Around The Rings from the Kennel Club Of Beverly Hills by Elaine Lessig
“Author Archive”
Kerrin Winter-Churchill is coming to Louisville!
Kerrin Winter-Churchill is coming to Louisville! Don’t miss your chance to have your dog photographed by this world-class show dog photographer with over 40 years of experience. Her photos have graced the pages and covers of many magazines including The Canine Chronicle. Here is your chance to schedule a custom photo shoot [...]
A Statement from the Author of Conflict of Interest and Impropriety
Focusing on the attribution of the article rather than on the deeper questions it asks disharges our obligations as members/voters/participants/exhibitors/judges in the sport of dogs to live and play by common shared ethical standards and to work together to make rules that effectively close loopholes and promote true sportsmanship for the betterment of dogs.
Table Talk · March 2, 2022
Several years ago, the judge voted in to judge the Best of Breed class at my national specialty had a known relationship with the dog/owners of an actively shown special. They travelled to shows together regularly and had a close relationship: They bred dogs together and had a close friendship. They were not members of the same household, and did not co-own the dog in question, so they were not breaking any rules. Sadly, I fully expected this dog would be exhibited to this individual–after all, there was no rule against it, right? As expected, the dog was shown, and won the Breed. In my opinion, the entry for the Breed class at this national would have been larger if this conflict of interest did not exist. Further, in my opinion, in this situation the win was tainted by the facts at hand.
Conflicts of Interest and Impropriety
After filing a formal complaint, as I was instructed, to the Officers and Directors of the AKC, the various show chairpeople of the shows at this cluster and the show chairman of the Westminster Kennel Club, where I could see this judge figured prominently on the panel, and then a lengthy back and forth email exchange with the Judges Operations Department (no one else responded to my letter), the AKC position was that no rules were broken and the exhibitor was eligible to show. In their argument, the AKC cited several examples of similar instances where the definition of household had been the basis for determining conflict or no conflict of interest: where children of judges were allowed to show at clusters where a parent was judging because they did not live at the same address, and where a certain exhibitor was excused from the group ring at Westminster because he resided at the same property as the judge.
Updates To The June 2022 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Breed Judging Panel
The Westminster Kennel Club announces the following revised judging panel for the 146th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Presented by Purina Pro Plan® at Lyndhurst, a National Trust for Historic Preservation property in Tarrytown, New York, on June 18, 20-22, 2022.
Table Talk · February 23, 2022
In my opinion, Bridget hits the nail on the head and gives some terrific advice as to where fanciers can spend their energy instead of looking for, or assuming that there is always an agenda that has nothing to do with the dog being exhibited.
Heads Above Water…Just Bobbin’ Along
The economy is difficult in just about every city and state in this country. Monies are short, show entries are down for some clubs, and costs of putting together a show and paying for judges’ expenses are rising. I do not mean that judges’ fees are rising. I have NOT heard of a judge increasing the fee for judging under any circumstances! Most judges are very aware of how much it costs to put together a show and do not want to “bite the hand that (sometimes) feeds them” by pricing themselves out of judging assignments. If anything, many judges do not list all the expenses that are incurred in getting to and from a show including meals and incidentals. I hear judges discussing some of the expenses they “eat” in order to save the club money.
Sun Maid KC of Fresno live on AKC.tv
Watch the Sun Maid Kennel Club of Fresno live on AKC.tv Tune in this weekend as AKC.tv travels west to the Sun Maid Kennel Club of Fresno Dog Show! Live coverage of all seven groups and Best In Show from Fresno, CA. Saturday, February 19th at 6:45PM ET/3:45PM PT
Table Talk · February 16, 2022
Our first time in the ring together was more of a trial and error, “work out the bugs” experience. (Yes, I was that guy; the one who trains their dog in the ring!) We got third out of four in our class. The ultimate end-result, we had a blast together and learned what we need to do to work better as a team. The second day, with a different collar, better lead placement, different speed, etc., I had his breeder take him into the class so I could watch what would make him look his best. When we went back in for the Winners class, we worked much better together. We were awarded Winners Dog for a 4-point major! The ultimate end results? We had a blast together and learned more about what we need to do to work better as a team. Am I thrilled with a 4-point major toward my puppy’s Championship? Of course! However, the joy I felt presenting my dog was amazing. It is the best of both worlds. I have a pet that I love to pieces, he is a beautiful specimen of the breed, and we can have fun in the ring together. Imagine how much fun we will have when I get him trained!
