Judging Operations Department8051 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite 100Raleigh, NC 27617-2010(919) 816-3639judgingops@akc.org

FALL 2011Volume 12

Number 50

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The Judging Approval Proposal authored by the Ad Hoc Smith Committee appointed by the Board of Directors was posted on the AKC website for a 21 day period. This was mandated by the Board of Directors at its September 2011 meeting to afford the fancy an opportunity to review and comment on it. That period expired on October 5th, and subsequently, the proposal, Q&A document that accompanied it and the special email address created to receive any responses were removed. This Proposal was voted on at the October Meeting by the Board of Directors and passed with amendments.

It was determined at this meeting that the comments and recommendations supplied by the fancy in the 21 day period would continue to be reviewed by the Smith Committee and they may bring recommendations for further modifications to the Board to consider.

Due to the fact that there is not a final approved version of the Judging Approval Process at this time, we would be remiss to post an incomplete or inaccurate version of it. Furthermore, an implementation date has also not been established, as it is improbable to determine until the process is finalized. The Judging Operations Department will notify the fancy once the final version of the Judging Approval Process has been approved and an implementation date has been established. Until that time, all requirements for applications, request for regular status, number of assignments and all other items pertaining to judging must meet the criteria of the current policy.

Smith Committee on Judging Approval

F O U N D E D 1 8 8 4

Continued on page 2

I arrived in Beijing, China on Sunday, two days prior to the scheduled NGKC/AKC Global seminars. My friend Ma Yan “Joyce” stood waving and calling my name as I departed from customs at the Beijing Airport. Six years ago Joyce came to the US and stayed in our home for two months learning the conditioning and showing of Poodles. We were both thrilled for the opportunity to rekindle our very special friendship, but this time on her side of the world.

The next 48 hours were filled with the fascinating sites, sounds, family and fabulous food of the Chinese culture.

The prestigious Pullman Hotel Beijing South would be my home for the next eight days. I was greeted on arrival by Zora Qin the NGKC Director of the Foreign Contact Dept.

AKC Halfway Around the World by Gina Wieser

THE STANDARD2

AKC Halfway Around the World Continued from page 1

Zora, a tiny young woman with fluent English and a smile that lights up the room; was the “go to” person for scheduling, translation and any other needs throughout the trip.

First on the NGKC schedule I met with Moses, the editor of the beautiful Chinese publication Showtime Magazine. Over lunch Moses and I reviewed the next seven days of seminar material. Moses was the main translator for the program, with Zora as back-up. Robin and Cindy Stansell arrived that evening. The next morning Robin, Cindy

and I were escorted by the NGKC team to attend the opening ceremonies of the NGKC/AKC Global Seminar for New and Aspiring Judges. The purpose of the seminar was to establish a foundation for a judging base in China. Currently NGKC invites qualified judges from other countries to preside at their shows. Mr. Wang Wu, Kevin, NGKC’s driving force, his beautiful wife Fiona, and the NGKC staff are amazing and leave no details undone.

As we went through our week of presentations the rapport developed between the 14 students, NGKC participants, me and Robin and by no stretch of the imagination, was sheer delight! Over breakfast on day two of the seminars we decided to assign names to those who had none in English. This added up to about half the class. Everyone had a hand in choosing their names and we laughed until it hurt.

The determination, enthusiasm, and joyful approach from this group of people far exceeded my expectations.

The classes included everything from ethics, to judging procedures, weighing and measuring; hands on where each student was a judge and the others were the ring stewards and handlers and ended with a day of comprehensive exams. The exams were a combination of written and hands on (including a size protest and wicketing), where each student was required to be the judge. Each student was presented with a certificate of completion at the closing ceremonies.

We met up with Fred Bassett, Maxine Beam and the Buxton’s in Chongqing where we spent a day of sightseeing and a weekend of NGKC dog shows.

Wow! It was quite a challenge judging 83 incredibly talented young people in a grooming competition. I have to say I had never witnessed this many groomers with the ability to demonstrate outstanding scissoring technique. With Zora by my side translating and recording scores, it was a six hour marathon of scrutinizing the finest details of each talented groomer’s work.

One of the fondest memories of my trip…Taking a moment and watching one of our “great ones”

share her world of dogs with the “aspiring to be,” halfway around the world...

