Editorial: August 16, 2024

The life of a purebred dog fancier for the most part starts with a purebred dog purchased at a pet shop or from a breeder. These new owners are consumed with information about their new pet, which will be a part of their lives for many years. Through all their research they find themselves at a dog show or are encouraged by the breeder to show their puppy. Watching these well-groomed and trained dogs in the ring, the new owner quickly realizes that their dog doesn't quite measure up to those being exhibited. Not too long after that revelation comes the new puppy purchased as a show prospect. And so the life of an exhibitor starts. Then this show prospect is bred, and now a litter is on the ground with high expectations that they are all “great ones.” Hopefully the years and litters go by, and before you know it, a new judge is in the books. Some of course feel they don't need the benefit of years of breeding and exhibiting to become a judge, but that is a topic for another time. So whether they become a judge or not, time marches on. The aches and pains of age start to kick in, and this once active and fresh owner-handler is no longer. They continue, but now with a co-owner or professional handler to do the ring handling. Some of these new relationships last forever; others don't quite make it to the finish line. But what of the breeder who no longer exhibits and chooses not to judge but wants to still be actively involved … then what? Their years of knowledge and experience are lost to the fancy and to a new generation of dog-show enthusiasts. Valuable years that can only come with experience. Where do we find a place in our sport for these invaluable people? How do we take advantage of the knowledge they possess? Do we conduct seminars, webinars and conferences? We don't have the answers, but these are questions that need to be asked. In the current culture in our sport — moving judges along as quickly as possible to fill the role of multiple-group judge for the extraordinary number of three-, four- and five-day weekends of dog shows — we need the input of these knowledgeable breeders who can help educate many of these new multiple-group judges who are quite frankly not really qualified. Anyone with a photographic memory and an open book can pass a test and an interview. Anyone can put up the top winner in the breed, but the truth comes out with a ring full of class dogs and the decision that are made. We need these people more than ever. So if that ending is not Show, Breed, Judge, then what about Show, Breed, Judge and Mentor?