There came a time when my local kennel club was scheduled to hold a dog show and two of the judges were pekingese breeders and I thought, by sheer accociation in pekingese, friends of mine.

My champion male was out with a handler and I asked if she would like to show him in my home town. She agreed and I was looking forward to the show. However, things happened and she could not bring him for this show.

I then, since I knew I would not be showing my dog to them, sent these two judges a package from Arkansas including a gift certificate to a local resturant. I gathered up some nice but inexpensive things from Hot Springs to send to them. I sent the package by UPS.

A few days later I received the package back by regular mail. They, of course, hadn't taken the care that UPS does, so when I received the package it was dripping with honey, an item I had sent as it was Arkansas honey. The glass container had broken in shipping. There was no letter or note or anything with it, just the package returned. I thought maybe the jar had broken and that's why it was returned to me by the mail service.

I then had the gift cetificate reissued and cleaned up all the items, excpet the honey of course, and sent it again to the two friends. This package was nothing more than just a kind of welcome to Arkansas package. I had included a note saying something to that affect and had signed it "see you at ring side" which is a common term with dog show people. I didn't realize it sounded as if I would be showing to them and therefore could be considered a bribe. I would never had sent the package if I was to be showing my dog to them as that would have been unethical.

I again, received the package back with a note this time. It was a very unplesant note from one of these judges. Apparently he thought I was trying to bribe him. I was not. My little package was certainly not enough to be considered a bribe. I am sure they would normally require much more than that to be bribed.

The rather nasty note hurt my feelings as I had been completely misunderstood. I e-mailed him to say I was sorry that he misunderstood my intent but never received a reply.

It is unfortunate that he then felt he should relate this story with his version. I contend that I did nothing wrong but because of this person's negative thinking, I have been kept from joining certain pkingese clubs that I would have otherwise been accepted to.

And this too, I take in stride. My lessons learned is a growing list.