Trail's End Boxers

Boxer Briefs - Essays

Maturity

April, 2008

As in anything in life, there is an epitome, something which we all strive to be and achieve. It's no different in dogdom. There are certain characteristics folks hope to portray in their life that shows they've reached the top and are successful. In the dog world, these are breeders who have "matured" and grown in their breed and are, therefore, successful. Perhaps you know breeders who have these characteristics , but sadly, we all know breeders that haven't come close, and even sadder, aren't even trying. Is your breed basking in the glory of mature breeders or wallowing in the mire of immature breeders?

What makes a "mature" dog breeder? Maturity comes with the ability to make a judgment on the "long haul" or the "big picture". It means being able to pass up the glory-for-the-moment and look at what will pay off later. Immature breeders have a fast-food mentality - an "I want it now!" attitude - and are not willing to wait. They jump on the nearest "band wagon" and attempt short cuts for instant gratification. They don't have a "big picture" to look toward.

Maturity is the ability to stick with a goal, a vision, and standards. Immature breeders are constantly changing their vision. They frequently change mentors and friends, and therefore, are not dependable or trustworthy. They vacillate and waffle in their decisions and do not stand by a decision once it's made. They are confused and disorganized in showing and their breeding programs.

A mature breeder constantly seeks new information because he or she cares deeply about their cause. The mature breeder knows that there is always more to learn. Immature breeders are uneducated, and many times, apathetic, a dangerous combination. They don't put forth the effort to learn and don't care about the consequences. They're in it "for the moment."

Mature breeders pay their dues and are grateful from wince they came. Immature breeders think they're "all that" before they've done anything, and sometimes even "bite the hand" that got them started.

Maturity is the ability to face heartbreak, frustrations, and defeat without collapse or complaint. A mature breeder knows that in breeding dogs there will be times of heartache and times of jubilation. That in dog showing, there will be times of intense glory and times of intense drought. A mature breeder can take it, where an immature breeder is out in the fabled "five years."

Maturity means being dependable and doing what is expected of you. It means keeping your word. Immature breeders have excuses and don't keep promises. They are never around in a time of crisis and don't stand by their convictions.

A mature breeder takes the risk of aiming high. An immature breeder settles for hitting the mark of mediocrity. It's safer and easier.

The strength and success of any breed lies in its depth and spans of mature breeders. Is your breed in good hands or are the numbers of immature breeders beginning to proliferate? The consequences of immature breeders puts a breed at great risk. May your breed have many mature breeders in its midst and may the immature breeders always grow and prosper into maturity.

Shannon Carlson

What Can Judges Do To Make Exhibiting a More Pleasant Experience?

January 2007

A while back, Anne Rogers Clark wrote an article entitled “What can exhibitors do to make judging a more pleasant experience?”. I whole heartedly agreed with her article. I understand the immense time, effort, education, and love for the sport judges must have in order to be successful. Standing in a deluge of rain or 100 degree heat in order to complete the job at hand should be commended. I also understand the frustration judges have when exhibitors don’t show their animals to the best of their abilities whether it be lack of grooming, training, or listening skills.

But, there are two sides to the showing experience. It takes both a well prepared and presented animal on the part of the exhibitor, as well as, an educated, interested judge.

Dog shows are a partnership. Without either the exhibitor or the judge, this incredible sport could not exist. Exhibitors, too, have concerns in regard to making the show experience successful. These can be easily “remedied” as well.

1) Judges who don’t enjoy their job. We exhibitors sometimes wonder if some judges like their job. It seems in the effort to seem unbiased and fair, that some judges don’t want to show any emotion, not even one of pleasure in what they do for a living. Either that or there’s some other reason for their lack of joy. Perhaps it’s the tenth breed for the day and the inept blunders of the exhibitors are getting to them, but that doesn’t explain the 8 o’clock non-smiling, cold judges we have faced day after day, show after show. I would show again under a judge that talked kindly to exhibitors, smiled as the puppies, and seemed to enjoy their job even if they didn’t put me up that day. Driving 500 miles to exhibit under a person who hates his or her job is no fun for anyone.

2) Judges who don’t give clear instructions. When you are the first in the ring for the day or the judge changes procedures, it is sometimes impossible to hear the directions given because the judge speaks too softly with the commotion around the ring or the instructions are not clear. This is frustrating to a judge when the exhibitor does not comply with what they wanted and is frustrating to the exhibitor, who in trying to please the judge, does what they think was asked. Being a teacher and knowing the value of clear directions, it would certainly help if louder, clearer directions were given.

3) Judges who begin the hands on examination before the dog is set. Serious exhibitors try to get their dogs set as quickly as possible for the examination. I understand a judge’s need to hurry things along, but when you are setting the back and a judge is upset the dog is fidgeting in the front, it’s a bit frustrating. Puppies and new dogs to the show ring may need the extra control of having them set, and next, getting control of their head before the judge attempts to look at their head or bite. Exhibitors would appreciate just a bit more patience.

4) Judges who are “heavy-handed.” It’s upsetting to exhibitors when a judge grabs their dog’s head too gruffly, tilts their chin up too steeply, and simply makes the dog either protest or shy away, and then gets upset with the dog and handler for the fidgeting. This is not fair, especially to puppies.

