Moving The Goalpost – Before You Apply To Judge

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58 – February, 2024

By Wayne Cavanaugh

The device we know today as the paper clip looks the same as it did in 1893. Its design was magnificent; no one since has invented a better way to do what it does so well. Oh sure, many have tried, but none have succeeded because the original needs no improvement. (There is even a book about it – The Perfection of the Paper Clip). The #2 lead pencil is another design that needs occasional sharpening, but its perfection has defied the need for change.

The AKC Judging Approval Process is not a paper clip or pencil, and it is certainly not perfect. Because of its subjective nature, perfection is not possible. In addition to its subjective nature, there is a constant attempt by AKC to create a “fair” system. At its core, however, a system cannot be fair because of the wide variance of financial, time, and geographic constraints of applicants. In the real world, fair is never very fair.

Treating everyone equally, I suppose, becomes a reasonable and prudent business decision. But in the center of the ring, a fair process doesn’t allow the cream to rise to the top. Talent isn’t fair. Some people have an eye for a dog, some don’t. An eye for balance and symmetry cannot be taught or earned. That’s just how it goes.

Experience isn’t fair either. Some have 20 years of experience and learn nothing; some have 20 years and learn everything they can. Some had the good fortune of working for one of the greats and seeing, touching, bathing, and training the best dogs in the country in every breed. Some have had the opportunity but not the eye to learn from it.

Click here to read the complete article
58 – February, 2024

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Posted by AnthonyA on Feb 9 2024. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.