Welcome To My View

Your Level of Arrogance Does Not Match Your Lack of Skills

I have talked to many "Longtimers" in the dog fancy and they all pretty much say the same thing, they all had great mentors and learned from the bottom up.  They spent hours and hours working with those that could offer them instruction and experience.  They were for the lack of  a better term, "the bucket bitches" for others in order to learn. 

I have a mentor that I also consider my best friend.  I know many such relationships in the dog fancy.  I have learned from her, worked beside her, and I am so grateful to her that I would stoop and kiss the hem of

her garment.  She has my undying loyalty and admiration.  I know many of you feel the same way about the person that took you under  their wing and gave you the benefit of their experience and knowledge.  So much of their knowledge you cannot find written down anywhere.  You can call them in the middle of the night with an emergency and they are always there for you.  They are standing ringside to offer you constructive criticism and praise when you are finished.  Your mentor is the person that promoted you in the breed and dog fancy and introduced you to those other "Longtimers" that could also offer words of wisdom and little snippets of advice that money could never buy.

Unfortunately, there are those that believe that they can achieve a high level of success with little to no learning and without gaining any real hands-on experience.  These people have not learned that success and respect are earned not bestowed.  I am two and maybe three generations beyond this new "entitled" generation.  But, my best advice is if you believe that the dog fancy is all about you and your personal success and not about learning as much as you can about your breed, apprenticing and learning from the bottom up, doing your fair share of poop scooping, dog bathing, watching more mature and experienced handlers in the ring and showing respect to those that have come before you, then you are in the wrong sport.  This sport is about promoting your breed, learning pedigrees, understanding structure and movement.  What it isn't..... is about how great your look for five minutes in the ring.  It is not about how many Rosettes you can win.  It's about nutrition, grooming, training, breeding.  It's about understanding the whole package.  If you want to make a name for yourself, do it by being the best overall dog person you can be.  Be known for breeding the best.  Be known for always being a student of dogs. Be known for always wanting to expand your knowledge.

Being a member of the dog fancy isn't about just showing up on show day with a dog and prancing them around the ring.  It's about the books you are reading, the questions that you ask about how your breed has evolved and wanting to learn how you can make a difference maintaining the breed standard and promoting the breed. It's about understanding what your dog's needs are nutritionally as they grow and mature.  It's about understanding what is the proper exercise for them at each stage of life.  It's about understanding the health issues that your breed suffers and what's being done to eliminate those issues.  If you don't have this interest, you are not a serious dog fancier.  

Respect for those that offer to teach, mentor or spend an hour giving you instruction on proper movement.  Respect is certainly in short supply these days.  Respect above all else should be given in a meaningful way in order for you to earn respect in the dog fancy.

I hope everyone has had a chance to go to CanuckDogs.com to see the new layout design.  It is fabulous.  All the same great information, but in a nicer, more up-to-date format.  CanuckDogs is a free service that is provided strictly by volunteers.  All advertising dollars go straight into keeping the website running and free.  

I am sorry that I haven't been writing weekly, but our family is taking care of Zachary who has just started an arduous stem cell transplant.  I am spending a lot of time taking care of Zachary and going back and forth to Juravinski  Hospital.  Please keep our family and especially Zachary in your prayers that the stem cell transplant is the much needed cure for his cancer.