Puppies and young dogs are well-known for assuming an amazing array of extraordinarily unappealing shapes and sizes before they reach any sort of fixed maturity. You may look at a very handsome and promising youngster that has a good many outstanding qualities one day, only to find a month later that he has gone completely course.
Nothing has captured the attention of the dog show world quite as effectively as social media…
It is an invaluable tool for keeping in touch with fellow breeders and owners/handlers who have our dogs. The quick and easy exchange of information on ring timing, assistance, emergency coverage and engaging immediate help for a dog or person who goes down, is invaluable. Many a life has been saved due to the quick actions taken via a post or directions obtained off Google+!
John Berger says, “Without ethics, man has no future,” and the same can be said of dog shows. A code of ethics allows organizations to communicate ideas such as rules a group must follow or personal ideals of right and wrong, but no matter the definition, people understand a code of ethics differently because they have contrasting opinions on morality. The dog fancy needs the AKC Code of Sportsmanship (approved by the board in 2006) to communicate the sport’s guidelines for behavior.
Here we go again. I know the end of the year is closing in because AKC is performing the annual changing of the Judging Approval Process. Just like the annual waterfowl migration south, or the daily changing of the guard at Buckingham?Palacie, it appears that AKC feels the need to change the approval process for judges on what seems to be a yearly basis.
It’s difficult to believe that the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship (AENC) is midway through its second decade. Its ongoing success long ago eclipsed early uncertainties about the potential for an AKC-sponsored show, especially an invitational event. AENC continues moving forward, getting bigger and better each year. Conceived in partnership with it sponsor Eukanuba dog food, this unique showcase of canine talent immediately made headlines for its whopping cash prizes, most notably a BIS bounty of $50,000 to spice up a year’s supply of Eukanuba dog food.
The Canine Chronicle Hall of Fame Non-Sporting Group
The FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale), the World Canine Organization, includes 87 member countries and contract partners (one member per country). Each issues its own pedigrees and trains its own judges. The FCI ensures that the pedigrees and judges are mutually recognized by all FCI members. Recognition of a breed by the FCI means that in almost every European country, that breed can be awarded FCI championship prizes.
It’s truly amazing that some breeds manage to surmount the hurdles along their path to recognition. DNA analysis confirms that the Shih Tzu, Tibetan Terrier, and Lhasa Apso rank among the world’s most ancient breeds. Their histories have been entwined for centuries in the East. Unfortunately, that also became the case when they arrived in the West – thanks to possibly the biggest train wreck in kennel club history.
Some of you may be considering applying to the American Kennel Club to become a licensed judge of your breed. The American Kennel Club has certain requirements for initial applicants. The requirements include: complete six stewarding assignments and six judging assignments at sanctioned or specialty matches, sweepstakes, futurities or open shows. You must meet the AKC’s occupational eligibility requirements and attend a Basic Judging Institute. You must also successfully complete the Anatomy, Procedural and Junior Showmanship “open book” written exams.
One of the virtues of getting old is that you get to sit back, put your feet up on your desk and pontificate. Sometimes the folks in your vicinity are even polite enough to listen to what you have to say. In this pontification, I’m going to offer some advice to those of you who are new to field work on how to not waste your entry fees and when you should. Since you get what you pay for and this advice is free, you can attach whatever value to it that you choose. However, I do have some credentials to support this advice.
