Myra Myra Myra, I re-read my post to see exactly what it said and even though I spoke in generic terms I did not put in my usual disclaimers for those people who read something and take them in all or nothing terms even though I did have things like "some dogs" in there which I thought would imply that I was stating an opinion about a segment of dogs & handlers not every single one.
Silly me I thought by now I could drop the footnotes "some not all" "If you don't do this I'm not talking about you" etc. I guess I'll have to remember to put these in. To every circumstance there are exceptions and usually when people are pointing out behaviours both bad and good not everyone falls into the category of discussion. So for your benefit and anyone else who made the same assumptions about my post let me add these addendums ....... 1) Not all pro handlers break the rules (however it is MY OPINION that more do then don't and it is MY OPINION that MOST of the bigger name handlers pull out all the stops within and outside of the rules to win as that is all that really matters to them... winning, remember to them this is a business. This is especially true if you are someone (like I am) that thinks no trimming really means no trimming and there are not two categories trimming & "neatening up". Pro handlers to me are much like politicians. You can not rise to the highest level in the profession without making moral concessions. Its a tight circle deeply entrenched in the political system of dog showing. 2) Not all dogs that win break the rules or are trimmed. Again it is MY OPINION that probably about half are. If you show much at all and have not seen the huge numbers of obviously trimmed entries then your rose colored glasses are firmly in place. I have had both handlers and breeders tell me to trim, or chalk, or paint or whatever since the day I started showing and as recent as this past month. It is way too prevelant and acceptable in showing to do things against the rules to win. 3) I was in no way, manner, or form, referencing and/or insinuating ANY of my statements towards Myra or any of her dogs and/or handlers. I don't know her dogs, I don't know who she uses as handlers, and they were not even in my mindset when I wrote the post (though I did have certain Cavaliers and handlers in mind at the time). I have absolutely no reason at all to think Myra or her handlers ever have or would break the rules in any manner. (unless of course she uses some of the handlers I have seen show blatant disgregard for the rules which I doubt since she is on the other coast). Let me try to sum up the real point of my post shorter and with less room for interpretation. *I* don't think pro handlers will catch on in England as the judges will not tolerate some of their practices and the market will not be lucrative enough for them. In England if I am not mistaken, you can have NOTHING on the coat of the dog except water. No finishing sprays or oils or conditioners or chalk or anything. zippo. Nothing. And at least at the few shows I attended over there a Cavalier with the slippers trimmed off would stand out (execpt in the puppy class) unlike over here where more are "neatened up" then not. it is *MY* OPINION that there have been some big winning dogs in the AKC that were dual registered and never shown in the CKCSC because it was felt they would not win there. (Not Myra's dogs I don't know them) *I* would love to see some of the big winning dogs in the USA shown in the UK environment and *I* think the real stellar specimans would quickly become evident as would those more fluff then substance. I think a good analogy of taking a dog usually shown by a pro handler who has flexible morals away to be presented naturally with no pro's would be like buying an ablum form an artist and loving their singing only to see them live and realize without the studio to "round things out" they have a very average voice at best. *I* believe you can take just about any average dog in the USA and put enough money, advertising, and a big name handler on it and win big in the rankings. Thats just the way I believe it is. I have seen enough first hand in my 7 years of showing Cavaliers to fuel these beliefs. And as majors get tougher to get here I am seeing more of it not less. oh yeah.... I did say I would love to see pro handlers extinct as a profession and I stand by that. They bring far more detrimental things to the sport then positive ones in my mind. The sport and the dogs would be better off without them. My apologies to those good handlers as I have met a few who seem to be good people, but for the majority, This is MY opinion (that I know Myra and many others don't agree with and that is fine with me). I respect your right to a different opinion. and one more thing I am really sorry Myra if I offended you as that was not my intent however I won't change my opinions just because they may offend someone. Silent acceptance of inappropriate actions does not help anything. My apologies if you took offense but I call em as I see em and let the chips fall where they may. I never was good at being politically correct. Did I mention I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT MYRAS DOGS AND/OR HANDLERS!!!!! IF YOU ARE A PRO HANDLER THAT DOES NOT DO THESE THINGS I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU!!!! IF YOU HAVE A DOG THAT IS NOT PRESENTED WITH ALTERATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE RULES I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU!!!!! This leaves plenty of others though that I AM talking about... and they know who they are. (and they don't care) Dave CastleMyst Cavaliers http://members.aol.com/CMystCavs ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
