Well, not for these two, anyway. From the Intelligencer Wheeling-Register (WV):
Elijah and Bolton are not your stereotypical show dogs who live in kennels and spend hours getting preened for the show.
"They are our pets first - they live with us," said Paula Knight, a Glen Dale resident who owns Bolton, a Whippet who enjoyed Sunday's dog show from his ring-side spot stretched out at Knight's feet.Elijah is a Smooth Brussels Griffon owned by Bertie Prettyman, who also lives in Glen Dale. She and Knight are nurses by profession, but most of their spare time is dedicated to their love of dogs. Both of the women travel throughout the United States to participate in and watch dog shows...
... The appeal of the dog show, Moore said, is that anyone can participate - from novices including children over the age of 10 to professional handlers as well as people like Knight and Prettyman, for whom owning and showing purebred dogs is an engrossing hobby.
"It's the only sport I know of that novices can compete against professionals on the same level," Moore said.
The full-time handlers and the weekend warriors have in common their love for dogs.
"We love dogs and we enjoy the camaraderie of being with dog people," Prettyman said.