A good friend of mine, and she'll know who she is when she reads this article, used to marvel at the conversations one could overhear in the washrooms at the various dog shows. She calls these conversations "Latrine-O-Grams." The title is appropriate when you consider the nature of some of the conversations one overhears.

It is amazing to me that people think that because someone is behind a closed door in a stall they must suffer from a temporary loss of hearing. It's difficult not to hear most of these conversations, whether one chooses to or not, we are a "captive" audience.

There are, of course, some people who don't ever care who is listening, what they say or to whom they say it. Most of us, however, have been raised with at least some sort of etiquette or decency and would certainly not intentionally hurt someone's feelings. No one I know would want to put themselves in a position where they may have to explain to a good friend or associate why we said what we said if we knew there was even a remote chance of it getting back to that particular person.

I have taken ringside comments and gossip to task before. Unfortunately, some still don't understand the fact that what you say can be overheard and designed to meet the needs of the person who hears you. They can choose to report the information accurately, which may or may not help you, or they may decide to edit the material to make it sound better or worse as the case may be. If you say nothing, you have nothing to worry about.

There have been some good relationships suffer because of stupid remarks. Some even take a nasty turn all because of ringside gossip and the "latrine-o-grams." These conversations overhead in the bathrooms are just one more extension of ringside gossip and discontent.

I caution you to consider the feelings of others and your own reputations when you decide to discuss any aspect of the dog show, whether it be about the dogs, the handlers, the breeders your traveling companions or even a judge. Even if the individual being discussed is not the one overhearing the conversation you can be assured that there is a very good possibility someone is within ear shot who does know the individual, dog, breeder, handler, judge, etc. being discussed. Imagine the very worse scenario, the very person you are talking about is sitting in one of the stalls! Human nature absolutely assures us that someone will relay the information overhead.

As I pointed out earlier, it may or not be completely accurate. Our reputations as breeders are at stake, not to mention some good friendships, business opportunities or even a future breeding. It's sad but true that many aspects of the dog game reflect directly on who you are and what your reputation is rather than the quality of the dogs you may breed. Enemies are too easily made and friends to easily lost when one speaks without thinking.

Please don't put yourself in the position to compromise your reputation over a statement made in anger, out of envy, stupidity or even plain spite. No one gains and everyone loses.

There are many ways to express ourselves at ring side or any other locations on the show grounds, but they should all be of a positive nature or at the very least amiable. You all know how the lesson goes, if you can't say something nice don't. Big brother may not be watching but you can bet he's within earshot.

The dog show world has enough adversities to overcome these days without obstacles and unnecessary trials of our own making to sway us from our responsibility to protect, maintain and produce the best.