Whilst recently preparing to conduct Provisional/Permit assigments in a number of Sporting breeds, the occasion arose to once more thoroughly review their respective standards. Yet again something really stood out like a sore thumb.
The shrinking of certain breeds’ gene pools is not a new topic. It has been widely discussed and debated with countless articles, research papers, and dissertations written on the subject.
The lesson of the story: our sport needs a total revamping to turn it around so we can halt the continuing moral and financial decline, the egregious loss of our children’s participation, and once more, rebrand purebred dog conformation events as a family spectator sport because kids love horses and kids love dogs.
A year ago my breed standard was changed to include the undocked tail. This action was the eventual result of a judge’s excusal of two European dogs because they had natural tails. The standard at that time simply said, “Tail is docked.” The judge obviously had a very strong aversion to undocked tails. To say that the standard change raised hackles would be a gross understatement. We were accused by many of pandering to the Animal Rights’ groups when in fact it was done to accommodate dogs coming in from FCI countries where docking of tails is no longer legal. We were accused of disavowing our terrier heritage when in fact we viewed it as an opportunity to further clarify tail set-on and carriage. Where the old standard said, “…well set on, carried gaily but never over the back,” it now reads, “Tail is set on high. Docked tail preferred. Whether docked or natural, the tail is carried 90º from the back, either straight or with a slight curve forward. Any deviation from this ideal is to be penalized accordingly.” I would note here the European dogs that were excused would meet the criteria of today’s standard…tails were well set and carried with a slight curve forward.
During the last few years we have heard more and more about the Summer night shows in Split, Croatia. All those who have been before seem to have had a great time so we decided to enter as it only meant missing one of the series of UK Summer Championship Shows.
By Pilar Kuhn I had a conversation recently with a colleague about dogs and showing and she shared that her father had Thoroughbred horses while she was growing up. Our conversation became rather equine-centric for a stint. This was not the first “horse” conversation I’d had with dog show colleagues. There are many of us […]
My goodness, it seems our dog society has been up in arms as of late about the Parent Club Reserve Winners receiving three point majors
Yesterday, October 28th, was actually the second day in a week-long Afghan
Hound event.
Once considered more precious than gold, the formulas and production methods of Europe’s porcelain workshops were guarded like state secrets. “We’re fascinated by seventeenth century Sevres porcelain, eighteenth century KPM production, and miniature painting from many different cultures and times.”
During a conversation with a national show chairperson, they mentioned they were ‘plumb tuckered out’ and were planning to resign their position after the national specialty. While I was sympathetic, having served in such capacity twice before,
