Thu, 06/08/2023 - 11:22pm

10 Questions ...

... asked of Christian Rutten

Profession: Professional handler

Dog-sport involvement: Breeder, owner-handler

Hometown: Snohomish, Washington

Astrological sign: Cancer

1. Do you have any dog-show superstitions? 

Yes and no. I’m a big believer in things around you or certain outfits can change your energy based on the good and bad memories you have with them. I think if you’re more confident in one outfit or another, rock it. I did have a jacket recently I loved, but I swore was plagued with bad luck. I told myself I would wear it one last time and see how my day went. Needless to say, that jacket didn’t come back home with me that day.

2. TV-show guilty pleasure? 

I don’t watch a whole lot of TV, but who doesn’t love “Yellowstone”? Also, let’s be honest, a season of “Selling Sunset” can be knocked out in two nights before you’re begging for more. 

3. If you were president of AKC for one day, what would you do? 

Work on better publication of events, breeds and puppies to “John Q. Public.” We live in a world where marketing is key, yet our only source for selling puppies is AKC Marketplace. On Marketplace, anyone with an AKC-registered breeding can post, not necessarily the most ethical of breeders or health-tested dogs. We need to promote our lovely breeds to the public as well as so many “doodle” breeders do; otherwise we will be left in the dust. How many people found their first dogs in the newspaper, yet great breeders of today just feel puppy buyers should seek them out, and running ads are tacky or unethical. Also I would love to see the AKC Juniors department working closely with local dog 4-H programs to promote and advertise youth programs. Kids are born every day, yet our programs are shrinking. “If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.” I prefer that responsibility to be an animal.

 

4.  Most valued material possession? 

I’m not one for material possessions, but I am incredibly sentimental. Maybe some of my childhood dog books with diagrams and notes for what I wanted in my future dogs.

 

5. What is something no one would guess about you? 

As an incredibly shy young kid, 4-H allowed me to learn how to speak to and in front of people with things like public presentations and judging. I can always keep a conversation going, but I would much rather talk in front of a crowd of 100 than start a conversation with one. 

 

6. Who would you compare yourself to? 

Hmmm, I think I’m pretty unique. I guess if Elvis and Jane Goodall had a baby …? I think Will Ferrell would have to be in there somewhere, too, maybe paternal grandfather? He would need to be around just enough to give me a good sense of humor.

 

7. What are you “famous” for? 

I would say my “head tilt,” Elvis / Tina Turner impersonations or some amazing carpool karaoke. 

 

8. What website do you visit most often?

Facebook is now an “app,” so I’m going to exclude that one. A true “website” would be K9data.com, the Golden Retriever pedigree database. Whenever I plan a breeding, I always hand-write a four-generation pedigree first. It’s imperative to me to memorize most contributors to our breed to make plans to navigate forward.

9. What was more memorable, your most satisfying win or disappointing defeat? And what was it? 

Always wins, most specifically the GRCA National Specialty under Jon Chase with Dolly (MBISS GCH Goldtales Backwoods Barbie). I knew how he built his line from previously showing to him, that he would pull his Best of Winners and build a line behind. After he chose his Select Bitch and had a dog in the Opposite spot, I knew that it had to be a bitch from the 200-plus specials he was whittling dog from that was left in his final cut for Best of Breed. I will never forget when he turned around, walked over around and sent us to the front of the line. As far as losses, there aren’t many that bother me. I am confident in the dogs I’m presenting and how I feel they fit into the competition around them. If it’s a loss from someone I respect, I can usually justify the reasoning for their selections (whether I agree or not). If it’s someone I don’t respect, who continually misses the boat, I chalk it up to an “oh well” and make a mental note of that individual.

 

10. What do you wish someone would ask you?

I wish someone would ask me to do a job for them and pay me enough so I could pay my bills, but have time to focus on breeding and judging. That would allow me to quit showing professionally and focus on what lights my fire. To me the process of working toward an individual ideal and consistently evaluating is much more rewarding. I would have a tough time sifting through some of these classes I watch because of some lack of quality, but being able to shape breeders’ outlooks on dogs based on my reward, I feel could help the process. A lot of great breeders are getting sick of the rat race and stepping back, while a lot of judges are missing imperative details of individual breeds, and a lot of newer breeders aren’t evaluating their own stock harder than any judge could do in two minutes. That creates a perfect tornado of a decrease in quality (judging and dogs). I always say, if you can’t be part of the solution then you’re part of the problem, and I see the solution as judging and breeding and taking a step away from handling, where we must show to some folks who we would prefer not to just to pay the bills. 

 

 

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