Looking Back With Lee
Crufts has Gone Global!
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By Lee Canalizo
“It now seems the most stringent UK breeder/judge
is awarding the highest of awards to dogs that are trimmed within an inch of their lives.”
Just when one mega media occurrence in our little world ends…so begins another.
I refer to the waning of Westminster and the ascension of Crufts. (To be completely transparent) I personally have never been to the event across the pond, but via multiple sources (of the human variety) and my new found friend “online streaming”, I think I have a good handle on it.
Both events have a long history being similar in scope and regarded as very important events. Both endeavors have had limitations on their respective entries: until very recently. Westminster (for the past few decades) was a “Champions Only” event. The number of International dogs was few and far between, unless they were imports that had achieved an AKC Championship. Now, WKC is on its third year offering “classes” with the requirement being a major or better. That made it slightly easier for foreign dogs to be exhibited, provided they gained that major before the closing date. On the other hand, Crufts which historically had but a handful of imports competing, has been met with a deluge of international entries since the government restriction on pet travel was relaxed. No more six month quarantine to get in the UK… it took a while to grasp the procedure, but surely no one doubted our fanciers wouldn’t be quick to “take a walk on the other side” and get “Pet Passports” which assured them safe entry into that once rarified bastion of dog shows.
Once that window opened there was no stopping them! Them, being exhibitors from almost every country that held dog shows. Apparently of the 20,000+ dogs entered, 2,000+ foreign dogs were shown. The “If you build it…they will come” mantra is alive and well in the dog sport. The expectation was that a few lingering obstacles on the path to England would remain in place and it ultimately would be self-limiting. How many would tackle the course of action required to gain admission to that most sacred ground of Dogdom? The number might have been underestimated.
I guess the UK authorities weren’t checking out their neighboring countries about how easy it could be to enter indirectly from another country. Many would find the drive from Amsterdam, Paris or Brussels more convenient than dealing with a direct arrival in the UK since airline requirements to those latter cities were less intrusive and maybe less costly; and so began a “Bridge and Tunnel” invasion to reach Crufts. Therein starts the new global battleground. For so many years the UK enjoyed the insular competition where no outside influences were readily encountered. Sure, there was the occasional import, but far more “exports” from the UK breeder came to these and other shores without question. There was such a longstanding disdain (real or perceived) about an import inseminating the purity of their gene pool that hardly any recognition was ever cast in their direction, be it for breeding or showing. Ah yet they battled onward. But have they won the war or not?
Let me reminisce for a few moments. “Back in the day” it was a rarity to find a dog with the Intl. Champion prefix in front of their name. There was no official requirement to make that claim. It was “understood” that a Championship in at least three countries (registries) had to be achieved. The most common path was for North American breeders to title in the USA, Canada and Mexico and, viola, you could say you had an “International Champion”. I knew of only two within my close circle and that would be the legendary Intl. Ch. Shirkhan of Grandeur and his triple grandson, Intl. Ch. Blu Shah of Grandeur who replicated that distinction just to honor his lineage. His granddaughter, Ch. Tryst of Grandeur, also had 3 or more titles including a World Dog Show win but by her time, the uniqueness of an Intl. Ch. had diminished. I also had a friend locally who held a record for the most tilted dog and that was Rose Raydell with her Miniature Pinscher with at least six or more abbreviations on the front end. Of course, none of these outstanding accomplishments could be listed in the show catalog because they were not “verifiable” titles, but I think that’s about to change; but then again who even buys a catalog nowadays?
Fast forward a few quick years and my how things have changed. While the English still drive on the other side of the road, they can no longer ignore the direction of travel their breeding stock has moved. Some great strides have been made in many breeds, including the ones with which I’m closest. I have seen this injection of new blood bring new life to a breed or two that have long languished. One can’t say it’s all been for the better and I expect both sides in the “affected zones” would agree. To be fair, it is a two-way street. I see a few Brits venturing out to other countries to exhibit and with sales and/or breeding, although the number of those heading to the UK still outnumber those few brave souls.
So here’s my take on it so far. The influx has made some noticeable changes in both the canines and the judges in the UK. Tradition has held strong in the Isles for a more natural presentation of dogs. Who can forget when they started to take hair samples from coats reported to have “foreign substances” applied, and God forbid one’s hands came up with “color” upon them or you were caught trimming a breed that the Standard explicitly forbids. Well, the Tower of London couldn’t hold all those who at one time would have been banished for those offenses! In my main breed (Afghan Hounds) I held the Old Guard of the British Breeders in high regard for their convictions to uphold their righteous stance. They were the last holdout for all things presented “au naturale”, and now I see that premise spinning around the ring of the drainpipe soon to be sucked down forever. I say this because it’s clear as a bell that it now seems the most stringent UK breeder/judge is awarding the highest of awards to dogs that are trimmed within an inch of their lives. I’m talking hardline scissoring right down to the “Cocker Spaniel” feet of an Afghan. I bet even the Cocker Spaniels in the UK aren’t trimmed as much! It breaks my heart that I no longer have the honorable UK judges to support all my years of defending the Standard’s intentions to restrict any trimming or clipping of my breed.
So let the bashing begin! I got it off my chest. All I can do is look back at the way it was and hope it’s just a passing fad that will soon be gone. I forgot; this will be out in April, and the “Easter Bunny” will be here too!
Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=74503
Posted by ralbee
on Apr 16 2015. Filed under Current Articles, Editorial, Featured.
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