It is sad that the numbers have reduced so much. We enter lots of open shows up here in Scotland since there are few Basenji classes anyway here. There are only two Championship shows in Scotland with CCs on offer too. We try to make as many shows south of the border as possible but with fuel costs etc it's just impossible.
Show in MD May 20th
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in better health
Just curious why you'd say that? The dogs I see at shows are in excellent health.
but reality is that the same could be said for entered dogs. It's all on faith >>and trust.
True, but there's no way to hold the unentered dogs accountable if there IS a problem because there was no agreement made. If you bring an entered dog that has contagious health problems, at least there could potentially be some legal recourse because those owners did agree to the health regulations.
Also, you have to remember that the AKC shows are essentially a showcase for breeds and breeders. Whether I disagree with the policies or not, I can easily understand why they would not want dogs there that do not represent the standards for AKC recognized breeds. They want people to be able to see and learn about the breeds, not mutts.
I'm a mutt owner – always have been, my two B's are the first purebred dogs I've ever owned -- and it doesn't offend me at all that my other dogs can't go to shows for purebreds.
And with the environment and focus of the dog shows, I don't see where the other dogs would get much out of the experience. They're not there to play. -
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Well....I sure hope that *I didn't give the impression that I think you are an ignoramus...because that was not at all my intention. And I am sorry that you obviously feel hurt by the rules that exclude non-eligible dogs. Just so you are clear, "eligible" means AKC registered...so it is exclusionary towards any dog that is not AKC registered..not necessarily mixed breed. There are purebred dogs out there registered with different registries, and of course the AKC wants to protect their interest, and disallow dogs who are not registered with them.
If defense of the AKC...it is a registry for purebred dogs, and a business...nothing more, nothing less...it isn't making a political statement about what kind of dogs are better or more appropriate for companions and pets. Therefore, the dogs that are ENTERED in AKC events, are AKC registered purebreds. It has nothing to do with being exclusionary towards mixed breeds, or non-AKC registered purebreds based on merit or beauty or behavior or health. Only on registered, documented heritage.
There is discussion currently about the possibility of AKC opening performance events to mixed breeds....I think that would be a great idea, and a clear attempt to reach out to the general public to show that AKC is not all about being snooty and eliteist.
And lastly...everybody knows that their dogs are more beautiful than everyone elses, whether purebred, mix, or whatever. And I completely believe that your dogs may be perfectly well behaved, but the rules are in place not for "good" dog owners, but for those that are completely clueless, or don't know or care how their dogs may act in presence of so many other dogs. -
Here's my humble take on SweetShelby's position. Like many people, we regard our dogs, pure and mix like our own children. We LOVE them! I've only been in 30 years to 4 dog shows. I've seen there are no dogs loose, most are in crates or on the grooming table, some being walked on short leashes to show rings or out for potty. If one hasn't been to a dog show before, I can see the thought to bring your dogs to the show with you - it's a Dog Show!!
Anyway - I wish I could bring my dogs lots of places with me. Heck, I got invited to my nephews wedding and I can't even bring my 9 year old son! He's very disappointed and said "FINE - I don't want to go their stinkin' wedding anyway!" Talk about being offended! He knows what's going on. (No children under the age of 12 years old!)
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Exactly! The dog show environment is not one that a non-showing dog is going to get a lot out of. There's no "free play" area, all dogs are leashed or crated, no one lets the dogs play, sniff, etc.
I can't imagine a non-showing dog is going to enjoy the day–esp if it's used to being able to play with other dogs and not being held away from them -- and would probably be stressed out the whole time.Jazzy loves the shows, but really I think it's just because she gets to spend time with Bryan, her hero. The time she spends waiting in her crate doesn't thrill her.
It is a dog SHOW, as you said. It's not a dog park. And if you go to a few shows, you will see that it's just not a place for dogs that aren't involved. It's not about keeping the "riff-raff" out at all. The policy just makes sense.
