Page 182 - ShowSight - September 2020

How has the sport of exhibiting changed during the time you have been involved with Kerries?
Carl Ashby: The number of dogs in competition today is con- siderably less than when we started in the 1970’s. This has made it much more difficult to find points and to finish a dog if you are unable to do extensive traveling. Entry fees are four times what they were when we started and this is limiting many exhibitor’s ability to compete on a regular basis when the travel costs are con- sidered. The Internet has changed everything in that the record of judges is readily available. This has resulted in exhibitors doing considerable research prior to investing in attending a show. The number of judges who come from Terriers has decreased signifi- cantly and this has resulted in many judges not really understand- ing Terriers—and Kerry Blues, in particular. Professional handlers continue to dominate at the Breed level, but we still believe there is room for the owner-handler (especially in class judging and in the National Owner-Handled Series, which opens up new opportuni- ties to compete at the Group and Best in Show level.) We feel you must know how to present a Kerry Blue to really be competitive at large shows. The process to learn is time consuming and, unfortu- nately, frustrates new people. Seeking out mentors is critical for a new person and we were fortunate to have those when we started. We don’t see people as engaged today or, frankly, as willing to learn from people who have demonstrated success both in the ring and in the whelping box.
Nancy Han: In my opinion, judging and breeding dogs is an art as well as a science, but the art has taken a back seat to the sci- ence these days. Experience has now been overshadowed by book knowledge, and judges that had an acute eye for the “fancy” have now been replaced with people who rely on only technical aspects. The whole of what makes a special dog is more than the shear sche- matics. The sum is greater than the parts, so to speak. Also, it seems to me that there are too many show weekends. I think too many shows diminish interest and too much of a good thing makes it an ordinary thing.
Reita Nicholson: There are more avenues in which to work or show your Kerry; conformation, obedience, agility, along with barn hunt, nose work, dock diving and dock jumping, herding,
therapy, weight pulling—the list grows every day. We also have the choice of several registering bodies in which to compete, mak- ing for an even broader area to participate and spend time with your Kerries.
Nancy Westbrook: For me, the biggest change in the sport of exhibiting since I first started is that it is not a “sport” any longer. It used to be fun to go in the ring alongside other breeder/owner- handlers and show our Kerry Blues. Now it is more of a business; there are many more “professional” handlers in the Kerry ring today than when I first started. I truly believe that what used to be a sport and a place to help “grade” (if you will) the merits of your bitches and dogs for breeding stock is no longer. It seems to me that dog shows are big money and IF one is to have success then, to some degree, that big money better be in your pocket.
I am not saying that handlers do not have their place or that they don’t do a good job, but I am saying that this is one of the major ways the dog show world has changed. There are more shows now, which means more opportunities for points. However, this is only if you are willing to travel a lot or hire a handler to cart your Kerry around to take advantage of the availability of those points. Most dogs, whichever the breed, stand more of a chance to get their championship if with a handler—not just because they do a better job, but because they are at shows every weekend.
In fact, I believe that in many situations the owner-handler does a better job because they have one dog or two to prepare and show. They have more time to concentrate on their own dog/dogs and not a whole string of dogs. The owner-handler can become a specialist, because they are working on one or two dogs in one breed.
Handlers would provide a great service to those who present them with an animal to show by being honest with their evalua- tion of that animal as a show prospect. Many will just take on the animal and show it. To the detriment of the breed, some of these are not show quality, but will end up with their Championships. It seems we are seeing many more professional handlers, some with animals that are just not show animals. Judges should help here too, by being honest and telling the exhibitor the truth of the ani- mal’s merits as a show dog. I once overheard a judge say to the person who was showing the last placed animal: “My advice to you is for you to find something for which your dog would be better suited, maybe obedience?”
How many times have we all heard: Not every animal should be bred? So, I am adding to that: Not every animal should be shown, and not every Champion should be bred.
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180 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2020