Thank you for responding!
. I was beginning to think that crickets were about to chirp because I had stepped on some toes. I think your story points up the same thing about dog breeders and so-called experts - that it becomes a silly, stupid status issue and a game of one-up manship. So sad when life is so short and it seems unnecessary and illogical to be so nasty about something that a person has a passion for. You would think that people would be happier with animals in their lives. :weird:
Well, personally, my toes ARE a little sore from being stepped on.
Why do you think it's fair to paint ALL "AKC show" people in the same light? I have shown dogs for 23 years and been a RESPONSIBLE breeder for 13 years. I can assure you your description of show people does NOT describe me, or most of the other show people I know.
I believe there are good and bad people in EVERYTHING, and to generalize and say ALL people in a certain hobby, profession etc are bad is wrong and unfair.
I also work in a veterinary clinic. I can assure you that if I had your attitude I could paint ALL pet owners in a pretty horrifying light, due to some of the horrible things I see at work. I could easily say ALL pet owners were ignorant, neglectful idiots. BUT, I know that not all pet owners are, and I don't judge them all by the few bad ones.
So, you ran into a person who was not a nice person. I can guarantee you there are plenty of good people who are not like that person who show in "AKC" shows. I always try to make time to talk to people and be helpful, and if I don't have a nice thing to say about another breeder, I keep it to myself.
ANY time you have people in competition, be it in animal shows, car shows, ANYTHING that involves judging/competition you have people who take things too far or too seriously. The reason MOST show people and breeders do it is to try to improve the breed we love, not for status or one- upmanship.
I don't know what profession you are in, but I don't think you would appreciate it if someone in your profession exhibited bad behavior, and because of that one person's bad behavior, YOU were then judged as being a bad person also.