Editorial: November 5, 2021

The pandemic that threw the proverbial monkey wrench into the way we have lived since the beginning of 2020 has become a new part of our lives. While the pandemic is still rampant in many parts of the world, it seems to be abating here at home. Though we are still not out of the woods, life is returning, and that includes the resumption of dog shows, though there still are shows that have been cancelled, dates postponed and locations altered to fit local laws prompted by Covid-19. Now the time seems to right address the number of dogs shows approved by the American Kennel Club, the proliferation of shows pushing the boundaries of their allowed areas, the clustering of shows at one location and the venues available to hold an event. These are hard questions, pushed aside early and kicked down the road for another day: too many dog shows, two dog shows held in one day, concurrent specialty shows held within the all-breed show, the clustering of shows in one location (i.e., Springfield, Massachusetts, and Vallejo, California). What of the dog-loving public, which doesn't have these local dog shows available to them? How does it educate the public in that area about purebred dogs and the joys of showing one’s dog? How do we encourage new participants to show their dogs when more than 50 all-breed shows are held in locations like Springfield? Who does that benefit? Not to mention that the number of dog shows offered requires judges to officiate at these events. How many judges are pushed along to help fill those assignments, as most weekends are several days long and show chairman want multiple group judges that they can employee for the length of their clusters?

Which brings us to the present day, when more and more shows are being held, and the entries are low. Maybe clubs need to address who they share weekends with and their locations; maybe switch from summer to winter events or vice versa. Sadly, because there are so many shows, some will just have to cease to exist due to low membership. It is alleged that outside sources are helping these clubs and also selecting the slates for their events. Dog News is all for having dog shows, but we seem to be losing or ignoring the reason that the shows are held: to evaluate breeding stock and educate the residents living in the area in which the club was formed. The clubs leave but those who love dogs and would attend a local dog show either as an exhibitor or spectator are not given that opportunity; also left behind in those communities are the animal-rights people who work every day to end the thing that brings us all together. We strongly believe in holding dog shows, and that each show-giving club has the right to hold an event, but times have changed, and so must our perception of dog shows and their reason for being held. Tough questions to ask, but asked they must be.