The chapter investigates both human and animal experiences of dog shows as leisure activity. Shows are casual leisure for many of human participants, who perceive them as opportunity to recreate or socialise with other dog fanciers. They provide attractions, emotions and excitement absent in everyday life. I argue that although dog shows are perceived as leisure by its human participants, only few aspects of leisure can be applied to animal experience.
The first section explores dog shows as casual leisure for human participants. Stebbins’ concept of leisure is applied. Stebbins (1997) mentions eight types of casual leisure: play, relaxation, passive entertainment, active entertainment, sociable conversation, sensory stimulation, casual volunteering and pleasurable aerobic activity. Three seem to be particularly useful in context of dog shows: play, sensory stimulation and sociable conversation. Senses are hedonistically stimulated while travelling to new places for a show, and by consumption of food and alcohol. Sociable conversations during and after the show are an important aspect of leisure. They are not only entertaining, but also sustain coherence in the dog show community.
The second part explores the leisure of the dogs during a show. Cognitive ethology is used to understand animal experience of dog shows. Stebbin’s outline of casual leisure is applied to a dog’s experience of shows. Two aspects of leisure are analysed: sensory stimulation and pleasurable aerobic activity. It is argued that although some dogs may derive pleasure from participation in shows, many do not feel comfortable in an overstimulating environment and their body language reveals stress.
Examination of the parallel experiences of dogs and humans at dog shows allows one to develop a concept of leisure from both human and nonhuman points of view. While we know what leisure is for humans, animal experience is more problematic. Although animals can derive some joy from participation in a dog show, the event is often stressing and overwhelming. Human and animal experiences of leisure barely intersect.
It is almost impossible to imagine (human) leisure without animals. Animals have been a part of human life as companions, they provided protection, were used for transport, hunting, herding and entertainment. Historically hunting was one of the first leisure activities of high classes. Animals were used as equipment (horses, dogs) and prey (foxes and other animals). The pleasure of killing was enhanced by utility (food), although foxes were killed merely for sport (Dunning 1989). Social and cultural changes enhanced new forms of leisure involving animals. Animal exhibitions gained popularity when concern of animal welfare and animal advocacy influenced cultural changes, and bloody sports, such as dog- or bullfighting, were forbidden (Derry 2003). Scientific discoveries, including Darwin’s theory of evolution, resulted in selective breeding. It became possible to influence nature and create a variety of animal breeds. Dog shows provide an example of a modern approach to animals, where pleasure is achieved by looking and observing while violence is invisible. Animal shows (including animal exhibitions and zoological gardens) provide entertainment for the masses and become leisure destinations.
Dog shows are a product of social, economic and scientific transformations of the nineteenth century. The growing middle class was looking for new forms of leisure activities. Although it is claimed that the first dog show was organised in Brussels in 1680, dog shows become really popular in the second half of the nineteenth century in Great Britain. One of the first modern dog shows, held in 1859 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was an added attraction to the annual cattle show (Pemberton and Worboys 2007). The first National Dog Show occurred in Birmingham, England in 1860; 267 dogs of 30 breeds entered and it was seen as an enormous success. At the end of the 1860s, the National Dog Show was attracting over 700 dogs and 20,000 visitors. In 1863, during a week-long event that took place at Cremorne Gardens in Chelsea, London, over 100,000 visitors, including celebrities such as the Prince of Wales, came to admire the purebreds. Purebred dog fancy spread rapidly. Numerous shows were organised in Great Britain, and the number of dogs entered at the shows as well as number of breeds grew rapidly. Cruft, an entrepreneur selling dog food, perceived dog shows as an opportunity to promote his business. He organised the first Crufts show in 1878 in Paris, as part of the L’Exposition Universelle, followed by similar events in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Brussels. In 1873 the Kennel Club was founded under the leadership of Sewallis Evelyn Shirley. Among its aims was the regulation and organisation of dog shows (Pemberton and Worboys 2007). The Kennel Club established a Stud Book, where all purebred dogs were registered. The Stud Book became an important marketing strategy, as proof of origin increased an animal’s value (Pemberton and Worboys 2007; Derry 2003). Dog show fancy soon spread over Europe and reached the USA. Purebreds provided not only pleasure, but also profits.
