Where's the Glamour?

I'm preparing for a dog show this weekend and, in one sense, am reluctant to go. Why? It always rains the weekend of this show! And since the show is at a fairgrounds, you can imagine the problems.

Dog showing does not always have elements of the glamour associated with the shows you see on television. The judges don't wear tuxedos and evening gowns. The floors are not carpeted, the walls not draped. The venues rank anywhere between 1 and 10. At the smaller fairground sites, it is not uncommon to groom in a stall in a barn that generally houses pigs, sheep, or cattle during the fair. At the particular show this weekend, for example, we'll set up our grooming in a dirt-floor building that sometimes leaks when it rains, a far cry from the facilities at Madison Square Garden. However, there is always the chance that the day will be bright and sunny, the parking will be ample, and the building will have plenty of room to set up a grooming table.

One thing that does not change, no matter where the show is held, is the excitement of showing your dog and perhaps winning points toward his/her championship. For that, exhibitors all over the country will gather at shows this weekend, no matter the weather. Best of luck to everyone!

Life is good when you have a Lhasa Apso to love you.

Joyce