Does anyone else feel agrieved by the level of what I can only describe as
Tacky sponsorship in showing today?
Aren't we all supposed to be on an equal footing?
The latest to get my goat being the fact that a person or persons sponsored by Beta, not only entered but won the Beta puppy stakes at LKA, That not being enough they also won the prize draw run by Beta, and then proceed to shout out their sponsorship in an advert paid for by Beta.
I may be an old pessimist but surely this smacks a little of nepotism as ofcourse Beta want a Beta sponsored person or dog to win.

Surely as they are sponsored by a particular dog food company they should not be allowed to enter their stakes thus not allowing their reputation to be brought into question.

Is it not enough that some people can be more equal than others by having their dogs fed for free,travelling and accommodation paid for and even their entry fees paid for by their sponsors?

If you have a good win at a championship show you are asked questions by the sponsors including what you feed, groom, house your dog, etc. Some exhibitor, not suprisingly, say that they alway feed the food produced by the sponsor. May be because in the joy of the moment wish to please, maybe because their not stupid. Think that is why the situation that you complain of happens. Hope your turn comes soon and you will then know how difficult it is to be very very truthfull, after all you may feed it some times. I did not know that some exhibitors were given accomodation and had their entry paid but the win is down to the judge of the class involved. JH

Thanks Jackie, as an exhibitor of over fourty years and not without my fair share of 'Big Wins' I have never before seen such a level of personal sponsorship.
I do not disagree with the show sponsorship or class sponsorship as this keeps entry fees etc a little more affordable for us all, however I can not see that sponsorship of individuals or dogs by dog food firms does any of us other than those that are sponsored any good.
I have seen now on a number of occasions adverts by individuals stating that they feed exclusively one product as these ad's are paid for by that firm, however how many of us can say hand on heart we feed only one thing and how many others will believe it?
Many winners will say they feed the food of the sponsor when they win, I know I have and I have been honest when I said that. BUT I was not receiving sponsorship from that firm when I won!
What I am complaining about is that if a dog or person is sponsored by a particular firm they should be excluded from that firms competitions.
As a judge of quite some years I have been approached before by individuals to 'put up' a particular dog or handler and am not so naive as to think others haven't had that appraoch also.

Welcome to the forum :-) Leigh

Thank you

Take your point, but I bet you did not alter your decision as a judge just because you had been approached. OK perhaps some would, but not that many I hope. Am I too trusting of judges integrity? JH

No, you are right I did not buckle to pressure but I know those that have.
A little too much job's for the boy's/girl's mentality in showing today for me.
Whilst I don't question the integrity of all judges there is a minority that must be questionable.
My point is that if I pay you to say you feed my product then I want you to win as much as possible to show others that if they feed my product then they will win. If I were able to I would make sure you would win every time, wouldn't I?