Dog shows exemplify an important transformation in modern culture and illuminate our paradoxical relationships with companion animals. Not only are these shows about ambition and superficial beauty, but they also reveal deeply grounded paradoxes of contemporary culture and the ambiguous status of animals. Dogs gain special status and they become a significant element in a dense network of power relations, interaction rituals, disciplinary practices and beauty canons. At the same time the dogs are prone to physical and symbolic violence; their welfare and safety in some situations is questionable. Overtly shows are about dogs, whose confirmation is evaluated according to the breed standard, a text describing characteristic features of a particular breed. In fact, shows are about people, networks of social relations, power relations, emotions and scandals. Thus, canine and human participants are equally important and their role should be analysed in parallel.
Nowadays dog shows are still popular and attract participants and spectators. According to Federation Cynolgique Internationale (FCI), in 2015 there were 4586 shows worldwide awarding CAC certificates1 (so called “national shows” granting title of champion of a given country) and 798 shows awarding CACIB certificates2 (“international shows” allowing dogs to achieve the title of International Champion) (FCI 2017). Another important organisation, the American Kennel Club, organises over 16,000 events every year (Carr 2014). For comparison, every year the Polish Kennel Club (part of FCI) organises over 150 dog shows of various levels of prestige in major cities (Monikiewicz 2012). On average, between 400–900 dogs participate in national shows, while international shows can attract as many as 2000–4000 participants. Dog fanciers are not limited to shows taking place in their country. They often travel abroad, broadening the definition of leisure that can be applied to this focus on “dog shows”.
Dog shows constitute an under-researched area of human-animal interactions. In popular culture, dog shows are likely to be represented ironically. Christopher Guest’s (2000) movie Best in Show portrays dog show participants as emotionally disadvantaged neurotics, ready to do anything to achieve their ultimate goal: the “Best in Show” title. A BBC documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed (Harrison, 2008) presents British dog shows as a “parade of mutants,” a “freakish, garish, beauty pageant that has nothing to do with health and welfare.” In one of the very few books on dog shows, sports journalist Josh Dean (2012) follows the show career of Jack, an Australian shepherd, and the engagement of the handlers, breeders and caretakers supporting him. Of the very few publications on dog shows, most refer to the history of breeding and the showing of dogs (Derry 2003). Dabrowska (2014) examines dog shows in Poland, paying special attention to the concept of “deep play” – that is, a situation when the financial and emotional engagement of showing a dog reaches far beyond potential gains (Dabrowska 2014). Dog shows are analysed in the wider context of leisure experience of humans and animals (Carr 2014; Gillespie, Leffler and Lerner 2002). This chapter fills a gap in academic research providing detailed analysis of dog shows as leisure.
The research presented in this chapter is based on the results of field research conducted at dog shows in Europe, particularly in Poland, and is a part of a wider project on dog show culture. It uses ethnographic methods of participant observation and interviews. Participant observation was conducted at two major locations: the local branch of the Polish Kennel Club, and at dog shows. Between 2012 and 2016 I conducted numerous field studies at dog shows in Poland and abroad. I observed and engaged in interactions and conversations with participants. In addition, over 40 interviews with show participants, breeders and judges provided more detailed information on social identities arising from engagement in dog shows.
Showing my West Highland White Terrier Szanti (Gorwin Libusza, according to her pedigree) allowed me to get deeper into show culture. I bought Szanti for personal reasons. My two dogs were getting older so I wanted a puppy to add fresh energy to our lives. I decided to show her in order to add another perspective to my research – that is, to better understand the emotions and social relations that accompany dog shows. Although I enjoyed Szanti’s wins, I considered dog shows to be more work (field study) than leisure.
Cognitive ethology is “the study of cognitive abilities of animals and the psychological and evolutionary processes underlying these abilities” (Wilder 1996, 29). It is an interpretive discipline, in which animal behaviour is systematically observed leading to theoretisation of such behaviours to animals themselves. Cognitive concepts can be used to describe and explain behaviour and social worlds in which animals participate. Understanding animal behaviour gives insights into their inner worlds, their cognitive and emotional lives. In the chapter the approach is used to interpret dogs’ perspective on shows and leisure.
