Note: THE BULLDOGGER is not available by subscription. It is published quarterly for members of the BCA.

Status

• The site has been visited about 8000 times, averaging more than 120 visits a day.

• The site has been accessed by people in more than 30 countries. (Anyone interested in the statistics of the site can view them at http://thebca.org/stats)

• Several dozen requests for membership information instigated by the information in the site have been refered to Division secretaries.

• There have been nearly 2500 visits to the Online Resources page which gives access to Ed Scully's databases.

• Literally dozens of people looking for Bulldog breeders have been sent to Susan Rodenski, the BCA breeder referral person (see below).

A Few Requests

A note about email addresses -- As you can see on the Club Organization page, specific email links have been made to people with email addresses. I understand that some people are sensitive to having their email addresses listed on the web so, if I have linked to yours and you would like me to remove the reference, please let me know. Perhaps more importantly, if you are a club secretary or Division officer, governor or councilor and would like your email address listed, please let me know and I will add a link to your name.

It has been our policy to not include links to individual breeders web sites or to many of the excellent Bulldog and canine web sites. These are easy enough to find. I do note that a number of such sites do have links to the BCA site as does the AKC web site.

What's New

The latter of these requires a bit more discussion. Both Marilyn and Ray felt that the limited space for specialty listings in the Bulldogger seriously restricted the amount of information that could be included about each. Since there is essentially no restriction on the web, I set up a page that lists the basic information for each show but, if optional information is available, one can access that too. For example, directions to the show site, hospitality information, closing dates, notes about backup shows, hotel and banquet information can all be included. I have not adopted any specific format for these entries, preferring to just get the information out as quickly as possible. If you are planning an upcoming show, feel free to send me any information you would like listed and I will put it on the page.

What's Planned

Finally, let me reiterate that all criticisms and suggestions are welcomed. They will be sent to the committee that oversees the site for review and action. We really want the site to be useful for all Bulldoggers so keep those ideas coming.

"That's the founders name for the bulldogx-l listserv," I replied.

"Why do they call it that anyway?" she asked with a voice that indicated she thought this was a pretty crazy name.

"Well, actually someone got mad at someone on the 'list' calling it a 'bloody, stupid list,' and it stuck."

So we humans who happen to love this bulldog breed continue to manifest our humanity in various ways, upsetedness being one of them. It looks rather funny now, so I guess part of our humanity includes laughter, tears, humor and yes, sometimes someone even gets angry. I think, therefore I say these emotions are actually more apt to happen with the written word than if we are doing a face to face.

...but that's another story.

I always struggle with what to write, until deadline. Today is no different. Myriads of topics are discussed on our "list" that would make most interesting reading. One topic surfaced recently, quickly, neatly and then case closed. (Sometimes we go on for days on how to glue ears and what food to feed; don't even ask about diarrahea treatments.) This particular discussion had an impact on me because it is such an important issue. It suggests the basis of our breeding the best dogs we possibly can and showing them to the world.

It has to do with common courtesy and education, particularly at ring side and especially with our newcomers to the breed. They are there because they want to learn, they want to show their dogs and they have thousands of questions. They are the future of our bulldogs. This is the education we are all about. This is how our breed continues towards the better bulldogs we all strive for.

Beth talks about one woman who entered her bulldog puppy in a sweepstakes. She was so enthused about showing him. She was so proud of her bulldog. She talked of getting another soon and really getting into the art of showing. You can guess what happened. Someone told her that he was terrible, that she should sell her little love and buy something "decent." Start over. She was devastated. Given a little time, she would have studied this out for herself and learned a lot more positives in the process. Last heard from, she had decided she wasn't going to try showing anymore. She would just enjoy her boy and stay at home. Beth states, "She would have been a true asset to the breed, but she has been lost."

Negative comments aside, no response from the veteran exhibitor can certainly be a disappointment to the newcomer. We get to the shows, anxious to see our friends. Relationships abound around our dogs that are many years old. We would do so much better taking the time to say, "hello, so glad you are showing, and I'll be glad to stay in touch should you have any questions."

I'm sure we all remember our first mentor. That's the person (s) probably responsible for our staying in bulldogs. These mentors are so very special. For me, it is a lasting friendship that has endured for decades. Literally. Surely, I haven't been in bulldogs that long. We all remember our first bulldog and the first time in the ring and the first time....

What made the difference for us? Why are we still here today? Smiles, information, "happy you are here" greetings brought us a long way.

Let me finish this little thought piece with a bulldogx-l excerpt from Cindy: "We new people really appreciate it when you take the time to explain things. If it is a bad time, let us know that it is a bad time and could you talk later? Some of us are so intimidated by the 'famous' breeders at the shows that they are out of reach. It really isn't that way, but it is so hard for a new person to get up the courage to even introduce themselves to you. I am thankful for those who have taken the time; and been polite when it wasn't a good time to talk. It means so much to us newcomers."

Thanks Cindy. You said it all...