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Years ago, when Group Shows were first being bandied about, it is my recollection that Council Parker and Jo Deubler were less optimistic about the idea than most. In the long run, I think Jo was more correct than most of us. It's not so much the concept of the group show as the implementation of the concept. At first I thought Jo's pessimism was a means to protect Montgomery. I was wrong about that, since everyone will agree that Montgomery is stronger than ever. I think what she foresaw—and which most everyone else overlooked—was how these group shows would too quickly proliferate, particularly within the Terrier world, with the Hound folk not too far behind. Let's face it, two Terrier Group shows on the same day even though hundreds of miles apart is totally self-defeating. The purpose of the group show was to compare like breeding stock within a group situation, not to provide more majors and more handling fees and more assignments for the wannabes! Furthermore, back-to-back group shows, while economically appealing in certain situations, are absolutely ridiculous. There should be one competition on the day for that group and that's it. So much for that observation. Another observation is to call to your attention the “Letter to the Editor” of last week in which Gloria Lewis questioned why one should not be able to mentor under a Jim Reynolds-type person just because he is Canadian. Personally, I have little use for the entire concept of one mentoring in the first place. I have watched in amazement, awe and shock some of those whom people choose to mentor under. I mean, at Great Western or Long Beach I was horrified at the selection of certain judges and the breeds people were watching them judge. Personally, I would have failed them alone if they really thought they could learn how to judge a particular breed under their selection. Unless, of course, their motive was to learn how NOT to judge the breed, but I truly doubt that was the case. In any event, Gloria was 100% right, I thought, in asking AKC to change the foreign non-mentoring aspect, certainly in the case she cited, for sure.
In light of the brouhaha about PAWS Act, I thought the following information about AKC Compliance regulations to be interesting:
AKC COMPLIANCE
The mission of the AKC's Compliance division is to ensure the integrity of the registry and to protect the welfare of purebred dogs. In this capacity, the division oversees two major functions: Investigations and Inspections and DNA Testing. The AKC is the only registry in the world with significant inspection and quality control programs.
Investigations and Inspections
Launched in 1991, the continued allocation of resources to expand and improve this department reflects the AKC's commitment to monitoring and enforcing accurate record keeping and the humane care of dogs.
• The department conducted over 5,000 inspections in 2004 of dog kennels, individual breeders and pet stores. Fifteen field inspectors are located across the country and travel to conduct inspections within their territory.
• Inspections or investigations are initiated in various ways. The department commonly receives written complaints, but it also generates its own list of those kennels or individuals which register seven or more litters per year or conduct 25 or more transactions (sales, transfers, etc). Candidates for inspection are randomly chosen from this list.
• Inspections are conducted to determine that proper care and conditions are being provided to the dogs and that all record keeping and identification are accurate.
• The department's "Care and Conditions" policy concerns the health, safety and welfare of the dogs and the environment in which they are kept. Inspectors look to see whether dogs are in good health, have appropriate and clean shelter, access to food and water, etc.
• Kennel owners whose conditions do not meet minimum standards lose their ability to register dogs with AKC until or unless they correct their deficiencies. Those convicted of neglect or cruelty to dogs will be suspended of all AKC privileges and can be subject to fines imposed by the AKC.
• The AKC has the power to fine or revoke privileges to register dogs or participate in AKC events, but it does not have law enforcement authority. However, in all cases the department notifies the appropriate law enforcement body to alert them to substandard conditions and works closely with them to bring appropriate consequences to those who are in violation of AKC Rules and Regulations.
DNA Testing
The AKC had built the world's largest database of canine DNA profiles for the purposes of parentage verification and genetic identity. The AKC has a comprehensive set of voluntary and mandatory programs to ensure the integrity of the AKC Registry.
• DNA genotyping can be used to establish the identity of a dog and to verify parentage. As each generation is DNA Certified by the AKC, pedigrees will carry that extra measure of confidence.
• Comparison of DNA profiles of a dam (mother), sire (father) and pups will determine with greater than 99% confidence that the puppies are from the sire and dam.
• DNA tests are offered to breeders on a voluntary basis, collected during inspections, and as part of the AKC's Frequently Used Sire program (every sire producing seven or more litters in a lifetime or producing more than three litters in a calendar year must be AKC DNA Certified).
• Testing is non-invasive—it is conducted by swabbing the inside of a dog's cheek. The DNA kits are available from the AKC. The cost is $40 for the regular kit or $35 for a Prepaid DNA kit.
• By the close of 2004, the AKC had over 320,000 DNA profiles in its database from 186 AKC and FSS breeds.
• On average, 45% of all AKC litters registered each year have a sire in the FUS program. •
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