The attempt to understand canine experience of dog shows was based on two sources. The first was information received from human caretakers, who were interpreting dog’s feeling and attitudes towards dog shows. People, who knew dogs and share their life with them, acted as agents giving voice to animals. Caretakers were able to comment on dog’s individual preferences, behaviours and characteristic interactions with people and animals. It should be noted that many participants of dog shows have experience with dog training and sometimes they have significant knowledge of animal cognition. Thus, their account seems to provide reliable sources of information. The second approach built on more general knowledge of canine behaviour (Horowitz 2009, 2014; McConnell 2003, 2007). Dogs have universal codes of communication that make it possible to understand their intentions or emotions. Body posture, ways of carrying ears or tail, calming signals – all these gestures seem to be shared by the species. During field studies I was observing and interpreting dogs’ behaviour, hoping to understand their inner-worlds. Observation sometimes confirmed caretaker’s opinions about dog’s feelings, but it also allowed me to verify some statements and add aspects that were not mentioned.
Dog shows combine elements of casual and serious leisure, and the division between the two is not always clear. Leisure is an “activity – apart from the obligations of work, family and society – to which the individual turns at will for either relaxation, diversion or broadening his knowledge and his spontaneous social participation, the free exercise of his creative capacity” (Rojek 1989, 1). Leisure is often contrasted with work. It is associated with positive experience: fulfilment, choice, growth, relaxation, recuperation, triviality, frivolity and freedom from obligation. Leisure may be considered the reward for labour, as it provides pleasure which derives from freely chosen activity.
Dog shows may be considered an example of what Stebbins (2007) calls “serious leisure”. Serious leisure is
the systematic pursuit of an amateur, hobbyist, or volunteer core activity that people find so substantial, interesting, and fulfilling that, in the typical case, they launch themselves on a (leisure) career centered on acquiring and expressing a combination of its special skills, knowledge, and experience.
(Stebbins 2007, 5)
Participating in dog shows requires specialist knowledge regarding preparation of a dog. Some participants build their position in a career-like way, treating showing dogs as an important element of their social identity. In some cases, they receive additional income grooming or handling dogs of less experienced participants. For many, dog shows are both: serious and casual leisure. Although this chapter examines dog shows from the perspective of casual leisure, I would like to stress that the experience of leisure associated with shows is more complex.
Casual leisure is typically contrasted with serious leisure. Casual leisure can be defined as “immediately, intrinsically rewarding, relatively short-lived pleasurable core activity, requiring little or no special training to enjoy it” (Stebbins 1997, 18). Casual leisure can be understood as all leisure falling outside the realm of serious leisure and work. Stebbins (1997) claims that all forms of casual leisure share at least one central property: all are hedonistic. Participants experience significant levels of pleasure. Casual leisure is usually accompanied by other rewards: recreation (or regeneration), and social attraction that is the appeal of being with other people while participating in leisure (Stebbins 1997, 21).
Stebbins (1997) initially suggested six types of casual leisure: play, relaxation, passive entertainment, active entertainment, sociable conversation and sensory stimulation. Later (Stebbins 2004, 2007) he added casual volunteering, and pleasurable aerobic activity. Although the types of casual leisure are distinct, participants can experience two or three of them while engaging in a particular activity (Stebbins 1997). The most relevant types of casual leisure in the context of dog shows are: play, sensory stimulation and sociable conversation.
Play has three important elements. It includes lightness of behaviour, intrinsic motivation and “nonserious suspension of consequences, a temporary creation of its own world of meaning which often is a shadow of the ‘real world’ ” (Stebbins 1997, 19). Dog shows contain an element of play. A show is similar to a temporally created world, with its own rules, structures and social relations.
The central aim of dog shows – the selection of the most beautiful dog – is a complex and multi-level procedure. Even if judges are supposed to use the breed standard as their reference point, interpretation is always subjective and based on judge’s individual aesthetic preferences. Dogs are divided into classes depending on sex, age and achievements. Usually all animals of a given class enter the ring. They are evaluated while moving and standing, individually and in comparison to each other. Dogs are not only given places, but a judge provides a brief description commenting on particular features of the dog’s anatomy and movement, pointing to what s/he considers to be animal’s advantages and failures. Class winners compete for title of “Best of Breed”. Breed winners are eligible to take part in “Best of group” competition at the show finals. Winners will compete for “Best in Show” title.
