[little blue]

Well done Annie ... and Allez & Belle! 

[doganjo]

Not sure about show homes but they will be well loved pets......I am not a bit believer in competition, that's not my sort of thing at all, I like to see a good looking healthy dog, although I like them to be put to work, I think that's utilising their natural abilities, showing dogs to me is no different to showing people!!!! maybe a bit controversial but never liked stuff like that, just like crufts to see all the dogs, to me my dogs are beautiful and I do not feel the need to see them win prizes for any reason.   Charlie wanted one of the pups but we had none left!!! The older ones are turning out to be very good looking and talented dogs so who knows?  Like I said, each to thier own but in Labradors in particular, competition has caused a great amount of bad breeding to comply to  breed standards!  Although I can see the enjoyment and fun showing a dog would bring, just not for me, I slipped and pressed report this rather than modify, just did not want it to sound that I was sooo against shows, just I do not like them!!!

It's not competition that causes what you call bad breeding - it is people!  Healthy competition never did anyone any harm.  I was brought up to do my best in whatever I took on, and I breed the best i know how to having done so for 30 plus years!
I am proud of my dogs for their working ability every bit as much as for their good looks.  And their good looks are not just in my own opinion - it is the opinion of almost every judge they are shown under! (Allez has over 35 Best of Breeds!) My dogs are well loved pets too, as are most show dogs. They are good-looking and talented too.  In fact that is my kennel motto - 'Good-looking and Intelligent'!

I have four pets - how many 'pets' does Charlie have that he needed another one?   Dog showing is a hobby, just as is training dogs to shoot over oneself, some people have dog training as a business and sell trained dogs.

There are Breed standards for dogs which is what all show dogs are measured up to - not only to the other dogs there.  There are no breed standards for people to my knowledge nor should there be, We are mongrels.
'Only criticise what you know about' is my motto.

[Sandy]

I am saying ALL my life never ever like competition and still do not, it just sets goals that some cannot achieve and make others think they are not so good....I did say I have no problem with others wanting best dogs and showing them...I no more would show a dog than put a flower or a cake into a competition, if I like it is good for me!!! do not take this personal, charlie just wanted a good dog for his friend....  I truely cannot u nderstand why I am not allowed an opinion without being shot down...I think you did well Anne and I honestly mean that, but I am never and would never show my dogs..NOTHING wrong in showing so why have a go at me because I said how I feel....I in no way would change and neither would you.....thats life..I do not like competition and you do end of!

[Sandy]

and may I add, you have every right to be proud!!!

[doganjo]

I am saying ALL my life never ever like competition and still do not, it just sets goals that some cannot achieve and make others think they are not so good....I did say I have no problem with others wanting best dogs and showing them...I no more would show a dog than put a flower or a cake into a competition, if I like it is good for me!!! do not take this personal, charlie just wanted a good dog for his friend....  I truely cannot u nderstand why I am not allowed an opinion without being shot down...I think you did well Anne and I honestly mean that, but I am never and would never show my dogs..NOTHING wrong in showing so why have a go at me because I said how I feel....I in no way would change and neither would you.....thats life..I do not like competition and you do end of!

Ok, maybe I'm just too sensitive - I tend to take things personally.  Sorry.

[Sandy]

Not at all competative sorry...thats ok for others but not me...my socalist backgrownd makes me who I am..other compete I do not!

[doganjo]

and may I add, you have every right to be proud!!!

Thanks, Sandy, appreciate that.  Apologies for the rant - was really tired and not feeling great. Shouldn't have come on the computer.  Bad cold, long journey, earache, cough, irritable, but still worth the trip;D

[Hazelwood Flock]

Well done! 
I did see the Brittany in the group judging, very smart. Not sure about the best in show winner - a hairpiece on legs!, but I do like the Newfoundland in reserve.

[doganjo]

The best of Breed Brittany was my friend Gill's girl, Mabeleen.  She is presently our Breed leader and was predicted to take the CC and BOB. Lovely bitch.

[Rosemary]

Related but slightly off topic, there has been a thread on the Ryeland Flock Book Society fb page  about breed standards, registrations, showing and characteristics that can't be measured in the show ring, like ease of lambing, mothering ability, growth rates, health. It has been rather interesting.

I think that's the beauty of combined competition - you get the beautiful and the useful  If it's on appearance alone, especially if the breed standard contans things that might be detrimental to the animal's health, that's when you get a problem.

If competition identifies the best animals and leads to improvements in the breed - AS A WHOLE - then I'm all for it. But we've all seen breeds that have been harmed or at least changed for the worst by show ring fads (not just talking dogs here).

[Sandy]

A bit like beauty shows that all the women look like barbe dolls but come apart just as easily....

[robert waddell]

if carlseberg made beauty shows

[Sandy]

I suppose many years ago people/farmers saw an animal/woman/dog/bird or fish they liked and saw how it bred, walked, reproduced, cooked, health and longevity etc and would want one like that themselves, some may like longer legs, fatter bottoms or shorter arms but forget me being flippant, that's whats missing but in modern life we move around so do not know generations of the same "thing" or have a history, that's where big organisations come in but they are only part of the story so create their own standard or criteria..never thought I would say this but there is something to be said about the old ways....farm dogs in particular would be traded amongst farmers, they would see a good dog and buy a pup from that dog!!  As for me, I was bred to have short legs, poor spelling skills, big bottom and bad movement, and lots of allergies!!!!

[doganjo]

And to make us all laugh, Sandy

That makes a lot of sense actually.  I do think dog shows have gone a bit astray in some breeds, and perhaps other abilities should be taken into consideration before making show (beauty) awards.  For instance, perhaps Allez's Junior Working HPR Certificate;  Kennel Club Good Citizen Obedience Gold award should also be taken as well as his CC and 4 Reserves, and his Show Certificate of Merit.

You'll all know by now that there is complete outrage at one vet making decisions on his eyes only without any specialised equipment which meant 6 dogs were not allowed to compete in their groups after winning Best of Breed.  All these dogs had previously passed complete health tests.  It is going to be an interesting few weeks.

[Sandy]

To me it sounds like a bit of panic reaction from the KC......silly as well as a waste of time and money!