> Perhaps one does feel the need to compete with good dogs;
> Does it really matter that the surrounding dogs were also in the ring as
mediocre as
> ARE some of them in both venues?
Absolutely! No way can you learn as much with mediocre competition. It is
all about learning--not winning!
> THAT being said, most of us who are in CKCSC, USA CANNOT attend
all of
> their shows as it has been extremely cost prohibitive to fly around the
> country to campaign a CKCSC, USA prospective champion.
> If you have children, if you have ANY job, if you cannot afford to leave
> your dogs for four to five days each month, you can't campaign
> *seriously* in CKCSC, USA.
This is all handled in where you put priorities. I do have children. I
worked full time for the first 18 years in Cavaliers. Talk about income--we
are dirt broke! I doubt any exhibitor in CKCSC has an income as low as
ours. I do not fly often, I drive. I share with others. There are not
that many show weekends that cost me more than $300--including the dog
sitter. I take my own food except for Saturday night. My son goes with me
(as everyone in CKCSC will attest). If I share a room with several others I
can get away with $50 for my hotel room for the weekend. Share gas and only
spend $30-$50. Food is usually less than $20 a weekend. The dog sitter and
entries make up the other $200. The majority of shows were 500 miles one
way--but this has been changing over the last couple of years. In 10 months
time I will have attended 6 specialties (3 weekends) that were less than 250
miles one way. I'm also certain that in a few years it will be different
again. Then I'll be back to driving long distances. Oh well it is worth
it. My budget for AKC shows is just a little less than for CKCSC shows. At
the recent Steel Valley Cluster I spent every bit as much as I normally do
at a CKCSC weekend.
And especially, I LOVE the shows. They are like mini vacations. So much
fun! And I can do it when I can since there is one every month. If I have
something I must do instead of one, I can go to the next one. I don't have
to wait 6 months or a year.
Laura Trunk
Roycroft Cavaliers
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