The event combines predicable elements (rules of selecting the most beautiful animal) with unpredictable elements (judges’ preference for particular types; quality of dogs entered; and other factors that may influence a judge’s decision). A win is always desired, but never sure. As play, shows provide entertainment and joy. The game-like character of events provides all kind of emotions and allows escape from everyday routine.
Casual leisure can include activities undertaken to provide sensory stimulation. Humans are aroused by various things and activities. They “relish their creature pleasures by engaging in activities where they have sex, eat, drink, touch, see, smell, hear, or feel coolness or warmth” (Stebbins 1997, 20). To stimulate their senses humans may use alcohol or drugs, admire natural or human-made beauty or engage in activities that provide thrill or excitement.
Visiting foreign countries, tasting local cuisine stimulates senses. Tourism is a leisure activity that provides a departure from everyday experiences and contrasts with daily routine. Dog shows are associated with the necessity to travel. Participants may travel a few kilometres for local, nearby shows or hundreds of kilometres when they attend shows abroad. Travelling to dog shows (especially abroad) provides opportunities to visit tourist attractions and taste local cuisine. One of the participants recalls: “I went to Lithuania with a group of people. The show was not far from Vilnius. After the show a driver took us to Vilnius. We walked around the Old Town and we had dinner in local restaurant. On (the) second day, we visited another city. It was my first visit to Lithuania, so I wanted to see as much as possible. I’m not sure if I’ll ever have chance to visit it again” (Field research 2015). Trips to dog shows are perceived as brief holidays, and they provide time for recreation and sightseeing.
Some dog fanciers incorporate dog shows into their holiday plans. One of the participants describes her strategy: “I spend holidays with family and we always travel with dogs. When planning holidays, we always check dog shows nearby. We like Italy and we frequently go there, so my dogs are already Italian champions. They got Croatian championships during one of our holidays trips” (Field research 2014). In this case, passion for dog shows influences the organisation of family free time. This participant admits she would never travel so far only to attend the dog show. Holidays provide opportunities to pursue her hobby.
For many women with family obligations, it is one of the few moments of freedom and independence. J. sees dog shows as an escape from family life: “I go to dog shows and I leave my kids with a husband. There is so much excitement at the dog show, so much emotions … you meet people, you prepare your dog for a ring. So much is going on, so I don’t have time to think about what’s going on at home. If I were on holidays, sipping a drink at a swimming pool, I’m convinced I would be constantly thinking about family and home” (Field research 2014). Travelling to distant destinations requires staying in a hotel, so attending a dog show often allows a “girls’ night out”.
Sensory stimulation is also provided by participation in dog shows. Intense emotions, social interactions, sociable conversations: all engage the senses and allow individuals to forget about mundane life. Sometimes dog shows are so exhausting that participants are too tired for sightseeing. Participants arrive at the show venue early in the morning. During the summer most of the shows are organised outdoors, so it takes some time to put up a tent and prepare all the necessary equipment. Some dog breeds need a lot of time for grooming. Participants spend their time preparing dogs, watching other dogs being evaluated at the ring, socialising, gossiping, consuming food and sometimes alcohol. Some stay at the show venue until the late evening if their dogs are selected for group finals. Experience of another country is limited to local food and alcohol served in the hotel restaurant and available at the show venue. Despite limited contact with local culture and lack of time for sightseeing, participants who were successful at the show are often very satisfied with the trip.
Dog shows abroad, although organised under the auspices of FCI, may differ due to local approaches. M. mentions wine tasting accompanying dog shows in Moldova.
There were three dog shows in one day. In between there was wine tasting for show participants. I befriended waiters pouring wine, so I got countless refills. Finally, I got so drunk that I could barely show my dog. I wasn’t worried, because the judge who was evaluating my dog also got countless refills.
(Field research 2015)
Alcohol may also be used as a tranquilliser.
