Dear Ei,
What is wrong with those people on the message boards?
Kim C.
Fairfield, Connecticut

Dear Kim,
Good question and one that inspired the following article.  Thanks!

“United we stand, divided we fall.”  Who hasn’t heard this wise old adage? Sadly, it seems at times that much of it’s meaning is lost within the canine community.  Just when did the dog world become a dog eat dog world?  How can we help to keep our canine community united?

Let’s explore the nature of the word community.  Webster defines community as “A body of persons having something in common.”  For our purposes, let us define community as  “Any group of people sharing a common interest, activity or goal.”  With this definition in mind, we can certainly acknowledge that there are many, varying sub-communities within one larger canine community.  For example, you may consider those devoted to breeding, showing, training and/or rescuing the American Bulldog an American Bulldog community.  You may consider a population with a variety of breeds that share an enthusiasm for Schutzhund a Schutzhund community.  The point is that within each of the wide range of canine communities, there is a love and a passion shared among its members.   Why then, do we often see members of these communities turn on one another at the drop of a hat?  Why all the poor sportsmanship in the canine community?

Dr. John F. Murray, a Psychology Resident at Florida International University who has his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and master’s degrees both in Clinical Psychology and Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of Florida, feels that there are several factors that cause people in competitive communities to display a lack of grace and poor sportsmanship.  Immaturity, an obsession with winning and faulty expectations on the part of the competitor may all contribute to this bad behavior.    Dr. John says, “Some people are primarily driven to satisfy ego needs by winning at all costs.  They are motivated primarily by proving themselves superior to their opponent.  This ego-centered perspective is far from ideal in terms of performance and may encourage cheating and other unsportsmanlike behavior.  For example, when competing against a similarly skilled opponent, they are most threatened and may do anything to win.”

No matter the how you explain it; poor sportsmanship is a phenomenon that is polluting the landscape of the canine community.  Certainly this phenomenon has never been more strongly experienced than by members of the canine flying disc community.  At the 1996 Alpo Regional Frisbee® Competition held in Colorado, several of the top dogs were mysteriously incapacitated.  There are many in this community that feel that the dogs were poisoned.  In fact, one of the highest rated contenders, a Border Collie named Radical Rush actually died several days after the competition.  Steven and Melissa Heater, owners of Radical Rush, are so convinced that their dog was poisoned; they have filed a civil suit against the man they feel poisoned him.  This event has ripped the canine Frisbee® world in two.  On one side you have the Heater haters who claim that Radical Rush was an epileptic dog that had an extreme reaction to the high altitude of the competition’s locale- 5,000 degrees above sea level.  On the other side, you have those that are just not sure.  Rumors abound and lives have been disrupted by this tragic event.  No matter where the truth lies, this is an example of poor sportsmanship at its very worst.  If those dogs truly were poisoned, the perpetrator has shown the highest degree of unsportsmanlike conduct.  If the dogs were not poisoned, then false accusations and suspicion are being thrust upon an innocent man.  The flying disc community is still reeling from this event.  Lawrence Frederick, Director of the Greater Jackson Disc and Dog Team, reports that there is sometimes an uneasy atmosphere at flying disc competitions these days.  In fact, many competitors will no longer travel to competitions without mesh, locking crates that block any chances of a dog being fed by a passerby and worry excessively if they have to leave their dog’s side even for a moment.  “Can you watch my dog for a sec?” is a phrase commonly heard at flying disc events now.  Mr. Frederick says, “The irony of it all is that the dogs couldn’t care less!  All they know is that when they see a Frisbee® it is now time to have fun!”  The real tragedy lies within the fact that the majority of the flying disc community consists of  fun-loving, honest and fair folks who compete purely for love of their dogs and the game.  Many members of the flying disc community are saddened by the fact that their sport is now viewed by some as tainted.

While this extreme level of poor sportsmanship is still rare within the canine community, unsportsmanlike acts can be witnessed at almost every dog show or event.  From ringside spectators booing and name calling when a top contender has a bad (or a good) day to angry competitors loudly challenging judges after, and even during the competition; poor sportsmanship is being displayed on a regular basis.  Even my own dog, Super Grand Champion Topline’s Toro Blanco has been the brunt of many acts of unsportsmanlike conduct.  For example, when Toro recently became the NKC’s first Grand Champion in 16 years and then the first Super Grand Champion American Bulldog in history, two of my American Bulldog “friends” called the NKC to challenge his titles.  One of these same “friends” called the Utility Catch Dog Association Judge immediately after Toro achieved his Catch Dog III title.  In an unsuccessful attempt to undermine Toro’s achievement, this person boldly stated, “I’m sure Toro just squeaked by.”  This “sour grapes” type of behavior, while unwarranted, is not uncommon. 

