photo by Jean Edwards
be evaluated by a trio of their contemporaries, these same men soon established kennel clubs which, ultimately, held all-breed shows in most major cities for the benefit of the general public. This incorporation coincided with the In- dustrial Revolution and The Gilded Age, and brought to- gether people from all walks of life who shared a common interest (and a growing affection) for the purebred dog. In those early days of the sport, working men and women could rub shoulders with ladies and gentlemen of means who ini- tially imported dogs from Britain, Europe, and elsewhere. These captains of industry and society dames hired the best kennelmen of their day to scour the earth and bring back the best dogs that money could buy. Not only did these men have a keen eye for a dog and the ability to care for hundreds of animals (hence, the now rather antiquated use of “ani- mal husbandry” to describe the care of canines and other agricultural stock), they also possessed the skills to pres- ent their clients’ dogs to best advantage. These “handlers” were dog men (and later, women) through and through, and their complete dedication to their charges allowed them to perfect their craft in the ring. Over time, the man- ner in which each breed was expected to be presented was determined by these professionals—often by a single indi- vidual and his client’s big-winning dog. The presentation of Collies and Cocker Spaniels, for example, and each of the Terrier breeds, eventually became distinct—if not entirely breed-specific. With these unique presentation techniques firmly estab- lished (and expected) for individual breeds, the need to “stand out” in the ring became essential in order to win. If a breed was presented without being stacked by hand,
then free-stacking would surely impress the judges more. And if every dog was free-stacked, then a dog would have to “nail it” in order to win. And if all the dogs in the ring were “nailing it,” then the dog that should win needed to be able to stand for three, five, or ten minutes at a time (at a dis- tance of three, five, or ten feet from its handler) and be able to survive a staring contest that could capture not only the attention of the judge but also the scrutiny of the judges sit- ting ringside, the other handlers in the ring, and every spec- tator sitting ringside or watching the show live on AKC.tv. Oh, and the winning dog would need to “use its ears” and wag its tail incessantly while fixated on the treat or toy held strategically by its handler. (And heaven help the dog that remembers it’s a dog and decides to smell the ground, move a foot, or look away. Where’s the performance in that?) Of course, a Conformation show isn’t a Performance event. Not really. Any dog (mixed-breed, designer, and the dog bred in a backyard) has the potential to “shine” in the capa- ble hands of an experienced and talented dog person. How- ever, the sport of Conformation isn’t open to just any dog. Only those purebreds that have been selectively bred, and presented in a manner which honors the Breed Standards, have any chance of winning with consistency. No amount of primping, prodding, or parading can hide a terrible topline, poorly made front, or bad feet. The judges who are steeped in a breed’s history will find them. Lesser judges may be fooled by all the flash and sparkle, but judges who are steeped in a breed’s history will find the faults. After all, the very best judges understand that, in the Conformation are- na, the real performances take place in the whelping box.
26 • T op N otch T oys , N ovember 2022
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