IKC

           Zelda, winning someplace with Jackie Fogel handling.
(Zelda was the only dog I have had who actually went off for 6 wks with Jackie as handler.)

Me (yes!!) at the International Kennel Club with my first Belgian, Quiller. He never did well at shows. Nevermind.)

My aim with Doc is to get him ready to attend the IKC show in Feb. He will be JUST 6 mos, which is the youngest allowed at AKC shows.
It is a huge show and benched, which means you cannot leave.
It is stressful on both humans and dogs, especially  youngsters who are not prepared for the noise and activity.
I will try to get my friend Susan to show him. She is a better handler and has finished all her Belgians. Doc, light on his feet, deserves a better profile than having me lumbering about next to him. She does NOT like this show. I, on the other hand, love everything about it except getting in and out, which is a real major pain in the ass.

Cooper and Me

 

 

 

 

Mitchell getting a major with Jackie Fogel

 

 

One of my favorite photos from a dog show. This was at the IKC.

 

I am virtually the only person I know who loves this show. Everyone hates it. They hate getting in and out, they hate the crowds, they hate the benching. Philadelphia is also benched. Westminister is benched.

I don't know what other shows are benched but I live in terror that someday the powers will decide to unbench the IKC, which would take all the charm (if you can call it that) away.

 

It is actually 4 shows: Thursday and Friday are 2 other Kennel Clubs and those shows are not benched. Saturday and Sunday is the International Kennel Club and that is benched.

I have taken one dog for three days once, and was so exhausted and the dog so stressed I vowed never to do it again.

 

A very young Conley in a rare photo with his tail UP.

I don't know where we are but someone else is showing him and it is not Jackie. So I would guess that is Lake Shore.

 

It is also an expensive weekend. The entry fee is high, the parking is exorbitant even with a parking pass, and the wine is $5 or $6 a glass. Extortion.

Some of the really neat vendors have pulled out because they are reputedly not treated well. The price for a space is over a thousand dollars and in the past couple of years I have noticed a drop in both new, cool Vendors as well as people attending to see the dogs.

 

As with all "hobby"-driven activities,dog shows have been hard-hit by the financial climate. It is very depressing. It is also the reason show people are picking shows very carefully. Between the training, the entry fee, the gas and hotel bills, you want to get points if you win.

I expect the IKC costs me much more than I get out of it. We shall see.