We had the distinct pleasure of visiting the Treasure Coast KC venue in Vero Beach, Florida where the weather was picture perfect. Entries were down here but this was probably because some people did not realize the show had returned to its original location on the Fairgrounds. Certainly gas prices played a part, too as did, quite frankly, its strange judging panel. Nonetheless it was a lovely day with the Schpperke of Mrs. Falk’s handled by John Penatello going Best the first day and Sunday the Aussie from the Garden owned by Terri Collins and shown by Jessica Plourde the victor. Sort of like keeping it in the family – good for John and Jessica, I say. Deb Shindle is the show chairperson and it’s always nice to be with her.
I see where Vice-Chairman of the Board David Merriam has addressed the issue of AKC and mixed breeds in this issue of DOG NEWS. Indeed Sari also addresses the same issue (coincidentally, I wonder?). Pretty much agreeing with David from what I could read into her comments was Sari doing. I could not disagree more with both of them. Sari’s opinions are pretty predictable on this subject based on her overall thinking, as I understand it. David’s much less so, again, as I have thought to understand his thinking through the years. His “young turk” days with Ted Eldridge are certainly a thing of the past while his votes of the last year or so are confusing to me at any rate. To the extent I guess I should not be too surprised on this stance either. I was surprised though at his timing in writing this piece since it sort of is in conflict with how he reacted when other Board members went public about issues being discussed by the Board. The topic will no doubt generate much discussion, and I urge you to keep an open mind in the matter. Read perhaps Sari’s interview with Ronnie Irving in “D” 2007. You know the Brits long ago introduced mixed-breed theories into the running of the kennel club without any negative results. Indeed, both psychologically and on a lesser scale, financially it has proven to be a very useful and positive change and would be here too, so I believe anyway. Really 50 years ago they introduced a crossbreed registry. The sky did not fall did it, David? Did it, Sari?
Why are new breeds admitted by AKC treated as second-class citizens when it comes to judges being approved to judge them? If you are a Group judge merely by taking an open book test you can get the breed. Well that may be fine for the judge but what about actual breed knowledge and experience? Shouldn’t the judge be held to the same degree of knowledge and background for a newer breed as for the originally recognized ones? I’m not saying to immediately take the group away if the same parameters which exist for the other breeds are not met. But if after a three or four year time period the judge has not met the prerequisites established originally for the older recognized breeds, they should not be awarded the new breed. The same for all-rounders, too. No one should get a free ride merely because a breed is newly recognized.
I must tell you that I recently and unexpectedly judged a puppy hound group. I awarded first to a puppy whose top line originally bothered me when it came into the ring. It settled down though, and I was sufficiently satisfied with the topline and with its many other virtues to award it first in the group. Into the Best in Show ring and I thought I would die. The topline was all over the place in the much larger ring. I guess these things can and do happen to a dog, but on reflection I probably should have awarded my number two exhibit on the day number one. Mistakes happen and it brought back to my mind years ago when the late and great Tom Stevenson left a Bloodhound we were campaigning out of a group at what was then considered to be a very prestigious show. He came to me and apologized for having done so. Saying he honestly “forgot” to place the dog. Well the next time he did a group on the East Coast I was there for sure fully tasting a placement! Guess what – he “forgot” again. So it goes.