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Originally Posted by Higgin's Mom 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 |
I'll bet the setters were fun!! They are such gorgeous dogs ... so regal!! And you are absolutely right ... from what I have seen and read the dogs who show don't lead a happy life ... kinda like little girls in beauty pageants!!
And the teeny, tiny ones have been bred with relatives to achieve their tiny size. That's why we looked for one with the pure bloodline .... we wanted tiny but not like that. I think the shows are political also .... we love to watch them but just don't understand why the ones that we would choose as the winners never even make the first pick!!
And like you ... it isn't important anyway ... we wouldn't feel any differently about Toto if she grows to 20 lbs and grows a horn in the middle of her head ... she is our joy!!!
... about that horn .... sometimes she is so mischevous I would swear she has two little ones sprouting out of her head!!
Jump on that soapbox anytime ... there are lots of shocking, behind the scenes facts ... overheard a lady proclaiming to be a "breeder" once who actually said "you always want to get rid of the things by 8 weeks while they are sooo cute or you're stuck with them!" I wanted to ask her what happens to the ones she gets stuck with but didn't dare! Didn't want to wind up in jail in Missouri!!
I was already sitting on my hands to keep from slapping her!!