At all dog shows lately that we have attended my husband and myself are astonished at the behaviour of the spectators and owners of other dogs. Many times we have heard them making very unkind remarks about fellow exhibitors where we feel that the experienced dog people should show a little more consideration for the new comers to the ring. Perhaps they have forgotten what it was like to struggle to show a dog correctly and get the joy of being placed in the final line up. It would be nice for once to get encouragement from these so called experts and not here the petty unkind remarks, and act their ages instead of being in a primary school situation. We even heard this at Crufts this year and nearly went to the Secretary of the show to complain as it spoilt the time for other people who were watching the classes.

I totally agree with you; whenever I visit a show (I don't show myself) there is always one person at the ringside making such remarks.

It is a bit pathetic really; there are so many very nice people out there too, but the nastyones spoil it and I believe put new exhibitors right off!

I stopped goingtoshows from about 1985-1993 because I couldn't stand the way some of the dogs were treated (not just showing but obedience etc)...but that is a different story!

whatever happened to good sportmanship and all that?!

Yes I agree, there is far too much of this going on. I've even had people standing behind me while I'm doing a last minutes "posh up" on the table just before I'm about to go into the ring, laughingly and loudly saying ( I'm sure "my" judge who was juding the class before mine, must have heard) "Well I dont think much of that, do you?" to a friend standing beside him. His friend agreed. I couldn't help myself and turned and said though quietly, " Well actually we have beaten every dog entered in this class several times this year". I know I shouldn't have done, but I was a novice then and hadn't learnt to keep my big mouth shut, regardless of what happens at shows. Luckily we won the class and BOB. I didn't recognise them, being fairly new to showing.

Two years later , unbeknowing to me (on paper)he was juding - I recognised him as soon as we entered the ring, I went under this man at a ch. show, he was a ch. show judge, very well known, holding high office in one of the breed clubs!!! Needless to say, I wasn't placed, the only time my dogs have gone cardless at a champ show, though admittedly I haven't been to that many.
Looking back to the original incident, they were obviously trying to influence the judge, she was only feet away, luckily it didnt work and I made sure I gave them a big smile and waved my BOB rosette at them when I came out of the ring!!

If these people in high places behave like this what hope is there ? Even though we did well that day, it ruined the day and I was horrified when I found out who he was!!

I'm new to showing. my first show being this coming August. I have been doing quite a lot of spectating and hear all the ridiculous and cruel comments. Any advice on what is the best thing to do when you hear someone making these kind of remarks, my plan is to keep quiet, remember who they are but ignore them as being a novice you never know if one day they might be judging you. Just like you said Westie Lover. Trouble is depending on what they say I'm going to find this difficult as judging by what I have heard people say in the past there are some real nasties out there :-(

What does everyone else do?

Ignore them Claire,
in all walks of life there are good and bad people, and by replying you just feed their pettiness. It's best to get on with it quietly and ignore them, they usually get their just rewards!

I have the approach that if we keep silent, we are condoning the comments and therefore allowing them to be an acceptable part of the price of dog showing. I sat through a very large breed entry at Crufts this year. Next to me was a young lady who was very nervous about showing her dog (the person who was going to handle the bitch didn't make it to Crufts). When she found out in the course of talking for an hour or so that I had handled professionally in the States, she in a joking manner told me to take in the dog. I certainly could have, but what would have been gained? A card for the dog perhaps? Instead, I took her aside, spent time in showing her some tricks of the trade in setting the dog up quickly, smoothly and to the dog's best advantage, changed the way that she held the dog's head (since the dog clearly resented the previous manner), helped her with gaiting -- all until she was confident and comfortable with what she was doing. We talked about mindsets and what was really important in there -- believing in yourself and your dog and *enjoying* it. End result -- she went in, showed her dog superbly, and had a very positive experience. This is one young woman who will be doing it herself now instead of allowing the 'show willies' to have her put the dog in another person's hands while she wrings hers outside the ring.

Sitting back down, very very close to the end of the bitch judging, a woman came up and in a loud voice started berating the dogs that the judge had been putting up, saying 'number XXX is going to win, even though it is not a good bitch (her opinion, not mine) -- she (the judge) owes her a favor'. I could have sat there and ignored the woman and the two women she was talking to -- I didn't have an entry in there and it was not *my* dog that she was insulting (she, in essence, had insulted all of those dogs who had been placed by denigating the judge's placements). Instead, I turned to the women and softly replied that if the judge had indeed been putting up all of her friends and people she owed favors to that it was absolutely remarkable that these people all had the same 'type' of dog since the judge had been very consistent throughout the long day. It was gratifying to see that they were not correct in their predictions and a wonderfully lovely young bitch (I think from the special puppies class) took the bitch CC.

Could I have remained silent both times? Sure. But in the first case, I believe the the 'experts' or old-timers have a responsibility to give something of themselves back to the sport that they love. In the second, my silence would have, by absence of disagreement (polite though it was), been a form of approval. I hate cattiness. It took me a long time to have it pounded into my head that at the end of the day it is just one judge's opinion that we paid to receive and got.

My tuppence worth, once more.

Well said Sierra !
I am sure that the lady you helped will be eternally grateful to you. I remember my very first show (long time ago now) and the kindness of a lady who took me 'under her wing' that day .... I have never forgotten her advice or her kind words.

