Suitcases with Wheels
A Simple Solution to a ‘Doggone’ Problem BY DAN SAYERS T he best solu- tion to a problem is often the simplest.
“MAYBE THE WAY TO TURN AROUND DECLINING REGISTRATIONS AND SHRINKING ENTRIES IS TO PUT ‘WHEELS’ ON THE DOG SPORT TO MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.”
Remem- ber luggage without wheels? Me neither. Ever since that first passenger strolled through an airport terminal with a free- wheeling “Rollaboard” by his side, the days of the hardshell suitcase were numbered. Vir- tually overnight, the problem of carrying
heavy suitcases through busy airports became a thing of the past. And as the market for suitcases without wheels dried up, the demand for rolling luggage only grew and grew. All it took was a few casters and a retractable handle and—voila— problem solved. Maybe the dog fancy should take a lesson from the lug- gage industry. Maybe the way to turn around declining reg- istrations and shrinking entries is to put “wheels” on the dog sport to make things easier for everyone involved. Maybe there’s a way to grow the sport of dogs by trying something so doggone obvious that’s it’s never been tried before. It’s no secret that participation at most conformation shows has been on the decline in America for more than a decade. After years of unprecedented growth that witnessed an increase in the number of All-Breed, Limited Breed and Specialty dog clubs in the late 1990s and early 2000s, inter- est in the exhibition of purebred dogs fell dramatically. The reasons for the sudden downturn were many and varied. An aging population, a decrease in disposable income and an increase in personal expenses, a dearth of affordable show sites (particularly in urban areas), and a growing dependency on technology all contributed to the sport’s decline. So too did competition from online registries, the influence of the AR movement, and interest in “designer” dogs. Perhaps noth- ing redirected the public’s attention away from purebred dogs as did images of Hurricane Katrina’s victims and the rescue movement that followed in its wake. “Rescue” dogs have since become symbols of compassion. They have all but replaced the purebred dog as a status symbol in the hearts and minds of many of today’s dog lovers. For the entirety of its existence, the AKC and its member clubs managed to carry on with a production-based business model that all but assured steady growth through registra- tions. Conformation shows brought purebred dogs to the attention of the general public thereby increasing interest in both breeding and exhibition. As more and more Americans desired a purebred dog, the AKC provided proof of pedigree and a place where recognized breeds could be assembled under one roof. This system worked exceedingly well, until it didn’t. In the new millennium, the purebred dog community and the American Kennel Club must compete with an entirely new attitude toward dog ownership. To remain relevant, the sport of dogs needs to install a new “set of wheels” that makes it easier for everyone to navigate through the 21st century.
A simple set of wheels solved the problem of carrying a heavy suitcase.
76 • S how S ight M agazine , J une 2018
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