your entry will signal to everyone (including the anti-breeder crusaders) that
breeding purebred dogs to a Breed Standard is an act that benefits everyone, most especially the health and welfare of the dogs. And if you find yourself sitting ringside, please be sure to cheer on the breeders who’ve brought out their dogs for your benefit as much as for the judge’s appraisal. As you enjoy this issue, I wish you the very best of luck in your personal pur- suits and hope that you find what you’re looking for.
DAN SAYERS Editor-in-Chief
@showsightmagazine
@Showsight
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40 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2024
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