Dear List-
I spoke with Mary this evening, after returning home from work to her rather
dispirited phone message...I will recount a bit of what I relayed to her, mainly
because there seem to be a fair number of new show folks on this list...
First off, Scissors & Hair Interact Terribly (SH*T) Happens. Be it the
groomer, the kennel help, the grandchild with paper scissors or a personal slip:
any dog groomed ends up with a bad hair day at some point. Case in point; I
recently flew (at great cost) East to collect a Golden boy from an ill handler
to transport him to yet another handler. He had 2 BIG majors, needs a few
singles to finish. He was entered (to the tune of several hundred dollars) in a
big circuit with the new handler this week The east coast kennel help had soo
kindly bathed and "groomed" him, chopping his ears into a Kitchen-Aid inspired
mess that was, well, excuse the pun, ir-retrievable. I've been doing this 25
years and Scissors & Hair Interact Terribly happens to me!
Second-Hair grows. Master Baker's feet hair will grow amazingly quickly, and
within 6 weeks will be "normal" looking. If he were a Golden Retriever (closely
trimmed feet, please!), they would grow back in one or two weeks...Case in
point: Golden Boy still looks dreadful, but ear hair grows MUCH slower than feet
hair...I spent 45 minutes on his feet last week...
Third- Judges are humans. They understand, and often even speak english. It
is acceptable and right to interact with them. I counciled Mary to, if she
choose to show Mr. Bald Feet Baker, take the initiative on the individual exam
and mention, "So sorry for the feet-the groomer had a senior moment". Brings
it out into the open, that you are aware and accepting that SH*T happens, and
gives The Judge a reason to perceive you as an educated and humble human being.
Case in point; tried this ploy at a Specialty last week with ugly eared Golden
boy. Judge [friend, client, divorce confident (Hers)] gave me three out of
three in bred by...but that was okay 'cause he did something funny with said
ears on that last go around....)
Fourth- Never, NEVER be the one to break a major. Shy of personal tragedy
the realm of a Kennedy Family Member, ALWAYS show a dog, no matter what, if your
absence is going to break the major...
Showing dogs, and grooming them properly, are WAY out of one particular
person's hands. It all depends on a good dog, luck, hard work, politics, and
the ever present Scissors & Hair Interact Terribly event. Case in point: Mr.
Ugly Eared Bad Grooming Job Golden Boy has won three days in a row at said
expensive circuit-with a pick-up handler 'cause the hired one thought it was for
the best (ALWAYS trust a handler you trust!). One more win and he's will be a
Can., Intl., and AKC CH.- and in Goldens, that's alot.
SH*T will happen, but a good dog will overcome it. So have fun, enjoy the
show, whether you win or loose and always get that chill up your spine when that
"Special" dog glides into the ring.
Best Regards- Kim Johnson
Allegria Cavaliers, Gold-Rush Goldens, and almost done
ugly-eared Golden boy Can. Intl. Ch. Gold-Rush Singapore Sling "Raffles".
Kim Johnson
http://www.leftcoastfarm.com
100% Kona Coffee
"a cup a day keeps you jammin'"
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