Twilly

Sierra what a nice person you are, I only hope there are more people like you in the "show world" especially when I go to my very first show in August with Harris (weim), I already feel sick at the thought of it, I am planning on 2 open shows before a champ show and I just know people will be making comments of sorts as they have seen me spectating and all of a sudden I will be in the ring. The comments I have heard so far could be quite hurtful if that person was to hear so I just hope that I don't overhear and if I do then I act responsibly, I don't want to hold my tongue necessarily but at the same time I don't want to earn myself a name for having a big gob. What you have said makes perfect sense and what a lucky lady at Crufts having you around for help and advice, it's very kind of you and thoughtful. Good on ya!

Good luck to you Wendy at your first show, I know just how you are feeling.

Kind Regards.

Look at it as a backhanded compliment, Claire. In most things there is always seems to be someone trying to psyche the opposition out.

John

Claire

Which show are you going to in August? We are going to be at Bournemouth (though I'm sure there's a ton of shows in August LOL)

Wendy

Well I'm in Scotland so I have a couple of local open shows at the beginning of August then the SKC - GULP!! Suddenly I don't like those initials SKC they make me feel sick ;-)

Good luck - I'm sure you'll do well. I lived in Scotland myself until recently.

I am showing my first show-worthy pup in my first show next weekend at Bath and I'm positive that I will be one of those people who are talked about! I know I'm just learning and there are things I will do wrong - but so be it (I just hope I don't have to HEAR it). I just hope that we have a good day, that she behaves relatively well and that I can go home without completely humiliating myself (any fault will be mine and not the pup's!). It has made it a lot easier to have met a couple of judges from different levels who privately have spent a few minutes with me to give me some pointers and people like Sierra (from the sound of her post) who have really helped and encouraged me! Hopefully the majority of people are like that. I'm doing it for fun for both me and the pup - because she has a good pedigree. The last thing I want is to get caught up in the cattiness of it all. If only people would think before they speak - or remembe to speak in PRIVATE - not for all and sundry to hear.

I won't be in Bath, but if you are going to Windsor on Gundog day and want some hand-holding outside the ring, I'd be happy to help. Good luck with your first show and remember -- it's supposed to be fun! At the end of the day, you've just paid for one judge's (or more if you get to the group level!) opinion and they are not the ones that are taking your dog home. Ignore the backbiters -- actually the more they snipe and complain, the more likely your dog is to be very serious competition to them! If you do hear disparaging remarks, a simple, quietly spoken word or two to let them know that you are wise to their games and that it doesn't effect you (even though it does hurt, I know) will go a long way to stopping the acidity of unthinking, childish tongues.

My old mentor used to lecture constantly that one should *never* speak ill of dogs at ringside or in the benching area -- He said that anything negative should be discussed away from the show area itself and then that one should really examine whether the opinion came from jealousy or honest evaluation. One thing that always stuck in my mind was that, if I were asked about a dog and couldn't find any redeeming qualities to discuss, I should simply comment that the dog had nice feet! LOL -- to this day, I always look funny at people who say 'ohhhh, so and so has such wonderful feet!' and wonder if they had the same lecture!

Enjoy your day! And when you're all through, treat yourself and your dog to something nice and special for your first show.

Sierra
You sound so very helpful, and obviusly very experienced in showing; just nterested, what do you show/have you shown in the past?

I do agree with your comments. I also feel it would be marvellous if sometimes the judge or "commentator" could remind people that some exhibitors may be new, and that it is not helpful to make disparaging comments but to let others enjoy their day.

What a shame more people aren't like you!!!

I was a professional handler in the States and have shown most breeds, though my breed is the German Shorthaired Pointer which I have bred for over two decades. I have bred and/or owned or co-owned Alaskan Malamutes (my very first show dog), Portugese WaterDog, Minature Pinchers, Pointer, English Foxhound and German Shorthaired Pointers. My experience is strongest in the Gun Dog, Hound, Pastoral and Utility Groups, though I've shown almost every AKC-recognized breed.

Surprising as it may seem, there was a time when I was too self-absorbed in what *my* goals were for showing, that I didn't have a lot of time to think about what I should be giving back to the sport. One matures with age, I guess.

I also have a very strong background in obedience, all phases from household to competition to schutzhund, field training (pointing and retrieving breeds), and narcotic detection work.

At this time in life, I'm very lucky to have a husband who is supportive and permits me to pursue some of the activities that I enjoy.

Hope to meet you sometime at a show.

Sierra you're a star. No we're not registered at Windsor:( But it would have been lovely to meet you. We have a whippet so we are on Hound day. Not sure how often that coincides with gundogs.

Your old mentor sounds like they had a lot of common sense. Kind of like Thumpers mom in Bambi - if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all. I promise not to tell you, if we ever meet, that your dog has nice feet;)

Hi Wendy

Just wanted to wish you lots of luck in Bath, have a lovely day!!!

Best wishes
lindsay

Thanks bunches!! You should be getting your pup sometime soon shouldn't you? Bet you can't wait to have her home.

Hopefully speak to you soon.

WEndy

Wendy,

Wishing you the best of luck. What breed do you have as I will be there onFriday with my German Shorthaired Pointer? If you are there om Friday come and find me and let me know how you get on.

Don't worry what people are saying you just go and enjoy yourself.

Alison
Wildwater Labradors & a GSP

Thanks - good luck with yours too. We're on Sunday - hounds - Whippets. What a shame we would love to have met you.

Wendy

Wendy-
I'll be at Bath on Sunday with my Whippet Alfie, or Perfect Pluto, in Limit- come and say hello if you can. Good luck- I didn't start long enough ago to have forgotten how nerve-wracking your first champ show is!!! Just RELAX and it will all be OK!
Liz

Liz - I look forward to meeting you - my husband and I will be there in Minor Puppy Bitch with Savannah. I'll try to find you, but if not please look us up. I'll be watching for you in the ring for sure!