k
The Portable Library: Storage Tubs Keep...
BY DAN SAYERS continued
Booklets, brochures and certificates are filed in breed-specific folders.
campaigns with Borzoi and Standard Poodles as models, shot by some of the world’s leading fashion photographers. Newspapers too can be a reliable source of dog-related material, particularly the New York Times and those papers that continue to cover local all-breed shows. Though once a reliable source of dog show reporting, the best newspaper columns on the subject can now be sourced through online archives. Of course, there isn’t a writer, researcher or reporter working today who can do the job without Internet access. After all, the virtual library contains enough volumes to fill an infi- nite number of file folders and plastic tubs. Nearly every interview, profile and feature that has ever been printed is preserved online where it can be referenced for the price of an Inter- net connection. (And the occasional online subscription rate.) Yet despite the miracle of a paperless filing system, nothing can replace the convenience of having an original paper copy in hand before the laptop has even prompted its user for a password. Some things, like a first edition signed copy of Jack Lon- don’s The Call of the Wild or a kennel’s immortal foundation dam, can never be replaced and will never go out of style. Good organizational skills are timeless as well. A tidy office and a
“THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS FOR SUCCESS, SO IT PAYS TO STAY ORGANIZED. THIS IS TRUE FOR THE DOG WRITER JUST AS IT IS FOR THE BREEDER OR EXHIBITOR.”
well-regulated filing system can be a writer’s best friend whenever inspira- tion strikes or a deadline looms. Like- wise, excellent record keeping can work in favor for the aspiring dog breeder or professional handler. After all, utilizing the merits of any dog in a pedigree or managing a kennel full of show dogs can- not be left to chance. The key to success in these endeavors requires some seri- ous organization. To breed the best dog possible, that prepotent sire needs to
appear predictably in a pedigree—gen- erally more than once. And to achieve the desired result for a promising young dog in the show ring, a campaign must be carefully planned a year—or two—in advance. There are no shortcuts for suc- cess, so it pays to stay organized. This is true for the dog writer just as it is for the breeder or exhibitor. Just ask my dad who raised this dog writer and knows exactly where his favorite screwdriver ought to be.
110 • S how S ight M agazine , J uly 2018
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