I agree, once you step over the wall it is a competition. Competition is about winning and losing. Striving for quality and being proud of winning definitively are just feelings. They have nothing to do with winning. All those things should be done prior to stepping over the wall. When one steps over the wall the question of striving for quality should have already been answered. Once the win has been established that is all that should be asked of a dog. No need to do extra just to satisfy a personal feeling.

Scratching is the name of the game. A dog is only and should only be required to scratch when it is his turn to do so. I understand it can be seen from both sides of the fence, and to each his own. I just think every dog has the right to quit (not scratch) and no dog should be asked to do so if does not have to do so (scratch to win).

And with that said. I have seen the night (as a younger guy) that I would make a statement scratch at the end just to stick it in he face of the crowd or the opposite side. There is nothing like winning, and then showing there is more where that came from. As I got a little older I came to the way of thinking that once all the pre-req's are complete and we step over the wall...it is all about the dog...My personal feelings and my ego are on the other side of the wall.

Great series of posts. Great topic. Good insight. EWO