Question of the Week

Peter A. Gaeta

Appleton, WI

Across the sport, entries are a fixed number: there are just so many. 

Consensus is that there are too many dog shows.  Shows are too close together geographically.  And clubs have effectively abandoned their proprietary territories.  We can argue all day and all night, but facts are facts.  Across the country, clusters of shows have now formed that are held on the same weekends and close enough to each other to compete, sometimes by design, for the same entry.  Thirty years ago exhibitors could attend all of those shows.  Now they have to choose at which set they are going to participate.  And, what’s more, clubs solicit new clubs and Specialties to join their clusters in the creative ways AKC now provides.  And so it becomes a contest to lure more of the potential entry away from the other clusters.  We have built in the means for clubs to destroy each other.

 

The solution to the problem is not an easy, painless or quick fix.  It will take highly unpopular board action and staff implementation.  Indeed, it may be so controversial that no one will be willing to do it.  And I dare say look closely at those who would complain the loudest, and therewith you will find the source of the problem.  Here are the steps necessary, as I see it, to literally save our sport.

 

· Impose at least a five year moratorium on acknowledging any new clubs or approving any new shows.

· The distance between newly approved shows must be raised to 400 miles.  Shows already approved according to present limits may remain viable as they are already approved.  However, if they change dates or locations, they will be subject to the 400 mile limit.  This will certainly cause many clubs to struggle even more and some to fail.  The truth is, however, they are already failing.  It is just a matter of time.  This attrition will produce a gradual decline in the number of shows, and the entry will be distributed among the surviving shows.

· Limit clusters to four days including Specialties.  While longer clusters may be less costly to an exhibitor on a per show basis, how many times a year can a family afford to take off work four or five  days in a row plus a day or two to travel?  On the other hand, most can afford to be away for a whole weekend any number of times throughout the year.  And, with respect to cost, how many times a year can exhibitors afford to enter a cluster hoping for a major that never develops?

· Quit approving two shows in a day and included Specialties within All –Breed Shows.  They just provide another opportunity for minor points.

· Require all-breed clubs to hold at least two public attractions besides their primary AB show in their own territories each year to be selected from the following: Conformation Show, Sanction Match, Meet the Breeds.  Matches and Meet the Breeds events are to be stand alone attractions held at times away from the dog shows.  This will help attract new fanciers and ultimately new club members.

· Require all-breed clubs to hold at least quarterly, in-person club meetings with educational programs that will benefit new and old members alike.  These meetings and programs will also make all members feel like they are part of what is happening. 

As I said, the solution will be controversial and very unpopular.  However, if we do not address the issue now, soon it will be too late. 

 

Roger B. Baskin 

Milford, MA

The main reason for the decline in dog show entries  is the perception that judges are dishonest.  These are the reforms I recommend:

1. Publicize on a monthly basis the percentage  each handler puts up in classes and best of breed.

2. Have strict rules as to the amount and type of interactions judges have with those who will show to them for the entire weekend  of the shows.

3. People should not be allowed to show in shows when their relative is on the judging panel.

4. People should not show in shows when the AKC rep is a relative. 

These reforms would make dog showing more appealing. 

 

Jim Tomsic

Pueblo, CO

Simple solution:  Hold dog shows without professional handlers (PH), or at a minimum, limit PH to the BoB class.  

Over the last several years, breeder/owner/handlers (BOH) have grown weary of exhibiting quality dogs only to be ignored by judges who continually put up PH, often with inferior exhibits.  It used to be where PH primarily exhibited in the BoB class, but over the past several years, PH have gotten more involved in showing in the classes, not just BoB.  People will say that a BOH with a quality dog can compete with PHs (good dog, or not), and while it does happen, it is quite rare.  

I don’t blame the PHs; they are just doing the job that they are being paid for.  I blame the judges who are not confident in their judging, or are looking for their next assignment, who continually ignore quality BOH dogs over PHs.  Judges have become so well-trained in looking up the lead, that they are oblivious to the rest of the dogs in the ring.  Just watch them when they have to judge a class with no PHs.  They are completely lost.  

