Yes, I thought it was an odd question. It would be like someone asking him ‘did you ever think you’d win the Super Bowl’ disclaimer: I don’t know if he ever was in the Super Bowl and I think he played football
But anyway, anyone who competes in any sport I’m pretty sure has thoughts of being at the top
I guess it was a talking head moment
The intact part isn’t really a problem unless you have intact dogs AND bitches. But I’ve got all intact males and for the most part you wouldn’t know.
But I like to tell people that showing dogs in itself isn’t very “fun.” I mean, some people enjoy it, but it’s not really like competing in other sports (dog sports or human sports, or equestrian sports). I think it sometimes looks like more fun on TV, but it’s a lot of dragging stuff around, standing and waiting, and driving.
I’ve been lucky to know some excellent breeders who were looking for someone to take on a show quality dog - but mainly because they want a good home first, titles on their offspring second. I just kind of show up and let the dog do their thing. My youngest has 2 points from his first and only show so far. I’m super unmotivated to show him because my weekends are really busy - so I’m going to try to see how few shows I can enter and get the title. LOL.
All the videos for the breed classes, groups and BIS are available on the Westminster kennel club YouTube channel.
As someone who grew up going to dog shows with my mother (breeder) and grandmother (judge), then bred and showed my own dogs (Poodles) for 20 years, your comment feels like such a shame to me. Even though your descriptions are totally valid.
I haven’t been active in the dog show world since the 1990s. But when I was showing Poodles in the northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, there was such a strong breed community (at least 40-50 regulars) whom I could expect to see at most shows. We all set up together, and gabbed and groomed for hours. I was an owner-handler, but the professional handlers of the day were right there with us. You could learn so much about breeding, grooming, and handling, just from listening to everyone talk. We showed against each other and–for the most part–supported each other’s wins. Being in the ring was fine, but most of the fun of showing was seeing everyone and catching up.
I know I was lucky to live in such a dog show intensive area. If I drove 3 hours, I could get to shows every weekend anywhere from MA to MD. And it’s probable that there were simply many more people who wanted to breed and show in those days. (The last year I showed Mini Poodles it took 13 bitches to make a major. Now I believe it takes 4 (!!)
It’s sad that dog shows now are mostly driving, dragging, and waiting. Of course we had those things to deal with too–but there was such a sense of camaraderie among exhibitors and we having such a good time that no one really cared about the inconveniences.
I’d imagine I sound like an old curmudgeon, but it seems as though the dog show world has lost something wonderful, and I’m incredibly sorry for its loss.
I have a lot of friends in the breed, and we do have fun when we get together to show. My club is putting on 4 specialties in one weekend in July and that will be fun. And we expect to show at the Adirondack circuit in Saratoga, where we’ve rented campsites in the past and decorated for the “Best Dressed Campsite” competition. So - the weekend is fun but the show itself is not really fun
If you’ve ever participated in other dog sports (hunting or agility, for example) - that’s FUN. Dogs LOVE it. Conformation really isn’t fun in the same way.
When I didn’t work full time - it was better. But my weekends are so precious to me right now - the idea of spending most of my weekend driving and schlepping everything I need for 2 dog shows sounds pretty miserable. So I’m holding out for the specialties and hoping for a big bang for my buck.
It’s not a knock on conformation - it has its value.
I didn’t think you were knocking conformation. I was just lamenting that things in and around the breed ring seem to be so different now. Maybe all the fun people have moved on to agility. 
You spoke and it happened
That’s where we all went, LaurieB! There are plenty of intense competitive types in agility, too, but I think not having to worry about grooming helps with the vibe at trials.
I actually know 4 of the 6 Westminster agility winners this year. I haven’t looked to see how many friends competed across the board, but it’s always fun to turn on the TV and recognize people and their dogs!
Lure coursing is pretty fun, too - lots of sitting around waiting for your turn, but if the weather’s nice it’s not too much of a hardship (and most folks work out of their vehicles, so no crates to lug😅)
Shrug.
I don’t think it’s that the people aren’t fun, although there are people at both ends of that spectrum, LOL.
Our breed numbers aren’t huge these days either. If we get 15 dogs at a show, it would be a major in both sexes for sure. But that’s still only about 30 minutes of total ring time. The rest is grooming or waiting, or driving (home, if you lost). If you win - most everyone else goes home so you sit and wait for groups by yourself.
It’s not really fun.
Maybe it’s because I (and lots of the competition) live close enough to show grounds to go back and forth. If I lose, I’m not staying. Some people travel to shows and stay, but lots do not.
I have had some great times at circuits that I’ve traveled to and stayed - but I’m glad that I don’t have to invest that kind of money for every point.
Laurie, I used to work for a professional handler back in the late 70s early 80s. Mostly Poodles and he had some of Anne Clark’s dogs. At least when you are dealing with multiple dogs needing lots of grooming there is less waiting around!
It was generally a nice atmosphere with many people knowing each other among the handlers, staff, and owner/handlers. Then things got more subdued when AIDS hit and a number of people were affected. Most of the owner handled dogs were those that didnt require a lot of grooming. I would say that it seems more common now to owner handle now at the higher levels than it was then.
One of my favorite memories is hearing chaos in the grooming area while handler was in the ring and I was ringside with his next dog. Then I see one of our Standard Poodles merrily jumping from table to table - sometimes stepping on a dog already there. He was “table trained” and knew not to jump off to the ground, but somehow figured that if he stayed on “A” table he wasnt breaking the rules!
I showed my own dog a few times in later years and got to experience the long waits without a lot of friends to talk with and didnt continue. Dont like hunter shows for the same waiting reasons. So glad that my horse passion - dressage - provides ride times!
@MsM, I wonder if we knew each other? The handlers I remember with Annie’s dogs then were Richard, Kaz, Michael (very occasionally) and Timmy who showed Rimskittle’s biggest winner (Ruffian) though she belonged to Margo Durney.
I love the story about the Standard Poodle jumping from table to table. I can so easily see that happening! I love the way a Poodle’s mind works. 
Yep, it was Michael! I believe the one jumping tables was Dapper, aka Rimskittle Punchline.
Absolutely! I feel like one of the family reading them! 
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