Backstage at the National Dog Show: Promoting...
BY DAN SAYERS continued
public on the merits of a purebred vs. a designer dog. The benching area at the National Dog Show is not only an ideal venue for promoting breeds both foreign and familiar, it’s also the perfect place to get a message “out there.” Fanciers of the vulnerable Otterhound greeted fellow exhibitors and spectators alike with a banner that read, “Save the Otterhounds. We are endangered.” The urgency of the message was clear and it was strengthened by the living, breathing Otterhound that delighted making acquaintance with every kid that wandered by. Of course, it’s the opportunity to pet and play with a purebred dog that lures families away from the rings and back to the benches. In the informal atmosphere of a bench- ing area, exhibitors can interact freely with spectators without feeling rushed. Questions posed about the needs of a particular breed can be answered in greater detail and with more consid- eration than is possible through email or even by phone. Breeders can get a “gut” feeling about someone’s suitabil- ity for their breed, and potential pup- py buyers can decide if a breed’s size, coat and activity level will fit in with their lifestyle. The National Dog Show may be an ideal venue for breeders of purebred dogs to meet potential puppy people and promote breed preservation. But it’s also a great show in which to compete. This year’s Saturday entry included 56 Golden and Chesapeake Bay Retriev- ers, and 45 Siberian Huskies. ( Show- Sight’s Executive Editor Emeritus, Joe McGinnis, drew an entry of 42 in Junior Showmanship.) With more than 20 million viewers, the show’s two- hour telecast provides unprecedented exposure for the dog sport. Big entries also mean plenty of people to cozy up next to, including many lifelong devo- tees to the sport such as international judges on an overseas assignment, professional handlers with a precious few moments to spare, master breed- ers with strongly held opinions, televi- sion celebrities with a passion for dogs, and retired figure skaters to provide a little colorful commentary. Retired fig- ure skaters? Sure, why not. The whole point of a benched show is to spend the better part of the day with people who love purebred dogs just as you do. This includes people from all walks of life, and getting to know them a bit better is as good a reason as any to wait around for Groups to start.
Visitors to the National Dog Show greeted the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje for the first time this year as a fully-recognized breed.
This banner displayed in the benching area sent a clear message to the dog-loving public: ‘Save the Otterhounds. We are endangered.’
184 • S how S ight M agazine , D ecember 2018
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