Not-So-Social Media
I have often spoken out about the negativity that I see pouring out of Facebook, and as we approach election time in this country, it is only going to get worse.
When it comes to our community, I absolutely abhor the negative and hateful comments. Questioning a judge (probably one who has not put your dog up) by asking, “Does he even know the breed standard?” is ridiculous. What a demeaning comment. I guarantee you that the judge knows the breed standard better than most exhibitors. Whether he judges to it or not is another issue.
If you really believe the entire judging community doesn’t know what it is doing, do your part – get approved to be a judge and get in the middle of the ring. Feel the Force. Come join us. Most of us became judges because we wanted to give back to the community that means so much to us.
For those who use Facebook to excoriate the judging community, remember that I have never said that I believe ALL judges are competent and judge with knowledge, care and integrity. Whether you or I think someone is a good or bad judge, that person has paid his/her dues. The position – if not the person – deserves some degree of respect.
Obviously, I am not alone in my disgust at the negativity. Consider this recent post:
This sport is getting lost to poor sportsmanship and lack of compassion. People put more value on a 35-cent ribbon versus the human at the end of the leash or on the other side of the screen. Life is too short and too precious. It’s better to be kind. Always choose kindness.
After the unfortunate and untimely loss of one of the true gentlemen in our community – Kaz – there was this post: “The era of greatness is gone.” Do better and remember our code of sportsmanship.
What is that code of sportsmanship? What is the AKC personal-conduct policy?
We must endeavor at all times to be people of high character, show respect for others inside and outside our sport, and conduct ourselves in ways that favorably reflect on ourselves, our dogs and the AKC. This zero-tolerance policy is issued pursuant to the Charter and Bylaws of the American Kennel Club, Inc.
To be perfectly fair, certainly not all posts on Facebook are negative. There are even times that this social media can be positive and useful, and we need to take advantage of those times to promote the positivity in our community.
Consider this post by the Sporting Dog Association of Arizona and others:
July 4th Fireworks. Plan ahead to keep your pet safe and calm. Check Your Pet's ID. Make sure your pet is wearing an up-to-date ID collar and is microchipped. Keep a recent photo of your pet handy to share in case they get startled and wander off. Refill Prescriptions. If your pet takes prescription medication for a severe noise phobia, contact your veterinarian now if you need a refill. Don't wait until the last minute! Create a Calm Space. Block windows to keep out the flashes. Hang fabric on walls opposite street-facing windows to muffle the noise. Play soothing music to help your pet relax. Revise Your Schedule. Make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise earlier in the day to tire them out. Plan to finish dog walks and other outdoor activities, so you're home before it gets dark. The Fourth of July is just a week away, and while fireworks may be thrilling for (some) humans, they can be terrifying for our animal companions. More pets go missing around Independence Day than any other time of the year, as they often run to escape the flashing lights and unpredictable booms. Plan ahead to minimize their fear and keep your pet safe!
There are other instances where individual clubs – and even AKC – use social media to discuss topics such as announcements about seminars, health issues such as do dogs need sunscreen, show closing dates and information, show cancellations and meeting announcements. There is certainly value in much of this.
Want to know how important I believe good breed judging is to our community and our dogs? Consider this post shared with us by someone I greatly respect – Gretchen Bernardi:
The great Bull Terrier breeder Raymond Oppenheimer cared deeply about his beloved breed and understood this need [for quality judging]. He said, "No breed can long continue to progress if it is consistently badly judged, because sooner or later a general air of confusion will grow so that neither the experienced dog breeder nor the novice knows what to do next. It is therefore of great importance that everybody connected with shows should understand clearly what the term ‘a good judge’ implies so that only men and women who qualify for such a description shall be appointed to officiate on important occasions.”
Why? He goes on to explain, "If the wrong animals are put up consistently, they are liable to be chosen for breeding, which is likely to have a harmful effect on the breed concerned. So, it is very important that a high level of judging be maintained, especially at important shows (the breed club and general championship shows), for unless this happens, the general standard of the dogs will almost certainly deteriorate.”
Why do we seem to forget that an important element for a great judge is that mysterious element we call "an eye for a dog.” All the great judges had/have it, usually without knowing it because it is so natural to them.
In the 50-plus years that I have been an AKC approved judge – and the 11 years before that when I went from novice to professional handler – I can’t even begin to count the number of different ways that the AKC has used to try to approve judges and improve the judging community. The judging-approval process has ranged from one (knowledgeable) person at AKC determining who should judge to closed-book tests to open-book tests and in-person interviews.
Some have been better than others. It is difficult to design a format that puts more emphasis on a judge having an eye for a dog as opposed to being good at standard memorization and test-taking. On top of that, it is impossible to measure the level of integrity in a judging applicant.
Over the years, our dog-show community has shown that when things are at their worst, we come through for each other. Here is just such an instance posted by one of our community members:
I took a bad fall going into the group tonight, and our amazing dog show family swooped in to help [my dog] and me. Everyone was genuinely concerned for our condition. Took [dog’s name] towards the end of the line for both of us to gather our composure – with lots of offers for ice, ibuprofen and alcohol, not the rubbing kind, either. Thank God EB was with me and was my chauffeur, so I kept my knees iced all the way back to Tulsa. I would like to thank everyone for your concern and kindness, it does a heart good knowing that people really do care about you.
That was just one more instance – of a great many – of how we jump in to help each other when there is real need. And one more instance to be proud of who we are.
I will continue to say that our community – for the most part – represents what is best in what is left of humanity. For those who choose to use social media to flex your muscles and declare that YOU are much bigger and more important than what our community is about, I suggest you find another way to spend your money and vent your hate. Hating winning dogs, their handlers and their owners and those who have – one way or another – earned their right to stand in the middle of the ring simply shows your lack of class and knowledge. Go join the other haters.
The more I think about it, the more I have come to the conclusion that it is not social media that is the culprit – it is the individual who uses it to do what he or she cannot do in real life. It is certainly easier to drag someone – or something – down rather than raise yourself up. So go slink into your corner and realize that this community will never be torn down by someone like you. We are much better than that.
What do you think?