Back row L. to R. - Ernie, Johnny, David, Alan, Moses, Kevion, Jacky, Sonny, Steven Front row L. to R. - Zora, Mavis, Robin, Cindy, Anna, Gina, Kate, Kevin

BEAUTIFUL…

3THE STANDARD

John Wade requested a Field Staff position in his home state of California after two years of commuting to Raleigh, North Carolina as Director of Judging Operations. This transition has provided John more time with his family and the luxury of enjoying time in his home, as opposed to spending it on airplanes. John is now primarily covering shows on the west coast and many of the western states as needed.

John became active in purebred dogs in 1959 when he purchased a Dachshund for his mother on Mother’s Day. The following decades have seen John as an active, multiple-group judge, breeder-exhibitor and a licensed handler. John’s background also includes extensive club affiliation having held every conceivable office in specialty and all breed clubs. John first joined the AKC as an AKC Executive Field Representative in 1999 based in Charlotte, NC covering specialty shows throughout the United States. In 2001 he left the AKC and relocated to a new home in California and resumed his judging career. John rejoined the AKC and accepted the position as the Director of Judging Operation in 2009 and partially relocated to Raleigh, NC.

While John’s presence will be greatly missed in the Raleigh office, his extensive background and lifelong expertise in the sport for more than 50 years will serve the clubs, judges and fancy well in his new position.

– Darrell L. HayesVice President Dog Show Judges 919-816-3592 dlh@akc.org

John Wade Relocates as an

AKC Executive Field Representative

ContentsIN THIS ISSUE~

Smith Committee ...................................... 1John Wade Relocates ................................. 3

PARENT CLUBTreeing Walker Coonhound ....................... 4Spinone Italiano ......................................... 6Collie Club of America ............................. 8Schipperke Club of America ....................10Trimming the Siberian Husky................. 11Black Russian Terrier Judges ....................12

FROM THE FIELD REPSAKC Halfway Around the World .............. 1

JUDGING OPERATIONSSelects vs. Awards of Merits ........................ 5Breed Exams ............................................. 5Accepting Current Forms .......................... 5Please Review .......................................... 7 Clarification for Judges

Reminder ................................................10 For Judges Planning to Apply for Additional Breeds

DON’T MISSHerding Group Institute ........................... 9Reserve Best in Show ............................. 11Hound Institute .......................................13Crossword Puzzle.................................... 14Judges Store .............................................15Upcoming Seminars ................................16

California

THE STANDARD4

The Southeastern Treeing Walker Association is honored to be entering the AKC All-Breed Hound Group in January 2012. It has been a long time coming and we hope that the number of entries you will be seeing will prove the merit of allowing us this opportunity. Before you start seeing all of our Treeing Walker hounds, the association felt that a brief overview of the animal would be beneficial to judges.

First and foremost we want you as a judge to start your assessment as soon as the breed enters the ring. This is a proud, athletic, muscular breed and should walk into your ring exuding confidence. The Treeing Walker Coonhound is by far and away the most dominate coonhound in the performance events. These are called Nite Hunts and just to provide some evidence of this dominance, in the last 33 years the World Coonhound Championship has been won by a Treeing Walker 24 times. The other five breeds combined have won the other nine. These dogs were specifically bred to hunt and tree raccoon in a competitive environment and they excel in that endeavor.

Upon entry into your ring you will immediately notice the similarity to the American Foxhound, the Harrier and the English Foxhound. The Treeing Walker somewhere in the middle of these breeds in size and substance. Not as racy as the American Foxhound, not as heavy as the English Foxhound and larger and “houndier” than the Harrier. Basically the “Goldilocks” of the Tri-Colored hounds.

The main comparisons will come between the Treeing Walker and the American Foxhound. The main distinctions are in the headpiece, the topline and the underline. The Treeing Walker head is more of a hound head than the American Foxhound. A prominent occiput and square appearance sets it apart from the “wedge” shaped seen in the American Foxhound breeds. The Treeing Walker has a more prominent supraorbital ridge than the American Foxhound. This will give the Treeing Walker a softer appearance when viewed from the front. From the side the Treeing Walker will have good finish to the muzzle, level planes and a moderate stop. The ears should be set level with eye and reach the tip of the nose. Short, high set ears are a fault.

The Treeing Walker topline is slightly higher at the withers than hips. There is no visible rise over the loin but the back is strong. The chest to loin ratio is 2/3 chest, 1/3 back. The dog is square to slightly longer than square. The majority of the dogs you will see will be just off square.

The underline or underbelly of the Treeing Walker shows a gradual tuck-up. It is not as severe as the American Foxhound but not the straight underline of the English Foxhound. The profile height will show a 50/50 withers to elbow, elbow to ground ratio. This is not a weedy, leggy breed. The angulation is moderate and suggest a quick, powerful dog.

