Veterans - A Tear Jerker

[Rottshowgirl]

We have Vets Parades at Rotty specialties and it always makes a lot of people teary. I know I have run The Rottweiler(Laneka's Ashke) around a ring for a parade and lots of people told me after that it made them teary seeing the grand old guy still strutting. I was glassy eyed too I always applaud and cheer the oldies, I think it is the right thing to do and that those oldies should be honoured.

My lovely oldie Juna won a BCC/ RUBISS from Vets, so it is not always for dogs past their prime and looking for a 'sympathy' reaction. At the recent SA specialty, BCC was again won from the vets class

What I don't like to see is oldies clearly a long way past their best days being dragged around in competitive vets, it is not a respectful thing to do.

[*Bones*]

I've never attendied a vet's parade or class where every single dog wasn't applauded and cheered. Luminaries of the breed, grand old chaps and ladies, every one of them as proud as punch to be out there, special, the centre of attention.

Great effort on the part of the owners and a great effort by the dogs themselves - PLUS a great apportunity to see dogs of years passed which may be a few generations back in our pedigrees.

True lovers of the breed do so enjoy veterans parades or classes, and rousing cheer always lifts old tails and heads, and puts spring into every step.

Amd sometimes, we have to wipe a cinder from our eye.

[Bokezu]

You know what? I loved my Hooley, he was my heart my soul my world my life and he knew it because that is how I treated him and I also told him every single day....but... there was always a catch in my throat and a tear in my eye and pride in my heart whenever we were in Veterans and the judge asked for a hand for the grand old dogs of the show world. I will ALWAYS clap for the veterans!

Here's to the oldies. ;) :p

RIP Dool

Absolutely! I choke up every time there is a parade of veterans at our specialty.

I have seen dogs paraded who I have never 'liked' before, but still clap and cheer for them as just seeing how chuffed they are doing a lap of the ring to great applause is wonderful. They really do feel extra special to not only have been brought to a show (most oldies are left behind where it's warm) but to be groomed and sprayed and have a show lead around their necks...... just like the good old days when they were the 'rising stars' of their kennel.

I love clapping and getting a tear in the eye for the veterans..they are all winners

[hollee]

I've never attendied a vet's parade or class where every single dog wasn't applauded and cheered. Luminaries of the breed, grand old chaps and ladies, every one of them as proud as punch to be out there, special, the centre of attention.

Great effort on the part of the owners and a great effort by the dogs themselves - PLUS a great apportunity to see dogs of years passed which may be a few generations back in our pedigrees.

True lovers of the breed do so enjoy veterans parades or classes, and rousing cheer always lifts old tails and heads, and puts spring into every step.

Amd sometimes, we have to wipe a cinder from our eye.

I totally agree, I love seeing the veterans and to me they are the backbone of the breed. I always give them a cheer and the respect they deserve and think it's terrific of the dogs and owners to come out. Sadly I have seen at our speciality show them being just ignored when they have come into the ring apart from a few spectators sitting around the ring which I think is very sad and shows such ignorance and bad manners.

Go the golden oldies! Love you all! ;)

[Ceilidh]

You know what? I loved my Hooley, he was my heart my soul my world my life and he knew it because that is how I treated him and I also told him every single day....but... there was always a catch in my throat and a tear in my eye and pride in my heart whenever we were in Veterans and the judge asked for a hand for the grand old dogs of the show world. I will ALWAYS clap for the veterans!

Here's to the oldies. ;) :p

RIP Dool

That is a lovely pic of Hooley.

Thank you. That was his very first time in Veterans at the age of 11 years and 1 month. I think the look on his face says it all. I was prepared to do a fast walk but as soon as I put his show lead on (after a break of 7 years) he was rearing to go and I had trouble keeping up with him. There were 25 in the class which included 8 grand champions. I don't blame him for looking chuffed at his win, I was. He went on to win many many more just carrying on his career as though he had never left the ring. I still cry every day for my main man.

[peaceful]

Well I must be made of jelly

This surely made me cry and yes I have seen stone cold people standing there ignoring the veterans with sour looks on their faces simply because they were

top winners in their day.

I love seeing the veterans out and seeing the great condition they are still in and the loving looks in the owners eyes.

It shows that they are still loved and cherished by their owners to see the love that obviously goes into their care and not just relegated to the outside kennel.

[SwaY]

I wonder if those 'made of stone' realise how very petty they sound.

Strange, I never thought it was "petty" to suggest that those who seek to honour the stars of yesteryear might do so without sending some from the ring without ribbon or recognition.

But there you go.

Maybe you don't have any old dogs, I don't know. Maybe you rehome yours as soon as they've outlived their ribbon winning days, I don't know. Some people seem pretty hard hearted when it comes to older dogs. You may be one of them, you may not. But to me, it just seems petty not to think veterans are special and to give them a round of applause. There wasn't a suggestion in the OP that ribbons were what the person/people concerned were after, simply a recognition of their old dogs so yes, it was petty.

Did people applaud you and your dog when you ran him/her around for Veterans Sheridan?

I for one love the Veteran classes.

[Sheridan]

Did people applaud you and your dog when you ran him/her around for Veterans Sheridan?

I for one love the Veteran classes.

Unfortunately, Sway, although I entered him in Veterans at the first wheaten specialty, I became ill that morning and couldn't get us to Sydney. I don't know if those who did go were applauded. I would hope so, as I would have done had I been there. After that, my boy was unable to travel in the car so I wasn't able to enter him again.

I think it's lovely to see the oldies.

