Dogged persistence pays off for former firefighter

Lam Gin-dik, a 44-year-old from Hong Kong who has enjoyed a long run of success at domestic shows, is dedicated to breeding pedigree Bernese Mountain Dogs, which are native to Switzerland, to showcase China's ability to produce purebred canines.

From 2003, Lam was actively involved in his family's business in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, and before that he was a firefighter, having joined the Hong Kong Fire Services Department at age 19.

"Back then, I was just a dog lover who was interested in shows to pass the time," he said.

"I tried to enter some contests with my dog, but we weren't accepted. Despite that, I didn't give up, and I think that fired my ambition to show a champion at events."

Lam's parents objected to him becoming a professional handler and dog show participant because they thought it was a frivolous profession.

However, in January 2011, he resigned from the family business and moved to Beijing to take part in dog shows. Later, he started his own kennel to breed Bernese dogs.

"Though they are big compared with other breeds, they are quite gentle," he said.

According to Lam, being a handler－the person responsible for training dogs and guiding their performances at shows－is a demanding job that requires patience and knowledge about specific breeds.

"Some large breeds are hard to control because of poor obedience, for example, the Caucasian Shepherd Dog," he said. "A handler should spend about a month before a show getting to know a dog that will take part."

He said the handler is required to walk the dog at least once a day during the monthlong training routine and perfect the animal's gait and seated position, which are important assessment elements at shows.

"The owner usually pays 3,000 yuan ($426) for the month of training and 500 yuan for each section of the show (the number of sections varies in different shows). If the dog wins a prize, the handler receives a bonus," he said.

Since he first entered a dog show in 2003, Lam has won numerous championships at domestic and international events. He won his first national championship in 2008, with a dog named Sugar.

"Sugar was 2 years old when she won the Best in Show award for Bernese Mountain Dogs," he said.

"It was as though my own kid had performed really well in a big exam. It made me feel so proud."

However, he believes that domestic dog shows are poorly organized and regulated, and things need to improve.

"In March, I took part in a show in Langfang, Hebei province, that made me feel embarrassed," he said.

"In professional shows, the handlers or dog owners are required to wear suits and the dogs should be groomed. But I saw people in casual clothes whose dogs had not been cleaned."

The slowing economy has resulted in some dog shows lowering entry requirements to keep the cash rolling in, which has disappointed many professional handlers, according to Lam.

"In China, there is a long way to go to popularize dog shows," he said.