5) Judges who are distracted and disinterested. There are times when we have witnessed judges who are watching the goings on of another near-by ring rather than the exhibit they are supposed to be giving their full attention. This usually occurs during the down and back or the around when the wandering eyes of a judge drift over to other areas. We all pay money for our few minutes of attention even if our exhibit doesn’t float that judge’s boat.

6) Judges who are known as “this” handler’s judge or “that” handler’s judge. It would be a breath of fresh air if we exhibitors KNEW that our animals were being evaluated on their own merit and not the judge’s personal preferences for the person on the end of the lead.

7) Judges who don’t have patience with a novice or child in the ring. We all need to imagine our “beginnings” at times like this and not be impatient with “newbies” and youngsters – even if it puts judges behind for the day, even if it costs judges a few more explanations. New people in our sport and young children are our future. We don’t want to drive them away.

Dog showing in a two-way street, and if we all learned the complaints of each other, showing would certainly be smoother and more enjoyable. After all, don’t we benefit from each other?

Shannon Carlson

I Have a Litter Due Soon & I Don’t Feel Bad About It!

April, 2008

I’m not going to say I’m sorry. I refuse. I don’t feel guilty or ashamed. I’m not going to apologize for the litter I have due this May.

Seems like everywhere we turn now, breeders are under attack by animal rights activists. The scary part is that the public who do not understand their motives or reasoning are beginning to march right along with them. Us responsible, reputable breeders who put our heart and soul into producing beautiful dogs with stellar temperaments, who health test and screen our dogs, who interview mercilessly the homes we require, are being lumped into the “puppy mill” category by AR organizations. Just this past weekend in Sacramento, we were told that PETA was going to protest and to watch our dogs against anyone pouring antifreeze into our dogs’ water dishes or letting them loose out of their crates or ex-pens. The weekend before they were at the Bakersfield Dog Show with signs depicting barrels of dead dogs above which said, “Buy from a breeder, kill a shelter dog.”

The above statement is wrong on many levels. First, it contends that pet overpopulation – too many puppies for the available homes – is the reason why our pounds and shelters are overrun with unwanted dogs. The amount of shelter dogs is a “retention” problem, not an “overpopulation” problem. Let me site statistics by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP).

Top 10 Reasons for Relinquishment

Dogs

Moving
Landlord not allowing pet
Too many animals in household
Cost of pet maintenance
Owner having personal problems
Inadequate facilities
No homes available for litter mates
Having no time for pet
Pet illness(es)
Biting

Specially trained researchers completed confidential individual interviews with pet owners who were relinquishing their dogs or cats to animal shelters. Pet owners were allowed to give up to five reasons for relinquishment. Interviewers did not, however, prioritize the responses. They simply recorded them in the order stated.

Characteristics of Pets Being Relinquished
In addition to the reasons for relinquishment, the study collected data on the pets being relinquished.

According to the study:

The majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7%) and cats (40.3%) were between 5 months and 3 years of age.
The majority of dogs (37.1%) and cats (30.2) had been owned from 7 months to 1 year.
Approximately half of the pets (42.8% of dogs; 50.8% of cats) surrendered were not neutered.
Many of the pets relinquished (33% of dogs; 46.9% of cats) had not been to a veterinarian.
Animals acquired from friends were relinquished in higher numbers (31.4% of dogs; 33.2% of cats) than from any other source.
Close to equal numbers of male and female dogs and cats were surrendered.
Most dogs (96%) had not received any obedience training.

As you can see, it’s not litter upon litter of baby puppies being surrendered to shelters. It’s people who shouldn’t have obtained a puppy in the first place making a poor decision and through behavior of the pet, financial problems, or moving problems are relinquishing their dogs. Our society has a “fast-food” mentality, making quick decisions with little regard for the future.

Shelters do not see puppies and dogs from responsible breeders. We take back any puppies or dogs that the owners can no longer keep and we extensively screen our homes to ensure if the above issues arise, our homes will address them and not just give the dog up. We have our owners sign contracts that our puppies and dogs will never be surrendered to shelters. We sell our pet puppies with spay/neuter contracts and follow through to make sure our pet puppies are not bred.

People come to responsible breeders because they care about getting a puppy that is of a type and temperament for their lifestyle, they care that their puppy will be as healthy as possible and live a long life as a valued member of their family. All reasons why they don’t end up in shelters.

Education is the key to quash the tide of dogs ending up in shelters. Educating the public about the consequences of making a poor decision of when to get a pet. Educating people to wait until their financial situation can handle a dog. Educating people on the proper care and training of dogs. Educating people that getting a dog is a commitment for the life of that animal. Our clubs and organizations need to take education seriously and get out there! Our voices alone are a squeak. Together they are a ROAR. Our throwaway society can change, but not without work on the part of responsible breeders. If we don’t step up, the AR groups will win.

I am a breeder. I have litters of puppies. I charge money for my hard work. I am a pet advocate. I have a waiting list of good people waiting for good puppies and AR groups are not going to make me feel bad about it.

Shannon Carlson