The Treeing Walker is a breed of moderate substance. When compared by size, the usually much taller American Foxhound will have similar bone to the shorter Treeing Walker. I like to think of the Treeing Walker as a larger, houndier Harrier.

The Treeing Walker breed as a whole is a tri-colored breed. White, Black and Tan or Black, White and Tan. Tri-color is preferred in this breed which means that when judging two identical exhibitors, weight should be given to the dog with three colors. It does not mean that the breed has to be blanket-backed or saddle-backed or that an “open-spotted” dog should be overlooked because of the color. As we have seen, the American English coonhound is primarily a two-color breed and part of the separation of the two breeds is the color. Treeing Walkers should be virtually tick-free where there is white. Color should never be your deciding factor when choosing your Treeing Walker.

As stated earlier, it is an honor for us as Treeing Walker fanciers to finally be able to show in the All-Breed ring. We are thankful to AKC for allowing us to share this opportunity with the other hound breeds. Good luck to all of the competitors and thank you to all the judges. We understand the lengths you go to be able to judge us and we as an association appreciate your effort. Please contact Curt Willis, our SETWA JEC with any questions or concerns with our breed. Sincerely,

– The Southeastern Treeing Walker AssociationCurt.willis@ymail.com 724-388-8999

Southeastern Treeing Walker Association

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Awards of Merit are a club award; the restrictions and/or guideline in regard to the eligibility and number to be awarded are at the discretion of the event hosting club. You should always review the premium list prior to the start of your judging to be familiar with the guidelines and/or restrictions established by the event hosting club. If you do not have a copy of the premium list, you should consult the Show Chairperson, Show Secretary or AKC Executive Field Representative to confirm this information.

Unless specified otherwise, it is at the discretion of the judge whether to award Selects and Awards of Merit independently, or to have the Selects also recipients of an Award of Merit. Regardless, since the Select

is an AKC award, it is of greater significance than the Award of Merit. Your Select Dog and Select Bitch are always to be the “next eligible entry in consideration” for the Best of Breed/Variety and Best of Opposite Sex Awards. Remember, the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch are the ONLY entries in the Best of Breed/Variety Class from classes ineligible to receive the Select Awards.

If the judge chooses to award them independently, the judge would select Best of Breed, Best of Winners, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog, Select Bitch AND THEN their Awards of Merit from the remaining entries in the ring. If they were to choose to overlap them, the Selects would be the highest eligible Award of Merit (Remember: Selects

CANNOT be Winners Dog or Winners Bitch).

Unless the guidelines established by the club state otherwise, a handy rule of thumb is as follows: If you have depth of quality where you wish to recognize as many entries as possible, you should award the Selects and then the Awards of Merit separately. If your breed class is lacking the depth of quality that you desire, and you would prefer not to leave ribbons on your table, then overlap your Selects and Awards of Merit.

As always, contact the Judging Operations Department if you require additional information or further clarification prior to your specialty assignment.

Breed ExamsAs many are now aware, the breed exams are available on the AKC website at www.akc.org/judges/guides/. However, breed exams will not be accepted by the Judging Operations Department from applicants prior to their notification by the Judging Operations Department, the result of the Staff Committee meeting, and their approved breeds.

As of 1/1/2012 only current application forms will be accepted. No forms older than 2010 will be accepted.

Current applications are available at www.akc.org/judges/conformation/.

Selects vs. Awards of MeritA question frequently asked of the Judging Operations Department continues to be the relationship between the Select Dog and Select Bitch Awards, and the Awards of Merit that may be offered at breed specialties. A year and a half after the implementation of the Grand Championship Program, there remains some uneasiness as to how to handle these awards when judging specialties. If you are judging a specialty show which happens to offer Awards of Merit, please remember the following guidelines in the selection of these awards to avoid confusion or embarrassment later.

THE STANDARD6

As the Spinone Club of America’s Judges Education committee is trying its best to step up with an education program and a new “era”, with the committee members making themselves more available to judges and breeders, we often ask Spinone judges some basic questions. The answers we get regularly revolve around toplines, croups and tailsets of the Spinone and these are the areas that the judge is basing his/her decisions upon. In addition, most judges are checking for divergent head planes.

It is good to hear that the judges have these basics within their grasp, but we would like to draw the following very important points to your attention, to help broaden your understanding.

