This is why entries in UKC shows are exploding. I have been showing in the AKC for 36 years and I will always show there but I also show in the UKC. AKC carries more prestige but the UKC is not a fly by night registry. The UKC was formed 2 years after the AKC. Do you know the oldest, most prestigous club in the world, The Kennel Club in the UK, is a sister club to the UKC. When you watch Crufts on TV this year, notice that the on air announcer from the US is not an AKC judge but Wayne Cavanaugh from the UKC. I compete against the same dogs in UKC as I do in the AKC. The only difference is there are no handers, no hair dye, no chalk and no hair spray.
When someone approaches me about learning to show, I suggest that they start in the UKC. This is a quote from Pat Hastings (The Puppy Puzzle) "You gain confidence by winning. These shows are more informal, more relaxed and slower paced than AKC shows. Also, professional handlers are less likely to be in force at these events, so your chances of winning more frequently are better. If you can go to these shows, you'll have a more comfortable envronment in which to learn not only how to show your dog but also how to win and that will increase your chances of winning when you come back to the AKC shows." |