“NOW THE WORD ‘KENNEL’ HAS ALMOST BECOME A DIRTY WORD.”
move to the country. These breeders were not judged by how many dogs they owned or how many litters they bred. The health, care, and atten- tion provided to their dogs was what mattered most. We see a lot written about mentors and mentoring when it comes to en- couraging newcomers, but peer pres- sure has a big effect on how mentor- ing is received and how it is used. Attitudes have changed over the past 50-75 years, from when newcomers would talk to many people and buy and read books on their breed which had been written by people with de- cades of experience, until now. To- day, people fall in with the majority, whether it is the current style of trim- ming, the “right” dog food to buy, how often breeding a litter is acceptable, or which style of dog should be shown if they want to win. Another difference I see in the dog world is the attitude towards money, and to some, it has become a fixation. When I started showing and breed- ing, money never became a topic of discussion. Today people discuss and
complain about the cost of everything compared to what it was when they bought their first dog in 19XX, but they never think of the relative value of that sum in today’s currency. I have seen complaints galore about the price of a dog show entry, but when asked, “Compared to what year?” they are shocked when they are given the 2022 equivalent. I use the measuringworth. com calculator. The same people who complain about the cost of entries and hotel accommodations forget (or never knew!) that back in the 20th century, exhibitors would drive the same vehicle until it dropped or until they needed a larger one. (Some still do, guilty as charged!) Now, looking at any parking lot at any dog show tells a different story. The newest and shiniest predominate. This fixation prevails in too many instances these days. It bothers me when I see comments that AKC is “only in it for the money,” with crit- ics and complainers not acknowledg- ing all the good that is done in terms of fighting anti-breeder legislation, or funding and sponsoring research
into health issues and veterinary medicine. I see critics slamming oth- er breeders, not about the quality of their dogs or the care they receive but with the accusation that if they breed more than occasionally they must be in it for the money; and at the same time claiming that if they do it right, they lose money on every litter! I have seen breeders advocating online that people should ask for a credit report on a potential puppy buyer, which is not only invasive but does not guar- antee the quality of care that a puppy will receive. Now that we are entering another New Year—2024, I feel as if we are in a speeded-up time machine, and I would like to see a meld between all the valuable new discoveries and a return to more of the old ways. Get to know more people personally, even if they live too far away to meet in per- son. (People can call over the phone or through the Internet.) Learn about who they are, and their values, not what you have gleaned online. Make new friends, not enemies. You may be surprised.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stephanie Hunt Crowley started to show the puppies from her first litter as a teenager in England. She was also one of the origi- nal breeders who introduced the American Cocker Spaniel to the UK before relocating to the United States. She gained approval from the KC to award CCs in the UK and subsequently judged the breed there and in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zea- land. Stephanie has written for breed and all-breed magazines, as well as general interest publications, and now lives in France.
T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2024 • 19
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