The dog show scene probably seems a waste of time to most of you who live with and love your Giant Schnauzer pets. However we need your help.

The Problem: Giant Schnauzer Rescue was virtually unnecessary fifteen years ago. Now Giant Schnauzer Rescue is swamped with dogs and the number of rescues keeps growing. I have had seven rescue dogs at my kennel this year and that number represents a very small percentage of the dogs that have been placed through the various rescue groups in our area.

What can you do? Please attend your local dog shows. Your presence is vital.

The vast majority of spectators at dog shows have no intention of showing. The show is simply the only place they know where they might see a Giant and meet Giant Schnauzer owners and breeders.

I have been showing Giants for nearly 30 years and I continue to be astounded by the number of people interested in the breed who approach me at every show. As a breeder and exhibitor I am happy to talk with these people and I know that most breeder/exhibitors feel the same way. However we have to fit educating the public about the breed around a chaotic schedule that includes grooming and showing dogs.

How wonderful it would be if there were pet and rescue owners there to help us educate the public? If you have raised a Giant Schnauzer puppy or rescued an adult Giant, you have a wealth of information to share with people who think they want to own and live with a Giant Schnauzer. You certainly can do as good a job as I can, probably better.

• Be a mentor! Once a puppy is acquired, every novice owner needs a mentor—someone he can talk to about the puppy other than the breeder. Of course most breeders are willing to help, but often they live many miles away and cannot give as much support as someone who lives in the area. I have found that some novice owners hesitate to call their breeder. They often feel more comfortable calling a pet owner they met at the show, when they were looking for their puppy. Often they are facing a problem prevalent in the breed and just need someone to talk them through it or someone to encourage them to call the breeder.
  
  
• Show–goers needed! I would like to see at least five owners at every major dog show in our club’s area. If you will agree to be a show-goer, please let me know. The South Central Giant Schnauzer Club will send you a tag that says something like “Ask Me about a Giant Schnauzer”(suggestions welcome) and some cards with your name and number to pass out. Once we have our educational materials completed we will supply you with those as well. When the people you talk with get their Giant Schnauzer puppy, they will be well prepared for him. In addition they will have one, maybe more, local contacts should a problem arise with their puppy.

Through education and early intervention, I firmly believe we can keep some Giants out of shelters. In addition we can discourage some people from getting a dog that will not be right for them. The Giant Schnauzer wins either way.

We need your help, please let me know if you are willing.

Judi Boston Payne

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