|
The Herding Dog Group: November- 2008
I am always amused by government agencies and large
organizations that allow themselves to be caught up in petty battles
against things that really don’t matter. You know what I mean,
the minutia that is encountered on a daily basis that should just
be ignored. It may be a cliché but the old adage of “don’t sweat
the small stuff” is still true today.
Too many times anymore our dear beloved AKC is sweating the small
stuff. Their concern about little things that are said and written
exhibit an entirely much too thin layer of skin. In the last year
a few judges have been suspended for things they have written.
They penned opinions that they believed to be true and then were
suspended under rules from AKC’s Code of Sportsmanship. Apparently,
they displayed poor sportsmanship in the eyes of the club.
They have also felt the need to get involved, on a limited basis,
with some parent clubs who cannot get their affairs in order.
Who knows, maybe AKC was right in their actions. Maybe they need
to make sure that first amendment rights, or rights of autonomous
organizations that are affiliated with AKC, don’t supercede their
ability to run a tight ship. Maybe they need to make everyone involved
in the sport toe the line. Lord knows that many organizations love
a good yes man or woman. Imagine the glee at having thousands of
them bound by rules that make them say and do “the right thing”.
My concern is that, in the whole scheme of things, this is small
potatoes. I mean, honestly, does anyone believe that if they ignored
these things it would somehow be detrimental to AKC?
Imagine if Apple felt it necessary to deal with every negative
item posted on a website or chat room about their prodcts or service.
They would spend countless hours and revenue on things that just
don’t matter.
On the other hand, if those rumors or negative postings weren’t
true and were persistent to the point of impacting their business,
that would be the time to start pursuing action against those people.
The point of the process is to determine the degree of importance
when it comes to dealing with small problems that can easily deter
you from seeing the bigger ones.
With declining registrations, decreasing entries, and challenges
coming from all directions, maybe it’s time to focus on the important
issues and quit sweating the small stuff.
> VIEW
ONLINE MAGAZINE HERE NOW! <
T.G.
• • • • •
:: November 2008 Issue ::
Multiple
Best
In Show & Multiple
Best In Specialty Show
Ch.
Bastion’s Pathfinder
he #3 Dog In America*
 |
 |
| |
Winslow came to us in 2004 as a member of the family
and quickly won the hearts of our young twins and everyone who
met him. Very early on we all knew he was a very special dog not
only in our hearts, but was exemplary in all aspects of the breed.
In less than 24 months in the show ring, Winslow has gained a wide
audience of admirers. He launched his career at the Canadian National
in 2006 and won the crowd as he took Best in Sweepstakes and Reserve
Winners Dog at a very young age. He quickly completed his Canadian
and American championships with several group wins, an Award of
Merit at Westminster in 2007, and a Best in Show. Winslow has been
ranked in the top five for the last two years and was most recently
honored with the prestigious Top Twenty win at the American Bullmastiff
Association national. He currently holds the title for the most
Working Group firsts garnered by any Bullmastiff to date in 2008.
Breeders Lynn and Bob Spohr are widely recognized as two of the
top breeders of Bullmastiffs in the world. They have a long history
of producing top winning champions that continually produce champions
as well as producing dogs that excel in the performance rings.
Winslow’s littermate BIS, BISS, A/C Ch. Bastion’s Buns of Steel
is a Best in Show and a Canadian National Specialty winner, as
are many of the dogs in his pedigree. His grandfathers, BIS, BISS,
A/C Ch. Bastion’s Celebration Time and Ch. Leatherneck’s Spanky
McFarland have produced many champions reaching the highest levels
of the ABA register of merit system.
Thank you to all the judges that have recognized his adherence
to the standard, the breeders that have recognized the quality
of his bloodlines, and all his friends that have recognized the
true inner beauty of Winslow. His gentle nature and loving disposition
touches everyone.
Winslow is exclusively handled and trained by his great friends
and on the road family, Colton and Heather Johnson and adored by
their daughter Taylor.
*CC/Royal Canin All Breed
& Breed Systems, 08/08 Issue |