The almost-human expression, which is considered to be an essential trait of the Spinone, is created from widely-placed, almost round, large and expressive eyes set on the frontal plane of the head, which is unusual and special to this breed. The definition of the stop, together with both the sub and supra orbital structure (brow and cheek chiseling) are minimally defined. The above, together with the unusual warm ochre color (in white/orange dogs) contribute to the human expression. Equally, in brown roan dogs the shade of brown for the eyes is warm and soft. A sharp or intense expression created by incorrect eye color, shape or set (deemed typical in the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and German Wirehaired Pointer) must be severely penalized in the Spinone Italiano.

The head is long, lean and divergent. The Spinone head length is proportionally long compared with any other Sporting breed, approximately four-tenths of the dog’s height.

The skull is roof shaped, with a marked occiput, well-defined interparietal crest (backskull/nape of neck) and gently sloping lateral walls. Particularly, in profile, this area helps to define breed type for the Spinone. From the front, the refinement of skull adds to the long, lean and divergent shape. Never Griffon-like (e.g. blocky, square, wide, well-defined stop and intense expression).

The divergent planes can also be clearly viewed from the front, where the wide-open nostrils of this breed will obscure a clear viewing of the dog’s eyes in those dogs that have the incorrect parallel or convergent (Pointer-like) planes. TIP: Please take the time to lift the head of each exhibit and check for a soft, human expression and the divergence of planes. A clear view up the nostrils = incorrect planes! Convergence of planes of the skull and muzzle or a dish-faced muzzle is to be faulted so severely as to eliminate from further competition.

Ears are long, framing the face in an unobtrusive manner, with minimal erectile power, and are set on low, i.e. level with the eye line. TIP: A tight lead will obscure your view of correct ear placement, the roof-shaped skull, the divided dewlap and the marked backskull, all desirable traits that contribute to the correct silhouette for the Spinone.

The Spinone is a robustly-boned hunt/point/retriever (i.e. versatile breed) and its body shape fits almost into a square. Its bone is described in the Standard as ”oval”, which indicates a more refined impression when viewed from the frontal position, in keeping with the long, lean head type.

Nonetheless, the word “robust” indicates more substance than most of the other Sporting breeds. In profile its outline is also unique among the Sporting breeds, with a gently broken topline and nearly level underline. An underline with more than a minimal rise into the loin, i.e., tuckup like that of a GSP or setter, is a fault.

Spinone movement is unusual in that it is relaxed and energy-conserving, as is normal with the trotting breeds that are built for stamina. There is flex in the wrist joint and with the widely-placed scapulae; the large, round front feet will rise and fall without exaggeration. The unique profile outline should be held in shape when gaiting. The backline will remain gently broken in Spinoni that are correctly constructed, i.e. have symmetrical angles. An imbalance of angles will create level, sloping, or, the highly undesirable downhill movement. Any exaggeration or imbalance between the front and hind assembly will clearly affect the profile when gaiting. A Spinone that is lacking in length of upper arm, depth and breadth of chest and/or excessive length to the tibia (generally coupled with an overly-short metatarsus) will produce an atypical, and therefore undesirable, gait that may be highly regarded or acceptable in the more elegant Sporting breeds.

The shoulder should mirror the equally-proportioned rear assembly in this breed, with clear definition of a prosternum and a deep and broad chest. The correctly-constructed Spinone will carry its head just above the backline, with the nose pointing slightly downwards, and is therefore unable to move in the extreme style of a German Wirehaired Pointer. The GWPs are considered to be “gallopers” and will carry the stamp of a breed built for hunting at a faster pace in wide, open countryside. The desired gait for a Spinone in the field is an extended trot, with intermittent galloping strides. Therefore, the anatomy of this breed is designed to function at its optimum at the trot. TIP: Loose-lead gaiting at a natural place will illustrate so much more than foot placement in this breed. Check for a deep underline in addition to the lightly broken topline and the correct proportions (i.e. long head, almost-square body-shape, equal leg/chest depth and symmetry of fore/hind angles). High head-carriage is undesirable and may be an indication of poor shoulder placement and an upright front assembly.

Last, but not least, is the essential wiry, close-fitting coat of the Spinone.

Judges are recommended to examine the texture and lay of the coat, in addition to the length, at the mid-line in the center of the ribcage, rather than at the wither, or along the backline. The correct, close-fitting jacket may appear from a distance to be too short, which is our reason for asking judges to take the time to evaluate the coat/skin very carefully. Coat that is soft, with an undercoat, may well stand away from the body . This type of coat is incorrect for the Spinone! Please take the time to grasp the skin as you examine the coat. It must be thick and leathery. Thin skin will often be attached to an incorrect coat in the Spinone. The recommended length of coat on the body is between 1½ inches and 2½ inches. Texture, lay and length are ALL important when evaluating coat type. The skin is of equal importance.

