Dog Show Survival Kit

I say it all the time -- I am not crafty. So when I see simple, doable things my brain screams in delight. And if they're clever and creative as well, I just go bananas. My most recent banana-find is a DIY Dog Show Survival Kit over at Corgi Pants (my latest OMG blog). Not only does she neatly fit two dozen must-haves into a standard pencil box, but her explanations of what and why will have you rolling. See the box? Follow the link for instructions.

 

Got your shopping list? Then go! See you at Wal-mart. -- K

 



Putting On A Show, Part 2

Following my last post about putting on a dog show, I'd like to share some of the stuff that goes on behind the scenes. Here is a list of jobs that our Show Secretary came up with to help get club members to volunteer. I tweaked it slightly, by am by no means taking credit for it!

Dog Show Duties

To pull this off we need everybody to help out somewhere. NOTE: Most positions will be manned by multiple people, and a person can work in multiple positions. Since this can be intimidating for inexperienced members, tips for newbies are italicized.

Advertising -- This person/committee will contact local radio and television stations to try and get coverage of our shows, as well as put notices on free websites like Craigslist, What's Happening in Jacksonville, etc. (Newbies: creativity and “thinking outside the box” a definite plus.)

Chief Ring Steward/Ring Stewards -- One person (Chief Steward) accepts responsibility of directing stewards in addition to stewarding. Stewards are needed for each ring. Stewards call dogs the ring, ensure handlers are in the order as they enter the ring, and maintain a catalog showing placement of each class and individual winners. Stewards also help judges in anything and everything needed to do the job: judge’s book, pens, ribbons, trophies ready to be given to winners, etc. (Newbies: This is the most exciting position at the show. If you want to learn about Conformation shows, please consider this position.)

Concessions -- Responsible for setting up concessions for our shows. This person/committee will solicit donations from the club, buy the food used, line up club members to help sell concessions, and set up/tear down the concession area. Receipts are turned into the Treasurer for reimbursement. (Newbies: When done right, we make decent money selling concessions. There’ve been times when the concession sales kept us from going in the red on a show. It’s not a difficult position, but it’s a very important one.)

Grounds and Set Up -- Responsible for setting everything up for the show: tables, chairs and whatever else is needed. Also responsible to help clean up after the show and pack stuff away. (Newbies: Although we need someone to head this up, everybody should pitch in to set up and break down.) 

Hospitality -- Responsible for making sure the judges get to the show from motel and ensures they are fed lunch during breaks; Arranges and sets up the hospitality room for those attending our shows; Gets donations from club members and buys necessary supplies. Receipts are turned into the Treasurer for reimbursement. (Newbies: This is usually handled by more than one person. Creativity and banquet experience is a plus but not required.)

Judges’ Gifts -- Since most judges just charge our club for expenses, we always give thank you gifts. This person/committee will check with the Show Chairman as to who the judges are, and find appropriate gifts for each one. Receipts are turned into the Treasurer for reimbursement. (Newbies: Show Chairman will give you a ball park on what you should spend.) 

Parking -- Assist with parking cars and RV's at our show site; direct people where to park RV's, collect parking fees, and help with any issues that arise with parking problems. 

Premium Distribution -- Once the Show Secretary has created the premium, this person will distribute the premium to a list of prior attendees. We have an email list for most of these; however, some request a hard copy of the premium so these must be mailed out. The person taking this position will receive a PDF file of the premium so can easily print out and mail.

Ribbons for Show -- Responsible for all the ribbons and plaques needed for our shows including the Futurity/Maturity; Contacts vendor and places order; Once order is received, ensures the club was sent the correct ribbons; Creatively displays awards at the show. (Newbies: Guidance will be given as to what awards are required.)

 
Show Chairman -- Responsible for the physical show location, equipment, trophies, concessions, publicity, and manpower. The Show Chairman assigns committees, but is ultimately responsible for everything. Our Show Chairman secures judges and ensures that all AKC paperwork and regulations are handled properly. (Interested newbies are encouraged to shadow Chairman.)

