Class Discrimination

To read the complete article click here 166 – September, 2012

by Peter Baynes

Clubs who offer lower entry fees for certain classes have always intrigued me. I sometimes envisage that a member of that club who is a little cheap, and has an animal that will be eligible for that particular class, suggests it. Of course, I have an evil mind, and that may not be the case at all. I have noted, however, that in the middle of some circuits, a club offers half price for puppy classes. One would expect that the number of puppies entered that day would double but, from my observations, this is never the case. Also, consider the same club in the middle of the circuit that decides to lower their entry fee by one dollar. Again, my observations show the increase in entries is negligible and, in fact, the club may be throwing away over $1,000 dollars, or more, depending upon the size of the entry.

Nevertheless, my thoughts about classes have very little to do with this, but something was brought to my attention when one reader of last month’s article appeared to be in favor of a class for seniors. Another asked, “What is a Maiden class?” He was, of course, referring to the comment I made about awarding a Challenge Certificate in England to a bitch from the Maiden class.

This is one of the lower classes available to exhibitors:  For dogs that have never won a CC or first prize at any Open or Championship show (Minor puppy or puppy classes do not count).

This, apart from the several age classes, is one of the easiest to compute. Consider some of the other classes (not all are scheduled at all shows) such as Beginners, Novice, Tyro, Debutante, Undergraduate, Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit, and Open. It’s a maze, and many exhibitors with insecure records will enter the higher classes just to be sure. Take only one confusing example from the many: Graduate is for dogs which have never won a CC or four or more first prizes in Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or not.

Being one of the more brilliant exhibitors at the time, I devised a cardboard replica of an earlier computer, with a kind-of punch card for each dog. When inserted in the cardboard device I was able to ascertain in which classes each dog was eligible. I can’t remember the exact details, but I do now know IBM copied my system. Nevertheless, my system went awry when Crufts informed me that one of the first prizes I had been awarded (four that year) had been withdrawn because one of my dogs was entered in the wrong class. Of course, IBM was more successful with my system, whereas my prototype ended up in the garbage can.

With the AKC copying the award of Reserve Best In Show, as is done in the British Isles, I hope they do not attempt now to add any of the above classes to the premium list. They are now struggling with their present computer system. Imagine the chaos trying to sort out the ineligibles.

Britain does have a class for Beginners. It is a popular class at some of their shows. It is for owner, handler, or exhibit not having won a first prize at a Championship or Open show. One strike and you’re out would not be popular in this country, but I’m sure something similar could be implemented here, with a restriction to five or more firsts (in that class) to whet the appetite of new exhibitors.

Even in this country, our jargon is foreign to spectators when we talk about class dogs, class bitches, move-up from the classes, and specials. Is a class (classy) dog more important than a special? Consider a newcomer sitting at ringside in this country and the ring steward is calling for dogs to enter the ring. After the puppy and the Amateur-Owner-Handler classes, they may be confused with the popular abbreviations “Bred-By,” and “Am-Bred.” If they have forked out a tidy sum for a catalog (unlikely), they may even wonder why we even have an American-bred Class. It will have to be explained that this class was instituted when foreign imports were doing lots of winning in the Open class, and American-bred dogs were at a disadvantage. Why is the class retained? American-bred dogs now compete successfully in the Open class. It is presumed, sometimes falsely, that it is a convenient class for handlers to enter their second string dog.

In a popular breed, it is not unusual to see a specialist handler in nearly every class, including Bred-By. Breeds with multiple color divisions are particularly lucrative for professional handlers. By adding another in the American-bred class, is it just another handling fee? I can’t criticize, as I used to do the same, but usually only if pressed, and with the condition that their dog would get the next shot in the Open class.

Sometimes, however, because of the above conditions, a handler may have their best dog in the American-bred class. Many judges who have never been a handler do not understand these situations and are inclined to ignore the American-bred winner. If I award first in Open and American-bred to the same handler, and I see that the handler is going to stay on the inferior Open Dog, I sometimes feel like asking, “Why?” Then I remember Errol Flynn in The Charge of the Light Brigade, “Ours is not to reason why…”

As there is already an award for dogs finished in the Bred-By class, why can’t there be an award for a dog finished in the American-bred class? I’m sure the AKC is looking into an award for dogs finished in the AOH class – that is until I mentioned it here!

In one situation mentioned above, many years ago, I observed a professional handler in the Open class and an owner-handler in the American-bred class, each with a littermate. Although the Open dog was picking up single points and the American-bred was going reserve, I pointed out to the owner that, in my opinion, his American-bred was the better of the two. He called my bluff and asked if I would like to handle the American-bred. Despite the fact that they were competing against each other, they both finished about the same time. I also pointed out to the owner that both would have finished quicker if they hadn’t been competing against each other. He was, however, quite happy with the outcome; he was new to the game and was lucky to have bred an outstanding litter, and he enjoyed their exposure. I also finished bitches from the same litter for him, and I did Special my favorite for awhile until the owner lost interest in the game.

As I have repeated many times, some owners are unable to assess the qualities of their own dogs. Unfortunately, they are, on occasion, the ones who are determined to become judges of other people’s dogs – sometimes with dire results. Also, upon approval, they are usually the most vocal in the advice department.

They fall into a class of judges of whom we hope will never advance too quickly and not get too many assignments. However, of course, there are exceptions, and judges do fall into various categories or classes. All-rounders are, of course, in a class of their own. If their fees are not too high, they are the favorite of All-Breed shows where they can fill the gaps. Next in line are those that judge three or more groups, they can usually easily judge two or three days even at smaller shows. If they are popular, they can usually keep pretty busy.

Another popular class of judges, I presume, is those who can judge more than one group, but don’t charge a fee. Delegates who are amateurs and are unable to charge a fee will fall into this category. Then we have the one group judge, who is professional but, depending upon the group, is not a viable proposition for small shows. Depending upon their expertise, they have to rely on being hired by the larger shows.

Regarding Reserve Best In Show, I will reserve judgment on that until I am in a position to participate (coming shortly). How disappointed will the handler of the Reserve Best In Show winner be?

However, what if there becomes a 100 Club for Reserve Bests in Show. Is 100 Reserves more worthy than 10 Bests? A crazy thought entered my feeble brain, a dog has 99 Reserves under his belt, and at his final appearance, the handler clearly does not want to go Best In Show. Maybe the pin which I mentioned in an earlier article will come in handy… “NOT THIS ONE”.

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