[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Interesting Decline Conformation
- From: "Theresa-GSD Stolz" <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> (Redacted sender "scenecrest.geo@xxxxxxxxx" for DMARC)
- To: "lindabankhead44@xxxxxxxxx" <lindabankhead44@xxxxxxxxx>, Showlist <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2015 14:17:35 +0000 (UTC)
To add to this Bobby Christiansen...
"CHF Presents Bobby Christiansen with President’s Award 02/06/2014 The AKC
Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is pleased to announce that Mr. Bobby
Christiansen of MB-F is the recipient of the 2013 President’s Award. This
award, given annually to a person or organization that has made an exceptional
contribution to advancing canine health, is selected by the Foundation’s
Chairman, currently Dr. A. Duane Butherus. Mr. Christiansen will be presented
with the award during CHF’s Cocktail Party fundraiser on Saturday, February 8,
2014 at the Affinia Manhattan, which is held in during the festivities leading
up to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.Mr. Christiansen is President of
MB-F, a leading business in producing and managing dog shows for the past 114
years. Through MB-F’s Star Dogs program more than $125,000 has been donated to
CHF to help further canine health research. Star Dogs, begun in 2000 by the
late Tom Crowe, allows people entering dog shows to add a $1.00 donation to
their entry fee. These $1.00 donations are then given to CHF to help fund
sound, scientific canine health research to prevent, treat, and cure canine
diseases. “It is a great honor to receive CHF’s President’s Award,” said
Christiansen. “We are very proud of the Star Dogs program and the contributions
we have made to CHF. The research they are doing not only benefits dogs, but
there is crossover to human medicine as well.”According to CHF Chairman Dr.
Butherus, “The longstanding support from Bobby and MB-F has helped CHF spread
its mission to help all dogs live longer, healthier lives. Not only does the
Star Dogs program introduce people new to dog shows to the great work CHF is
doing, but it also serves as a corporate model to others, emphasizing the
importance of giving back.”In addition to the Star Dogs program, MB-F is a
stalwart supporter of the Foundation through public outreach efforts. The
company often publicizes Foundation events on their popular infodog.com website
and provides other marketing resources as in-kind donations. - "
See more at:
http://www.akcchf.org/news-events/news/chf-presents-bobby.html#sthash.PSJgOVXl.dpuf
Theresa
scenecrest.geo@xxxxxxxxx
From: L Bank <lindabankhead44@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Showlist <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2015 8:42 AM
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Interesting Decline Conformation
Just the FactsBobby ChristiansenPresident, MB-F., Inc.
As a kid growing up in the early 60's I enjoyed watching the famous TV Police
show, Dragnet on the one black & white TV with 3 channels my family shared.
I'll always remember Los Angeles police detective Sgt. Joe Friday's words
during many episodes when he arrived at the scene of a crime and started asking
questions, "All we want are the facts, ma'am" and "All we know are the facts,
ma'am". Fast forward to 2015 and those same words have real meaning to the
Sport of Pure-Bred Dogs.
I believe there are some facts that need to be told and the purpose of this
article is to increase awareness. Over the years the "sanitized" AKC Delegate
and Board Meeting Minutes continue to report increases in events and entries.
I'm sure those numbers are accurate numbers and include every type of event AKC
recognizes. However, those numbers do not report what is really happening to
the core and life blood of the Sport, Conformation.
The table and graphs below were compiled from data taken from the AKC Annual
Reports and tells a different and compelling story. There is an alarming and
continuous downward trend in conformation competition over the past 18 years.
As you can clearly see, the pie is shrinking and there are a growing number of
shows chasing smaller and smaller pieces of that pie. The average All-Breed
show has decreased from 1,389 dogs in 1996 down to 860 dogs in 2014. Specialty
shows have decreased from an average of 85 dogs in 1996 down to 55 in 2014.
Registrations are now an unpublished number and closely guarded secret.
