Hmmmm. Well I guess I've broken that commandment more than once .

I feel that in my venue, I'm in charge. I get to order the owner around; I get to tell the dog/cat what I want from them. And, most importantly, I'm qualified to do so. I've trained hundreds of dogs over the years. I've handled -- in the ring -- several dozen more. So when I give a dog a command on my set, it is to be obeyed. And most owners know it.

Yes, I do respect the relationship between the owner and the dog. But, frankly, most owners have no idea how to pose a dog; how to bait a dog; how to tell a dog to do anything. You can see it in the eyes of the owners and, more importantly, in the eyes of the dogs. When the dogs meet me, they understand that I will ask them to do things and they have a strong need to please me. That's how you get good pictures.

So, I guess I'm guilty of violating your law. But I intend to keep doing it.

Jim