Look, everybody knows I am an idiot, and there are many things that I don't know. However, this is something to ponder. The real "showing" isn't done at a class level. It is done at a group level. For too many years, cavaliers were judged in sort of a vacumn because they were judged only against each other. It was almost like 'just go for the pretty head because all the rear ends are so bad.' So, they didn't have to develop that kind of structure that they needed to compete with a poodle, for instance. It is important to remember that they are dogs. They need to be built like a dog. They need to move like a well-built dog. Now for the last several years, they have had to compete against other toy dogs in the group ring. Sure, we see dogs in the ring that shouldn't be there. I've probably shown a couple myself. I probably will again in the future just because of ignorance or just because I feel like doing it. However.....those dogs will not ever compete in a group ring. They will take their little ribbon home and they may even make up their championship. They will not, however succeed in the group ring. Also....if a dog places in group, you can no longer use the excuse that it won because it was professionally handled. The huge majority of dogs in the group ring are professionally handled. Not all....but the majority. I'm not sure exactly what motivates me to show my dogs. I know for sure it isn't greed. I guess it could be ego. The feeling I get when one of my dogs wins in group, or Best Puppy in show or something like that is the same feeling I used to get when my children performed at a piano recital or something. I just feel proud of them, and I feel just a little bit like bragging on them. Certainly not money motivated and not even particularly fun. When my dog is in the show ring, I am very stressed about it. I get very nervous. I'm so afraid he will make a mistake. Just exactly like it was at the piano recital. So, is that Ego? I don't honestly know. Myra
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