When I was a novice at dog shows, I was extremely stressed. I needed a drink or two in order to relax before entering a ring. If you are nervous, (your) dog feels the emotions and is nervous too. After a drink I was relaxed and happy. My dog felt the emotions, was relaxed and able to show nicely.
(Field research 2013)
Extreme emotions associated with winning (or losing) are also soothed with alcohol. It is not unusual that participants share food and alcohol during the show. Invitations to drink at someone’s show “camp” indicate close relations or temporal alliance.
Social meetings before shows are often accompanied by consumption of food and alcohol. During the Club Show of Polish Lowland Shepherds in Łeba (2016) a contributive table with food and drinks was prepared. The night before the show participants organised a grill, where they brought food they cooked at home and they shared home-made liquors. While consuming, they were talking about dogs and their people. The event was accompanied by an informal dog show with funny contests for dogs and their handlers. The event contained all three aspects of casual leisure: play, sensory stimulation and sociable conversation. It provided joy and possibility to socialise and recreate.
Sociable conversation provides joy, relief and vivacity (Stebbins 1997). Shows, where people gather together to watch dogs being evaluated, provide the perfect environment for sociable conversations. Participants derive pleasure from interpersonal relations, conversations and gossiping during shows, and while travelling together to and from the event. Opportunity to meet friends and acquaintances is described by many participants as the biggest attraction of shows. There are numerous topics show participants talk about: they gossip about other people, talk about show news and “scandals”, exchange opinions about judges, and first of all talk about dogs. Sociable conversation supports the coherence of dog show community.
When friends and acquaintances meet at a dog show, they talk not only about dogs, but also about people. Numerous aspects of biography, behaviour or even appearance of others are being discussed. Sometimes malicious and untrue information is shared. They speculate about sexual orientation (“is he gay or not”) or discuss sexual life of judges and show participants (“who sleeps with who and why”). Sometimes participants talk about people they do not know, for example commenting on clothes or movements of people showing their dogs whilst conversations are ensuing. They discuss the general atmosphere of the show, behaviour of a judge, his or her opinion about their dog, reactions of other participants; winners receive congratulations, losers get supported.
Gossiping is one of the forms of sociable conversation. Both men and women gossip as part of their leisure. Gossip is defined as idle talk, based on the personal lives of others (McKeown 2015). According to Epstein, gossip carries various functions and meanings. It “can be mean, ugly, vicious, but also witty, daring, entirely charming. It can be damning, dampening (of the spirits), dreary, but also exhilarating, entertaining, highly educational” (Epstein 2011, 9). It is “informal personal communication about other people who are absent or treated as absent” (Bok 1982, 91). Gossip is entertaining and relational, as it builds (or destroys) trust and friendship. It creates networks of informal knowledge about people and their dogs. Sociable conversation allows the collection of knowledge about people and their dogs, enables the construction and maintenance of social hierarchies, and positions individuals including oneself within a network of social relations.
It is not surprising that show participants talk about dog shows, results and “scandals”. It is particularly exciting if show results were surprising; that is, an unexpected dog won or usual winner lost. When a winning dog loses, it creates gossips about his/her hidden faults that were finally noticed by a judge. Behaviour and comments made by participants are analysed in details. “Scandals”, real or imaginary, are discussed. When talking about show or judging scandals, participants refer to situations or behaviours that differ from routine. When a dog was disqualified and removed from ring for growling while being examined, some participants considered the event to be a scandal (Field research 2016). They commented on the rightness of the judge’s decision and handler’s reaction. When a handler shows familiarity with a judge before a show and later wins when their dog is judged by this person, some participants consider it to be a “judging scandal” (Field research 2015). Participants not satisfied with results share their disappointment and often accuse other participants, judges or organisers for violating rules.
Participants exchange opinions about judges and their preferences. This knowledge is valuable as it can increase or decrease chances for winning. Participants share experiences of being judged by a particular person, commenting on their aesthetic preferences regarding dogs, and attitude towards dogs and people.
