Showsight January 2018

The Resolution Solution: Show Your Support for the Dog Sport

BY DAN SAYERS continued

the idea that every dog deserves a good home, even those that come with a ped- igree. If breed club members and their dogs gathered once a month to hike through a local park or stroll through town, the attention created would be a PR boon. Imagine the positive reaction generated from the sight of a bevy of Bouvier, a horde of Havanese or a pack of pluperfect PVGVs. ALL-BREED CLUBS— RETOOL YOUR WEBSITE News flash! It’s the digital age. This means it’s time to bring your club’s web- site into the 21st century. Although hav- ing a “member’s only” dropdown can serve a useful purpose, search engines today will bring more visitors to your site if you include “pet friendly” fea- tures with plenty of photos. If part of your club’s purpose is to promote your breed, there’s no better way to do this online than with images that showcase the dogs. Photos of Herding dogs run- ning with children, water dogs swim- ming alongside surfers or Toy dogs playing with bigger toys are the kinds of memorable images that appeal to today’s tech-savvy dog lovers. Think of Instagram as a classified section of a global newspaper with an expand- ing circulation and you’ll begin to understand how a picture can become to useful tool for breed preservation and promotion. RING STEWARDS— KEEP SMILING Every exhibitor’s experience in the show ring begins with an interaction. By asking the ring steward for an arm- band, the exhibitor has iniated a con- versation that can quickly go south if the steward isn’t in the best of moods. If you’re the steward, any shortness on your part is understandable. After all, how long can you be expected to remain civil when you’ve yet again been asked, “What class is the judge on?” Of course your patience is stetched to the break- ing point. However, deep breathes and a well-rehearsed smile could see you through. Not only will they appease the most unprepared exhibitor with two left feet and four dogs to show, they will

also do wonders for your blood pres- sure and prevent you from sneaking a

drink between breeds. JUDGES—STUDY THE STANDARDS

It’s great to reward a dog when it’s level of presentation is of the highest calibre and its performance on the day raises the bar to a whole new level. But it’s equally important to remem- ber that the job of judge is to reward the exhibits that most closely meet the breed standard. Having every hair in place and “nailing” a free-stack are not good enough reasons to award Best of Breed (unless the dog in question is free from disqualifying faults and pos- sesses the details of correct type to a marked degree.) If you judge, please remember that any ringside spectator can appreciate a good performance. However, only you are tasked with mak- ing the kinds of selections that impact Most interractions between exhibi- tors and AKC Conformation Field Reps happen when something has gone wrong. In many cases, a grievance of one kind or another leads to the intro- duction, and this usually results in a bad first impression on both sides. Angry exhibitors eventually learn that Field Reps are familiar with the rules and reg- ulations of conformation shows and are well-prepared to respond to disagree- ments that arise between exhibitors, judges and show committees. They also learn that Reps are deeply devoted dog people who’ve traveled many miles in their shoes. So, instead of waiting for a crisis to occur, introductions could be made well in advance of any alleged infraction. A genuine “hello” is still the breed preservation. FIELD REPS— INTRODUCE YOURSELF

rosettes appear on the judges’ tables out of thin air. However, dog shows are not so much about ribbons and rosettes as they are about dogs—and people. As you’re working hard to keep the show running smoothly, you’re increasingly being asked to deliver results in real time to a global audience that’s demand- ing more and more. Setting up the gates and tents is the easy part. Delivering good customer service, on the other hand, requires a skillset that can meet hi-tech expectations and keep a low profile on the ground. The story of the American Ken- nel Club spans three centuries and is deeply rooted in tradition. So, perhaps it’s not surprising that the organiza- tion can sometimes appear to respond slowly to outside forces that impact the lives of many dog-loving Americans. The AKC has been undercut by vari- ous online “registries,” and the “adopt don’t shop” mantra has all but tarnished the image of dog breeders in the eyes of many. Nevermind that “rescue” dogs have replaced purebreds as a status symbol. Given these realities, maybe now is the time to consider a little “rebranding” of the AKC for an Ameri- ca that prefers to shop online for dogs that have their own Facebook page. Maybe it’s time to launch a new market- ing campaign that meets the demands of today’s devoted dog lovers. Maybe it’s time for AKC to represent “All Kinds of Canines.” Maybe it’s an idea worth considering? AKC—CONSIDER A LITTLE REBRANDING Volunteer! Everyone who participates in dog shows can make a difference by committing to just one resolution in 2018.

best way to start a relationship. SUPERINTENDENTS— DELIVER GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE

It’s easy to think that dog shows sim- ply “happen.” Superintendents do such a fine job to ensure that everything runs smoothly that it’s easy to imagine those

144 • S how S ight M agazine , J anuary 2018

Powered by