SPORTSMANSHIP

"The most important thing in the Olympic games is not to win but to take part just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

- Baron DeCoubertin
Founder of the modern Olympic Games

"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."

- Vince Lombardi
Coach, Green Bay Packers

"When the one Great Scorer comes to write against your name, he marks - not that you have won or lost, but how you played the game."

- Grantland Rice
Noted Sports Writer

Having been around the dog show game for a couple of years now, Grace and I are continually struck with the incongruity of it all. We went into showing dogs because we were competitive and artistic and wanted to have pride in showing a fine dog.

We have met many fine people as a result of our experiences. On the other hand, we have also encountered some difficult people too.

After talking about sportsmanship and ethics a great deal between us, we have come to recognize that the dog show game, like almost all competitive activities, has people involved that cover the complete spectrum of human behavior. People react to wins and losses in entirely different ways. It seems their expectations coming into a show are far different from one another as well.

For example, how many times have you heard a group of exhibitors predicting that Ch. Whooziz has this show cold and the rest of us poor "suckers" don't stand a chance. This, like the tale that Joe Czperwicz, that noted handler of the Outer Mongolian Terrier, has this one wired because the judges leaned his way in the last show. These and other fairy tales are useful to set alibis in advance so our losses won't seem so bitter. Unfortunately, it also sets up a losing attitude and one that fairly screams "foul, I only lost because the other guy wasn't playing fair."

Frankly, the way we see it is that in winning and losing, we have no certainty. Whenever we enter a show, there is a chance we will win; there is also a chance that we will lose. As a result, we are always talking in terms of chances or odds. Are any of these statements familiar to you?

1. The odds that a dog will win back to back best in shows is very low.

2. We will probably win the breed today.

3. It looks like we may have a seventy percent chance of placing in the group.

4. I feel certain that ninety percent of all judges are honest.

5. The odds against your picking a winner from ringside in a large class is probably only slightly better than chance.

Already we have learned that a top class dog should win 3 out of 5 times. That's 60%. Our handlers have also taught us to "keep a book" on the judges. They have detailed records. For example, remember when Judge Postwhistle put Rudolph only third in the working group. Well as it turned out in talking to him later he pointed out that he would like to see more extension in front. This led us to the realization that Rudolph was a bit steep in shoulder which limited his forward reach. Therefore, we tried to find out which Judges put great emphasis on that action and if they might penalize our dog as a result. We did find some who were "front fanatics". As a matter of course we did not show under them. It's our feeling we increased Rudolph's winning percentage by 5 points. It's like a baseball manager looking at his statistics in making out his line-up. If Oscar Crackball has hit this lefthander for an average of only 210, he darn well better use Jeff Strongarm who has pounded this guy for a 325 average in his place. If, and it's a big if, winning is everything then that's the way to go.

Now, by having lived many summers, I have come to realize that winning doesn't come free; it always costs something. For example, by taking this tack, I have nagging doubts that my dog can beat all comers under any condition and I find it's not always easy to live with that doubt in my mind. Do I have the best or is it my intent to only win the point races fostered by the dog magazines. Grace and I have rattled that one around aplenty.

Grace says it another way. "If you don't compete, you can't lose - but you can't win either." As I've said before, smart girl that Grace.

In our rambling discussions with other breeders both at club meetings and at shows a number of elements of sportsmanship have come up. For example, this simple truism -- in order for there to be a winner, there must be a loser.

Certainly it is apparent that in any breed there can only be a winners dog and bitch plus a best of breed or variety and best of opposite sex. This leaves many others to ponder why the fates did not chose them. A certain percentage of losers will ascribe their loss to every conceivable reason but the fact they may have been beaten by a better dog on this day.

For some unfortunate people learning how to lose always eludes them. It is as important as learning how to win. It's the other side of the coin.

Let's be honest, no loser can be termed "happy" by any stretch of the imagination. Turn to the person standing next to you and remark about the poor job of judging and chances are that another soulmate will be found. What's hard about that? However, laud the judge for his discerning ability in placing the best dogs and nine times out of ten be greeted by cold stares of incredibility, dirty looks, nasty remarks and what have you. For the majority are, by necessity, losers and the winners are few.

It's hard to be a winner by any standard. To be a winner is the goal of all and when that goal is reached it often becomes nothing more than a hollow victory. Your dog has won, you're thrilled, elated, on "cloud nine" and you want to shout about it from the rooftops and let the world in on your joy. But you don't - or you have learned not to because, let's face it, YOU are happy but most of the other exhibitors are not! To have one's dogs' accomplishments greeted by indifference or snide remarks surely takes the wind out of one's sails and much that should be joyous becomes just the opposite. So, after having come up against the "wet dish rag" treatment, the winner keeps his happiness to himself and that's not easy. It really is so much easier to mutter under your breath and grumble you were robbed or the judge was stupid because the sympathy of the majority is always with the losers.

