I was up early on Saturday with Greta. Morning sickness is so hard to deal with when you are a two year old dachshund! Once I settled her down with a warm blanket, I turned on our favorite weekend show, the Eukanuba Dog Show.
I watch these dog shows differently now. I used to observe the dogs only for cuteness and personality, but since I showed Greta at the German Dachshund Club show I have starting watching the AKC sanctioned events with a critical eye.
The German Judge took his time and checked all areas of the dogs for weight, height, and chest size. He counted the teeth, and he watched the movement of the dogs under a variety of circumstances. His eye was keen and critical, but I felt when he was finished with a dog, his judgments were fair. I learned a great deal that day, even if my heart was in my throat the whole time!
So there I was this morning, with Greta and her blankie, watching. We were shocked to see the AKC Judge giving the dogs a quick once over. Greta and I scoffed at the treatment! The judge did not seem overly impressed with dogs that I felt had great merit, and of course Animal Planet only shows you the dogs that they like. They cover the others during a commercial.
Greta and I were anticipating seeing the wirehaired dachshund that was entered, and although she was “cute”, I fear a German Judge would have given her only marginal marks.
Greta laughed at me (I swear!), and reminded me that all doggies are beautiful in their owners eyes, and she is right. However, don’t you think that if a dog is in a sanctioned dog show it should be judged more closely? Ah, perhaps not.
I switched the channel and found a rerun of the Miss Universe Pagent. I looked at all those fabulously gorgeous, young, nubile women, and I knew I was glad that Hubby wasn’t judging me by their standards. I’m his sweetie and, yes, he still loves me despite the fact that I don’t meet the breed standard anymore!