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I totally agree. It should be solely based on the quality of the dog, BUT here, it still is and always will be a contest of political nature. Especially in AKC where professional handlers have harems of dogs to show each weekend. Makes me even prouder to owner handle my own dogs.
I've seen an older dog who had tons of single points, no majors, change to a handler(or as we say a face on the northside of the lead) who was well known in that breed, all of a sudden, took majors. Everything they took in the ring that day won, regardless of correctness in structure, all that mattered was who showed the dog.
And we currently have a CH dog out specialing in our area and the newbie owner was told to get his face known as it will pay off in the future. So the poor young dog(not yet 2) is out showing every weekend and well, yes, the judges are starting to remember him, not the dog, and put them up.
That's not why I show my dogs and I won't play that game. I do handle a couple of dogs-german shorthairs, for a friend. He would show his own dogs but health and work don't allow him. When he can he does, when he can't I get the pleasure. His dogs win on their merits, not me, as sometimes I wonder who's showing whom. Another reason I love my corgis-those pointers drive me nuts-can't stand still for 2 seconds.
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