The world of conformation is getting smaller by the day. This isn’t a news flash–it’s very easy to see at any show on any given weekend. Why this is happening is debated, and the blame is placed on so many sets of shoulders…
I had the opportunity to get to a local dog show this month; it’s not something I can do very frequently nowadays. It was held at the Sun ‘N Fun Airport in Lakeland, Florida. It has a series of hanger-type buildings with good natural light and lots of space for spectators. Being one of those spectators, Mike made room for me right up front with a super view of the down and back! It was great seeing so many of my dog show peeps and a whole group of new dogs in their strings. When you’re away for a while things sure do change.
This past month I was fortunate enough to attend a great group of all breed shows hosted by Terry-All Kennel Club as well as the The Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac. This show is the largest single-breed specialty in the world. It runs for nearly a week with over 1,000 Labradors competing for top prizes.
There has been some minor debate on when the first dog show occurred, but it is widely accepted that the first organized and documented dog show was held in England in 1859. It was an added affair to the annual livestock show in Newcastle. That first show was a sporting breed event with only setters and pointers being entered. In retrospect, it was a small beginning to what would become, by the end of the century, a very popular English pastime.
This sport is often compared to a big family. Yes, occasionally those sentiments are not so warmhearted, but dog shows have always been our comfort zone. Regardless of the time or place, we instantly understand the dynamics in play as well as recognizing half the people in the crowd. And that part of the deal never changes. Five years, ten years later anyone can walk into a show and instantly feel at home. The recent four-day cluster at Edison, New Jersey proved that beyond a doubt. Although these shows have been off the map for two years, they remain a beloved part of the show season here in the Northeast for a few reasons.
Will Alexander Drops Some Knowledge About What’s Happening in the Sport of Dogs. It’s Deep… It’s Humorous… It’s Provocative… It’s Will Unfiltered! This week Will gives us 10 Questions in 60 Seconds. Ep. #19. Click here to watch on Canine Chronicle TV!
Did you ever notice how easily judges, exhibitors, and breeders get used to changes within a breed?
Nobody can stage events like the British. Coronations, funerals, weddings, parades, you name it. Yeah, they’ve had centuries of practice but still, somehow they always manage that almost impossible blend of rigid formality and total weirdness. That brings me to Crufts 2022.
You have, very likely, heard about it or even experienced it. I am referring to the idiom “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” It is meant to express a minor action or occurrence that causes an unexpected or sudden need for action. It is not the incident itself, but rather the cumulative effect of small things.
Will Alexander Drops Some Knowledge About What’s Happening in the Sport of Dogs. It’s Deep… It’s Humorous… It’s Provocative… It’s Will Unfiltered! Will Alexander has an in-depth conversation with Doug Carlson. Click here to watch on Canine Chronicle TV!
