Many years ago my dad used to organise a dog show in the village to raise funds for the church/bells/village hall etc. It was just a glorified fete with some dogs thrown in. There were races, obedience trials, dog most like their owner, and some 'serious' classes. Because we had to have a pukka judge for the more serious classes there were always some kennel club people that came along to show their dogs (must have wondered why they bothered when they got there) but mainly it was children entering with their family pet, old Mrs Smith with Rover and the vicar would usually appear to pat a few dogs and shake a few hands, one dog would always start a fight, someone?s DC would always drop a lead and a dog would escape and knock something over and basically it was the usual amateurish good-natured chaos that everyone enjoyed.
Went to one yesterday so that DD could 'show' my parents? fat ancient Jack Russel and how things have changed! It was organised by the vets college so I suppose it was to be expected however it was extraordinary. There were stalls selling every kind of doggy accessory. Food, a basket and a lead were enough once - not now it seems! Matching leads, collars and coats, enough 'diets' to give your dog a different one every day of the year, wicker baskets, plastic baskets, carrying boxes, food bowls that could be painted with their own names... so much stuff! and all of it expensive. There was a doggy dancing display team. Don't ask me....DH and I watched for ages and we still couldn't work out in what way the dogs were 'dancing'. There was a strip of grass fenced off with some low hurdles in it - women ran along the strip screeching at their dogs to follow them and when they reached the end they chucked the ball and the dog chased after it. Apparently that was a display team too It was all totally perplexing. Hundreds of Kennel Club types with 'Show dogs in transit' stickers on their cars. Most perplexing of all was a little girl who kept crying and clinging to her mum - apparently she was scared of dogs. Which begged the very obvious question..
All very odd. I like dogs. But I am coming to the conclusion that some of their owners are barking. (pun not intended)