Now that we've looked at judges, what about the people showing the dogs? I've already discussed the corps of professional handlers, most of whom I've found to be outwardly pleasant, at least. They're just a fraction of the people showing dogs on any day, so what about the rest?
While I'd like to say most of them are nice, it may be better to say that most of them are innocuous. My own views were seriously affected by the year I served as grounds chairman for our local kennel club's shows. It seemed I was being effed off by just about everyone who drove through the gate those two days. Afterwards, I told my lovely bride that my idea of a perfect waste was a bus-load of dog show exhibitors going off a cliff with three empty seats.
Really, a significant fraction of people showing dogs consists of swine, and that's who you remember afterwards. Poor sports and the hypercompetitive abound. I remember quite vividly a fat bitch in Texas who used to sit at ringside and, when a rival's dog was being examined, would whistle piercingly to a friend in order to upset the dog. My lovely bride and her went toe to toe one day when she took it on her to berate my stepdaughter for perking up the dog of a handler-friend before a picture was taken.
There are the people who show up with dirty, ungroomed dogs, dogs only half-trained for the ring, or who are dirty and ill-groomed themselves. My lovely bride is careful to be well-dressed herself and shows only immaculately groomed dogs. This got us a win once - Rowdy went Best of Breed the first time he stepped into a ring - as the judge was a former handler who always dressed well. Still, the people in the area still have never forgiven the judge for it.
There are some inside-the-ring games designed to throw a rival off. If in front, moving too slowly on a group go-around, throwing the handler off stride. If behind, running up on the dog in front. Crowding another exhibitor or blocking the judge's view of them. One incident I saw last Sunday, when one exhibitor accidentally backed into another who was also backing up. One shoved the other with her backside, knocking the other over almost onto her dog.
Judges have their pet peeves as well, such as people who don't listen to them or haven't taken a second to see how the ring is being run that day. Also high on the list of irritations is baiting of dogs. Many exhibitors overbait their dogs, stuffing it with food at inappropriate times, like when the judge is trying to examine the bite. Carelessness, either deliberate or accidental, with bait is another annoyance. Exhibitors of some breeds, like Boxers and Doberman Pinschers, will hold a piece of bait out in front of the dog in order to attract its attention, then throw it forward so that the dog perks up by following its flight. It's infuriating to be sitting in the ring as a steward or at ringside as a spectator and be struck by a piece of flying meat. While stewarding once I was hit twice in the same class by the same handler. I muttered to the outside ring steward, "If he hits me one more time, I'm throwing it back at him."
Moreover, such handlers aren't very careful to pick up what they've thrown. After the competition for these breeds is finished, food litters the ring and can be extremely distracting to other dogs. Our Misty once lost on a final go-around because she lunged for a piece of bait on the ground. For a fat middle-aged man like me, it's not enjoyable to have to go around the ring while stewarding and pick up all that crap. Little wonder some judges don't allow bait to be used in their rings.
Other people who never would be missed include the jerks who never clean up after their dogs when they've done their business, the ones who claim acres of scarce grooming space, the ones who can't or won't keep their dogs under control, and so on and so on ad infinitum. Well, enough bile for today. We'll continue next time with the progress of a show and the Variety Group judging.