I used to show my English Setters (or rather, my handler did), and I loved going to the shows! Still love watching dog shows on TV. HOWEVER, showing is all about POLITICS (right judge, right handler, etc.), and I also don't agree with what the AKC and showing has done to a lot of breeds. For instance, they have bred a lot of the hunting instinct out of the setters in favor of fancy, fancy coats and perfect heads. The worst thing that can happen to a breed today is for it to become a big AKC winner or popular through the movies, such as the Dalmations did. Everybody rushes to breed the newest "trendy" dogs. I think in great measure this is happening to many of the toy breeds, certainly Yorkies. Because they are marketing ever smaller dogs, they are, in many breeds, breeding big problems. Higgins is a good ol' garden variety Yorkshire, but he wins a BIG BLUE RIBBON in my heart!
I'm getting off my soapbox now.
Hugs,
Mary Ellen |