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Originally Posted by magicgenie  I think Gemy and Swan have wonderful ideas. However, I think the dog show world is collapsing under the weight of exhibitor egos as much as anything else. Gail, my first time at a dog show was as a terribly green first time exhibitor. Nobody was nice and I'll never forget it. Even after 15 years and learning a lot more, I know the dog I had that day was a very nice one. Other exhibitors looked at me as I was a rodent or surely some creep out to rob them. People were very reluctant to advise, and I'm shy and not pushy. I went home, downhearted, and never showed that boy again. A few years later, and knowing it was a hostile environment, I sent his granddaughter out with a professional handler and quickly had my first home bred champion. I only show when I have something super worthy, and only with a professional handler. I never attend in person as the atmosphere at shows brings out all the worst in me. |
I hope we can change that from with-in the show world. I had a different first time experience - it was with a Rare Breed Club - cause Blackies at the time could not show yet in CKC. How-ever folks were nice enough - but it drove me crazy not knowing when and what something was going on. Like you know ring times!! LOL. Our very first show Magic and I got kicked out of the ring - cough excuse me - correct terminology was Excused from the ring. My wee 3 month puppy in 100 degree weather had the temerity to growl at the judge :-)
Then we went to the States for their first National BRT Specialty it was a televised benched show something like 3000 dogs entered. I was in shock when we finally arrived! OML the size of the place the dogs - what in heck is a benched AKC show. Like the greenhorns we were - we had no idea what to do. At least we had a crate for Magic - but then I had no grooming table lol. Luckily as it turned out the President of the US club was there and helped us to setup correctly in our assigned spot. Then he asked about our grooming table.... So he took us over to a vendor and we bought one on the spot. He said I really should not be looking at your puppy as I am judging sweepstakes.... BTW I had no idea if I had entered him in sweepstakes or not lol. But a lady who was the ring steward and also a BIS judge took pity on me and after the class says to me you come back to watch and I will teach you. Then after her time was done in the ring - she gave me a private handling lesson. After that we won our classes over that weekend. She was A M A Z I N G. And she wanted no payment at all for the hours in total she spent with us.
She also took me shopping to buy a proper for my breed collar and show lead. That was an expensive but valuable weekend as I finally had the correct grooming tools for my breed. Undercoat rake - slicker brush etc etc.
I had three handlers come up to me and offer to show Magic. Can you imagine how bad I must have been in the ring :-)
But I have had bad experiences too. Some of my own making - as in the early days I didn't have my rambunctious boy under control at all times in the show grounds. I got some pretty stern looks and a lecture or two. And while they were not nice to me - I learnt! Sometimes you learn more from criticism than praise.
\when I was showing Razzle in Canada I had some young gal come up to me and demand to know what I am using on his coat. I said who wants to know - she pointed back to a quasi well known exhibitor and said she does. Well I said if *she* wants to know *she* can come over here and ask me herself. *she* never did - message how-ever was sent and received..... I don't tolerate rudeness from exhibitors or assistants to the exhibitors. Basic human courtesy please and thank-you.
But I kept at it. And overtime my face became known. Oh not famous at all just known. The crazy lady that shows Blackies and get this Yorkies too! Doing judging seminars helped - many handlers attend these breed specific seminars.
I am not so shy but can be quiet and reserved. I think that truthfully when there is an emergency like a month ago when their was a tornado warning siren going off - most folks made sure everyone knew around them what was happening.
Maybe give the show world another chance...