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Well we spent the day at the park, enjoying the river and I actually had the opportunity to meet a purebred basenji in my new neighborhood. And her owner got to meet my 2. I realize dog shows are a business and it's not about the dogs. I would've gone to see the dogs and my dogs would have simply been with me, not interacting with the other dogs. But my dogs love to be with me in new situations and whether it's a dog show, horse show, farm show, or movie at the mall, it's new to them and they get to smell new things, hear new sounds and still be with me. I can't take them to the movie at the mall but one would figure a dog show is acceptable. I didn't mean to get all riled up about this. As for health, my dogs were just to the vet and pronounced in excellent health and "absolutely beautiful" by the vet. (granted he problably says this to a lot of proud humoms but I'll take the compliment
). Also because my pups are mixes, I don't have to worry about some of the genetic problems that the purebreds have problems with.It's over now, anyway so I would be interested, if anyone took any pictures, if you could post them. I would love to see the basenjis in particular.
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Yes it is a business and there are people there earning a living, doing what they do for a job and take it very seriously. Like it or not that's what it is.
I would suggest a fun match or even one of the k-9 experience events that are more for fun and or education.
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Well we spent the day at the park, enjoying the river and I actually had the opportunity to meet a purebred basenji in my new neighborhood. And her owner got to meet my 2. I realize dog shows are a business and it's not about the dogs. I would've gone to see the dogs and my dogs would have simply been with me, not interacting with the other dogs. But my dogs love to be with me in new situations and whether it's a dog show, horse show, farm show, or movie at the mall, it's new to them and they get to smell new things, hear new sounds and still be with me. I can't take them to the movie at the mall but one would figure a dog show is acceptable. I didn't mean to get all riled up about this. As for health, my dogs were just to the vet and pronounced in excellent health and "absolutely beautiful" by the vet. (granted he problably says this to a lot of proud humoms but I'll take the compliment
). Also because my pups are mixes, I don't have to worry about some of the genetic problems that the purebreds have problems with.It's over now, anyway so I would be interested, if anyone took any pictures, if you could post them. I would love to see the basenjis in particular.
I totally disagree with your statement that dogs shows are a "business" and it is all about the dogs.. at least for all of us that are owner/handlers or breeder handlers… and they far out weigh the professional handlers. Owner and/or breeders that show do so because they enjoy it AND that they want to show that their Basenji (or any breed) is conformationally correct and of good temperament, and general health... and the conformation ring, or even the Obedience/Rally at shows are what that does. For me as a breeder it is a way to verify that I understand the Basenji Standard as I read it and that I am breeding a correct Basenji according to that standard.... and while I don't always win and every dog is not a show dog it is still a way of seeing and understanding the breed.
And I will add one more thing about mixes, you might think they "will" not get the genetic problems as purebreds, but to me that is totally an incorrect statement. You have the chance of getting "all" the genetic problems of "all" the breeds that are mixed... I am not sure why you would think that you don't have to worry about genetic problems... The ONLY reason that people know about the genetic problems in purebreds is because responsible breeders keep track of them, discuss them, look for cures for them, and make them public for people to learn about and understand.
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And to be very honest, I have seen many mixes at outdoor shows… just visiting, of course again, they can't be sniffing or playing with the other dogs... and very rarely does anyone ever say anything.. as typically shows are on public grounds... indoor shows are a different story, as there is Much less room to move around...
Also as said there are matches and also all dogs are welcome to visit at lure trails, in fact at ours we have lots of mixes that come at the end of the day and let their dogs chase the lure.....
We (show and breeders) are NOT the "nasty stuck up people" we are many times made out to be... BUT we believe in purebred dogs and responsible breeding and that includes people that breed mixes (which are typically by accident) and puppy mills that breed for profit... -
We (show and breeders) are NOT the "nasty stuck up people" we are many times made out to be… BUT we believe in purebred dogs and responsible breeding and that includes people that breed mixes (which are typically by accident) and puppy mills that breed for profit...
IMO, What Tanza say's here is true from my limited experience with the show world.
The breeders are more than likely to answer questions and talk to the spectators, while the people that are in it professionally seem to not have the time for all of that and seem very focused on the task at hand…..winning!Breeders want to educate, and share information and have fun showing dogs. It's not really win at all costs for them......IMO.
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And believe me, there is NO money in showing… none!!!! But it certainly costs much!!!! And while we want to win.... it is about the dogs...
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And I will add one more thing about mixes, you might think they "will" not >>get the genetic problems as purebreds, but to me that is totally an >>incorrect statement. You have the chance of getting "all" the genetic >>>problems of "all" the breeds that are mixed…
LOL, I was just about to say the same thing. I think w/the mixes -- and like I said, my 2 B's are the first purebreds I've ever owned, and my beloved Gypsy is def. a mix -- you have a greater risk of health problems, and often the genetic risks are unknown because you are not sure exactly what the mix may be.
