Showsight - August 2021

As my owner handling journey progressed, and I started show- ing my first bred-by dog, I received even more guidance from my fellow exhibitors. In my own breed, second generation breeders offered praise as well as constructive criticism, and owner han- dlers like me shared grooming and training tips as well as points toward our dogs’ championships. The Group ring provided expo- sure to handlers of other Sporting breeds, and introduced me to a new—more challenging—level of competition. Professional han- dlers (George Alston, Doug Holloway, and Bill Trainor) provided inspiration simply by showing their clients’ dogs to the highest standards of the day. I was in awe of their ability to make it look so easy. Though I never managed to reach the level of success that these men and other professionals attained, I nevertheless estab- lished goals for myself that pushed me out of my comfort zone. And along the way, partnerships of various kinds were formed with dog show friends in many different breeds. At any dog show, opportunities to partner with others abound. Alliances can take many forms, from ridesharing and ringside assistance to the sharing of tips on grooming, training, and condi- tioning. Even the choice of where to set up for the day can establish impromptu partnerships—if only for a weekend. A casual greet- ing to a neighbor in the parking lot or exhibition hall can lead to a wealth of information during a lengthy show cluster. At my very first show as an exhibitor, I’d set up next to a Poodle han- dler who showed me (by way of observation) how to keep a dog comfortable while getting its coat prepared for the ring. Grooming areas provide an ideal classroom for learning, and they are great places to eavesdrop too—especially when you’re set up next to a master groomer. Sometimes the best opportunities to partner occur when you’re the only entry in your breed. Without the comfort of close friends nearby, connections with exhibitors of different breeds are easier to make. When you’re set up next to a handler with a giant breed, for example, you quickly become aware of space limitations. Exhibi- tors of Toy breeds will demonstrate a gentle assurance that allows

their diminutive partners to feel both idolized and invulnerable. Sighthound exhibitors offer lessons on how a dog is to be respected above all else, and handlers of many Working and Herding breeds reveal a tenderness that betrays their dogs’ sometimes-tough exterior. By simply saying hello (or offering a helping hand) to a neighbor, dog shows can become more than just a competition. For exhibitors looking to make connections, they can become a kind of co-op where ideas and experiences are freely shared and opportunities for collaboration are everywhere. At a recent outdoor show, I was parked next to a handler who spent the day getting his Herding dogs ring-ready. Although no scissorwork was in play, it was still interesting to watch how this exhibitor managed to get the double coats of his dogs to sparkle as brightly as their eyes. I had a front row seat, it seemed, and all it took was a compliment (He looks wonderful!) followed by a ques- tion (What are you using on his coat?) to start a conversation that expanded throughout the day to include a few more exhibitors. By lunchtime, our little group of strangers began to feel more like a partnership in the sport we all enjoyed. We discussed dogs and people from the past, and we shared our plans to attend shows later in the year. We even shared food and beverages—and were treated to tall glasses of fresh-squeezed lemonade! For me, the encounter was reminiscent of the shows I’d attended early on with my first show dog. The atmosphere felt relaxed, and the camaraderie was decidedly candid. Who knows? Maybe our little group will recon- nect somewhere down the line... In the sport of dogs, opportunities to partner with like-minded breeders and exhibitors are always available. Some of these rela- tionships, like co-ownerships, can be formal. Others, however, are the result of spontaneous decisions such as where to set up a grooming table or which seat to take at a seminar. No matter the setting, every dog show, performance event, and educational semi- nar has the capacity to bring people together. And every meeting can spark conversations that ultimately lead to curious collabora- tions and lasting—if unusual—partnerships.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dan Sayers has been an Owner Handler since 1985 when he showed his first Irish Water Spaniel (IWS) in Conformation. He’s shown a variety of breeds, and has handled IWS, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and Sussex Spaniels to many Specialty and Group awards. Dan is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America and has contributed to a variety of print and digital publications, including the AKC Gazette, Dogs in Review, Sighthound Review, and Best in Show Daily. He is currently on Showsight’s editorial staff and is the co- host of Ring-Ready Live! with Lee Whittier. Dan attended Drexel University in Philadelphia where he earned a BS in Design, and he later received a Certificate in Graphic Design from the University of the Arts. As a designer and artist, Dan has produced dog-related works in a variety of media. He provided the artwork, editorial content, and digital page layout for the Irish Water Spaniel Club of America’s (IWSCA) Illustrated Standard, and his illustrations bring to life the words of the award- winning Encyclopedia of K-9 Terminology by Ed and Pat Gilbert. Dan has also judged at a variety of shows, including Sweepstakes at the Westbury Kennel Association, Morris & Essex Kennel Club, and two IWSCA National Specialties.

94 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2021

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