CONFORMATION CORNER  by Jennifer Krawsczyn

Finding the Joy In Dog Shows Even When You Don’t Win

As an owner handler, I am not out in the rings every weekend. Unfortunately, the rest of my life dictates that showing every weekend just isn’t an option. And quite honestly, I don’t think I’d enjoy it as much if I was out there every week as it would probably start feeling more like a job than a hobby. I still love competing at the shows and want to continue to feel that way.

So my number of weekends out is limited to a bit less than an average of twice a month and I pick my show schedule carefully considering judging schedules and locations, as well as which of my friends will be there, what else is going on that weekend, and the show set up and hotel situation. All factor into my choices for shows.

Yet anyone that shows, especially fellow owner handlers, know that you will certainly have more losses than wins. It is absolutely true that we go to the shows with the goal of winning the points. But it is also a fact that only class dog and one class bitch will take home points at any show and that less than 20% of those shows over all will be majors. Thus the odds of winning are not great for any of us.

I know that there are some weekends that I have a better chance of winning than others. It makes you feel better when you are in the ribbons every day at big shows and picking up reserves routinely as you know that your probability of getting the win NEXT TIME is probably better than if you aren’t getting placements at all. Yet, those non-purple ribbons just aren’t the goal!

So how do we enjoy this sport win losing is more the norm than winning for most of us?

The answer is simple. You find joy in your fellow competitors.

It is important to remember that we should be cheering on our friends. It is a great feeling to be running around the ring in the winner’s class and hear your friends ringside clapping for you when you know they had just been in the ring competing against you. When you don’t win, it is fun celebrating the wins your friends have after the wins have been awarded by having dinner together or if they aren’t there, giving them a call to congratulate them. (WORD OF ADVICE HERE: Try to be sure the handler has told the owner first if the owner isn’t showing the dog!) Even if you don’t know the owners of the winners, just spending time with your friends at the shows in our set ups, ringside, and visiting the vendors is enjoyable and a very important part of showing our dogs. I always look forward to having great conversations over dinner about the merits of the dogs out there and possible breeding choices. I also value doing this with many different people whose opinions are valuable components for my breeding choices and hopefully my input on their inquiries about breeding choices will also be of value. No, this is not about saying any dog is “a piece of crap”, but more about how some dogs may work better with some bitches/lines than others. It is about not only structure, but pedigree analysis, health, temperament, and many components. Sharing our knowledge and observations objectively and actually seeing what is out there in the ring is invaluable for these choices.

I have to admit that the quickest way I’ve ever finished a dog was with a great handler and a great dog. But being at the shows seeing the dogs, talking with fellow owners and breeders, and comparing what I have accomplished in my own breeding program in comparison with other dogs in the ring and how certain breeding combinations have worked is a very important, and very enjoyable aspect of my involvement in this sport.

If I was only there to win and I pouted and complained every time I didn’t get the purple ribbon, I would be missing out on all the important aspects of what dog shows were created for. What is that, you might ask? In the words of the AKC, “Dog shows (conformation events) are intended to evaluate breeding stock.”  We need to remember that and know that opinions of others are important aspects we need to consider as well. Those are the opinions of our friends and mentors as well as the judges we show under.