Today, I Made My Debut

I got up at four this morning for a rather unusual reason: Anne, our Flat-Coated Retriever, was entering a dog show near Mount Fuji. She had been in the ring twice before, but this time there was one important difference. I was going to hold the lead myself. With nothing more than a little studying from a handbook, I was about to make my debut as a dog-show handler.

Up at four this morning.

Why?

Because Anne, our Flat-Coated Retriever, was entering a dog show.

I had come home late last night after a reunion of my old pathology department, so I could easily have complained about the early start. Instead, I kept my complaints to myself and did my best to head for the venue at the foot of Mount Fuji.

 

And today, I made my debut as a handler.

At a dog show, pedigree dogs registered with the JKC—the Japan Kennel Club—are presented to judges.

The judges evaluate such things as appearance, body structure, movement, and how well each dog represents the characteristics of its breed.

The person holding the dog's lead in the ring is called the handler.

Anne had already appeared in two dog shows, but this was my first time handling her myself.

I had done nothing more than study a handbook, but because this was a relatively small show, Anne's breeder and an experienced acquaintance encouraged me to take the lead myself.

Straight into the deep end.

There were not many female Flat-Coated Retrievers entered, which certainly helped, but somehow, working together as one man-and-dog team, we managed not to get disqualified—and even came away with an award.

 

A handler has to run with the dog and then position her so that she stands properly for the judge.

And, unfortunately, it was raining today.

My foot, which had finally been getting better, naturally became worse again.

It looks as though I may have to start using my walking stick again tomorrow.

Anne came home with an award. I came home with a sore foot.

・・・

handler — ドッグショーなどで犬を引き、審査員の前で見せる人。
pedigree dog — 血統書付きの犬。
body structure — 体格、骨格、体のつくり。
represent the characteristics of its breed — その犬種らしい特徴を備えている。
straight into the deep end — 十分な経験がないまま、いきなり本番に挑むこと。
come away with an award — 最終的に賞をもらって帰る。
walking stick — 杖。米語では cane もよく使われる。

#DogShow #FlatCoatedRetriever #DogHandler #LifeWithDogs #MountFuji #Kamakura #JapanesePathologist