CHAIRING DOG SHOWS An IntervIew wIth nAncy Mellott
by Scott toney
I am a second genera- tion dog person. My father raised, showed and hunted with Beagles, belonging to the East Texas Beagle Associa- tion. They say my first word was dog and dogs have been my whole life. I saw my first Japanese Chin in 1982 when I was ring stewarding at the Shreveport Kennel Club and met Gilbert Kahn who was showing two black and white girls. I have bred more than a few champions and have been fortunate to have bred
3. You’ve successfully bred and shown Japanese Chin and additionally have served as show chair for both the Longview and Caddo Kennel Clubs. Tell us what exactly a show chair does. Oh my the list is long! Applications must be sent in and requirements met to hold the next show; a show site must be secured; ring stewards and show secretary; judges hired; motel arrangement and hospitality arrange- ments for judges. Committees must be put together for trophies, hospitality and building and grounds among other things. Chairs and tables must be ordered and set- up. The show chair has to be able to depend on the com- mittees to get their jobs done! The financial aspect to me is very critical, as you must be able to cover all expenses and still come out ahead. Heaven forbid should a show not be able to be held due to unforeseen circumstances, because most of the bills still have to be paid show or no show. If you break even or even make a little money, a show is considered a success. 4. How are the judges selected? You have to look at the prior entries to see how many judges you will need, then you need judges who will attract a draw and are whose fees are not too expensive. I try to hire at least one all-breed judge because that per- son can cover all overloads or any issues that may arise. Shows cannot have judges who have judged within 200 miles or 30 days from the show you are at, so this reduces the already small pool of judges from which we can hire. I like to hire a few permit judges and use them to judge the four to six month puppy classes and owner handler groups as this is a way for them to get credits to apply to their next assignments. 5. What would be helpful for the average exhibitor to understand about a dog show? That we cannot hire everybody’s favorite judge! That they should clean up after themselves and their dogs, and this does include hair. We are losing show sites, due to the condition of the site/motels after the show is over.
some group winning dogs. I no longer work, but when I did I held various positions always ending up in management. I am very active in the Longview Kennel Club and the Cad- do Kennel Club of Marshall, TX. I am currently President of Longview Kennel Club and Vice President and Show Chair for the Caddo Kennel Club. I’m also a member of the Japanese Chin Club of America (and former board member) and the Japanese Chin Club of Houston and have not missed a single specialty in Houston. 1. Nancy, what was your first breed? My first purebred was a Border Collie. My first purebred, AKC registered dog was a Saint Bernard that I showed a few times. The best win I got was a group three in a fun match! I was hooked. 2. When did you get started in our sport and when did you realize it would be a lifelong hobby for you? I began in 1976 when I got the Saint Bernard. After she took the group three at a match the next step was to start working in clubs. My friend thought we should ring steward so we could learn how to show! Back then club members ring stewarded the shows.
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