The extreme lengths that some will go to win is at the heart of a lot of problems in any competition these days. As you've discovered, the biggest winners in the dog world have owners who are willing to spend $$$ and time to achieve this-- to a eye-popping extreme. I know of some owners who literally spend their whole lives traveling to show after show, driving all over the US to get their dog finished (or just to accumulate wins). This isn't limited to conformation, too: agility, obedience and any of the competitions that one can "win" have similar fanatics. It's hard for the average fancier to compete. Still, at the individual club level, at least, it can be a lot of fun (if you don't take it TOO seriously).
I don't know about other clubs, but the two Siberian clubs I'm familiar with seem to have more fun than other breed clubs: sled pulling and carting, snow trips, etc. The Bay Area Siberian Husky Club (BASH) even used to run a fun-match that was run exactly like a real show-- but with the open friendliness of a fun-match. (Unfortunately, it was -so- well run that some people started taking it too seriously and a rift formed in the club, essentially ending the event from what I've heard. So it goes.)
Mushing: the same problem of extremism-to-win applies. That intensity has led to some unfortunate and unpleasant things occurring in the sport. And as with the above: despite the downsides and negatives, I still love watching them!
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Date: 2011-02-16 04:34 pm (UTC)I don't know about other clubs, but the two Siberian clubs I'm familiar with seem to have more fun than other breed clubs: sled pulling and carting, snow trips, etc. The Bay Area Siberian Husky Club (BASH) even used to run a fun-match that was run exactly like a real show-- but with the open friendliness of a fun-match. (Unfortunately, it was -so- well run that some people started taking it too seriously and a rift formed in the club, essentially ending the event from what I've heard. So it goes.)
Mushing: the same problem of extremism-to-win applies. That intensity has led to some unfortunate and unpleasant things occurring in the sport. And as with the above: despite the downsides and negatives, I still love watching them!