[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” status=”published” publish_date=”” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_image_id=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_content_boxes layout=”icon-with-title” columns=”1″ title_size=”” heading_size=”2″ title_color=”” body_color=”” backgroundcolor=”” icon=”” iconflip=”” iconrotate=”” iconspin=”no” iconcolor=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_radius=”” circlecolor=”” circlebordersize=”” circlebordercolor=”” outercirclebordersize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”” icon_size=”” icon_hover_type=”” hover_accent_color=”” image=”” image_id=”” image_width=”” image_height=”” link_type=”” button_span=”” link_area=”” link_target=”” icon_align=”left” animation_type=”” animation_delay=”” animation_offset=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””][fusion_content_box title=”” backgroundcolor=”” icon=”” iconflip=”” iconrotate=”” iconspin=”no” iconcolor=”” circlecolor=”” circlebordersize=”” circlebordercolor=”” outercirclebordersize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”” image=”” image_id=”” image_width=”” image_height=”” link=”” linktext=”Read More” link_target=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]
LET’S NORMALIZE ADVOCATING FOR OUR DOGS
By Vicki Ronchette
As a professional dog trainer, behavior consultant, mentor and coach, I frequently come across people who are doing their best trying to advocate for their dog only to be judged and criticised for their choices. I mean, what are we in this for? It’s the dogs, right?
For many of us, conformation is our sport of choice that we enjoy doing with our dogs. While it is true that the original purpose of dog shows was to have our breeding stock evaluated, it is also a sport that many of us consider a fun activity to do with our dogs. Of course, we all have different goals, values and feelings about our sport and we are all in it for different reasons. Obviously, someone campaigning a dog with a professional handler working towards national rankings to the tune of $100k a year has much more invested and therefore much more at stake than someone who is showing their dog here and there to see if they like it or to fulfill an agreement to show. No matter the goal or level of commitment, the dog must still always, always come first. And, with a dog that went into someone’s home to primarily be a companion, you can bet that a championship or title will not be worth risking the dog’s well being. Certainly this is true for many of us in the show community, but there are also people that not only don’t advocate for their own dogs, but they discourage others from advocating for their dogs.
I know some people will feel defensive and declare that all show people love their dogs and would never not advocate for them while quoting Elkhound legend Pat Trotter’s now famous quote, “Not every pet is a
Here are some common scenarios that I have had firsthand experience with:
- A puppy is fearful in the show ring, but people push the owner to just enter the pup anyway.
- A new owner is encouraged to force their dog to be in the ring before they are ready because others think that the dog should just be forced to do it.
- A top winning dog needs a break, but due to rankings, year end numbers or Westminster coming up the owner is pressured to keep the dog in the ring.
- A junior is working towards a Westminster invite and is encouraged to push their dog.
- A dog feels sick and the owner wants to pull the dog and others pressure them to make their dog show to hold the points or major.
All these examples are true situations that I have worked with owners on. Some of these scenarios involved pressure from others while some of it was self-imposed. In other words, no one actually told them to ignore the dog’s well being, they just didn’t want to disappoint someone else and felt conflicted about what to do. Whether the dog is not ring ready due to a behavioral issue, a medical issue, a physical issue or a conditioning issue, it is up to the owner to make the decision that they feel is best for their dog. Pushing someone and making them choose between being a “good sport” and doing something that they don’t believe is best for their dog is not fair and it is surely no way to keep people in the sport. Anyone that advocates for their dog should be respected and revered, not judged or pressured. This is especially true in the case of juniors. Juniors should always be encouraged to put the dog’s well being first. The AKC Code of Sportsmanship states, “Sportsmen always consider as paramount the welfare of their dog”. Paramount literally means, “more important than anything else”. We have to always put the dogs first and the people that live by that rule should be admired for that and never, ever judged for it. Please make it a point to support those people who are doing their best to advocate for their dogs.
Ultimately we all have to do what we think is best for our animals. We all have a right to do what we feel is best for our dog and to have those choices accepted and respected.
[/fusion_content_box][/fusion_content_boxes][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
