At the weekend we attended a fun dog show where I experienced my first incidence of Labrador snobbery. Let me explain: We entered three classes - best condition, prettiest bitch and best pedigree (we didn't win anything but hey, it's all for fun and raised money for charity). There was a woman in the same classes as us with a beautiful pale yellow Labrador, about six or seven months old I would guess. I think she was training her to be a show dog as she spent ages getting her to stand just perfectly etc and she was a totally stunning dog. In the first class the woman was stood two people away from me and I could hear her talking to her friend who was outside the ring. I couldn't hear everything they were saying but I caught things like 'shouldn't be allowed' and they were looking and gesturing in our direction. The other two classes we were in I made an effort to stand as far away from her as possible as I didn't want to overhear her slagging off my dog. I could tell she and her friend were still talking about us though as they were still looking in my direction and throwing dirty looks. I just can't beleive the narrowmindedness of some people. I mean, I know a lot of people in show circles are like that but I mean come on, this was a FUN dog show, not actual Crufts!! I think Penny is a beautiful example of a working line Labrador (although her ears do sit a bit funny!) and I know I am biased because she's mine lol. It made me quite angry and actually a bit upset to overhear this woman slagging off my dog just because she doesn't look the way SHE thinks a Labrador should look. I don't know whether it's Penny's colour that offended her or that she's a working type, I'm sure it was a bit of both. So sad that show people don't always understand the origins of their dogs - this woman had a yellow lab....the first 'yellow' labs that were ever bred were red and they were called golden labs back in those days.
Re: Labrador snobbery Penny's absolutely lovely, ignore the horrible woman and her friend.....you clearly had her worried A work colleague had show dobermans and the stories he would tell about the politics and shenanigans that go on in the show world were absolutely crazy. When people are that obsessed it's no wonder the dogs themselves are no longer the focus and you see the extremes of conformation and poor health.
Re: Labrador snobbery Sorry you had a horrible experience - you met a nasty person by the sounds of it. [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=6821.msg92632#msg92632 date=1404285993] So sad that show people don't always understand the origins of their dogs - this woman had a yellow lab....the first 'yellow' labs that were ever bred were red and they were called golden labs back in those days. [/quote] I wouldn't translate one nasty woman to "show people" though. I meet lots of people who own show dogs, and show them, and lots who own working. Mostly, everyone is respectful of the differences. There's lots to learn from both sides... (there, my day's little speak up to keep the dual purpose labrador concept alive ). I do think Barbara is right, and when people get very keen they go a little crazy. But, that's not ok and not everyone will do it. In either show or working.
Re: Labrador snobbery Well it takes all sorts. Your dog is a lovely example and I have no idea why you didn't wipe the board of all three classes. Obviously the judges had been nobbled by the "show dog" woman. ;D Actually they were probably saying that it shouldn't be allowed to enter such a pretty dog as it wasn't fair on the rest of them.
Re: Labrador snobbery I feel sorry for them. In pursuit of their interpretation of perfection they seem to have lost their sense of perspective. Holly falls short of conformation in several areas but she's a happy, healthy, active dog. To me, that's far more important than her appearance.
Re: Labrador snobbery Did she win anything Lauren? Penny is gorgeous,don't let her put you off. Last time I flew I watched a Mockumentary on the aircraft about Dog Shows,it was really funny in parts as it totally caricatured that world ....it was also a bit disturbing I can't remember what it was called,I'll look when I fly back to the UK next week x
Re: Labrador snobbery Oh yes definitely not everyone and the working world can be just as obsessive ;D I, however, am completely normal ;D 8)
Re: Labrador snobbery Was it 'Best In Show', Angela? Hilarious movie. What a rude person. Whether it's a local 'just for fun' dog show or Crufts - there is no place for slagging off competitors. That is a case of acute snobbery if I ever saw one!!!
Re: Labrador snobbery Don't take any notice! Penny is the best dog in the world to you as are all our own dogs. My young Lab looks gorgeous when he sits, but when he stands he looks lanky and his tail is far too long, but who cares I think (some) dog showing people run other dogs down all the time and it becomes a habit. I remember going to a dog show just to watch and a particular dog won and a couple said "congratulations, super dog" as soon as that dog and owner left, they slagged it off no end, I was shocked!