Show Secretary -- Responsible for the premium compilation, approval, printing, and distribution as well as catalog compilation, approval, printing, and distribution. Our Show Secretary ensures that all entry fees are paid (which is harder than it should be). Secretary also ensures that all armbands are properly distributed at the show. (Interested newbies are encouraged to shadow Secretary.)

Show Secretary Assistant -- At least one person is needed to assist the Show Secretary at the shows. Entrants will be coming by to pick up their armbands for their classes. Some will need to pay for their entries at the show as well. You will help the Show Secretary hand out armbands, collect funds due, etc. (Newbies: This position can be a bit hectic at the beginning of the show. However, you will sit next to an experienced club member and you will learn a lot.)

 

That's a lot, hunh? And there are hundreds of little things that pop up unexpectedly. Truthfully, it takes the better part of a year to put together a show. We'll be tired and giddy after our shows in April, bask in the glory of a job well done in May, and then will elect a Show Chairman and Show Secretary and start planning our 2015 shows in June. And we're just a Specialty Club (as in German Shepherds only). I can't imagine all the work that goes into an all-breed show!

So, wanna put on a show? Wanna see ours? -- K

Sepia Saturday

Today Jedi and I are sharing one of our favorite spots. Tucked up against the freeway -- just a stone's throw from yet another Super Wal-Mart -- is the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens. There's a foot bridge on the Jones Creek trail that crosses over a slow moving stream. If you're quiet you can hear birds and frogs and crickets. And if you're still you can see fish swimming through the oak-filtered sunlight. I can sit here for an hour (though Jedi gets bored after 10 minutes). When people say "go to your happy place" this is where I go!

 

 

Disclaimer: I'm still playing with my photo editor. Instead of using sepia on this picture, I used a brown filter instead. I like it! The picture has a sepia tone, but you can still bits of green. Cool, hunh?

 

This is a blog hop. Why not check out what others are doing with color? -- K

 





Putting On A Show, Part 1

Our Premium -- kind of an event announcement and sign up

My dog club is putting on a show. Actually it's several shows over the course of three days. I said I would help out again this year, and that I wanted to be more involved. I also said that I wanted to show Jedi at some of these shows, so most of my assistance would have to be pre-show stuff. Well, the Show Secretary and Show Chairman took me up on that offer. WOW. I had no idea how much went into putting on a show. I am overwhelmed. (And very excited.)

A couple of our older, more experienced club members have been doing this for years. They're tired and want to pass the baton. Most of our members are new to the fancy and inexperienced (me included). We are clueless to how you:

• Find/secure a venue
• Find judges
• Fill out AKC paperwork
• Advertise the show
• Set up the rings
• Find trophies, ribbons and rosettes
• Host a Hospitality Dinner
• Put together the Premium
• Put together the Catalog
• Buy proper insurance
• plus 100 other things

I'm trying to learn as much as possible, hoping to be competent (and confident) enough to take on the role of Show Secretary or Show Chairman someday. Until then I am Helper Girl, doing my best not to screw things up.

This year I am "keeper of the lists." I'm sending out premiums to prior exhibitors as well as adding new ones as new requests come in. The last list keeper's hard drive crashed, so all I have to work from is a print out. I'm recreating the database. It's tedious, but I actually enjoy it. Once entries start coming in I'm helping with the catalog too.

So have I totally confused you? I forget that there are people out there who know even less about dog showing than I do! Let me break down the terminology, starting with the premium above.

