FROM THE SKEPTIC TANK
THE SANDS OF TIME ARE RUNNING FASTER

During these past few years the dog press has been filled with stories of man's discourtesy to man and the crass commercialism that has invaded our ranks. What used to be a gentlemanly sport has turned into a "dog eat dog" grind. With exhibitors suing judges and dog food companies becoming more and more involved in the running of dog shows it presents a far different picture than just a short 10 years ago. Old timers bemoan the happenings and newcomers are fleeing its rank in ever-increasing numbers. There are fewer and fewer novices around the ringside and in the ring today. Are we reaching critical mass? Will our sport be severely impacted? Will Ted marry Sally? Stay tuned.

Seriously, we have all been concerned about the so-called YUPPIE generation invading our sport with their "Me-above-all" attitude. They are a reflection of what has happened throughout the strata of our society; the disregard for constituted authority, the flagrant violation of the rules, the unstated but dangerous concept that ethics need not apply in my case, and the inability of the sport to police itself. Certainly we cannot change these things alone. The Dog Show Game, after all, it is a microcosm of all society. BUT, believe it or not, the pendulum seems to be swinging the other way. A recent poll and one conducted in 1989 suggest the popularity of once-scorned family values is on the rebound. In fact one of our political parties is making it a cornerstone in election campaigns. Sound old fashioned? Welcome to the 90's. Writes Richard Morin in a 1992 LA Times-Washington Post story.

Suddenly, the survey suggests, it's fun to be a parent again. The number of parents who said, "respecting one's parents" is one of the most important values they hold increased from 38 percent to 47 percent in just two years. Today, polls show these values even higher although the bad press teenagers get belies the fact. Likewise the share of those who said, "respecting one's children" is important increased by nine percentage points to 43 percent.

The excessive materialism that characterizes the 1980's and 90's maybe in decline. However, some of the gross excesses we see in the dog game in flamboyant advertising and promotion makes one wonder if we are the iconoclastic part of society.

What is striking about this study is the high percentage said to be returning to the moral values of the first half of the Century. Remember, that's the period that George Sangster and others have written about as a "golden age,". Maybe it wasn't just fond but distorted memories of a bygone day. It was a time of respect for your elders and for constituted authority. Can this be happening again?

Well, yes and no. Modern communications have probably destroyed the likelihood of another age of innocence. I think we have lost the respect-almost awe-we once held for our lawmakers. The press has pulled back the lid of secrecy, and I don't think it will ever be the same again. The President of the United States has been in hot water, His chief prosecutor may be indicted for malfeasance in office, and the Congress has embarrassed itself over the whole mater of sex. It gives one pause to talk about high moral standards. BUT, if the people in authority behave in a constructive and open manner, I believe we will give them the respect and permission to govern us again. Yes, of course this has implications for the Dog Game and AKC.

Our leaders at AKC, all over the age of consent, have continued to act as though they were governing in the 1940's. They have continued a mode of behavior that has not matched these times. A big plus for the current administration. They are trying to streamline and strengthen the chain of command and to organize the front office in a business like way. We now have a CEO and a Chief Operations Officer. The COO has been needed for along time. The Information Systems group has been strengthened and, in a short time, we should have a constructive Management Information System on-line. The Website is being enhanced and a full time webmistress is on board. Now, all it takes is for the board to get it's act together and listen to the voice of the dog people who want a revised and democratic constitution and for the AKC, Parent Clubs, Judge Groups and other Special Interest groups to work together to promalgamate rules and regulations that make sense and can be easily enforced. Unless and until they accomplish these goals they will stand as a beleaguered fiefdom. Out of touch with the very clubs who sent them to New York to represented them.

The dog world will be the direct beneficiary of these changes. The people coming into the sport will be amenable to living within the rules and respecting their peers. And, if AKC can get with it and become more open, they too will once more be an organization deserving of our respect and one serving all the members of the dog fancy.