The Resolution Solution
Show Your Support for the Dog Sport BY DAN SAYERS
H ere we go again. Another New Year’s Day has come and gone, and we’ve told ourselves that this is the year we’re going to get in shape, lose weight and give up caffeine. Nevermind that by the third week of Janu- ary most of us will have already had our cake and eaten it too — and washed it down with a
PROFESSIONAL HANDLERS— LEAD BY EXAMPLE
It’s no secret that the true professionals in the dog game work harder than just about anybody else. Along with your 24/7 workload and grueling schedules comes a commit- ment to the ideals established by organizations such as the PHA. Care of your animals is paramount, of course, but also expected from you is the highest level of engagement with those who may not be as dedicated to the rigors of life on the road. This includes novice exhibitors and judges alike. The desire to win should never become a zero-sum game, and it should never result in poor sportsmanship or bad behavior. Top professionals deserve the respect that’s earned, but so Handlers’ assistants have a front-row seat (alright, maybe a back of the cargo van seat) to the very best talent in the busi- ness. You get to participate in everything that goes into the care, preparation and presentation of show dogs. You learn to bathe, brush and blow-dry to perfection and, if the stars align just right, you get to step into the Best in Show ring and beat your employer. Although a behind-the-scenes role might seem insignificant to some, there’s really no better place to view a great performance. Though the audience gets to expe- rience the “magic,” the “craft” can only be observed from the other side of the curtain. Keep your mouth closed and your eyes and ears open and you will learn your craft. Remember, even Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Brady and Gabriel Rangel had to start somewhere. JUNIORS—GET IN THE WHELPING BOX does everyone else. Always lead by example. ASSISTANTS—LISTEN AND LEARN Although many junior handlers come from dog show fami- lies—and some even get to show dogs bred by parents and grandparents—only a lucky few participate in the whelp- ing and raising of litters. This apprenticeship is not as com- mon as in days gone by, but it remains critical to the future of purebred dogs. If you’re a breeder in need of someone to entertain the puppies, find a youngster who has some time to spare. And if you’re a junior with an interest in breeding, don’t be afraid to reach out to a breeder with a dam in whelp and offer to help. There’s no better way to understand that behind every great show dog is a dedicated breeder with a lot
steaming cup of café au-lait or a Diet Coke. But don’t fret, all is not lost. Though failure to stick to a New Year’s resolution can bring about a post-holiday melancholy for some, it can just as easily cause a reassessment of priorities. Maybe our waistline isn’t what’s really important this year. Maybe we should focus instead on a goal that’s larger than ourselves? Here are 12 resolutions to consider for the coming year that anyone in the dog sport can embrace for the benefit of everyone else. BREEDERS—CHOOSE AN HEIR Forty or fifty years is a long time to commit to a family of dogs, so why risk it all when you’re unable to continue? If you haven’t done so already, consider sitting down with your most trusted protégé to discuss the past, present and future of your kennel. Open those scrapbooks to introduce your eager student to your foundation bitch, most influential sire and the watershed dog that fixed “the look” of your dogs. Talk about the pitfalls that exist in your dogs’ pedigrees and where the greatest strengths are to be found. Prepare to pass on the records of every registration, health test, semen collec- tion, microchip number and DNA profile. Provide a contact list of the veterinarians who know you and your dogs well. Hire an attorney to make the transfer of your life’s work legal and binding. Your legacy — and the future of your breeding You enjoy showing your dog, so why not tell a friend or coworker to join you at your local show? They could assist you with loading and unloading, and you can offer to buy lunch and answer their questions: No, we don’t have to wear clothes that sparkle. Yes, the dogs are (usually) having fun. Yes, the handlers do put dog treats in their mouth and hide squeaker toys in their brassiere. Your friend’s perspective may help you to see your hobby in a whole new light, and there’s a chance that she may want to join you next time. Just be sure to introduce your friend to your show pals and their dogs. Who knows, you might end up playing matchmaker to a coworker and a Coton de Tuléar. program — depends on you. OWNER-HANDLERS— EXTEND AN INVITATION
of experience to share. BREED CLUBS— ORGANIZE A MEET-THE-BREED
Promoting your breed to a general public that’s beseiged with designer dogs, doodles and rescues is no easy task these days. It’s harder than ever to compete with a “purebred dogs are bred for function” message when a dog’s primary function today seems to be that of a “furbaby” in need of pampering. Perhaps the only solution for this predicament is to reinforce
142 • S how S ight M agazine , J anuary 2018
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