Dogs are one of the main topics of conversations. “You meet people, who are as dog crazy as you are. No one is surprised that you want to talk only about dogs. You talk for hours and everyone is happy about it” (Field research 2014). Buying a puppy from a particular breeder or using his or her dog for breeding is interpreted as sign of alliance. Pedigree and anatomy of recently bought dogs are discussed, especially if the dog was imported from abroad or a well-known kennel. Real or imaginary faults or health problems carried by certain “bloodlines” are analysed. Discussion also includes the topic of breeding. What kennel is having or expecting puppies, what is their expected quality and what price has been set for a puppy are all discussed.
Conversations at shows have an educational dimension. Participants meet other dog fanciers and exchange formal and informal knowledge on dogs, shows, grooming and breeding. Conversations during and after dog shows are not necessarily trivial. On the contrary, quite often they are educational, sharing experiences or advice on breeding and other aspects of dog keeping. Learning during dog shows can be called edutainment, when knowledge is achieved not by serious study, but by playing and participating in leisure.
Sociable conversations are not restricted to in-person interactions (McKeown 2015). People also communicate in their leisure time outside of the dog show venue, through social media (Facebook being the most popular) or by telephone. Sharing experiences and exchange of opinions are important elements of post-show rituals. After the show, participants call (or text) friends to inform them of their dog’s results (especially if these were satisfying). Post-show conversations contain elements of affective labour, as both sides of the exchange are supposed to express emotions when they deliver or receive information.
While researching the human experience of a dog show is quite easy, reconstruction of animal perceptions of leisure is more challenging. Dogs cannot be interviewed, so they cannot express their opinions. However, despite difficulties we can – to some extent – know what animals feel. Commonly human caretakers speak on behalf of animal likes and dislikes, offering one form of insight into animal experiences. Cognitive ethology can help to understand animal points of view. Cognitive ethology not only treats animals as agents but it also believes that humans can understand animal behaviours, so mutual communication is possible. For many people, who share their lives with animals, there is nothing anthropomorphic in saying that one may exploit animal trust (Baier 1985) or that animals may be motivated.
Dogs are intentional creatures and “companion species” to humans (Haraway 2003, 2008). During eons of coexistence, communication skills that enabled mutual understanding and efficient communication across species by gestures and body language have developed. Human caretakers perceive their dogs as conscious individuals who are able to interact socially, and express their preferences, opinions, likes and dissatisfactions. They claim to understand a dog’s thinking, emotions and unique personality. Sanders (1993) observes:
(b)ased on routine, (and) intimate interactions with their dogs, caretakers come to regard their animals as unique individuals who are minded, empathetic, reciprocating, and well aware of basic rules and roles that govern the relationship. Caretakers come to see their dogs as consciously behaving so as to achieve defined goals in the course of routine social exchanges with people and other canines
(207).
Moreover, caretakers attribute cognitive and emotional states, intentions and beliefs, to nonhuman animals. Usually, they grant at least limited mindedness to animals and define their interactions as being mutual and authentic (Sanders 1993).
Stebbin’s definition of casual leisure has very limited application to a dog’s experience of shows. From an animal point of view two aspects of leisure seem to be the most important: sensory stimulation and pleasurable aerobic activity. Dogs, like people, need sensory stimulation. They get excited about new smells, situations, people and dogs. Shows provide an entirely new environment, so some animals may derive pleasure from participation. After a show dogs are sometimes allowed to run or play with other dogs, so they may enjoy aerobic activity. It should be noted, however, that for some dogs show environments may be overstimulating and thus overwhelming. In addition, many show venues do not provide safe spaces for allowing animals to run and play.
Human participants claim that their dogs enjoy shows for similar reasons to humans: namely that shows provide excitement and allow escape from everyday routine. Caretakers claim that dogs enjoy shows.
My dogs love going to shows. When they realise I am packing for a show, they wait in the car ready to be taken. It happened once that I didn’t take one of them. He was sitting all day at the doorstep and crying. I have to sneak out in secret if I go to (a) dog show without one of them.
(Field research 2013)
Her dogs are excited and eagerly jump into the car. They have usual places in the car, and they sleep calmly while travelling.