Top performers in the canine community are attacked on Internet message boards on a very regular basis.  In fact, canine message boards are rapidly accelerating an already expanding problem.  Recently American Bulldog Grand Champion Boyd’s High Jumpin’ Mikie, the world’s only Schutzhund III titled Champion was viciously criticized for earning one of his titles on his “home field”.  Although having the home field advantage is common practice in Schutzhund and does not diminish the earned title in any way, shape or form, it was conveniently overlooked that Mikie has earned several of his titles on fields that were not his own.  In fact, Mikie was on the first American Bulldog team ever to compete at the American Working Dog Federations National Schutzhund Championship!   Surprisingly, it is not just the underdogs griping about the competition.  Failure to acknowledge the quality of a canine competitor can often be seen from winning members of the canine community as well.  These competitors develop such a superiority complex that they feel no matter how much the competition accomplishes, those achievements are due to good luck or cheating.  “That dog only won because his owner is friends with the judge!” is a common utterance at both canine conformation and sport events.   While comments such as these contribute to the hostile environment poor sportsmanship can create, voicing this kind of disrespect for a fellow competitor can also be counter-productive.  As Dr. John explains, “The problem is that by acting nasty, these (competitors) further motivate their opponents for the next (competition) and lose support along the way.”

So, what can people do to help counteract poor sportsmanship in their own canine community? One way is to develop stringent rules against poor sportsmanship within your organization or club.  If these rules are already in existence, implement them.  Almost every organization has a constitution and bylaws that include clauses banning poor sportsmanship.  Penalties for conduct deemed inappropriate and unsportsmanlike can be as light as a temporary ban on participation in club events to complete and permanent expulsion from the club or the club’s events.  Rarely though are these penalties ever imposed.  If the canine community does not let it’s members know that poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated, the problem will continue to grow.  Likewise, if the canine community, as a whole, demonstrates a lack of tolerance for poor sportsmanship, individual members will be less inclined to behave that way.

Another way to counteract poor sportsmanship is to lead by example.  Dr. John says, “Contrasted with the ego-centered (competitor) is the person who strives to improve – to raise their skills to the highest level possible – in short, to compete with oneself.  This is a much better approach to competition, because it challenges rather than threatens.  There is much less fear of failure and when the competition heats up, these players are challenged even more to display higher skill.  They have better long-term results and may have to carry much less baggage than the ego-driven (competitors) who develop a reputation of playing dirty.  Rather than needing to own every opponent, these skill-focused competitors are driven to perform to their highest level possible.  This keeps motivation high and encourages (positive) competitiveness regardless of the challenge.”  In fact, by focusing on ourselves, our dogs and our skills as handlers and competitors we may learn to appreciate the fine work of those that we are competing against.  Self-observation will also enable us to nip any unsportsmanlike thoughts in the bud, before we express them.  As Knute Rockne once proclaimed, “One man practicing good sportsmanship is far better than fifty others preaching it!” 

We are all part of the same community, the Dog Community!  We became members of this community because we love our dogs.  If we keep that fact in mind and work together for the betterment of our own canine community, the dogs and the dog sports that we love so passionately will benefit.  Practicing good sportsmanship will keep your canine community united and provide a positive and healthy atmosphere for competition.  After all, “United we stand, divided we fall!”  On a personal level, practicing good sportsmanship will free your mind to focus on what you love the most – your dog!!

Accept and abide by the decisions of the judges.
Be self aware, don’t perpetuate poor sportsmanship.
Cooperate with the judges, competitors and club members in trying to promote good sportsmanship.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Encourage your own teammates to be competitive, but fair at canine events.
Follow the rules of the competition at all times.
Give credit and appreciation to the competition when they’ve earned it.
Have a smile on your face, even when you are disappointed in a judge’s call.
Intervene to let others know that unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated at events sponsored by your club.
Judgment calls on the part of officials are not subject to debate.
Keep your cool at all times.  Never let anger or disappointment cloud your good judgment.
Lose without excuses; win without demeaning the competition.
Message boards are for sharing, learning and helping a community stay connected – NOT for slanderous attacks on others.
Never blame other competitors or the judges for your or your dog’s shortcomings.
Offer congratulations and compliments to the handler whose dog placed above yours.
Provide opportunities for informing event participants of their responsibility to uphold the standards of sportsmanship.
Questioning a judge’s call or making negative comments about an official is unacceptable behavior.
Recognize and show appreciation for an outstanding competitor.
Shake hands with other handlers prior to the competition and wish them good luck.
Teach sportsmanship and request that your well-wishers be good sports.
Use your club’s membership to help develop a sportsmanship education program.
Victors of the competition should be sure to congratulate other competitors for a job well done.
Work cooperatively with judges and hosts for a fair competition.
eXercise self-control and be a good example for competitors and spectators.
Zero in on sportsmanship and make it YOUR top PRIORITY!!

*Frisbee® is a Trademark of the Wham-O Corporation
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