CONFORMATION DOG SHOWS HAVE CHANGED
by Dr. Gerry Meisels
W e hear from many exhibitors and professional handlers at conformation shows that dog shows have changed. Social media are full of comments on this subject, and many of our long-term fellow exhibitors have confided that they are frustrated by the change. My family has shown for more than 60 years, and we concur: Dog shows have changed, indeed, but so has almost everything. What are the changes, what caused them, and how have they shaped the sport?
When we started out, a large major- ity of exhibitors were breeders, and professional handlers showed mostly in BOB competition. Rankings by dogs defeated were done by hand, published in magazines, and based on shows up to about two months ear- lier. Shows were smaller, with fewer entries, and there was only one show at each site. There were fewer judges, and some judges were so influential that you couldn’t get majors without them. All of that changed as a result of the Internet. Now, show results are available online, usually within hours or, at most, a day. They are made avail- able on magazine websites. Full-page advertising in all-breed magazines has increased dramatically, up to al- most 1,000 such ads every month. Professional handlers are now ubiq- uitous in both the classes and BOB competition. There are also many more judges; the American Kennel Club licenses over 700 judges to judge at least one Group, and it has licensed
“Good outcomes include better grooming and presentation BY INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITORS AND PROFESSIONAL HANDLERS.” 22 • T op N otch T oys , S eptember /O ctober 2022
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