[swan]

Gemy you raise an important question, its something I have been thinking about a lot. I am new to the showing so I come with a different set of eyes. Many of the questions that I have are usually answered with "because thats the way we have always done it".

Well, if we did that in all sports, they would all be only white people playing with no helmets while smoking cigarettes on the ****ing field.

We need innovation, we need to eliminate entry fees for exhibitors (yeah, that's right, I said it) and they should make a concerted effort to encourage sponsors to endorse exhibitors and breeders.

Sounds impossible right? Maybe. I think it is possible if the AKC is willing to think big and think long term. Use the media, use the internet, use the compelling lives of dogs to create story lines that will keep people riveted. People watch golf and bowling in large numbers. Enough to sponsor the participants. They made a TV show about storage auctions! Are you ****ing kidding me! And people watched it! My point is that if the AKC really wanted to capitalize on their resources they are doing a terrible job. Trying to get money from the wrong people, operating on a business model that is 3 decades out of date. Its an organization run by old people and insiders who don't understand how young people think in the modern era. They have completely forgotten about the next generation.