I never cared about traveling everywhere to show, I stayed for the most part in TX/NM/OK. Occasionally other places, esp for something like the Golden National which is just a big fun party and a chance to see golden people and dogs from all over. But to me it was and is first and foremost a HOBBY. I mean I take the learning part seriously and take breeding and the dogs seriously, but the rest of it? Nope. I wouldn’t lose a friend (or a marriage!) over it. I used to joke tho (and it’s hardly a joke really) that if you get into showing dogs, it’s like someone puts a vacuum cleaner hose into your pocket and turns it on, be prepared. I never went into debt over it, but I knew LOTS of people who did. And lots marriages, etc. Very sad.
But it can be great fun and family fun too, if the kids are interested. Mine never were, altho they would come and help me at shows because they were good kids. I would have been in Heaven if someone had dragged me to dog shows when I was a kid.
>Nope. I wouldn’t lose a friend (or a marriage!) over it. I used to joke tho (and it’s hardly a joke really) that if you get into showing dogs, it’s like someone puts a vacuum cleaner hose into your pocket and turns it on, be prepared. I never went into debt over it, but I knew LOTS of people who did. And lots marriages, etc. Very sad.<
The most important thing I was ever, ever taught by my childhood/teen years mentor was the risk into which you put yourself by campaigning a dog if the economy suddenly goes south while you are doing so. She may have had “the breeders’ dream” but the price she ultimately paid left her living hand to mouth the rest of her life when she should have been at least comfortable. God rest her soul.
She didn’t teach this on purpose, obviously, but I’ve tried to pass the lesson on whenever the opportunity presents. I scaled back to the bone when the stock market dove - I’ve not bred a litter in years and my dogs are mostly dead or ancient. I will not go into debt to show this pup and if we don’t have a major change in Nov, the shows I attend will be few and far between.