I attended the Westminster Dog Show on a personal mission. After months of preparing—a grueling 31-question, 11-page questionnaire, and countless hours of research—I was ready to meet a rare breed, in person.
I arrived early to where the rare breed was showing, my heart racing with anticipation. But as the minutes ticked by, there were none of these rare dogs in sight. Finally, at 12:45, just before their 1:30 showing, the breed arrived. I approached an owner, hoping to talk.
“Hi, I’ve been researching [rare breed] and talking with [known breeder]. Can I ask a few questions?” I asked.
“Sorry, no time,” she replied, barely looking up. Even knowing the stakes and timing of the conversation, the rejection stung.
Watching the rare breed in the ring, I was struck by their size and stoic demeanor. It wasn’t exactly what my research had taught me. Determined, I waited to meet them up close. But post-show, the handlers who lost stormed off, and the winners were swarmed by friends. I was left on the sidelines, again.
Standing there, frustration bubbling up, I realized something crucial: Maybe that breed isn’t the right breed for me. Seeing them in person—their temperament, their size—it now seemed that I needed to rethink. I wondered, how can anyone commit to a dog for a decade without truly understanding the breed up close?
Reflecting on a thoughtful Weimaraner breeder earlier that day, who patiently educated a crowd, it hit me. The importance of seeing the breed in action, and understanding their temperament, energy levels, and even their interaction with people in person is irreplaceable. Online research alone, even with the curation of AI, struggles to make these nuances clear until owners get lengthy face-time with the dog, which is almost always after bringing the breed home.
That’s when I knew: There has to be a better way for future dog owners. Stay tuned for updates on how we're making this process easier and more transparent for everyone.
Dog shows are great for grandstand viewing your favorite breed but notoriously bad for meeting it up close.
We're about to change that ??
Human Being ? Veterinarian ? Technical specialist working at the interface of conventional & modern veterinary practice
4 个月Glad to see CPDA bags being readily available... 15 years back, it was such a struggle finding them in certain parts of the country.