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Master breeders, novices,
and breed enthusiast convened in St. Louis last October for the American Lhasa
Apso Clubs (ALAC) national specialty shows, futurity, and obedience and agility
trails. Exhibitors brought dogs from across the country, Canada, and Europe.
Results are available via the AKC events search or at www.lhasaapso.org.
This column concerns the value of attending such events.
Why did so many people
travel thousands of miles, spend large sums of money, and take time from jobs
and family to attend this nationals specialty? Given the large entry - over 150
- there was only a remote chance of winning pints or breed honors. The reasons
for attending a nations specialty may not be obvious, but attendance is
definitely valuable.
The first reason to go to a
national is to visit with far-off friends we don't normally see. These could be
people with whom we share personal opinions, distant partners in breeding
programs, or people whom we admire and respect.
The opportunity to share
and learn is paramount - formal seminars and workshops are always on the agenda.
Last October's event was no exception, with a dramatic and fascinating lecture
on a colony of Lhasa Apsos from Nepal, complete with a public presentation of a
number of the dogs. Learning - by listening to others, and by discussing dogs
and breeding programs - is high on the agenda. With so many master breeders
settled around the grooming area, it's hard to decide where to stop, watch, and
absorb information
Visiting with the dogs
holding court on grooming tables is always a treat. Some raise a nose, insisting
that, since you haven't been introduced, they can't possibly be bothered. One
more sociable youngster would grab the sleeves of passersby to stop them for a
sniff and a lick. Always, there is the chance to see Lhasas in real life, rather
than via photos or on television, and to evaluate your impressions versus the
real thing. One might be smaller than you thought, another has a much nicer head
than the photos would have you believe, and there is no better way to see
movement and attitude than ringside.
Watching class competition
allows one to assess the overall condition of the breed at this point in time.
One looks for consistency in type, size, and conformation, noting strengths or
faults that manifest themselves in numbers that might indicate a trend. If there
are large veterans' classes, one can compare the quality of young breeding stock
to proven veterans, noting breed improvement or otherwise. The same applies for
individual breeding programs. Breeders and exhibitors who stay within a limited
geographical are may develop an inbred eye towards the strengths or weaknesses
of dogs in their region. Comparing one's dogs with those from any areas yields a
healthy mental outcross toward evaluating our own stock.
The futurity competition,
open only to dogs born the previous year and nominated prior to 3 months of age,
provides a kaleidoscope of the upcoming generation of show and breeding stock,
and perhaps the opportunity to spot a "great one" while yet a puppy.
Finally, the very best
reason for going to a national specialty is to have fun. The 2005 ALAC
national is in Maryland in October. Plan now to attend?
Cassandra de la Rosa
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