A show of ups and downs. Peggy hung in there as only she can. At one point I found myself with her lead in my hand and Peggy doing a perfect free stand on her own account. The truth is that between the dreadful public address system and the excessive heat, or rather the temperature difference between inside and outside, we were all a bit the worse for wear.
The judge of the National show, Leif Lehman Jorgensen, Denmark, did what he could, he gave us the CAC , but to see who got BoB we had to wait around in the ring for another 10 minutes. It wasn’t the judge’s fault but the result of poor co-ordination by the ring stewards. If the truth be known they didn’t seem to fully understand what was going on. In the end the BOB went to the dog.
The next day, after spending a night in a bad horror film. Freezing cold and all manner of incidents, the security team decided at midnight that everybody had to vacate the car park. No reason was given, as there was none. This despite a temperature of 1 degree and a vicious Siberian wind, and the fact that everybody was tucked up asleep. The “security” team were told where to go in strong terms and no more was heard from them.
The next morning we all trooped back into the ring, the same dogs, more or less. Three handlers with four dogs, and the rest of us Frenchie lovers. This time the judge was Paul Stanton, England, he gave us the class but got Res.CAC/CACIB.
It is becoming more and more unpleasant to show dogs, perhaps because of this the numbers are falling. In our case it’s probably because we are used to a different type of event, let’s just say a bit more refined. Shows where you can enjoy the dogs without having to look down at every step to see what you’re treading in. Shows where people are a little more respecting of their environment and those around them. Shows where the public address system doesn’t think that it is more important than the dogs, and doesn’t try to permanently damage the hearing. Why do people feel the need to shout when they have a microphone in their hand? They were invented precisely so you don’t have to shout, weren’t they?
We would like to see a bit more refinement in the dog world. I’m going to give a tip. From now on the cover of the show catalogues should read, “ Exhibitors are courteously reminded that it is their responsibility to clean up after their dogs. Thank you”. Here’s another, the show organisers could put up posters asking exhibitors to take their dogs outside the show hall to perform their needs. I watched as one person with a very large dog blocked the entrance to the show-ring as his dog irrigated the very same entrance where everybody had to pass, both entering and exiting. Nothing was said. So everyone was then obliged to perform a channel crossing without the aid of a ferry.
Of course, if you say anything they remind you that you are at a dog show. That’s alright then.
Many people left at the end of the day complaining bitterly of the rank smell. There is still a long way to go.
Will there be more of the same? Of course. But let’s hope for a small improvement.
Many thanks to the judges for their patience and the points.