POINT/COUNTERPOINT
TOPIC
OF THE
MONTH
Are you a member of at least one dog club?
Why? And what do you say to people in our
sport who are not?
BREEDER-EXHIBITOR
Cindy Cooke
I am a member of an all-breed club, my parent club and a regional breed club.
My fi rst all-breed club was the Okaloosa Kennel Club in Florida, where I was
mentored by three smart and successful breeders: Barbara Bush (Cocker
Spaniels), Tish Keating (Schipperkes) and Charlotte Patterson (Pugs). They
gave me an invaluable education in the dog game. They taught me handling,
stewarding, club work and a host of other useful skills. When I had a late-night
problem whelping my fi rst litter and the vet blew me off, Barbara Bush came to
my house in the middle of the night with a bottle of wine and ordered the vet into
his offi ce to deal with my emergency. I’m always surprised at how few exhibitors in
my own breed belong to their local all-breed clubs. My stock phrase to them is: “Dog
shows don’t fall out of the sky fully formed.” Everyone in the sport should be a functional
member of their local all-breed club. There is no better source of education (and good friends)
for new exhibitors.
PROFESSIONAL HANDLER
Arvind DeBraganca
I am a member of an all-breed club. This is part of giving back to the sport.
Many of our clubs have a large generation gap in the membership, and this can
cause a lot of issues. We need to keep our clubs alive, progressive, evolving and
relevant. This only happens with a diverse membership. Without our clubs, we
have no sport. Everyone should join and volunteer on some level. The only way
we can give back to the community, politically or in events, is to be involved.
JUDGE
Elaine Lessig
Joining a dog club opens doors into the world of Dogdom you probably never knew
you would ever open. I distinctly remember the evening I went to my fi rst AKC
all-breed dog club meeting the summer of 1996. Cavaliers were just recognized.
There at the table were an AKC Director, club offi cers, show chair, judges with
a few breeds and those with groups, breeders of long standing, and, like me,
those bravely making their way.
There I found mentors, role models, friends and a passion for a world I had
barely known to exist. I watched, listened, volunteered and learned. Step by
step, membership gave me the opportunity to expand my horizons. Now, like so
many of the wonderful dog folk I met that night, I mentor, breed, hold offi ce and
judge. Find a club and join. The door is open. DIR
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