We are spoiled today with variety and availability when choosing a purebred dog.  In most instances, we are able to meet - face to muzzle - hundreds of breeds except for those that are very rare.  Although we may attend dog shows, do we really know why they exist?  Who are those crazy people running around in the rings and why should the dog show rings be important to me??  Let's take a peek into the Wonderful World of Purebred Dogs.

This workshop will focus on Breeds, Breeders, and all the activities that are part and parcel of the dog show community.  Its not all about pretty faces; it's hard work, dedication, countless of hours of education, training and then there is the expense.  Most dedicated dog breeders are hard working sorts whose discretionary income goes right back into their show fees, vet bills, advertising budget, dog food, it goes on and on.

If you are interested in learning about the Wonderful World of Purebred Dogs and the Dog Show Community, this workshop is for you!

To learn more about attending or sponsoring this workshop, please email: Valerie@wearegettingadog.com

In the Stone Age or so it Seems:

Consider, however, that just a couple of decades ago, any information that we wished to obtain was done through countless letters which, and the Canadian Post office was nortorious for this, could take months to get from point A to point B.  Long distance phone calls were out of the question for many of us as there were monopolies on the service and the costs through the roof.  We treasured hearing a real voice on the other end of the line.  Some things never change!

Now we can get information, unfortunately sometimes not very reliable, in an instant.  This is fabulous for those of us who are information junkies.  It has however also lead to outright fraud and some pretty nasty airings of laundry.  As the wise man said, "The medium IS the message." Many of us are so attuned to 'instant everything' that we transfer that into wanting what we want when we want it and that is often evident when we look for a dog.  We forget about Mother Nature and that she doesn't produce quality puppies from thin air.

Breeders don't have shelves full of puppies, the gender (male or female) that you want, along with the perfect colouring at a bargain price. It takes time, committment and patience (and money)  to create a quality dog and respect, common sense, and gratitude on the part of the receiver to have the good fortune to bring home a friend that will comfort us when we are sad and have us laugh at our own follies.

Days when Time was a Noun and a Verb:

At the turn of the last century, many of the breeds that we find common today could only be owned  by the rich and famous.  The Morris & Essex Dog Show was the creme de la creme of the dog show circuit from 1927 to 1957. It was revived in 2000 and held every five years in Madison, New Jersey.  The Morris & Essex is a crown jewel of dog show history.  The creation of Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge harkens back in time the days of the elegant dog show when the old adage, "All good things come to those who wait" and "haste makes waste" were acknowledgements that we do live in a certain time frame and try as we may, we only have control over so much in life.  Photo: the Dodge dogs travelling to the shows.

Some of the Breeds that we know today were well-established while others were arriving from the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Mason's book "Dog of all Nations", discussed below, and the dogs he exhibited at the Exhibition would have given dog show exhibitors and dog fanciers the opportunity to see first hand a whole new world of dogs not open to those who did not travel 'abroad.'

Politics, Science and the Arts:

The world of purebred dogs is also connected to the world of politics with certain breeds being used to symbolize the character of a nation - what we now now as the English Bulldog comes to mind. Winston Churchill was nicknamed "The British Bulldog" giving credence to his tenacity, strong will and defiant role on the national and internation political arena.  And his physical resemblance to the Breed, in later years,  couldn't be denied.

After WWI, the name of the "German Shepherd Dog" was changed by The Kennel Club (UK) to the Alsation Wolf Dog reflecting the anti-German sentiment of the time.  "Wolf Dog" was dropped, however it took until 1977 to return the breed to its original name.  An influx of new breeds made their way to the west as service men, ambassadors and politicians brought dogs home from battle, and as gifts of tribute or consolation from foreign countries.

As the field of science moved forward with discoveries into DNA and the transference of genes, hobby dog breeders incorporated the new knowledge of the science - genotype - with their interpretation of the Standard - phenotype - of their chosen Breeds.  Each change in a breed is considered carefully by responsible, dedicated breeders - its not haphazard or happenstance.  As scientific advancement continued, breeders were able to test for inherited problems and do their best to eradicate them.  No breed of dog, or random bred dog, is without health issues.  Dedicated breeders work diligently to ensure that their breeding program is the best they can create.  They are not perfect but they hold themselves and their responsibility to very high standards.  In the area of art and aesthetics, fashions change. We view the Breed in different ways from country to country, which makes it challenging but also interesing.  We sometimes look at old photos and hardly recognize the ancesters of our dogs being of the same breed.

When we visit dog shows and meet dedicated breeders, its good to try and remember that they are the true stewards of their Breed.  This is not just a competition or a day out to meet friends.  Each show, each win can modify the direction that a Breed or a Breeder takes.  This can be a good thing or bad depending upon the intention of the Breeder.  Quality breeders put their breed first, their wins second.   A dedicated breeder lives by a code of ethics of which the backyard or casual breeder has no concept; of which the puppymiller has no use; and the commercial breeder cannot afford to adhere to as their interest is profit over quality of existence for the animals they 'produce.'

Back to the Future:

Looking further back to 1915, Walter Esplin Mason published his indepth study "Dogs of All Nations"  to coincide with the Panama Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco.  The Exposition site took three years to complete and attracted millions of visitors from around the world.

From the Preface of this important historical document, Mason announces, "The worldwide and constantly increasing interest in dogs prompts the author to present in concise form, and at a price within the reach of all, a description and illustration of every variety known to be breeding true to type."  This Exposition was an opportunity to bring these Breeds - some never seen before in North America -  to an enthusiastic dog community and the general public.   You can read the book in its entirety online at the Open LibraryArchive where there is also the option of downloading.  Caution however as this is a very large file and prohibitive for those still using dialup.

With thanks and appreciation:

Hopefully, this short article may interest you in learning more about the world of the purebred dog but it will have served its purpose if when you have the opportunity to meet dedicated, intelligent hard working breeders, you recognize that they are the people to whom you should turn when planning to add a quality purebred dog to your home and heart.