Perfection In Presentation

WITH CRUFTS, the biggest and best dog show in the world – according to many dog folk – approaching, it is time to think about the need for presenting our dogs to perfection. Certainly Crufts will probably be the highlight for many breeders who want to show off their stock to a worldwide audience.

- Eilleen Geeson

Who doesn’t feel proud when we can say we have ‘won at Crufts’? To the layman this may come across that we have won the whole shenanigans, but in reality to win anything would be great, and a first prize in our class is more than likely going to be the towering peak of our fame. Success seems to come thick and fast for some, while others struggle on an uphill climb and never quite reach the summit. No matter that we might have the best dog in town, why can’t we win?

What is going on? Is it really just all about the most recognised face in the class or a knack of intimidating judges so that they dare not disregard you even to second place? Can we not do something to get noticed or at least get a fair crack of the whip?

Having the best outfit can make showing more comfortable and a smart dog and handler is attractive. Let’s assume we have a very nice dog. We know if one of the ‘big guns’ were to present and handle our dog it would get the placing it deserves. So why can’t we do it?

Perhaps we need to step back and look at our presentation. Recently I was chatting to somebody who complained bitterly that their dog was being unfairly penalised when she was presenting and showing it to perfection. On observing at the next show I shook my head, there was no way this handler could cope with the energy bomb she had on the end of the lead, so in trying to cope with her faltered pace the dog was throwing itself all over the place. When it matures the dog may well be able to cope more with its inhibitor.