Some blame the economy, price of gas, entry fees, etc., for the reason that conformation entries continue to decline.  That is just an excuse.  We all know that many exhibitors would spend their last dime in order to go to dog shows.  Their dogs are their passion; their life.  Eventually/unfortunately, these BOH exhibitors who have supported the dog show industry (where would the AKC be without them?) for years, have finally realized that they are just wasting their hard-earned cash to enter a show only to be walked out of the ring by a judge who continually puts up PHs.

Certainly, there are other reasons, but BOHs would come out of the woodwork if they were confident that they would be judged on a level equal to the other exhibitors in the ring.

It is surprising that the dog show industry has lasted as long as it has with dwindling entries, all-breed clubs dissolving, breed clubs dissolving, show sites disappearing, hotels no longer accepting dogs, etc., and as mentioned, BOHs moving to performance events where success is based on actual performance, not subjected to the whims of a judge, who, in many cases, would really prefer not to be there.  While the Grand Champion and NOHS programs have temporarily boosted entries, those entries are also dwindling.

Bottom line:  As BOH get disenchanted with not being able to win/compete against PHs at dog shows, they breed less, resulting in fewer registered dogs for the AKC, and fewer entries at dog shows.  A double whammy to both the AKC and the local kennel club bottom line.

As BOH get disenchanted with not being able to win/compete against PHs at dog shows, they breed less, resulting in fewer registered dogs for the AKC, and fewer entries at dog shows.  A double whammy to the AKC and kennel club bottom line.

If left to its own devices, the dog show industry will continue in a slow death spiral.  The only question being how long will it last?

Just my $0.02.

 

Jan Leonard

Denver, CO 

Since AKC can’t change the economy of the USA there isn’t a lot they can do. Maybe reduce their overhead so they can reduce their fees.

I joined the fight against the anti-breeder movement in 1970 when I helped form the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs as Secretary and helped write our first constitution. We are still enmeshed with getting our message across to the public, but we are losing ground with local government and our right to live and raise litters on anything less than 10-50 acres. The word breeder has become a dirty word even to most in the veterinary world. Where is the ground level public PR for all the good that breeders and breed clubs do for dogs. Health testing, supporting research that helps all dogs, accepting return of all dogs bred by us for their lifetime, supporting breed rescues, saving the heritage of dogs purposefully bred to help man, etc.

Can AKC make the public aware that we are not the problem and that we can not save all the dogs imported to keep retail rescues in business.

 

Peggy Richter 

Inyokern, CA
On the points, when you have honestly entered a dog and there is insufficient numbers to earn even a single point, AKC should allow for a judge to evaluate that dog against the standard and at least award a single point if it meets that standard with sufficient quality.  For those of us with low entry dogs, you can try to build numbers but it doesn't always work.  if i'm the only dog in agility, i can get a qualifying run.  If i'm the only dog in novice, i can still earn a leg.  if im in conformation, too bad, too sad, you wasted your entry fee.   

They may want to consider having noncompetitive evaluations against the standard -- something many FCI countries do. A mediocre dog wins against other mediocre dogs or a great dog loses to other great dogs --- is that a benefit to the breed entered?   

NOH is great IF you happen to enjoy handling and happen to be good at it, not so much for those of us who have physical issues or just aren't coordinated enough to compete in HANDLING vs. presenting a good dog.  

 

 

Lynda Lamensdorf 

Memphis,TN

I really think the only way to fix this is a complete overhaul. The backbone of our sport has been completely shoved aside by big money squads money & their handlers! If you think I mean group level you would be WRONG! It has crept in on every level! It is so very hard for newcomers to get a foothold we loose a lot of them. Older exhibitors who have been around for competition for decades are disgusted & turning to performance sports of all kinds. A lot of this falls squarely on AKC's shoulders. They have stabbed the ordinary breeders in the back by their failure to support them. NO ADVERTISING OF PUREBRED DOGS EVER! THEY LEAVE WHAT LITTLE THERE IS TO DOGFOOD companies - breeds are shown but not identified! People don't know what a cocker spaniel is, let alone, say, a Bichon. Then came doodles &  lots of press on adopt don't shop. It is probably too late to fix this, sadly. Some people who show are elitists & some just plain mean and are bullies. The sanctions don't seem strong enough to make a difference!

