Oh, I agree, but if I watch the dog, I can pretty well imagine what a running dog looks like. Looking at an usually overweight owner wearing a tux or a evening gown, trying to look good running next to a dog completely escapes me. Maybe they should judge the person and not the dog.
I can still admire a Ferrari even if it's driven by some fat, bald middle-aged guy with glasses and bad teeth.
“if I watch the dog, I can pretty well imagine what a running dog looks like.”
I don’t understand what you’re complaining about. You need to see the animal in motion, to ensure it works well (and even that can be deceptive). Believe me, an animal can look nice standing still, then you see him fall apart when he starts moving. You can’t “imagine” - there’s perception, then there’s reality. For an opposite example, early on people thought Secretariat did not have very good conformation (don’t believe what you see on-line - that’s AFTER the fact reporting when people change their minds to fit the image), definitely not for a Thoroughbred (he looks a great deal like a Quarter Horse). Despite this view, he turned out to be a pretty good mover.
“Looking at an usually overweight owner wearing a tux or a evening gown, trying to look good running next to a dog completely escapes me.”
Would it be better they wear sloppy gangsta sweats? What are they supposed to do?
BTW, they’re almost never the owner. These are professional “handlers”. It’s actually an unfortunate fact of AKC life.
(Honestly, if you go to shows - you’ll be amazed how many fat - fat - women there are in dogs, and I mean breeders/owners.)