Feb 14 2008
For the Good of the Dog
Did anyone watch the lively little beagle win the world’s best known dog show the other evening? I didn’t and I’m about to tell you why. I have in the past taken AKC obedience classes and I have ring stewarded at AKC obedience and agility trials. So I’m not necessarily against AKC except when it comes to conformation. I don’t care for conformation trials because of the very thing the newscaster said last night. He said, “Numero Ono, a beagle, won the Westminster Dog Show now everyone wants a beagle.” That is my gripe. It’s not just AKC dog shows. Its movies like “Babe” where the wonderful Border Collie herds up sheep and talks to the pig and everyone wants a Border Collie. It’s the “Air Bud” movie where the golden retriever plays basketball and everyone wants a golden retriever. It’s TV shows like “Frazer” where the Jack Russell named “Eddie” is a show stopper.
There are unscrupulous breeders just waiting to see what is going to be the “hot” breed of the year and then they produce litters of pups for sale as quickly as possible. They don’t worry about conformation, temperament, or health issues. They just want to make their money as quickly as possible before the next “hot ” breed is announced.
What happens when the pup that is so cute turns into a dog that isn’t trained to prance around a show ring, but instead digs holes in the back yard and chews up your shoes? So many of these dogs end up in shelters or worse, dropped off out in the sticks to fend for their selves. I fear that many of those dogs are put down by a farmer’s shot gun.
So, I don’t care to see dogs prancing around show rings on national TV, in TV shows and commercials, or movies. I think people should get dogs that fit their needs not just because they saw that breed of dog win a dog show. I beg people to only get a dog if they really want one and want to know and care for an animal. It’s a commitment of more than just a few months.
Y’all come back,
Fay
Yes,yes,yes!!!
My mommy runs a lot so she needed a Jack Russell.People just choose whats popular and thats why so many dogs are returned to shelters
I agree with you. Dogs aren’t playthings. They are so much more, friends that depend on you and you depend on them. Now, come visit me for your award.
I wish dogs were bred to improve their specific uses rather than only the current look. I had a heck of a time finding a working purebred dog that could control pests, herd and guard. Instead, I bought a rough collie cross from a working farm. All of the dogs I looked at were beautiful but lacked instinct.
We totally agree with you. We think that people should get the kind of dogs that they enjoy not who won.
Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus and Louie
Fay,
I couldn’t have said it better myself! And, to be honest, we’re not huge fans of AKC in its current form, period. I’ve never earned a purebred dog in my life, and it saddens me that so many great mixed-breeds or mutts are somehow relegated to a lower caste system. We humans can take artificial selection and turn it into something very much eugenics, without ever really think about what’s best for the canis lupis familiaris species.
Thanks everyone! I was a little anxious about putting this post up. I didn’t want to offend anyone, but I had that rolling around in my brain for several days.
The thing is, everyone who knows I’m “into dogs” asks me if I watched the show and they are so shocked when I say “no”. Personally, I don’t think children or dogs should ever be exploited for our entertainment.
BTW Congratulations to Numero Uno.
Y’all come back,
Fay