WE Blog

Three cheers! Snoopy won!

The happy but tough little beagle . . . a breed worthy of winning one for sure.

Been to Westminster. Many of the dogs you see on TV are in Wichita at our April show.

I’m not sure about the Beagle, but most of the Westminster winners the past 20 years have been shown in Wichita.

Our dog show this year is April 4th, 5th and 6th. We are one of the top ten dog shows in the nation.

We have agility, obedience, herding, lure coursing and (like Westminster) conformation. It’s free admission and we have something for everyone!

If you want to see politics in action?

Try getting into the dog show world.

The whole thing is gamed so that only those who make money at it (paid handlers and a few select breeders) ever win. There are a few exceptions, but on the whole, it is a very tight and exclusive clique.

Too, the way some of these dogs are treated is very sad. It is nice to see the dogs all made up and see the different breeds. But there is also an ugly side. Do go to the show but don’t fail to see that ugly side.

Little dogs left alone tethered to grooming tables for hours. Dogs left on site alone in their kennels while their owners go off doing something else. The dog that doesn’t win shoved angrily into its kennel.

I wish a rival to the AKC would come along. Like many dog breeds, inbreeding has bred some bad characteristics into mostly good folk.

I took my two granddaughters out to the Wichita show a couple years ago. On the way in I told them they could only look with their EYES and stressed that the dog’s owners were busy, the dogs could only be LOOKED at – NO touching.

We got in and you have never seen two little girls use their eyes any more effectively! They would lean in to the dog while casting their longing eyes toward the dog owner. They were asked if they would like to pet by almost ALL those owners! Those girls had it figured out.

We sat and watched the agility trials too. It was a good day.

I like to watch the dog shows on television and saw Uno take the win. I don’t think the judge could have gone wrong no matter the dog named as winner; well, those two poodles didn’t appeal to me but “breed standards” and all that stuff, don’t ya know. They always look a bit uncomfortable in those outrageous “dos.”

Timing is important linda.

I was showing a Shih Tzu. HIGH hair maitenance!

If you want to see frantic people, visit the Shih Tzu ring the few minutes before ring time. But ABSOLUTELY don’t touch! Not if you value your life!

But, when I would finish ring time, I went out of my way for my puppy to visit with anyone who wished.

It’s good experience for the dog to have people contact.

Make sure the dog is done showing and ALWAYS ask. There are people who are not comfortable with it. And it IS a competitive environment with lots of stress.

I went to a dog show once.

There was a $20.00 cover charge and that was before drinks…

I loved that a Beagle won!

I am generally a cat person myself, but I have a Beagle too. Of course, he’s just lazy.

Me and two happy girls (10 and 12) will look forward to that, Hank. We love dogs!

Whoa..MonkeyHawk is a cat person?

*shock*

(ok, mock shock)

The main thing I remember when I showed dogs (briefly) was the pervading smell of dog poop.

BTW, Hank, they say owners start to look like their dogs, or is it the other way around? What breed do you show?

Just hope your collies don’t start getting bald