Doomsday Clock

Once meant to save struggling clubs, two-a-day shows may be weakening the very foundation of our sport.

Three shows a day? Hose me down!

Ok, that’s a bit much, but I’m hoping I caught your attention.

In the mid-1990s I wrote an article, “Is the Doomsday Clock Ticking for Ontario Dog Shows?” As clubs were collapsing, and entries plummeting, the CKC decided to allow limited shows — or two-a-days. This was to try to resuscitate some of these failing clubs.

They allowed limited shows in remote areas to encourage and help the clubs in these areas hold events without losing money for their efforts. Lower dog population and distance were the main culprits, and individuals in these areas with the same passion as we all have found it difficult to form clubs that would survive their locality. With the chance of two shows a day, this encouraged exhibitors to make the trek to such remote locations. End result: these clubs survived, and members in such areas were able to have clubs and compete in the sport they love.

It’s all very good to have such competitions. My issues started when clubs within three to four hours of Toronto, the most populated city in Canada, did this. This did not follow the rule of remote areas.

Entries started declining in the late 1990s and early 2000s, be it cost of living, outside distractions (internet and cell phones), or other variables. Bottom line: shows started getting smaller. And on the verge of extinction, the powers that be allowed these limited shows, trying to prop them up and save them from demise. That sounds very humanitarian, in the grand scheme of things, but it only made our dire situation worse.

With the natural demise of clubs, one would think that the result of this, while sad for the closing club, would be shows around it naturally strengthening, making the sport stronger. Alas, that’s not what happened. Allowing non-remote areas to have these two-a-days resulted in many things. I’m afraid none of these byproducts were, or are, beneficial.

With too many choices, our sport waters down, resulting in champion-only shows. Breeders with their promising youngsters avoided said shows. The only chance for points was to defeat the champions and, yes, this can happen, but in most cases it’s rare. The result: the win records of great dogs of yesteryear that competed week after week against their rivals are being beaten. That’s not a slur against great dogs of today, but with so many choices, you can steer clear of other opponents that may be a threat.

I offer a hockey analogy, if you can stay patient with me. Originally, the NHL (National Hockey League) was comprised of six teams — the Original Six. To some, that may sound too easy to win the Stanley Cup. But if you stand back and take a good look, each team was comprised of 22–30 players on their active roster to fill the six teams. So, you would need 180 or so players for the league.

180! That sounds so meager, but those 180 players were the best in the world, and when you won the Stanley Cup, you were proud knowing you had to beat out the best the sport had to offer. Things evolve, and the world always wants more. More teams, more players. My stepdad, who was a fine hockey player, fell just short of his dream, one tier below the pros. In today’s game he would have made it. A fine player, but not Bobby Hull.

That brings me to my next point, thanks for humouring me. On many weekends, I can walk out my front door in Milton, Ontario, and travel in three different directions, and within four to six hours be at a dog show. Our population, or dog population, cannot sustain this.

I’ve had the chance to speak with many people in charge, to try to tell them about this path we are on. I get the same answer: “Will, if you look at the revenue produced by conformation shows, the line has stayed pretty steady over the past five or so years.”

My response is, yes the revenue has stayed the same, but the number of events has increased. With registrations down everywhere, the end result will be smaller and smaller events, especially if these shows are propped up with the limited show direction.

If we look to western Canada or even western USA, you see the answer. Their entries are normally very good in comparison to the average eastern entry. Why? The answer is easy. Fewer events, and distance is not an issue to these show warriors. If you build it, they will come. It was like that in Ontario when I was growing up. One show per weekend, and no matter the distance, we went.

Too many choices and distractions have become our downfall. Let’s not let it be our demise.

Less always results in more.