Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
This study examines the meaning of the serious leisure experience for American Kennel Club (AKC) activity participants. Particular attention is given to issues of the centrality of leisure participation as it relates to personal identification with the leisure pursuit and adopting a “dog person” lifestyle. This serious leisure pursuit differs from others previously examined because amateurs and professionals compete together. Hobbyists and amateurs support the formal AKC activity pursuit by fulfilling multiple club roles. This volunteer action serves to diversify the nature of the pursuit and supports intense levels of involvement. Costs and benefits associated with the pursuit are interpreted from a lifestyle orientation and serve to justify the intense time and monetary commitment invested by the participant.
Baldwin et al. (Mon,) studied this question.