The horses are out of the barn & AKC seems to have shot THEMSELVES in the foot!

 

Irene Senedak

Hamden, CT

I’m responding as a 30-year breeder-owner-handler to your survey about increasing the number of dogs participating at shows.  Two things come to mind:  lower, not increase, entry fees, and put a reasonable cap on handler fees—they are out of reach and out of control.

 

Cathy Daugherty

Hot Springs AR

How about a little advertising on the benefits of buying from a breeder.  Not necessarily tv - there are many other venues.  

Sandy Harris,
Basking Ridge, NJ

That's an odd question. As I see it, the AKC is the problem, not the solution. There is no simple solution because of the AKC's mad scramble for income. The AKC has also attempted to be all things to all people. They seem to have forgotten that they are a purebred registry. For added revenue, they have now become the club for all dogs - purebred or not. Adding All-American dogs (any dog with 4 legs) to events is a travesty. Their latest TV ad is absurd: "If you love your dog, register it with the AKC." What does that even mean?. With their overwhelming desire for revenue, will they (or do they now) have an AKC mixed-breed registry? Any living dog could then be AKC registered as All-American. They are tripping over themselves to become woke! Based on what they have done with events other than conformation, I imagine that the AKC solution would be to now have a new Group: The All-American Group! How will breeders, who have spent their lives perfecting their breeds, feel when Best In Show is given to a dog from unknown heritage? How about renaming it The AAKC (The All American Kennel Club)? They have become so woke and/or greedy, that the beautiful diversity of purebred dogs is no longer enough, nor their priority. The AKC is the problem, not the solution.

 

Lisa Foltz

Homer Glen, IL

In order to get more entries you need to have less shows. What once was two-day weekends now extends to four-five days and with them being so close the entries will always be small.

 

Terry Hundt

Sandy Hook, CT

We have all said the answer to this question! Too many dog shows! Decrease the number, then the entries will increase and shows will have better quality. Too many cheap champions at this time. 

 

Iva Kimmelman 

Stow, Massachusetts 

Easy to say… hard to do. Great initiatives from all corners of the sport BUT if you don’t solve the core problem all efforts will result in nominal if any increases. The problem…less than 50% of pure bred puppies are actually registered! AKC needs to focus its efforts on building back value to breeders to give them incentive to register. Focus on those puppies.  Possible one tier registry to force the issue but it may have the opposite affect as breeders may not report all the puppies born in a litter if they had to individually register each puppy. There are forces beyond AKC’s control… our breeders are aging out and have not done an effective job of mentoring new people to replace their programs. The smart phone and technology has allowed young populations to find five or 10 things to do on any given weekend within a 10 mile radius of their home. The need for instant gratification does not bode well for dog events which last all day and require long-term dedication.

 

Mario Panlilio

Oakley, CA 

Politics have gotten so much worse.  So less of that, but that is wishful thinking. 

More credible judges. Banning judges who committed anything bad to the sport or their personal lives.  Again might be a moot point because they seem to get rehired. 

Judge dogs fairly and be more competent in the breeds they are judging.  It’s ridiculous that we have top dogs that are limping or Cowhocked and bad top lines winning multiple BIS if they’re shown by a top handler or if it has been pimped out by an influential judge.  A few top toys are an embarrassment to their ranking. Shameful that they keep getting put up even if they are not the best representative to the breed. Again, these are common sense answers but their existence has gotten worse. And it’s very disheartening and expensive to keep losing to these poor representatives of their breeds.  I’ve been showing almost 40 years with zero political advantage. Imagine the newbies.  I’m sure I just ranted for nothing. 

