The photos came out dark, due to being indoors. Click on image to enlarge. Here is my next breed, the Papillon (which means butterfly...their ears make them look like butterflies...Mr. Dogma said I have an ear fetish...I just think they are so adorable! Plus, the are smart and great agility dogs)
I spent yesterday at the Golden Gate Kennel Club dog show. This is a 'benched' show, which means that all the dogs that are competing must stay in their assigned area (bench), partitioned by breed. The only exception is when the dog is in the ring, being exercised or groomed. While this is great for spectators and an easy way to meet breeders, it's a real strain on the dogs. I'm very impressed that most of the dogs we saw took the crowds of people and canine in stride. And, for those of you who feel all dogs need to be neutered to get along with other dogs, here were tons of intact males behaving perfectly fine. (Which supports my theory that training and socialization is what influences good behavior, not surgery. Many people at the dog park blame the intact dog for the problems, when it is the neutered dogs that are usually the ones going after the intact dog...just an interesting aside).
Another benched show is the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. This is the World Series of dog shows and I usually watch it every year. There is a lot of controversy in the Dog Fancy about purebred dogs and dog shows. In the United Kingdom, Crufts is what all breeders strive for. This year, the BBC is suspending it's televised coverage of the show due to a documentary, "Pedigree Dogs Exposed," aired last year. This documentary (which I have not seen) claimed that some of the kennel club's rules encourage the breeding of diseased and deformed dogs. Some of the breeds they claim are being ruined include the Basset hound, Rhodesian ridgeback, Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Neapolitan Mastiff, Bulldog and German Shepherd dog.
Yesterday, I noticed how different Roman and the American line German shepherds we saw, moved. This is something I do not understand and will need to do more research, since the German shepherd is one of the breeds that has changed dramatically in the past 100 years (along with the bulldog and bull terrier, for example). From the exaggerated slope of the American GSD to the 'roach' back of the German show lines...I don't see how either dog can do the work he was originally bred for. If you look at true, working shepherds, they are agile, strong and fast. I don't know anything of Roman's breeding, but I do know he could run and jump circles around those show shepherds.
But, I can't put all the blame on the AKC for the decline in some breeds. That blame lies squarely with the puppy mills, backyard breeders and the ignorance of the buyer. There are many responsible breeders working hard to better the health and temperament of their lines but their efforts are being thwarted by others who are out for a buck or who ignorantly want one of Fido's puppies since he's such a great dog (never mind all the health testing, etc. involved in responsible breeding). I am curious if the BBC documentary covered that dark aspect of dog breeding.
Still. I love watching dog shows. The dogs seem to love it, too. While I'm sure their is a snobby side to conformation showing, we met a lot of friendly dog people and some beautiful dogs. Then, I came home to "best in my show only" dogs and went for a run at Ft. Funston. Roman and Tikka may never earn blue ribbons, but they will always be number one in my heart.
