Where Did All the People Go?
By Kathy Musto
Walk into a dog show today and one thing is immediately noticeable—there are fewer spectators than there once were. Years ago, families wandered the aisles, children stopped to pet dogs, and curious visitors asked breeders endless questions. Today, many shows are attended almost exclusively by exhibitors and their support teams.
If we want the sport of purebred dogs to thrive, we have to ask ourselves an important question: Where did all the people go?
The future of purebred dogs depends on more than preserving breed standards and hosting successful competitions. It depends on introducing the public to responsible breeders, educating future dog owners, and inspiring the next generation to become involved in the sport.
Meet the Breeds events were created for exactly that purpose, and they do an outstanding job of introducing thousands of people to purebred dogs. However, these events happen only occasionally. We cannot rely on one or two special events each year to educate the public about preservation breeders and the world of dog shows.
Every local dog show presents an opportunity to welcome new faces.
The challenge, of course, is advertising. Large marketing campaigns can quickly become expensive, and most kennel clubs operate on limited budgets. Fortunately, promoting a dog show doesn’t always require spending money.
Here are several free or low-cost ways clubs can invite their communities to attend:
● Create a Facebook Event and encourage every club member, exhibitor, and volunteer to share it with friends and local community groups.
● Submit your event to free online community calendars offered by newspapers, television stations, radio stations, tourism offices, and city websites.
● Send a press release to local newspapers and television stations. Community editors are often looking for interesting weekend events to feature.
● Contact local schools, Scout troops, homeschool organizations, and youth groups. A dog show offers educational opportunities about responsible dog ownership, canine history, and careers working with dogs.
● Invite veterinary clinics, groomers, training facilities, pet supply stores, and boarding kennels to display a flyer or share the event on their social media pages.
● Ask your local parks and recreation department, chamber of commerce, or visitors bureau to include the show in their event listings.
● Welcome visitors with clearly marked information tables, printed schedules, and volunteers who are eager to answer questions. A friendly first impression can turn a curious visitor into a lifelong supporter.
Perhaps the most important step is changing our mindset.
Instead of viewing spectators as interruptions to our busy day, we should see them as future exhibitors, future breeders, future club members, and future advocates for purebred dogs. Every question answered ringside, every conversation about responsible breeding, and every child who gets to meet a well-bred dog plants a seed for the future of our sport.
We often talk about preserving breeds, but preserving our sport requires preserving public interest as well.
The next time your kennel club hosts a show, don’t simply ask, “How many entries did we have?”
Ask, “How many new people discovered the world of purebred dogs today?”
The answer to that question may determine the future of our sport.