Fast Starts &
Finishing Big
A s the ball drops on December 31st of each year, people all over the world look forward to what they perceive as a clean slate. All types of resolutions are put in place. For some, it’s a new exercise and weight loss program, for others it’s revising their budgets or planning for a big trip or specific home updates, and hundreds of other things that many of us set out to achieve. In our sport, New Year’s Day is the start of another year for the ranking sys- tems. Breeders and Owner-Handlers, as well as Professional Handlers, begin to map out their path to achieving certain goals in the coming year. Breeders may be looking forward to a long-planned breeding taking place, and hopefully, giving them a new and improved prospect to continue their attempt at producing the best example of their breed. Or they may be trying to have one of their sires or dams achieve a top producer role within the breed. Every breeder defines success differently, so while one may be about getting as many pups as possible into great “show homes,” others breed for themselves and do their very best to place their puppies in the highly coveted “Forever Home.” Breeders con- tinue to be the backbone of our sport, as they supply the public as well as those in all the various forms of competition with the offspring that are the very founda- tion of our various competitions. Without the responsible breeder, where would we be? I shudder to think of those puppy mills that do no health, temperament, or other genetic testing, supplying the growing demand from the general public. With the ever-expanding National Owner-Handled Series, many exhibitors start to lay out a plan to achieve a national ranking in both the regular and the Owner-Handled standings for their breed. Many of our Owner-Handlers are truly invested in this program, and in today’s environment, clubs need to pay attention to the program and treat it as close to and as equal as possible with the regular Groups and Best in Show. Many breeders and owners use the services of the Professional Handlers. For those who have both a high-quality specimen and the financial resources, the New Year may be the start of a well-mapped plan to achieve a high ranking in both the Breed and All-Breed standings. Achieving high rankings is not an easy task, and depending upon the numbers and quality within each breed, achieving this type of success requires a lot of hard work and planning. The New Year is also a time when many who compete in performance events plan for the same types of success and rankings in each of their chosen areas. As you map out your plans for 2024, I wish you all success in the coming year. I look forward to seeing which dog will end the upcoming year as America’s Top Dog. NEW YEAR/OLD FACE IN A NEW JOB Congratulations to long-time Professional Handler Frank Murphy as he takes over for the retiring Mary Dukes as our newest AKC Field Rep. We wish Frank the best of luck in his new position and welcome Mary into the ranks of the Judging Community.
BY WALTER SOMMERFELT
58 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2024
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