Based on observation of the abovementioned dogs, it is possible to provide more general characteristics of dogs who enjoy shows. At the show venue, they snooze in kennels for most of the time, except when being walked, groomed and presented in the ring. They do not show any symptoms that would indicate stress, even if they are surrounded by a noisy environment full of unknown smells. They do not get scared or overly agitated with the presence of other (strange) dogs. When allowed, they calmly approach another dog and smell each other. With similar calm interest they approach people. The dogs seem to be self-confident, despite an overly stimulating environment. They are accustomed to dog shows, since they have attend them from puppyhood. It seems that some dogs benefit from shows, as they may increase social skills and get familiar with new sensory stimulants. They become more resistant to stress and more open to unknown situations that they may face in everyday life.
Caretakers attempt to make dog’s experience of the show as pleasurable as possible. Some make an attempt to make dog show a “dog’s special day”. Dogs get their caretaker’s full attention, which is especially important if there are several dogs at home. Dogs are fed snacks and better food than when at home. Animals can do things that are not allowed at home. Participant says: “(w)hen we go to dog shows, my dog is allowed to sleep with me in (the) hotel bed. Normally she is not allowed to do it, so she is very happy” (Field research 2013). A show provides experiences that are significantly different from a dog’s everyday routine.
Sensory stimulation continues when a show is over. It is not unusual that dogs are included in sightseeing. Some participants are reluctant to leave dogs alone in the hotel. Others want to spend as much time as possible with their dog, so they take them for a walk around the city. Dogs mark their presence in the city landscape. During the World Dog Show in Milan (2015), I noticed numerous purebred dogs being walked in the historic centre of the city. Some dogs in new places seem to be a little bit shy: they move with hesitation and carefully smell the ground. They move like human tourists who do not feel entirely safe in a new place. It is possible that dogs and people experience new places as exciting as well as intimidating.
Evaluating a dog’s experience of the show is based on individual features of their character. “My dog loves to show, because she loves to be in (the) center of attention. She is excited when everyone is looking at her. That’s why she loves to go to shows” one participant explains (Field research 2013). It is believed that a good show dog is a combination of excellent conformation and exceptional temperament. “Show temperament” means ability to cope with stress and willingness to joyfully perform in the ring. Dog shows are supposed to be about personality. “(A) Dog must like to show, otherwise s/he doesn’t have any chance of winning” is a universally accepted statement. Dogs that do not enjoy shows look sad. They will be trembling, walking with their tail and head down or move without enthusiasm. Participants often anthropomorphise animals, saying that a dog “doesn’t want to show”. S/he may lie down in the ring, move slowly or quite the contrary – jump with overexcitement instead of running in trot. “Unwillingness” to show may mean that a dog does not feel comfortable.
Sensory stimulation is not always pleasant, and in some cases dogs may experience stress. A dog’s wellbeing is particularly questionable during commercially organised group trips to shows abroad. A rented van usually accommodates approximately ten people and even more dogs. Usually there is no space for dogs to travel with caretaker in the car. All dogs are packed in crates piled up at the back of the van. They are accommodated near unknown mates and separated from their human caretaker. This may be a stressful experience. There are breaks in travel, so dogs may be walked, but the frequency of stops as well as responsiveness to dogs’ behaviour differs. One participant reported:
Once I went with X. There were frequent stops, we could walk the dogs and eat something. If a dog was squealing in a crate he stopped to check if s/he is fine. On another occasion I went with Y. They stopped frequently on the way to the show, but on the way back they wanted to get home as quickly as possible, so stops were very rare and short. A dog yelped in the crate. They did not want to stop. ‘At least you know s/he is alive’ they cynically told the caretaker.
(Field research 2014)
While travelling by car, most caretakers attempt to make the trip as comfortable for animals as possible. They stop frequently so the dogs can walk and drink. They react immediately if an animal is showing signs of discomfort. Despite caretakers’ efforts, some aspects of a dog’s participation in shows may be unpleasant and stressful. Some dogs experience travel sickness. Long trips are exhausting for dogs, as their ability to move is limited and they are exposed to unfamiliar stimulants. For many dogs travel and show performance are stressful. The territory is new, they are surrounded by new smells, sounds and companions, so they may feel insecure. Some have diarrhoea or lack appetite. Those bodily symptoms indicate stress.
There are other aspects of dog shows that seem to be contradictory with the concept of leisure that it is a hedonistic time providing pleasure and opportunities to recreate. Coat preparation for shows may be time consuming and unpleasant. Dogs are usually forced to stay still during washing, brushing and drying. Some dog breeds require more preparation than others. I had the opportunity to observe preparation processes while attending the European Dog Show in Brussels (2016). A colleague with a long-haired dog woke up at 3 a.m. She bathed and conditioned her dog. Then she brushed, dried and straightened its hair. The dog was kept on the grooming table for at least 3 hours. At the show venue the dog was additionally groomed. He waited for his ring performance either on a grooming table or in his crate. In order to preserve his coiffure he was not allowed to move much.
Pleasurable aerobic activity, another aspect of canine leisure, “refers to physical activities requiring effort sufficient to cause marked increase in respiration and heart rate. The concept refers to aerobic activity in the broad sense, to all activity requiring such effort” (Stebbins 2004, 55). Pleasurable aerobic activity is a form of leisure equally enjoyable for people and dogs, and it may be partially proved by the growing popularity of canine sports, such as agility (Carr 2014). Performance combines physical activity with intellectual engagement, as it requires attention and concentration. Sometimes caretakers play with dogs before entering the ring, and presenting a dog in the ring requires some running. Although there are moments of activity, dogs spend most of their time in kennels, where their possibilities to move are limited.
Some dog shows, like a show in Wawrzkowizna in September 2016, provide opportunities for aerobic activity for dogs and people. The show was organised at the lake surrounded by a park. People and dogs had the opportunity to walk, run, recreate and even swim in the water (the latter was more attractive for dogs than for people). After the show, before going back home, many dogs were allowed to play at the lake and run with other dogs. Not all shows provide such good conditions for canine recreation. However, even in less stimulating environments, some dogs are let free to play and run when evaluation at the rings is over and most of participants leave the show venue.
Sensory stimulation and aerobic activity – both identified as leisure – are as important for dogs as people. One canine judge commented
(p)eople come and tell me about problems they have with dogs. Most of the dogs eat too much, move too little and spend too much time alone, when caretakers are at work. I advise them to play with dogs, go for long walks, start basic training; but they are deeply disappointed, because the solution is so time consuming. (What) (t)hey want is a kind of “magic pill” they can give to a dog so s/he will lie happy on a couch.
(Field research 2013)
It is obvious that dogs need leisure to relax and recreate. Of the forms of leisure enumerated by Stebbins, both dogs and their people would benefit from play, relaxation, active entertainment, socialising, sensory stimulation and pleasurable aerobic activity. Both dogs and people need leisure to add excitement to everyday life.
There are few things humans and non-humans can do together, and dog shows are one of the options. Unfortunately, although they contain elements that may be defined as “casual leisure” for dogs, negative aspects seem to prevail. For many canine participants shows are a stressful and exhausting experience; they hardly provide pleasure or possibilities to recreate. Responsible caretakers should look for leisure activities with canine companions other than dog shows.
There are numerous reasons why people enjoy dog shows. They provide entertainment, emotional stimulation, opportunities to socialise and to consume food and alcohol. Hedonism, that is pleasure or enjoyment, is a central property of casual (human) leisure. In general, such pleasure is derived from activities: entertainment, meeting people, consumption. There are numerous benefits of casual leisure: creativity and the discoveries it sometimes engenders as well as serendipity (Stebbins 2001). Dog shows allow people to recreate and regenerate, as they provide escape from everyday routine. They stimulate senses. Experiences so absorbing that allow forgetting about mundane life and its problems. Participation in dog shows helps to develop and maintain human interpersonal relationships. Participants often mention satisfaction and intimacy that result from time spent together and sociable conversations during and after the show.
Dogs’ experience of shows is more complex and interrelated with issues of animal welfare. While travelling to shows, dogs have limited ability to move. At the show venue, they spend most of their time in kennels or on grooming tables, while their coat is being prepared. Show ring performance requires skills and training. Dogs may derive pleasure from sensory stimulation and aerobic activity, but it seems that unpleasant aspects of shows in many cases may destroy an animal’s experience of leisure.
Even if we are “companion species”, it seems that human and animal needs in the context of leisure barely intersect. Dog shows constitute leisure time for many human participants, but would be probably considered as nuisance by their canine companions.
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