Sportsmanship .... or not

spottydog

If you show in a breed for a while, you meet newcomers who hang around for a few months or a year or two then disappear as they haven't made their dog up. Confused

I sold a puppy to a woman in Kent who wanted to show him. I told her he was a late developer and she put a lot of work into him. She kept coming last at Champ shows but gradually crept up in Open and Companion dog shows, getting RBIS at one and an increasing collection of rosettes. The dog is now 3, and on Sunday got a stunning result to qualify for Crufts (see thread - "Polo's son...."). She was surprised that she got a round of applause, as she had become used to being "one in the crowd" but one of the well respected exhibitors said it was because she always took her bad results with dignity.
At a recent Open show here in Ireland, there was a newcomer with a puppy. He went BOB over the Open winner (which is a multiple Group winner) but wasn't placed in the Group which was a strong one. The owner was nearly in tears, her reasoning being, if her puppy had beaten the top winning dog in the breed then logically, she should have won the group. The owner of the beaten dog refrained from pointing out that (a) you don't normally win Groups with an 8 month old puppy of a large-ish breed and (b) there was no disappointment shown at being beaten by a puppy, just good wishes.
There are some lessons in sportsmanship here...... but some people learn the hard way. Wink

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Pretty Polly Pavey of Polidot - 06/08/1996 - 13/07/2006 - Dalspa Liquid Gold for Polidot 20/10/1999 - 08/05/2007 - Polly and Polo together again

littlelab

Is it perhaps they are not teaching it in schools now a days maybe, isn't it the case that many schools do not permit competitive spots due to unequlaity of students.

Sad isn't it Sad

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Natalie and Co xxx

Beckyess

Sadly society now demands instant success so if a dog doesn't win early on then it's out or they move into another breed. The way I see it, most dogs that win well as puppies tend not to do so well as adults because they 'go over'. I stopped showing because of the bitchyness but I'm going back because I do enjoy it but I'll stick mainly to open shows with the odd champshow thrown in.
All I have to do is wait for the dogs coats to grow back in!!
Becky
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Love is a Posse of Poodles and Percy

sapphire

I show my Bullmastiff (or rather a friends 15 year old son handles him). I just go to chat with friends (its just an excuse to have a natter all day for me) and I know my dog actually enjoys it but I have to say I hear lots of bitchiness.
I have only been to 3 shows, Buffy came VHC, 2nd and 1st and is now Crufts qualified, she is from a no named kennel so to speak - that and the fact that I dont take any of it seriously has led to a few low remarks from some around the ring who have been breeding and showing for years. I never expected Buffy to do well - in fact each time I thought she would be thrown out due to experience and well known names in the ring.

I go there, have a good time, ignore any derogitory comments about anyones dogs and i know that at the end of the day I GO HOME WITH THE BEST DOG Laughing

Beckyess

That's the best philosophy!
Becky
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Love is a Posse of Poodles and Percy