Therefore, to be a winner is not easy no matter how desirable this position looks from afar. To consistently come up with winning dogs year after year places any breeder in the position of being a prime target for all the unsuccessful, jealous, petty breeders striving for success.

For some reason or another it seems to be a characteristic of human nature to elevate one's own dogs - not necessarily by breeding BETTER dogs - but rather, by denigrating those belonging to others. Everyone, at one time or another, has been guilty of this to some degree. It might have been due to a slip of the tongue or, in other cases quite deliberately intended. It is usually those on the threshold of success, perhaps who have bred a champion or two, who are the worst offenders. They are striving so desperately to attain their goals that they not only give little heed to the consideration of others but deliberately attempt to undermine the accomplishments of others.

The point should be made that this type of behavior is not solely confined to those engaged in dog activities. It is evidenced even more clearly in the business world by price cutting, false advertising and numerous practices engaged in that are frowned on by the Better Business Bureaus.

One requisite necessary for success in dogs is a competitive spirit and this is something none of the books seem to mention. Obviously, when competitive spirit meets competitive spirit some sparks are going to fly and there isn't much that can be done to alleviate the situation.

In order for any one breeder to attain success, others must - by necessity - be hurt along the way. This can not be helped for it takes many losers to make a winner. Those on the threshold of success might do well to remember that the time will come, again by necessity, when they must come face to face with some of these same losers on the way back down. For there comes a point in every breeder's endeavors when success can no longer continually top success and then there is only one direction in which to go.

Very few, if any, have had the privilege of having their cake and eating it too. That is to say, no one breeder can continually enjoy success removed from the periphery of the disgruntled. Therefore, the time must come when a choice must be made. Some breeders quit. Perhaps they feel, and rightly so, that they have achieved all that can be achieved and are not content to settle for what would seem to them second best. Others go backwards and gradually fade away while others learn to compromise. Those who learn to compromise usually end up as the "old timers". Their accomplishments and abilities are recognized but they no longer hold a monopoly on success. As a result they hold some popularity amongst their fellows, are no longer the prime target for back biting and can enjoy their hobby without regarding each new situation as a personal challenge and no longer need to continually prove their dogs' values in the scheme of things. The aspiring breeder is continually striving and it is this very aggressiveness which helps achieve success but at the same time which calls undesirable instincts into play.

It's all very well and good for one to say that because their dogs are the subject of nasty remarks proves that they are good dogs. In fact, some people have been known to say they welcome the back biting and innuendos because to them that is proof of their dog's worth. People may say this - but deep down they really can't mean this as any situation of this type is uncomfortable and not easy to live with. The desire for recognition is one thing but there is also a desire for acceptance. As a result, successful breeders are usually very lonesome people. For to be up on top in any locale is to be pretty much alone. There just isn't room at the top for many. This cannot be recognized by those aspiring for success. This can only be truly understood by those who have experienced the success with its accompanying drawbacks. For whereas the interpretation of success differs from individual to individual, the resulting experiences are usually the same.

To be a good winner takes a very thick skin. When the nasty remarks and innuendos begin to filter through, it's almost humanly impossible to resist them. Most breeders fight back in one form or another for awhile. The ways in which this can be done are many - it can be done vocally, in the showring, through the printed word, etc. Perhaps there is a measure of satisfaction to be gained in attempted retaliation, but little or nothing is usually accomplished other than furthering an already painful situation. It should not be implied that the only solution would be to fold one's tent and quietly sneak away - as stated previously, it takes only a thick skin! Ask any breeder!

If one will but note - the point makers, the losers, are always NICE people and their dogs are really not too bad. Perhaps they are shown improperly or groomed improperly but other than that receive little or no criticism. But that OTHER fellow...you know, the one who is consistently taking the points or the Variety or the Group - well, he wouldn't sell YOU a good dog now, would he? ... and HOW he can continually win with THAT stuff he shows, the judge must be blind or else a personal friend! It should sound familiar.

Another tough situation occurs when a finished dog is shown to make sure. As exhibitors at dog shows, how often has the phrase been heard. " . . . " finished yesterday but I thought I'd better show him today JUST TO MAKE SURE." With the difficulty exhibitors have in finding points across the nation, the "make sure" dog and his owner and/or handler are, of course, most unpopular.

The professional handler is, sometimes by necessity, the worst offender in this area. It can be appreciated that, once the handler has contracted to show a dog on a circuit or at a series of shows, he has planned on the income from that dog. Or, he may be truly unaware of the dog's point total. Whatever the cause, this gives rise to the additional and needless showing of an animal who has, in fact, completed his Championship.

The individual owner-handlers are not necessarily lily-pure in this respect either. Honest doubt and confusion is one thing, but to show a dog KNOWN to be finished just because he is entered is another thing.

