Dannevirke: Dog owners need training: judge

Ruahine Kennel Association Dog Dayz judge Simon Sim from the Philippines with a pedigree chow chow owned by Dannevirke's Tim and Margie Delaney. Photo / Christine McKay

International dog show judge Simon Sim, from the Philippines, believes the bad rap some breeds are getting around the world is because of bad owners, not bad dogs.

Mr Sim was a judge at the Ruahine Kennel Association's two-day Dog Dayz show in Dannevirke, with Kerry King, from South Australia, and Ray Greer, from Auckland.

"This is my third time in New Zealand," Mr Sim told the Dannevirke News. "I have had dogs since I was 8 and currently I'm breeding bull mastiffs and shiba inu and I used to breed rottweilers. In my younger days I had dobermans, boxers and German shepherds."

Mr Sim said rottweilers have a bad reputation internationally, but it is often not the dog's fault.

"Unfortunately for the dogs, I would say most of the problems lie with the owners and how they raise the dogs. There's a lack of socialisation and that's key to the dog's temperament.

"Owners need training because they're supposed to be the guardians of the dog. However, a lot of people don't understand or respect their dog.

"They think it's something you can purchase, play with and then leave outside when you are fed up. With bull mastiffs at home socialising them is a must for the safety of my family and our visitors."

Judging is a hobby for Mr Sim and breeding and showing his dogs a passion.

"I do it for the love of the dogs," he said.

Mr Sim has been judging in China, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand this year as well as officiating at home in the Philippines.

"The good dogs and the very good ones I've seen here at the Dannevirke show could hold their own anywhere in the world, but at any show you see a variety, from the good to the average."

And yes, the gale-force winds during the Dog Dayz show affected the performance of some dogs.

"The small dogs especially, they had to battle the wind," Mr Sim said. "But the temperament of most was magnificent and the rapport between dogs and their owners was wonderful, with dogs just sparkling when with their owners."

Mr Sim said he enjoys judging and does not see it as hard work.

"The tough part here in Dannevirke was dealing with the wind and at some point it was hard just trying to stand up against it."

A small business owner in the Philippines, Mr Sim runs a construction supply business, a motorcycle repair shop and has handled the marketing department of a real estate business.

And it is not all work and dogs, he is also a basketball coach for primary and high school teams.

"Enjoying what you do is the most important thing and it's always a pleasure to see how we can develop young kids."

Meanwhile, the Ruahine Kennel Association is looking for more committee members to help with its growing show.

President Tim Delaney is keen to hear from anyone who wants to have fun and who enjoys dogs. "You don't have to show dogs or even own dogs. But you have to love dogs," he said.