 

Libby Naimo

Ellendale, DE

I think the price of registration is high for the average buyer, who doesn't see a little magazine as enough of an incentive to register their pet.  So lower the limited registration fee. And then offer the pet owner guides to the other venues besides conformation that they could pursue, and a list of classes etc. in their area. (or at least the clubs near them)

Secondly,  there are so many shows and clusters competing with one another for entries (here on the East Coast, for sure) that no single show can get the number of entries it used to.  I suspect that the show-giving clubs can attest to their numbers and profits (?) dropping.  Reducing the number of shows might help, as would lowering the entry fees.  The cost of gas, hotels, and meals is prohibitive as is, without the deterrent of high entry fees.

 

Stan Tissue

Fort Hill, PA 

I am not sure what the AKC can do, but I will share my personal experience and offer a suggestion. First, I want to make it clear that I think it is really important that the public understands the value of conformation shows, and the value of good breeding. I am not sure that they do understand this. Getting the public there to watch the local shows is paramount. For the most part, local shows do not have a lot of spectators. Unless it’s a show like the NDS, the general public is just not there. 

If I enter two dogs for a show weekend (4 days), with handling fees, my total cost is around $1500. I live in an area where there are shows almost every weekend that the handler will attend. If I want to use this handlers services, my dogs have to go when the handler goes. Otherwise, I will lose my spot. 

So let’s consider that for a minute. That could be around $4500 per month in at least two regions, probably more. That’s with the owner dropping off the dogs on Wednesday and picking them up on Sunday night, after the show. In general, the handler does not want the owner present during the show. This is another issue. How do the owners know what is happening? Are the dogs behaving themselves? Are they showing well? Don’t know the answer. Also, If you do your research on the judging panel for the weekend, you may find that there is only one judge that is likely to put up one of your dogs. So that’s a good bit of cash, no matter what your financial situation is, and most weekends you know that you are throwing a portion of that money away, in advance, and you really do not know what went on!

 You could go the owner handler route. Then, the hotel is actually almost as expensive as the handler, once you factor in the added cost for two dogs, and now you have the cost of meals on top of it. Your chances of finding points at the show are greatly diminished by handling the dogs by yourself. Unless you have had years of experience and are well known within the breed or breeds that you are showing, you are likely to be upstaged by the professionals in the ring with you, most of the time. 

So what I see happening is that people who have been participating are dying off, or running out of money, and because the general population is not attending, there are fewer and fewer people coming in to backfill. My suggestion is that more focus needs to be placed on bringing spectators in to see the shows. It needs to be fun for them, and they need to feel welcome. Local all breed clubs are stretched just putting the cash up for the venue for their weekend. It is hard to imagine adding promotional costs to their budgets. This might be where the AKC can help, by stepping in with a cohesive marketing strategy to promote the local shows.

 

William K. Brokken, MD

Santa Barbara, CA 

Reducing the add-on options for registration and a reduction of the basic fee are changes new owners would like to see.

The main factor, in my opinion, for reduced entries is the sharp increase in the number of dog shows.  Clusters have added to an already bloated schedule.  Exhibitors no longer have to plan well ahead of where and under which judges to enter because there will be another show nearby on the horizon. Dog Shows are like any commodity: they follow the law of supply and demand. Fewer registrations, fewer fanciers and fewer entries should lead to fewer, not more, shows.  It is the Dragon among us.

 

Sue Bauman 

Allentown, PA

There needs to be a guideline for entry fees to leave it to the clubs is not working. 

Example: clusters with several clubs each club charges a different entry fee, the lower fee club gets better entry numbers. Showchair needs to involve the club(s) in all decisions as it is the club’s reputation/responsibility in the end. AKC needs to be aware of how close some of the shows/clusters are and dates that so that they can have better entries.

 

Jennifer Wilburn

Sandpoint, ID 

We just had our National. There were near 86 dogs entered which is the largest entry for the Rat Terrier ever. I entered five dogs. Three were top in the country and had been at number one for the year(s). I spent over $3,000 in expenses to go to this show. Not to mention my contribution of some really nice awards. There were a lot of very nice dogs entered and some who were there for the ride. 