Re: Labrador snobbery What horrible people Lauren, jut ignore them, we know Penny is gorgeous ;D It's quite interesting what you say though about whether they were making comments about Penny's colouring or the fact that she's working bred as I get lots of sideways glances as well when we are out and about with Maisie. She is so similar to Penny and people usually ask what breed she is and when I say she is a working line Lab I often get a "oh, really" as if to say that's not what Labs look like! :
Re: Labrador snobbery Sadly some people see dogs as possessions, status symbols. The more fortunate (that's us) see them as friends, family members, and someone to love. My last dog was a real old mongrel. I loved her. Molly is a Labrador, I love her, and I'd love her just as much if she was the scruffiest dog in creation. Someone is missing the point and it is not us.
Re: Labrador snobbery I do wonder what picture people have in their minds when they think of labs : Generally people think Riley is a lab but they usually think he's very young and are surprised when I say he's three ;D the grey hairs will give him away soon!
Re: Labrador snobbery It's been nearly a month now since the last "What's she crossed with?" question. :
Re: Labrador snobbery I hate that someone upset Lauren and was rude about the lovely, lovely Penny. It’s horrible and unacceptable, and just outrageously rude. I don’t think though, that there is anything wrong with caring about whether a Labrador is bred to meet the breed standard. Any more than I think it is also reasonable to think that a show Labrador without any drive to retrieve might be a sorry state of affairs. I care about conformation, it matters to me. (And that’s not because I have a perfect dog without conformation faults – far from it – lots of the working line Labradors on this forum might be better than my Charlie - and I love him to bits, and always will). But conformation will always be a big factor for me in deciding what Labrador I want to own. I don’t think it makes you a bad person (and certainly not like the horrible woman Lauren met)….or means that you can’t still think a dog is lovely because it doesn’t approach the breed standard – I think lots of crosses are lovely dogs (thinking a dog is a lovely dog isn’t the point though). I do think that it’s important that some Labradors are bred to look like Labradors though.
Re: Labrador snobbery I like the way labs look and I like that I find my boy nice to look at. I would try and choose parents that looked good too if and when another puppy comes our way. To care about how your dog looks certainly doesn't make you a bad person. Generally though I would choose function(in which I include temperament) over form and wherever possible(my crystal ball is missing right now) health before both of those things
Re: Labrador snobbery Conformation to (my idea of) the breed standard is very important to me too, in a dog I own. There's nothing wrong with that. But rudeness about another person's beloved dog, in their earshot, is just a basic fail of character. I hope she's reading this thread
Re: Labrador snobbery [quote author=Oberon link=topic=6821.msg92696#msg92696 date=1404300042] Conformation to (my idea of) the breed standard is very important to me too, in a dog I own. There's nothing wrong with that. But rudeness about another person's beloved dog, in their earshot, is just a basic fail of character. I hope she's reading this thread [/quote] hear, hear
Re: Labrador snobbery Riley is lovely. Yes, absolutely, a Labrador's temperament is part of the breed standard which states that a Labrador should be: Good-tempered, very agile (which precludes excessive body weight or excessive substance). Excellent nose, soft mouth; keen love of water. Adaptable, devoted companion. Intelligent, keen and biddable, with a strong will to please. Kindly nature, with no trace of aggression or undue shyness.
Re: Labrador snobbery I love both of my dogs , one a pedigree Lab with a fab background, the other is a Mutt, and I dont give a damn what people think of her either, with her silly jaw , one ear up and one down I think its the height of bad manners to make a derogatory remark about a persons dog , take no notice Lauren , you are better than they are
Re: Labrador snobbery Good grief I wish people would get over themselves, really I do. A dog is a dog, it should be loved, cared for, fed, kept warm and exercised well. I couldn't care less what a dogs breed is whether it's show or working, mutt or cross breed I love them all. Did that extremely rude women win anything with her 'pure breed' Lauren? Just ignore the ignorant woman she's not worth a second thought and neither is anyone with this kind of attitude. This subject always makes me really cross
