I took Anne, our flat-coated retriever, to a dog show today.
It was an experience that opened my eyes—not so much to competition, but to how deep and demanding a seemingly casual world can be.
During the New Year holidays, while we were away in New York, Anne stayed with her breeder—the place she was born.
After we returned, the breeder invited us to enter Anne in a dog show. Apparently, “enter” is the correct term.
We left home long before sunrise and drove a long way to the venue.
The site was in the mountains, and the temperature was minus five degrees Celsius.
Despite the cold, the parking lot was already full—cars, and dogs everywhere.
Some breeds I had never seen before.
What surprised me most was the scale of preparation.
Many people had brought not just crates, but large tents. Everyone was busy grooming their dogs.
Among them were people who looked like professional groomers.
The breeder herself had entered dogs in shows before, but she did not seem particularly experienced.
In the end, Anne was handed over to a handler she knew.
Later, I learned that most handlers there were professionals.
That explained why I kept seeing the same people walking different dogs again and again.
I had seen similar scenes on YouTube, so perhaps this is simply how dog shows work.
Anne, who was clearly not “show-trained,” returned with what was almost a disqualifying score.
The moment she came back, she buried her face into our chests.
She must have been extremely tense.
Once we got back to the car, she collapsed, completely exhausted.
What struck me was not only the number of dogs, but the sheer number of people involved—owners, trainers, handlers.
And the size of the caravan that supported them.
There were license plates from central Japan, even from the Kansai region.
All I could think was: this is impressive.
A dog show may seem trivial, but it clearly is not.
Every world has its own depth.
And this one, I felt, is not where I belong.
Before being pulled any further into it, it would be wiser to step back.
I enjoy playing with Anne, and I have been teaching her a bit of agility.
But even there, I think it’s best not to go too deep.
