RULES WORK WHEN ENFORCED
What do AKC (American Kennel Club), UKC (United Kennel Club) and AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association)
rules have in common?
-
Both begin with the
letter A
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Both are animal
registration organizations
-
Both sanction shows
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Both give judge's
directives that DON'T MEAN A THING!
Some years ago AQHA
told its judges to penalize the extremely
and artificially low head carriage in pleasure
horses. The old "more is better"
attitude had performed its usual magic and
from the head carriage of a relaxed pleasure
mount, there evolved what is known as peanut
rollers.
Various unpleasant, inhumane devices and trainers had
the horse's head almost on the ground. This supposedly
was to demonstrate a safe and easy pleasure mount. In
reality, it makes the rider feel like they are perched
on a precipice, having no neck and head in front!
The AQHA sent a directive of NO MORE. These
horses should remain unplaced and could be
excused from the ring. A collective sigh
of relief went up from the using-horse people.
Ten years later judges are still putting
up peanut rollers. It is quite an experience
to attend a Quarter Horse show. All the directive
did was stop the people who were agitating
for reform from voicing their opinion for
a while. It also got AQHA off the hook, i.e.:
We told them to quit and they didn't.
Beginning to sound familiar?
At about the same time frame, AKC announced with great fanfare, that they
had directed judges to disqualify anyone
using foreign substances in the coat. This
has apparently taken some considerable time
to implement as there is blatant chalking,
spraying, and coloring at every show I've
ever attended. Recently I was a spectator
at a show and was seated next to a judge
from England. She was most interested in
watching a Boston being touched up with a
marking pen at ringside. This was within
easy view of the judge, steward, and the
AKC rep.
If AKC really wants it stopped it is not
too hard--- throw out anyone using such stuff.
Right now. Unless the reps are blind, deaf,
and otherwise impaired they know stuff is
being used on the dog's coats. If the judge
is worthy of the name, they know too. Dismiss
the offenders. Right now. If the rep sees
a judge place a dog with a foreign substance
in the coat, suspend the judge's license for three
months. Right now.
It's not much different from training dogs,
one command, immediate enforcement, every
time. It works with dogs. Surely people can
be trained?
That brings us to the UKC (United Kennel Club). The dogs at UKC shows
are clean, brushed, and have no coloring,
chalk, or spray. Why? Because UKC won't tolerate
it. If it is found in the ring, bingo, excused
from the ring. Now then, wasn't that easy?
They also won't tolerate bait or grooming
in the ring. What a refreshing idea, actually
judging dogs.
UKC has a lot of good ideas. Every
dog registered with UKC gets a 3-generation
pedigree - free. They also have a pretty neat thing;
the PAD (pups and degrees) pedigree. This
contains the number of offspring produced
by every dog in the pedigree and titles earned
by those offspring. How would that puppy mill
pedigree differ from our carefully bred show/performance
pedigree? A lot!
UKC pioneered DNA profiling. AKC came reluctantly along later.
For those interested in UKC but concerned
about incurring the wrath of AKC, there's
this bit of information. AKC tried to stop judges from judging UKC
shows. It didn't work. And there are many dogs
registered in both registries. Both registries offer various types
of working, hunting, agility, and obedience trials as
well as conformation shows.
The biggest problem I can see with UKC is
that there are too few all breed shows. UKC
grew and changed under the leadership of
Fred Miller and I'm sure we'll see more growth
and change under the management of Wayne
Cavanaugh and Mark Threlfell.
So here's the point. Rules work but only when they
mean something and only when they are enforced.
UKC rules work. AKC could correct violations of
the rules.
Editor's note: This was written a
few years back and sadly, times have changed. This just in from
one of our columnists;
Almost
a perfect article - one correction - UKC DOES permit bait. It is at
the judge's discretion. Perhaps the author meant to pen that UKC does
not permit grooming in the ring along with no artificial substances. I
am forever hopeful that the integrity of the UKC will always enforce
these rules for the benefit of the breeds. Thanks to Tam
Cordingley for a very good, straight from the hip article. - Julie
Borst Reed
http://www.thedogplace.org/ShowDog/Rules-Work_TC.asp
Related
A
rticles:
Rules Ignored,
AKC Rule Against Alterations and
Grooming Rule Violations