| Year | Registrations | All Breed Shows | All Breed Entries | Avg/show |
Specialty Shows | Specialty Show Entries | Avg/show |
| 1996 | 1,332,557 | 1,266 | 1,757,856 | 1,389 | 1,950 | 165,333 | 85 |
| 1997 | 1,307,352 | 1,295 | 1,792,134 | 1,384 | 1,994 | 168,474 | 84 |
| 1998 | 1,220,951 | 1,332 | 1,710,420 | 1,284 | 1,975 | 157,121 | 80 |
| 1999 | 1,119,620 | 1,367 | 1,799,526 | 1,316 | 2,001 | 164,752 | 82 |
| 2000 | 1,175,473 | 1,419 | 1,716,928 | 1,210 | 2,054 | 157,130 | 76 |
| 2001 | 1,081,335 | 1,444 | 1,716,221 | 1,189 | 2,067 | 154,418 | 75 |
| 2002 | 958,503 | 1,455 | 1,724,378 | 1,185 | 2,118 | 157,530 | 74 |
| 2003 | 915,668 | 1,477 | 1,745,841 | 1,182 | 2,150 | 157,588 | 73 |
| 2004 | 958,400 | 1,475 | 1,729,729 | 1,173 | 2,141 | 158,651 | 74 |
| 2005 | 920,804 | 1,490 | 1,784,443 | 1,198 | 2,194 | 168,044 | 77 |
| 2006 | 870,192 | 1,519 | 1,710,625 | 1,126 | 2,225 | 157,724 | 71 |
| 2007 | 812,452 | 1,548 | 1,698,840 | 1,097 | 2,254 | 152,625 | 68 |
| 2008 | 716,195 | 1,534 | 1,641,004 | 1,070 | 2,258 | 156,770 | 69 |
| 2009 | 649,677 | 1,548 | 1,516,098 | 979 | 2,288 | 144,900 | 63 |
| 2010 | 563,611 | 1,586 | 1,473,751 | 929 | 2,282 | 140,508 | 62 |
| 2011 | Unpublished | 1,589 | 1,455,971 | 916 | 2,344 | 141,589 | 60 |
| 2012 | Unpublished | 1,604 | 1,435,266 | 895 | 2,432 | 137,964 | 57 |
| 2013 | Unpublished | 1,614 | 1,386,727 | 859 | 2,434 | 139,690 | 57 |
| *2014 | Unpublished | 1,625 | 1,396,702 | 860 | 2,553 | 140,645 | 55 |
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| %change | -57.70% | 28.36% | -20.55% | -38.10% | 30.92% | -14.93% | -35.02% |
* 2014 data compiled from the AKC website because the Annual Report was not yet
out.
The fact is clubs are suffering from producing longtime events once hosting
1500-2000 dogs to now holding shows with 700 dogs or less. Some clubs have
cancelled shows out of economic necessity while others have ceased to exist.
Point scales have dramatically changed as well.
A few examples from around the country with the requirements for a 5-point
major:
| Breed | State | 1996 Dogs | 2014 Dogs | 1996 Bitches | 2014 Bitches |
| Labradors | California | 82 | 43 | 117 | 51 |
| Dobermans | New York | 40 | 12 | 55 | 18 |
| Golden Ret. | Ohio | 49 | 26 | 55 | 34 |
I'm sure internally AKC is well aware of the issue and has tried to address the
problem. Numerous initiatives such as 4-6 Month Puppy Events, Open Shows,
Owner-Handled Competition, recognition of Grand Champions, Breeders of Merit,
etc. have been put forth to retain exhibitors and encourage newcomers to the
sport. These initiatives have all had various degrees of success and been well
intended. However, instead of enticing NEW people/families into the sport, for
the most part, we are "recycling" what is already there or adding new dogs
belonging to existing exhibitors. Based on the facts, we are not growing. If
something positive doesn't happen soon we ALL are going to be in BIG trouble.
We are in this together - the AKC, Clubs, Breeders, Exhibitors, Handlers,
Judges, and Superintendents. Ben Franklin said it best when the Declaration of
Independence was signed, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all
hang separately." If we are going to "hang together" what do we have that
might help the situation?
- The AKC with 130 years of knowledge, history, experience, stud book, and
infrastructure. The greatest pure-bred dog registry in the world.
- The AKC Licensed Superintendents with 400 years of collective experience
and knowledge of the sport and exhibitors.
- 4,725 Licensed Judges who have actively judged in the past year.
- 600 Member and 5000 Licensed clubs holding events with countless
knowledgeable volunteer members working for free on behalf of pure-bred dogs.
- More than 70,000 Exhibitors who show dogs annually.
- Hundreds of Professional Handlers helping breeders and owners.
- The tens of thousands of responsible breeders with the integrity to
produce quality offspring and the true key to the future of the Sport.
- A growing population of dogs in the U.S.
- According to the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association the
number of dogs in the U.S. has grown from 68 million in the year 2000 to 83.3
million in 2014.
What do we do? Face the facts. Recognition of the problem with facts is the
first, easiest, and most obvious step. This problem didn't start overnight and
the solution will take time as well. A solution is possible if we all can work
together to generate the ideas that will get us there. That's a fact. Please
stay tuned. In the meantime, feel free to leave your thoughts and comments -
what one thing do you think could help increase entries?
Lindabankhead44@xxxxxxxxx
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