I must admit that the overreaction to certainly tail docking in most Scandinavian countries is most regrettable. With the EU now involved and the MPs in the U.K. joining the fray, the problem has become even more acute. Ear cropping, of course, to my mind, is another thing altogether. Cropping of ears is difficult to justify to me. Sure, the adult dog in many breeds may look better—although I must admit, with the more foreign judging, I do I find the uncropped look more and more acceptable. Not in all breeds, mind you, but in Boxers, Danes, Giant and Standard Schnauzers and Bouviers off the top, the uncropped look is almost more pleasing, to my eye at any rate. Not so with Dobermans and not—again, this is to my eye—in Miniature Schnauzers either. Why I should like it in the other two Schnauzer sizes and not in minis is my own quirk, I guess. Nonetheless and notwithstanding, I have never bred a Dobe bitch because I won't crop puppies ears. I think, though, this should be an individual determination and not a governmental one. On the other hand, I have little problem with docking tails. That is, the concept of doing them. I leave the house when nails are being cut, that's how squeamish I am!
How the tail-docking movement has gained such momentum is shocking. Now then in Mexico and at Crufts this year, the undocked tails were in abundance—more in the U.K. than in Mexico, for sure. The biggest problem on that score, for me, is not that the tails aren't docked, but rather how these docked tails should look. That's the real dilemma. I think it ridiculous not to dock tails if one wants to, and the Brits are unwillingly going to be ostracized from having international competitors if some compromise is not affected under their new law.
But, that doesn't answer the question about what these tails should look like. The standards by and large don't tackle that issue, and until they do, most people have no idea what to look for with an undocked tail-particularly in terriers. Again, in certain sporting and working dogs, the undocked tail is not as bad looking as, say, in terriers. Again, I say these movements are prompted by the overall American attitude of the dog craze and treating pets as though they are human. I mean, just read the latest TIME OUT NEW YORK about the "dubious devotion" of owners to pets if you want a real stomach turner. These attitudes are truly extensions of the do gooders so against docking and cropping.
Some major additions and subtractions in the field rep areas. These are natural evolutions, which, I am happy to say, have been Staff-made and not Board-made nor influenced. I think Staff is being given more leeway than certainly in recent history by the Ron Menaker-led Board. I think this is most positive too! Now, if Board would give Staff the same amount of room in getting judging standards and approvals, that would be real progress.
I would be remiss not to mention the passing of Eve Ballich. Close to her 99th birthday on May 18, Eve was a friend to all, and without being trite, one of the great dog ladies of all time. She lived a long and useful and productive life, and made and left many friends. What more could anyone ask for. I know I will miss seeing her at shows tremendously. •