Showsight - October 2021

or Stand Alone Cluster?

DO WE NEED A NEW PLAN?

BY WALTER SOMMERFELT

W riting for SHOWSIGHT Magazine has given me a unique opportunity to share some of my thoughts and insights into our sport. With near- ly 50 years of involvement, it would be foolish of me or anyone else to believe that these views are always right on the money or even agreed with by the fancy. Rather, they are just one person’s observations and opinions, and if used correctly, they may lead to constructive conversations between fanciers to help maintain and improve our sport. So often in our everyday lives, we run into situations where our computers, cell phones, televisions, and so many of our other devices go a little haywire. When this happens, we can usually just shut them off, or unplug them, plug them back in, and hit the restart button to get them up and functioning properly again. Have you ever wondered if, maybe, our world of conformation dog shows is also a little haywire? If you do, what are some of the ways you think might put us back on track and bring new families and exhibitors into the sport? As I pondered this question, I tried to look back into the history of AKC dog shows, and the changes and developments experienced over the years. The initial purpose of our dog shows was, and should still be today, the evaluation of breeding stock. In the early history of the sport, it was generally the domain of people of significant wealth and resources. These individuals maintained large kennels of breeding stock, had kennel managers, and often employed spe- cial handlers to exhibit their stock in competition. In those days, there was a very limited number of shows—with great distances in between. In order for most exhibitors to attend them, a great deal of travel, often by train or other another means, was neces- sary. It is safe to say that in the early days, the average American family could not afford to even think of competing with these people. Most would not have even had the resources to purchase a purebred dog. Historically speaking, the ending of World War II began a peri- od of great and growing prosperity in our country. The Post-War Baby Boom and the expansion of the middle class changed Amer- ica into a booming country with a great economy and unlimited

potential growth. People from the middle class were now mov- ing to the suburbs, buying their own homes, and gaining access to things that might not have been available to them in the past. Moving from a city apartment to a suburban home with a yard and other amenities that were not available in the former rental properties of most allowed many families to add the family dog to their households. Purebred dogs with AKC “papers” were now affordable, and AKC registrations were the equivalent of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval in those days. As we moved into the 1960s and beyond, the average family saw that their disposable income was increasing and that they could now join in activities that were not available to them in the past. Some of these people with AKC purebred dogs would learn about the world of AKC purebred dog shows, and many slowly migrated into our competitions. The average family liked the concept that our sport was a family sport that allowed people of all ages to come together and meet—and compete—on the same level. The fact that almost all shows were held on weekends made it even more attractive because after a week at work, they could look forward to the family going together to enjoy the competition and friendships that were developed at the shows. As most of you know, in those days, shows were one-day events and were always held in the local clubs’ geographic areas. Clubs were allowed to hold two shows per year, but not on the same weekend. Neighboring clubs in the same general geographic area would often team up to provide two shows on the same weekend, offering a minimum driving distance between shows on the same weekend. Most of the clubs would split their two shows into some combination of Spring and Fall or Summer and Winter events. These arrangements meant that on at least two weekends per year, the communities in which the shows were held would have an opportunity for the residents to come out and be introduced to the various breeds as well as to the sport itself. Because all the shows were held on the weekends, working peo- ple and children could still go to their jobs or school and be able to show dogs on the weekends. In many cases, depending upon the

116 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2021

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