We (show and breeders) are NOT the "nasty stuck up people" we are >>many times made out to be...
I have to agree with that. I'm not a breeder, and not really a "show person", but the breeders/show people I've encountered over the last two years have been friendly, helpful, welcoming, and often have mutts of their own at home!
And they also tend to think their mutts are more beautiful than anyone else's.
The breeders/show people are also just regular "humoms and hudads". -
And believe me, there is NO money in showing… none!!!! But it certainly costs much!!!! And while we want to win.... it is about the dogs...
Yeah, I can show you lot's of $25.00 entry fee payments and a bunch of .50 cent ribbons for the trouble….....gas......food....your time.......Yep, there's no money in it.......none.
Jasper got Reserve Winner this weekend and we did get a rosettee........OK $1.50 for that.:D:D
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Yes it is a business and there are people there earning a living, doing what >>they do for a job and take it very seriously. Like it or not that's what it is.
Are there many breeders who do it to earn a living? Seems to be it's more of a hobby – for lack of a better word -- and a work of love for the ones that I've met. Most have other "real" jobs outside the dog show world.
I know there are professional handlers, but I've only seen a few. Seems to me most I've seen have been the owners and/or breeders who take them in to the ring. -
Just in defense of the show holding clubs. They require that only dogs entered in the show be on the grounds because of liability. The club holding the show has to have insurance for the event and if there is a incident it is the show holding club that the people are going to come after. People who have entered their dogs in the show have a signed agreement with the club, those that have not entered dogs do not. The clubs are simply protecting their ability to get insurance to be able to hold shows in the future.
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Yeah, I can show you lot's of $25.00 entry fee payments and a bunch of .50 cent ribbons for the trouble….....gas......food....your time.......Yep, there's no money in it.......none.
Jasper got Reserve Winner this weekend and we did get a rosettee........OK $1.50 for that.:D:D
Hey a rosette…. WOW, what a treat..
And for all of you that don't understand dog shows, you only get points to your conformation championship by winning.... reserve is like the best of the rest...gggg -
Yes it is a business and there are people there earning a living, doing what >>they do for a job and take it very seriously. Like it or not that's what it is.
Are there many breeders who do it to earn a living? Seems to be it's more of a hobby – for lack of a better word -- and a work of love for the ones that I've met. Most have other "real" jobs outside the dog show world.
I know there are professional handlers, but I've only seen a few. Seems to me most I've seen have been the owners and/or breeders who take them in to the ring.I would say that over 80% it is a hobby…. only professional handlers make a living out of it... Most of us have "real jobs" to support our dogs.
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Hey a rosette…. WOW, what a treat..
And for all of you that don't understand dog shows, you only get points to your conformation championship by winning.... reserve is like the best of the rest...ggggThere where a lot of dogs entered, most I think I've seen at one show…...but yes.....best of the rest, a rosette.:( Not much return for the expense involved which is the point here. We've got lots of ribbons.:rolleyes:
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Yes it is a business and there are people there earning a living, doing what >>they do for a job and take it very seriously. Like it or not that's what it is.
Are there many breeders who do it to earn a living? Seems to be it's more of a hobby – for lack of a better word -- and a work of love for the ones that I've met. Most have other "real" jobs outside the dog show world.
I know there are professional handlers, but I've only seen a few. Seems to me most I've seen have been the owners and/or breeders who take them in to the ring.No, I'm referring to the professional handlers and I've seen lot's of them. We know some people who pay a professional handler to "special" a dog and it isn't chump change. There's some big money in the sport, those tractor trailers and big motorhomes you see in the parking lot's aren't always the weekend breeder and show/owner's vehicles. A lot of people showing dogs have people backing them, so there is more to it that the casual weekender.
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Well just to recap…the show was a lot of FUN!! The Carroll County Ag Center is really pretty & scenic IMO (I'm a city girl so what do I know
ha!) The weather was glorious & the sun in all its splendor made for a wonderful picnic lunch after the basenjis showed And boy were there a whole lotta basenjis!!! Got to meet some special breeders & some smart show people including Mrs. BBoy!!The Basenji Park kids did good job IMO...even if their prize was worth $.50 every penny was earned & well deserved.