Back in the day breeders would stack the ring to get titles on their dogs, and it still happens. Over the last few years, I have seen how judging is getting more and more cliquish between Judges and Handlers inside and outside of the ring. I understand that every judge has a different approach and preference but, when I see the same dog, with the same handler winning Breed at every show, that better be a damn nice dog with correct conformation, and is near perfection in form and function... as in Movement. 

My disappointment is with how the sport is no longer about the dog that fits the standard, rather who is on the end of the lead. With our Nationals having the largest turnout yet and I am seeing a patent over angulated, crabbing/sidewinding dog in movement win breed in an entry of this size, it has put such a damper in my desire to show dogs in conformation. I know this because my dogs were in there middle of the cliques for several years and winning everything. Now that I don’t put my dogs on handlers, they are not looked at by the judges, yet my dogs cover ground efficiently in their movement. Their conformation is good and up to a judges preference.

I accepted the increase in costs to show dogs but to spend that much money and not have a fair chance for my dogs to compete because of relationships between handlers and judges is disgusting.

I know AKC tried to adjust this obvious trend by providing Owner Handled, but that is trending towards handlers names getting put on dogs too. So I don’t know what the answer is but I am hearing this same entitlement from many people of breeds, breeders and people who just like to show their dogs. 

Good luck AKC. Conformation shows are not what they were designed to accomplish anymore. It is now a dying sport full of politics and entertainment.

 

Ann Hogue 

Memphis, Tennessee 

Lower the entry fees!

Lower the fixed frivolous costs!

 

Linda Whitney

Wesley Chapel, FL

Exhibitors have discussed that some judges just “go through the motions”, not judging the breed to the standard, thus “a waste of an entry”.

 Also, AKC should review the percentage of major entries EXHIBITED to non major shows within each state/division.

 Exhibitors are expressing their frustration wasting money on entry fees/accommodations/handlers for shows that do not make majors!

 I personally spent over $800, in entries fees, with no major entry within a 3 month span, entering 4 separate divisions. I chose not to complete my Dogs’s AKC championship, as she only needed the 1 major to finish and it was wasting hard earned money!!!

 

Wyoma Clouss

Meridian, ID

Promote, the virtues, talents and capabilities of well bred purebred dogs in a variety of media across the nation.   There’s a big country out there beyond NYC. 

Demonstrate the possibilities of individual and family involvement in entry level AKC events.  Motivate local clubs.  Address attitudes of current participants.  Promote local matches.  Engage local resources and possibilities.  Include conformation, show that participation is possible at all levels of expense and commitment.  

My personal pet peeve:  Allow pet groomed dogs - ie a clippered Min Schnauzer or similar highly groomed breeds - to compete in lower level Junior Showmanship. 

 

John Sullivan

Massachusetts

Improve the quality and Competency of judges to the level that previously existed in the past.

  

Jo Anne M. Ybaben

Oakhurst, CA

The AKC should allow same day or day before entries with an added fee.

 

Diane Young McCormack

Reno, NV  

I talk about this in my latest book, "My Life in the SPORT of Purebred Dogs."

Here's one of my suggestions on what AKC can do to increase the entries at dog shows.

As a judge, I can attest to the fact that the class competition at U.S. shows is weak. How many times have I walked over to the judges’ table to check my judges’ book to see if there are more classes, because the dogs I’ve just had in my ring are pet quality. A ring steward chuckled when she overheard me say, “Oh please dear God, let there me some more classes.”

The latest point scale published by AKC (May of 2025) has reduced the number of dogs needed to get majors. Of course, it’s because the number of purebred dogs in each breed is diminishing. And, the number of shows available on any given weekend keeps increasing.

At many dog shows, there are more specials in the rings than class dogs. Here’s an idea. What if, at all-breed shows, and not at Specialties or Nationals, all the champions have to compete in the Open Dog or Open Bitch Class? There would be no Specials Class. They do something similar to this in Ireland. It’s a thought!