JRTCA Nationals seemed a bit smaller this year, and I was struck by the number of new kennel names (complete with pop-up tents and branded T-shirts and hats) associated with people focused on the show dog and puppy-selling business.
The bit of good news is that no professional handlers were in evidence (as they are at the AKC), people still wear regular clothes in the ring, and there is still a sizeable class for bronzed dogs and working dogs (though this last class includes dogs that may have hunted just once so they can can enter a less-crowded show ring).
There were well in excess of 1,000 dogs, and some very nice looking small ones among the giants if you took the time to look
The new deben box and collar were not in evidence (a disappointment) and the number of vendors was clearly smaller. The food was excellent, the judging incredibly slow.
The principle topic of conversation was about how the judges were unqualified or biased (some things never change). Truthfully, it is a bit of a mystery to me how you get to be "qualified" to judge a beauty show. Geriatric talk show host and lounge act Merv Griffin used to judge Miss America contests, though he is reportedly gay. If that works, why not have a young man who runs a beagle pack in the UK judge terriers in the US? Same difference -- though hopefully we are looking for less chest in the terriers!).
>> Click here to see pictures of JRTCA Nationals from Victor Steel, a professional photographer that regularly shoots the event. Excellent shots. If you happened to be showing a dog at Nationals, Mr. Steel might have caught a picture of you or a friend -- check it out.
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