At this point the hue and cry will be raised that if the dog is pulled, the points may be lowered. True, this hue and cry WILL be raised as the result of hindsight if the finished dog should lose (and what makes a finished dog look more foolish than losing in Open competition?). However, dog show exhibitors, being such wonderful sports that they are, take all of this in stride and rush up to congratulate today's winner even though he finished yesterday! Like heck they do! They mutter under their breaths and berate the fates (to say nothing of the dog and his owner) that "robbed" them of a win, as well they might under such a system. The professional handler shrugs it off, it's part of the game for them. One cannot help but wonder at the motivation of the non-professional handler - does another trophy and a bright piece of ribbon mean than much?

As long as the soap box is available, another closely related activity comes to mind. That is, showing the dog who needs a major (or majors) in one and two point shows. Why show the dog when it becomes obvious that there is no major? This should be clarified by saying, why follow through and show the dog when it becomes obvious that there is no major IN EITHER SEX? A one or two point win certainly does not help a dog who already has sixteen or seventeen points to his credit. However, that one or two point win can and does help a dog NOT needing majors or the youngster making his debut.

Owner-handlers surely must have a conscience - let it be their guide! With respect to the professional there are more specific problems that arise. The professional handler contracts to handle a dog at a show or a series of shows and in so doing has perhaps turned down another. His fee is deserved and so the dog is shown to earn that fee. At this point, lest this little gem be considered an attack on the professional handler, it is not. If there is any attack, it is directed toward a system not the individual. Indeed, there are some professional handlers more scrupulous about showing a dog needing but majors in the small shows than some non-professionals. It stands to reason that the professional handler is more aware of where the points are lacking as the result of their constant preoccupation with dog shows - after all, it's their business.

Any system is subject to criticism and it takes no special talent to criticize. Briefly, two specific points have been criticized: (1) showing dogs in point competition when there is awareness on the part of the handler or owner (as the case may be) that the dog has already attained fifteen points and both majors and (2) showing dogs who need only their majors in one and two point shows.

As a possible suggestion to remedy the first point when a circuit of shows or a related series of shows is involved, how about the professional handler charging a flat rate for the circuit or series. That is to say, should the dog finish before the circuit or series is completed, the rate would be the same as if the dog were shown in every show. Exhibitors sending a dog on a circuit or contracting for a series of shows surely expect to pay for it. If the dog finishes early, he can be pulled and the handler does not lose his anticipated income. Should the handler pick up another dog at "ringside" to take the place of the FINISHED dog, that fee could be deducted from the finished dog's bill. This would be a display of good sportsmanship.

It certainly would be helpful if each breeder, owner or handler sincerely put forth the effort to keep track of his dog's accumulated point total to date and act accordingly. This effort would surely strengthen goodwill and help to achieve a more harmonious relationship among all.

Only last month I saw a perfect example of learning how to lose with grace. Jim and Tammy have a hot winning Saluki; in fact he has dominated the breed and group for the first five months of this year. Then, at their big specialty, an Australian judge of some repute chose another dog for BOB. This dog had been playing second fiddle all year.

At the club banquet that night, the owners of the best of breed dog were virtually ignored and were very down. Just when they should have been enjoying one of the high points of their dog life they were being put down. The evening turned around when Tammy called for attention and offered a toast to the dog and his owners for their great win. That broke the ice and the rest of the evening went well for all.

Here was a perfect example of how it is possible to win and lose at the same time. Turning it around the other way, Jim and Tammy, because of their sporting gesture, became winners in everyone's mind, including the owners of the dog that defeated them in spite of the fact their dog lost. Too many people believe that only winning is positive; losing is always negative. Examples like Jim and Tammy's action prove it doesn't have to be so.

Another reflection on this winning thing comes to mind. Again remember back when Judge Postwhistle placed Rudolph third in the group. Our sights were set on winning the group and then shooting for Best in Show. The BIS judge had put us up before and we figured we had a fighting chance to go all the way. We were really downcast after the group. Then this young couple came along who were even greener in the dog game than we were and offered effusive congratulations on Rudolph's wonderful win. I guess it's a matter of perspective, what may seem like a win to one person may seem like a loss to someone else. - Like they say today "hey man, where are you coming from?"

Grace and I weathered some real storms in the first years of our marriage which taught us to always look on the bright side of things. We learned real quick that showing dogs was only one facet of our lives. Winning was exhilarating, losing was not. However, we had each other, our work, our nice home and now our dog hobby. In perspective, our hobby is fun but will not dominate our total lives. As in dog construction, balance is important to a well rounded life. We felt sorry for those people who must try to achieve all their satisfaction in the dog world because they get so little in the "outside" world.

We have also become much more sympathetic toward the judges' dilemma. After all, it's not always possible to please everyone. All we can ask is a conscientious job and a knowledge of our standard. And by and large we get it week after week. It's amazing how many dedicated and knowledgeable people we have in the judges ranks. We have learned to sit back and appreciate their skills.

We sure wish more people would.