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The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship #37770
12/19/11 11:44 AM
12/19/11 11:44 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline OP
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Jim Garvie  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
This is not specifically related to photography but there are some images involved. The past weekend, the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship dog show was held in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center. Over 4,000 dogs competed and, in conjunction with the show itself, the AKC invited all the parent Breed Clubs to participate in a Meet The Breeds exhibition. All of the 140+ Breed Clubs participated. The booth for the American Rottweiler Club was designed by my wife, Linda, with help from her sister, RoseAnn, our good friend Rudy Doria and RoseAnn's husband, Frank Mitchell. Oh, and I helped out a bit as well.

This year's theme was a Holiday Market in the open square in the City of Rottweil Germany, the birthplace of today's Rottweiler. Here's an overall image of the booth which was 20 feet by 10 feet.



All of the things in the booth were designed and created by us. The two green carts on either end also disguise dog crates for the dogs that worked the booth on Saturday and Sunday. Some of the details included RottieNutcrackers, soft-sculptures created by RoseAnn.



As well as a sleigh being pulled by our trusty friend, Rudy The Red-nosed Rottweiler.



The purpose of the booth is to provide information to people about the breed, correct some impressions that might not be accurate and to give people a chance to meet some of the best Rottweilers in the country. Here's Melanie Leon with Raven (GCH Marlo's All The Rage At Ringside). When Raven wasn't giving out puppy kisses, she showed and received one of the Awards of Excellence in the Rottweiler ring.



In addition, we gave lots of cart rides to the many children who attended the show.



And provided photo-ops for parents with out own Dr. Tommy Caisango resplendent in his lederhosen.



We even had two unusual visitors: two Rottweiler breeders who are actually from the town of Rottweil!! They loved the booth and asked for a photo with Raven.



At day's end on Sunday, the AKC presented their best booth awards and we were delighted to receive a third place ribbon in the Working Group. There were over 140 booths and only 28 awards were issued so we were very pleased that the judges liked our efforts. Here's Linda with the ribbon.



But, in the end, the objective of Meet The Breeds isn't awards. It's connecting people with the breed we love. Like this moment between Bandolero and Trevor.



Our job is to create better dogs. Our breed has come a long way and I spent a lot of hours this weekend with wonderful dogs I'd just met laying in my lap meeting people. We want to thank the AKC for giving us an opportunity to showcase these wonderful dogs and to help change some perceptions. We still emphasize that not every family should have a Rottweiler. In fact, most should not. But for many, a Rottweiler is a wonderful companion and a great pet.

Jim


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz
Re: The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship [Re: Jim Garvie] #37774
12/19/11 01:10 PM
12/19/11 01:10 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Manhattan, New York, New York
James Morrissey Offline
I
James Morrissey  Offline
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Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Feb 2005
Manhattan, New York, New York
Jim,

This is just awesome. You and Linda must have worked on this set for days and days. Really nice job.

James

Re: The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship [Re: James Morrissey] #37776
12/19/11 03:05 PM
12/19/11 03:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline OP
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Jim Garvie  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
James,
the project started in earnest just before Thanksgiving. That backdrop actually is the town of Rottweil and Linda added in a few Rotties in windows, doorways, etc. and we asked folks to see if they could "find the Rottweilers". The prints (we had to order 3 and overlap the images because the club couldn't afford one big one) are over 20 feet long and are attached to a wooden frame which is, in turn, attached to the pipe framework for the standard pipe & drape setup.

The "carts" are all hand-built to cover the 4 dog crates we had for our "workers". The carousel under the Xmas tree has Rotties instead of horses all hand-decorated. The sleigh and the nutcrackers are all hand-built and decorated. It was a huge undertaking but we have done it for our parent club in previous years when the Eukanuba was held in Orlando and Tampa. For the past few years, it's been in Long Beach, CA and a West-coast crew did the booths. So, we have now won a Best In Show, a Group One and a Group 3 in our last 3 booths. Linda is really an incredible designer and we have a very willing family here in Orlando to help us. But the most satisfying thing is watching the people when they come to the booth, talk with the people and then get introduced to the dogs. Some who came told us they were afraid of Rottweilers. By the time they left, they were getting puppy kisses. Putting your face close to a Rottie's mouth after you've been afraid of them your entire life takes not just great courage but total trust in the dog and the person with that dog. All the people and dogs that attended that booth over the two days were exceptional. Several came by with one of their dogs in the morning and a different one in the afternoon and each dog was very well-trained and very sweet. I'm not surprised when I see that but I am in awe of the amount of work owners are willing to put into their relationship with their dogs.

When the AKC holds their Meet The Breeds event at the Javits Center, I encourage you to attend even if you don't take a booth. I think you'll find it a fun and rewarding experience.

Jim


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz
Re: The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship [Re: Jim Garvie] #37783
12/19/11 10:15 PM
12/19/11 10:15 PM
Joined: Jul 2011
California
G
gebert Offline
Wanderer
gebert  Offline
Wanderer
G

Joined: Jul 2011
California
Congrats on your award, lovely booth! I've had three Rotties and I love the breed, unfortunately my HO Insurance Carrier nixed me having any more. Thanks for helping spread the word on these wonderful dogs!


Gigi Ebert Photography
Re: The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship [Re: gebert] #37786
12/20/11 09:28 AM
12/20/11 09:28 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline OP
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Jim Garvie  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Gigi,
you might want to check with the AKC. They have a partnership with The Hartford to help homeowners with pure-bred, "dangerous breeds" get HO insurance. My German, smooth-coated, black & tan Retrievers are fully covered smile. Also, many areas have insurance specialists that can provide liability coverage for the dogs outside of the HO policy unburdening the primary underwriting company. We have several in the Orlando area that cover exotic animals, for example. Sometimes, these separate policies are pretty affordable. We produced a brochure for handout at the booth and thought it was kinda cool that the corporate sponsor that paid for the printing was AFLAC. The SE General Agent owns two of the dogs we bred wink. You do what you can to change perceptions and bring some sanity to the entire issue of pet ownership. Thanks for your comments.

Jim


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz
Re: The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship [Re: James Morrissey] #37788
12/20/11 03:12 PM
12/20/11 03:12 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
Jim Garvie Offline OP
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Jim Garvie  Offline OP
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Joined: Mar 2005
Florida
James,
you might remember that at last year's Westminster, you took some portraits of Murphy (GCh Gruppstark's Lady's Man). Well we had the pleasure of having Murphy and his owner Susie Grupp with us at the booth. Murph is a real sweetheart and he gave his belly to every kid that came to visit. We've known Susie ever since we get involved in Rotties 16 years ago so it was fun to have her with us. Thought you'd enjoy hearing he's doing great.

Jim


Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz

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