This is a political blog. I started it right after the 2004 election because I, you know, wanted to KILL MYSELF, and thought this might be more constructive. And it has been.
But just because it's a political blog doesn't mean I don't write about dogs a lot. Obviously. But that works out OK because there are a lot of "politics" in the dog world, both legislative/electoral, and the kind that involves backroom deals, backstabbing, and backbiting. I mean, have you ever BEEN to a dog show? I have, and trust me ... there are politics.
Now, I have no idea what politics might be behind how the USA Network and/or the Westminster Kennel Club select the on-air commentators for the show. I know that one of them, David Frei, is spectacularly knowledgeable about dogs, a great guy, and a true ambassador for the sport of purebred dogs. I say this not only because he said so many nice things about Margot the deerhound, but because it's true. His comments in the media in the days leading up to and following the show, as well with those made during the two-night broadcast, were accurate, helpful, and yes, even wise.
I wish I could say the same about his co-commentator, Dr. Debbye Turner, a non-practicing veterinarian and former Miss America. Her online bio says that she "is not currently practicing veterinary medicine" and now "dedicates much of her time to promoting responsible pet ownership through public service announcements, news features and workshops."
I can't speak to the accuracy of her comments about many of the breeds she discussed, but I will say that of the two I have intimate knowledge about, she couldn't possibly have been more wrong unless she'd said they were kangaroos instead of dogs.
As the lovely Margot danced across the screen, Dr. Turner informed the viewing audience that this was a good dog for someone who wanted to cross country ski or bike with their dog. Now, I won't say that it's IMPOSSIBLE to do these things with Scottish Deerhounds. If I did, someone, somewhere would tell me they do it all the time. In fact, my friend Peggy Kopf of Ladybank Deerhounds used to bike with her dogs. But it's far, far from ideal, common, or easy, and certainly, this is not the breed to get if that's important to you.
Dr. Turner clearly has no concept of how big and fast and strong these dogs are, how powerful their chase instinct is, and how un-messed up this breed has been by popularity (since they aren't popular) ... there is still a lot of hunt in these dogs. The idea of having one or more Scottish Deerhounds attached to my skis or my wheels while in an area where a deer, squirrel, cat, jackrabbit or some other fast, furry thing might get scared up is the kind of thing that makes me break out in a cold sweat. I've been on my feet and fully alert with a couple of hounds securely leashed when we've seen deer, and I'm not a small woman, and holding them was difficult and painful. At least so far I've always remained on my feet; I have friends who weren't so lucky, and suffered injuries from cuts and scrapes all the way up to broken collar bones.
Her comments on the Borzoi were less dangerous to human life and limb, but utterly wrong and ignorant. She blithely stated that Borzois like to sleep out in the snow. Let's set aside the fact that my own Borzoi likes to sleep under the blankets with me. Let's forget that her idea of roughing it is to lie down on a sofa without a pillow under her head. After all, maybe that's just Kyrie and her idiosyncratic behavior.
No, let's just look at something quite objective and factual.
Borzois are a single-coated breed. They have almost no body fat. If you were going to design a dog breed to sleep in the snow, you'd design a dog with a double coat and a layer of insulating body fat. Something like, oh, I don't know, the NORTHERN BREEDS, the sled dogs. That's who likes to sleep in the snow, not my little Russian princess and all her cousins.
So my advice to Dr. Turner is this: Please learn something about dog breeds before next year's broadcast, or have David vet your comments. Before someone gets hurt.
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