• Premium --  a pamphlet created by the show superintendent or show secretary which is mailed to prospective exhibitors. It lists all the pertinent info: the club(s) hosting the show, the date(s) and location of the show, the judges, classes and awards offered, etc. The premium also contains required forms, specifies the fees for entering, and lists the closing date by which entries must be received. The AKC stipulates that the premium must be available at least six weeks before closing date. Don't confuse this with the . . .
• Catalog -- a booklet sold at shows which lists each entered dog's entry number, class entered, registered name and number, breeder, owner, sire (father), dam (mother), and date of birth. Putting this together takes a lot of attention to detail!
• Specialty Show -- a dog show of only one breed, given by a Specialty Club (i.e. the German Shepherd Dog Club of North Florida). Because it's only one breed, you get more entrants for that breed (thus a higher point value). However, there are still fewer overall entrants than at an all-breed show, so a club can hold two shows on one day (thus twice as many chances to win). This is different from an . . .
• All-Breed Show -- a dog show where all (or almost all) the different purebred breeds are being shown and judged simultaneously. Dogs that win Best of Breed go onto to Best of Group and then group winners go up for Best in Show. Think Westminster.
• Match -- a practice dog show for new dogs and dog handlers. Matches are more relaxed and usually judged by an experienced handler, not a sanctioned AKC judge. The winner doesn't receive any championship points, and most matches specify that pointed dogs are not permitted to enter.
• Sanctioned -- means that the match/show is approved by the AKC (American Kennel Club) and is following AKC rules
• Temperament Test -- a series of exercises used to determine a dog's soundness. This is a new one for our club (long story for another post). We've got a senior evaluator with the German Shepherd Dog Club of America coming in from Virginia to administer the test. I'll go over that in detail in another post as well. The rules are here in case you want to read ahead.
• Futurity/Maturity -- a special contest for breeders. Breeders bet that their puppies will be winners before they are whelped (born). They "nominate" the litters and pay a fee. At futurity/maturity shows the winners get the pot. This is one of the few times an exhibitor actually wins money at a dog show.

Do you feel any smarter? Is there anything I could explain better? As I stated in the last Pet Blogger Challenge, once upon a time I wanted to find a blog about being a newbie in the show ring. I looked and looked for a blog like that and when I couldn't find one, I decided I'd have to try to write one myself. I enjoy dog shows, but still find that people can be cliquish and dismissive to newbies. So among other things, I want this blog to be helpful and informative to the newbies that come behind me. Learn from my mistakes! Until next time, -- K

Thoughtless Thursday

For Thoughtless Thursday I'd like to offer up this guy:

Don't be fooled by the adorable face. This guy can be a real thoughtless jerk. Thursdays are my day off, the only day where I can sleep past dawn . . . . in theory. More often than not, Jedi is up at 5 AM and in my face. I'll let him out to pee and then try to go back to sleep. No such luck. He'll jump on the bed and chew some phantom itch, shaking the whole bed in the process. I'll throw him off. Then he'll decide to groom his nether regions, slurping loud enough to wake the dead. I'll grunt, he'll whine and eventually I wake up with a few choice words. [Random thought: if I call my dog a "son of a bitch" am I technically swearing? Or am I just stating the obvious?] Anyway, by the time I'm drinking my first cup of coffee, this is what I see:

Yeah, he's sound asleep and snoring! I'm wide awake. See? S.O.B. -- K

Wordless Wednesday

Who needs to speak when your shirt says it all?

 

 

Jedi and I at training class.

 



Can't read it? Here is a better picture from the internet.

 

 

 

 

Like the shirt? You can get one for yourself from the Animal Rescue Site. Not only will you make a statement, but your purchase buys food for shelter animals as well. How cool is that?

 

 

 

 

And don't forget: This is a blog hop. Check out the other pet bloggers below and see what they're up to. -- K

 

Sepia Speed

Squirrel!

I need a better camera! I've been trying to get pictures of Jedi in motion but he's too fast for my little Nikon Coolpix. (Maybe I should find the instruction book.) Here he's shooting out from a dead stop. Look at that extension!

Anyway, It's Sepia Saturday! Hop around and see what others are doing today. -- K