BGSDTC Regional Event 23/07/11 - Page 5

I raised the issue because the owner of the second dog was angrily, openly and strenuously stating his experience at the Event, at Essington GSD Club, where he is a member and I am also member. The issue needed confirming or clarified as I know it has been well discussed around the UK. It has now been clarified by Carol Eastwood, whom I hold in very high esteem. I can also confirm that the same dog, the second dog (over 2years old) has not had his hips scored. This is apparently in line with a decision by the Regional Group or an Individual connected with it. Again I am seeking very important confirmation or clarification on this serious development which contradicts the fundamental health criteria which underpins our Regional Event System.

All dogs over 2yrs should be hip and elbow scored at the very minimum if being shown or used. The coat length or colour should not make any difference to that.

I do agree with David to some degree about different rings for Long coats but think it might be worth considering sharing that ring for the puppy classes to get the whole show moving along and reduce hold ups. It could also mean the shows wouldn't always run on so late in the day making it easier to people to attend to the show and get help at home with their other dogs it's already an expensive day and this does add to the costs and can put people off even coming.
 
To aid this it would be worth promoting/providing handler training to try and cut out some of the squabbling and make it more accessible toward bringing newer people to the show scene or even people wanting to come over to this side of the breed. I do know this has been started but think abit more of a push could help.

The only way any of this could work is by making sure the judge for the puppy and long coat classes is of the same standard as the other judges on the day and by making the gradings available in these classes. We attended one show where the judge didn't even touch some of the dogs confusing females with males , very late for the class and completely dissinterested, if that is how they felt they shouldn't have taken the appointment. I will say that this is not the norm and from the ones we've attended and the others we've heard about generally long coats are being treated as they should.

jmo
Doug

 

Videx.  I have read all your vitriolic kennel club posts over the years the same as all your vitriolic posts on other issues.  Perhaps in this case you should and could have got the all important clarification of any incidents before you started this topic in the first place instead of jumping at the first opportunity to discredit the organisers !.  The organisers of these events are doing their best with the resources they've got, and not to mention the vast amount of time they all put into it , I applaud them for their dedication and determination. Help and not hinder before you end up with no event organisers !.  BTW, I was not anonymous when I first joined up on here, soon changed my mind about that after seeing the spitefulness and rudeness from certain posters !.

Carol -  After the show I asked him to clarify his final statement because a lot of fuss was being made by the owner of the 2nd dog because he had clearly been misinformed as to what had been said. The judge stated quite catagorically to me that the first dog was absolutely the better dog with or without a breed survey and the positions and gradings would have been the same with or without breed survey   Nikki's to the owner (from facebook)  - The judge explained that if 2 dogs are equal then for him the deciding factor is a breed survey. For someone else it may be the colour of the eyes or the colour of the lead. I asked the judge what he said and he catagorically said the the 2 dogs were equal so that was his deciding factor. He also said that at no time did he tell your handler that he would have been first only that the breed survey was for him the decision maker

How hard would it have been to make a breed survey compulsory for adult longcoats there has been enough of them this year it would save  all this confusion

Matt 90

I dont know what the judge did or didnt say to Nikki but I know what he said to me and I know what he said in the ring because I was standing about 2 feet from him,  I can only quote what I heard.


Norbert Wetlaufer was the one judging the class and making the decision, like it or not, if you like I can post the photos taken of both dogs on the day and let others decide but that to me would be pointless as the class has been judged and decided on, this is not a witch hunt and it is being blown out of proportion.

The matter of whether the longcoats should indeed have a breed survey is a whole different ball game and indeed I have my own opinion on this, for me the reason for the regional events was to promote health tested dogs end of. 

yorkjason: you certainly fail to grasp the reasoning behind my comments/criticisms. I am not surprised it is apparently beyond you or/and you have tunnel vision. I suppose you fail to grasp how such issues can cause significant confusion, concern and frustration amongst the exhibitors and spectators at these Regional Events, even after you have read the above posts. I suggest you read them a dozen times and then seek advice from someone cleverer than you.

My intentions are VERY CLEAR - to ensure the Regional Events Committee MINIMISE MISTAKES/NEGATIVES. Some careful consideration mixed with some thorough forethought would have avoided MOST if not ALL mistakes/negatives that have occurred to-date. SIMPLES.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with committees being ACCOUNTABLE, especially for avoidable mistakes/negatives which are detrimental to the future prospects of our Regional Events. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either a sycophant or arrogant. Now what is this about Long Coats NOT requiring Hip Scores/Breed Surveys this year for Regional Events? This is an extremely serious breach of fundamental health principles for these Events.

With regard to the time taken to judge puppies if I were a judge of puppies I would be extremely miffed to be moved to another ring had I not finished 'in time'.  If another equally acceptable ring was to be provided why couldn't they be judged in there in the first place, and allow the judge to do their job at their own pace? 

"milking the limelight" is a not uncommon trait amongst Judges. They will get a move on when they know if they go beyond a "reasonable" set time, they will go to another ring to complete their judging, and the "limelight" would largely switch to the older classes that are being judged in the main ring, necessary psychological strategy is required with those afflicted judges. Normal judges will get on and judge their puppy classes efficiently and well within a reasonable allotted time. Just thinking my proposal through, ie forethought would have revealed this very sensible and useful strategy to most intelligent people. Why on earth should a judge of the earlier puppy classes be allowed to dawdle along and hold up later judges and unreasonably stretch out the whole show/event? Many people, especially those who travel great distances, want a reasonable finish time to prevail, and this makes attending Shows/Events more attractive, something which is very necessary these days of dwindling interest, entries and attendances.