[SkySoaringMagpie]

I think paying attention and applauding the oldies is a matter of respect and good manners/sportsmanship - whether or not you get a tear in your eye

[becks]

I see no reason to applaud veterans just because they have made it to 7 years old. Veterans is just a class like any other. I'm not being 'stone' I have been showing my old girl in veteran classes for over 3 years and in that time she is the only Giant Schnauer to win a veteran group at a champ show, she also won RCC at Crufts alongside many BVIS awards at clubs and open shows. It is no different to having similar successes with a puppy or adult. By all means applaud for the wins, but there is no need to do so just because the old codger and her dog have managed to turn up!

[Bilbo Baggins]

I see no reason to applaud veterans just because they have made it to 7 years old. Veterans is just a class like any other. I'm not being 'stone' I have been showing my old girl in veteran classes for over 3 years and in that time she is the only Giant Schnauer to win a veteran group at a champ show, she also won RCC at Crufts alongside many BVIS awards at clubs and open shows. It is no different to having similar successes with a puppy or adult. By all means applaud for the wins, but there is no need to do so just because the old codger and her dog have managed to turn up!

Becks what people have been referring to is Veterans parade not veterans class. Yes veterans class is just another class.

[Lowenhart]

I am surprised at how tough some of you sound. For me, a Veteran in ANY class (Parade or Competitive) deserves a round of applause.

This was my special boy, who is a litter brother to the dog still winning group placements from Veteran class living in Norway.

Photograph taken during a Veteran sweepstakes which he won. He could have been shown in breed class in Open, but I was campaigning his grandson at the time and I was worried about showing my old boy later in the day in the heat. He loved showing so much, loved his special days out. He didn't need to win me anymore ribbons. But a round of applause always made him kick it up a notch.

[poodlefan]

I am surprised at how tough some of you sound. For me, a Veteran in ANY class (Parade or Competitive) deserves a round of applause.

And I'll always be ringside to give it out of respect for the dogs. I don't really factor in the ego boost to the owner that the author of that piece seemed to need.

I really don't think folks should kid themselves that the dogs will find the event itself makes them "feel special". They are on an outing. Some have had time being groomed. They are for at least a few minutes one on one with their owner, they're probably being baited or fed and it is the owner's attention that is the reward IMO, not applause and a prize. When people say their dog "really enjoys the show ring" I think they should pause to break down why that might be and I honestly don't believe most dogs give a toss about ribbons (unless they get them as tug toys).

My initial post in this thread was to warn against anthropophising the event (as the author of the post had done) and to point out that oldies should be made to feel special EVERY day. I don't think of that as a particularly tough position.

Edited July 22, 2010 by poodlefan

[Lowenhart]

And I'll always be ringside to give it out of respect for the dogs. I don't really factor in the ego boost to the owner that the author of that piece seemed to need.

I really don't think folks should kid themselves that the dogs will find the event itself makes them "feel special". They are on an outing. Some have had time being groomed. They are for at least a few minutes one on one with their owner, they're probably being baited or fed and it is the owner's attention that is the reward IMO, not applause and a prize. When people say their dog "really enjoys the show ring" I think they should pause to break down why that might be and I honestly don't believe most dogs give a toss about ribbons (unless they get them as tug toys).

My initial post in this thread was to warn against anthropophising the event (as the author of the post had done) and to point out that oldies should be made to feel special EVERY day. I don't think of that as a particularly tough position.

I agree we have to be careful about anthropomorphising.

My dog liked outings, especially ones where it is one-on-one with lots of food & attention. Which a dog show is, the same as his trips to the drive thru of a fast food place (another thing we both loved ).

There are dogs who love the show ring and itch for it to be their turn because they have been conditioned to do so - by food and attention. And there are plenty that have been conditioned (one way or another) to love a round of applause, my dog responded well to it. Be aware not every person is there for a ribbon! They are working towards other goals, other payoffs which sometimes includes getting their dog all the way around the ring or just to enjoy a day out with their dogs.

The comment about saying Veterans is just another class sounded a bit tough. ;) Saying that old dogs are not competitive and if they are well they don't deserve anything special. :p

[brightonrock]

The day I decided to retire my best show dog, I felt so happy for him as he is now a REAL dog.

He never gave a hoot what people thought of his movement or teeth or coat, he just wanted that cookie ;)

I don't need anyone to classify him, never did really, I always knew his strengths and weaknesses.

I just stopped showing him so we could enjoy him to the full and get away from the weekly shows and enjoy doing things dogs love like runs on the beach, long muddy walks and sleep ins :p

He still "shows". Those years of training in the ring mean a perfect stand for every meal. The vet loves him because he is so easy to "mouth".

We don't need anyone to clap for him or give him a ribbon.

[sas]

In regards to the original post....the dog doesn't give a hoot....the way it was worded sounded like it was the Owner that was upset 'they' didn't get the attention they wanted.

Edited July 23, 2010 by sas

[Sheridan]

In regards to the original post....the dog doesn't give a hoot....the way it was worded sounded like it was the Owner that was upset 'they' didn't get the attention they wanted.

I read it as they were upset that the dog didn't get recognition.

Of course, the dog doesn't give a hoot. Showing isn't about the dogs, is it. The dogs have no interest in ribbons.

[Bilbo Baggins]

In regards to the original post....the dog doesn't give a hoot....the way it was worded sounded like it was the Owner that was upset 'they' didn't get the attention they wanted.

I read it as they were upset that the dog didn't get recognition.

Of course, the dog doesn't give a hoot. Showing isn't about the dogs, is it. The dogs have no interest in ribbons.

Yes they do. They want to chew them. :happydance2: :rofl: