Pure Dog Talk

646 — The Conversation at the Top is Different: Finding a Mentor


Listen Later

The Conversation at the Top is Different: Finding a Mentor
[caption id="attachment_13021" align="alignleft" width="482"] Christian Rutten with one of his top winning Golden Retrievers.[/caption]
Breeder-handler Christian Rutten joins host Laura Reeves to encourage new exhibitors and breeders in finding a mentor.
“I think the biggest mistake people make is they cut corners,” Rutten said. “They find the people who are sitting and just have a lot of downtime because they're easy to talk to. But what you need to do is go to the top. The conversation at the top is different.
“Everybody's collaborating ‘who can do this for what and what reason.’ The conversation at the bottom is usually, ‘it's crooked... Oh, my dog is perfect and that one isn't.’
“I would say that the most successful breeders of any breed are way more critical on their own dogs than there are of anybody else's. When they say, you know, my dog is the greatest that's ever been and the other one only wins because of who shows it, that's problematic.
“You need to be self -reflective about what is this dog's strength and weaknesses. And you know what? If you go ask a judge, right, you lost and you aren't sure why. And you go ask the judge and the judge says, well, he didn't ask for it on the day or the other dog showed better or whatever it is. I just discard that.
"When they say, you know, I wish your dog had a little better shoulder, a little bit shorter back, you could use a little bit stronger muzzle, and gets into the finite details, those are the people whose words you hang on, and from there you move forward. So look for the people who are extra critical first, not angry because they lost, but extra critical. And I think if you approach any judge from a standpoint of questioning, ‘what was it that you liked about the other dog better than my dog today,’ they'll be honest with you.
[caption id="attachment_13022" align="alignright" width="394"] Christian started at ground zero in Junior Showmanship and worked his way up through the ranks.[/caption]
“Where do you start from ground zero? First thing, anybody, whether you've done dogs for 20 years or you're just starting, go to YouTube and look at Dog Steps. It's not breed specific, right? It's just about basic anatomy and how it works in motion.
“The other thing is attend the largest specialties and the nationals that you can and see a broad array (of dogs). If your breed has an illustrated standard, keep that. Go and you seek out those breeders that are just kind of next level. A, I want you to seek out the best breeder there is. B, trust their judgment. But C, be happy if you don't have the Best in Show winner because when you get handed that Best in Show winner on a golden platter, you cannot figure out what it takes to make it.
“I wrote a thing one time that says sacrifices are made in the whelping box to preserve and protect individual pieces, not to breed just for winners, right? And that's the thing. Talk to your breeder, what are the health issues that you face and how are you kind of navigating that in your breeding program?
“There's a fine line between discarding everybody's opinion and asking everyone and absorbing as much knowledge as you can. There's 20 ways to get to the bus stop, but getting on the bus and going to your destination is on you.”
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Pure Dog TalkBy Laura Reeves

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

341 ratings


More shows like Pure Dog Talk

View all
This Is Actually Happening by Wondery

This Is Actually Happening

10,430 Listeners

Cog-Dog Radio by Sarah Stremming, The Cognitive Canine

Cog-Dog Radio

313 Listeners

Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast by Melissa Breau

Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast

229 Listeners

The Canine Paradigm by Glenn Cooke & Pat Stuart

The Canine Paradigm

368 Listeners

Buried Bones - a historical true crime podcast with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes by Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

Buried Bones - a historical true crime podcast with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes

25,322 Listeners

So Supernatural by audiochuck | Crime House

So Supernatural

22,851 Listeners

The Functional Breeding Podcast by The Functional Dog Collaborative

The Functional Breeding Podcast

71 Listeners

Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett by Susan Garrett

Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett

652 Listeners

The Good Dog Pod by Good Dog

The Good Dog Pod

65 Listeners

The Bitey End of the Dog by Michael Shikashio CDBC

The Bitey End of the Dog

225 Listeners

Will Alexander's Dog Show Tips by Will Alexander

Will Alexander's Dog Show Tips

14 Listeners

The Dog Show Drive by Will Alexander

The Dog Show Drive

32 Listeners

The Honest Dog Breeder Podcast by Julie Swan

The Honest Dog Breeder Podcast

57 Listeners

The Conformation Conversation by Vicki Ronchette

The Conformation Conversation

7 Listeners

The Marty & Laura Show by Laura Reeves & Dr. Marty Greer

The Marty & Laura Show

10 Listeners