Showsight - August 2021

Dog Show Parking, Grooming, and Human Behavior OUR SPORT STILL NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

BY WALTER SOMMERFELT

I don’t know about you, but whenever I turn on the TV and watch just about any news channel, I am bombarded with examples of absolutely terrible human behavior on display throughout our country. Riots, protests, looting, murder, and crime are virtually around every corner. As a young child growing up in America during the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, I would have never imagined the world as it is today. We still live in a world filled with an overwhelming majority of decent and law-abiding citizens. However, with the magnification provided by the media and technology, there is no question that there are many people and special interest groups that are out of control. Fortunately for those of us within the dog community, our sport (though not immune to problems) has kept poor behavior somewhat in check. Our sport still has numerous areas that need improvement. We regularly experience displays of poor sportsmanship and attacks on others through social media, as well as the verbal and written abuse of judges and exhibitors. For the new exhibitor or the young family visiting a show, bad behavior is often the cause of why some choose to never return or participate in the sport. In this article, I would like to address two areas that, in my opin- ion, still need major work. Probably, two of the least appreciated and most demanding jobs at a dog show go to the persons in charge of parking and grooming. Having been a show and cluster chair for many years, I can think of no other areas that create as many problems as do these two at almost every event. When it comes to parking, each facility may have its own rules as to where parking must be located as well as where and how RVs, especially, must be parked. For those attending with RVs when hook- ups are available, these may be limited and located in more than one area. The facility also sets its fees for the electricity as well as for water and sewer, if available. At most shows, there is a parking charge. These fees are usually between $5.00 and $10.00 per day depending on the facility as well as on the arrangement it may have with the show-giving club.

Probably, two of the least

appreciated and most demanding jobs at a dog show go to the persons in charge of parking and grooming.

186 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2021

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