Dog Shows Quotes

“Deene had a refreshing ignorance concerning collies; and indeed of nineteen dog-breeds out of twenty. But he had an equally refreshing faith in himself to give wise decisions on any and all canine matters. So, obligingly, he consented to judge collies at Greenwold in addition to his beloved and ultra-tiny Chihuahuas. A similar thing has been done too often to call for comment.”
― Albert Payson Terhune, Wolf

“Born to hunt, and to be the companion of some human being who liked to hunt, he had all the fine instincts of a hunter. But it was Sean’s misfortune that he had also been born with an almost perfect body. His head seemed molded by some master artist. His spine and back and massive chest were ideally formed, and his tail was a graceful brush that dropped in precisely the right curve.

Sean was a show dog. Far too valuable to risk in the wilderness, he was fast making his mark in the world of dog shows.”
― Jim Kjelgaard, Outlaw Red

“Chihuahuas and collies?" echoed the Mistress, "What a combination! It's like... judging hummingbirds and eagles!”
― Albert Payson Terhune, Wolf

“A dog show is illustrative of man’s achievement, and blue ribbon is more than a bit of silk. It’s a mark, Danny, one that never can be erased. The dog that wins it will not die. If we send Boy to the show, and he comes back as best of breed, then that’s something for all future dog lovers and dog owners to build on. Don’t you see? A hundred years from now someone may stand on this very spot with a fine Irish setter, and he’ll trace it lineage back to some other very fine setter, perhaps to Boy. And he will know that he has built on what competent men have declared to be the very best. He will know also that he, too, can go one step nearer the perfection that men must and will have in all things. It did not start with us, Danny, but with the first man who ever dreamed of an Irish setter. All we’re trying to do is advance one step farther and Boy’s ribbon, if he wins one, will simply be proof that we succeeded.”
― Jim Kjelgaard

“Ferris was infected with the most virulent form of that weird malady as "dog-showitis." At first he had been tempted solely by the hope of winning the hundred-dollar prize. But latterly the urge of victory had gotten into his blood. And he yearned, too, to let the world see what a marvelous dog was his.”
― Albert Payson Terhune, The Heart of a Dog

“The dog-show virus is as insidious and as potent as a Borgian poison. Once let man or woman fall under its spell, and the winning of a blue ribbon seems more important than the winning of a college degree. The purple Winner Rosette is worth a fortune. The annexation of the mystic prefix, “Champion,” to a loved dog’s name is an honor comparable to the Presidency.”
― Albert Payson Terhune, My Friend the Dog

“You, Dog. Youah all dog. Seems mighty funny to keep you in a piddlin’ little cage, and just use you fo’ getting’ blue ribbons and little cups when you could be a huntin’ dog. Seems might funny. Still, I s’pose it’s impo’tant, else, Danny and Mistah Haggin wouldn’t do it. But fo’ the life of me I can’t figgah it.”
― Jim Kjelgaard, Outlaw Red

“Mona could be syrupy sweet, then knife you the minute your back was turned. There wasn’t a dirty trick she hadn’t used in the ring, and there were damn few she hadn’t been suspected of using outside the ring. There were rumors about false papers, puppies switched between litters, cosmetic surgery, even down to whispers of judges being bribed. She was a big winner and a powerful force in the breed. She couldn’t stand not winning, rarely congratulated anyone else on a win, and rather than seeming happy when she did win, she acted as if it was only what she deserved.”
― Karen Harbert, Final Entry

“Why can't somebody invent shows where dogs are judged by their cleverness and dispositions and staunchness and by all the million things that make them worth more than any mere money? Why must they always be judged as if they were prize cattle or pigs;—just by a few show-points that have nothing to do with a dog’s worthwhileness?”
― Albert Payson Terhune, Wolf

“Showing is primarily a contest of beauty, and it is a valid criticism that brain power, or ability, cannot be assessed. However, the general mental demeanor of the dog in the ring certainly can be. The judge should be looking for a stable, happy dog, not easily frightened by the different sights and sounds of a strange show ground. A spaniel should not be unsociable with his own kind and certainly not frightened by other people.”
― John M. Phillips, The Essential Welsh Springer Spaniel

“Reaction in the ring is a matter of degree, and also of training, in ring craft, and socialization. There is a range of acceptable temperament, above the line which divides it from the rare cases of aggression or terror.”
― John M. Phillips, The Essential Welsh Springer Spaniel

“The show dog may seem cautious because of good training; it should not be subdued or frightened; novices are often uninhibited to the point of ecstasy at a touch or word of praise. A wagging tail and a happy cheerful impression is a reasonable expectation.”
― John M. Phillips, The Essential Welsh Springer Spaniel