The Spinone iTalianoToplines, Croups and Tailsets. Is there more? by Suzanne Hudson

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It has been brought to the attention of the Judging Operations Department that there still seems to be disquiet regarding the following clarification printed in the most recent issue of the Standard.

Judging Operations is providing the following clarification for judges when judging dogs with visually apparent disqualifications and the expectation that each dog entered be individually examined and gaited. Your demeanor is important as you are most likely dealing with a novice exhibitor. Helping the exhibitor understand either their dog has a breed disqualifying fault or disqualification based on Chapter 11, Section 8 of the Rules Applying to Dog Shows may well encourage the exhibitor as to future participation in the sport of purebred dogs.

The spirit of this policy is that judges are required to examine and gait all dogs regardless of the presence of faults within their standard (deviations) and their severity. Breed disqualifications and lameness are not affected by this policy as Judges can address these as they feel is appropriate for each individual situation and in accordance with the Rules, Regulations and Policies of the American Kennel Club.

Should you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Judging Operations.

To further clarify, judges are permitted to address those entries that may be obviously lame or contain obvious standard disqualifications or conditions of class as provided in Chapter 14, Section 6 of the Rules Applying to Dog Shows. Matters such as a Disqualifying trim in Poodles in the manner in which they feel is appropriate as long as it is in accordance with the Rules, Regulations and Policies of the American Kennel Club. Otherwise, awards cannot be withheld from an entry or an entry may not be excused from the ring for reasons of merit or not complying with a breed standard unless it has been individually examined and gaited first. Consideration must be given to the totality of the attributes and deviations of standard for each entry prior to passing judgment upon them. The only permissible variances are with obvious breed disqualifications, conditions of class and lameness.

Judges should note that shorter hair on the head is desirable – i.e. it may be hand-stripped in order to present some of the most important qualities of the Spinone. Stripping dead hair or tidying of the body coat to present the unique outline of the breed should not be considered as sculpting or molding, but the use of scissors is contrary to the breed standard. Dogs with the correct wiry texture and lay of coat will require only a small amount of hand-stripping. Poor quality coats may not strip at all and excessive, soft leg hair, or the evidence of scissor marks in the case where shaping may have taken place, will all be helpful hints at the pre-groomed texture and quality. Please take the time to carefully evaluate this very important characteristic of the breed.

And back to the three areas that are unique but nonetheless only a portion of the whole Spinone:

The topline is broken but not extreme (or saddle) and rises into the loin, but remains on a horizontal plane with the wither (i.e. the rump is not raised). The underline of the Spinone carries equal importance, with minimal tuck-up.

The croup falls only at an angle of between 30-35 degrees from the horizontal plane, i.e. a gentle roundness over the rump, taking the line of the tail just below the horizontal plane. A short croup may raise the tail above the back (this is incorrect), while an excessive length of croup will incline beyond the desirable 35 degrees. The latter will seriously restrict the hind movement and must be considered to be a serious fault.

The tailset is a continuation of the croup line, with minimal break in the flow of the backline and with the tail carried horizontally or lower. A poor tailset will essentially affect the unique Spinone silhouette, whereas a tail that is set on correctly, but still carried a little high (which is incorrect in a mature dog or bitch) may be just a temporary stage of development. Consideration must be given to separate tailset from tail carriage.

Summary of Essential Elements of the SpinoneHEAD: Long, lean, divergent planes, minimal stop, roof-shaped skull, marked backskull, almost-human expression

SUBSTANCE AND OUTLINE: Nearly square, robust, balanced, gently broken topline, minimal tuckup, tail carried horizontal or down

COAT AND SKIN: Close-fitting, wiry, 1½ to 2½ inches in length on body, no undercoat, thick, leathery skin

GAIT: Relaxed trot, without exaggeration, profile holds while moving, head carried just above backline

We are hoping the above information will assist judges to get closer to the whole picture and expand and refine their understanding of this unique Sporting dog. We appreciate the time you have taken to read this information. Please feel free to contact us with any queries or comments at SCOAJudgesEd@gmail.com.

Please Review

The Spinone iTaliano (continued)

THE STANDARD8

Dear AKC Judge:The Collie Club of America is providing all AKC Collie judges with the following clarification to our Standard. We are sending the most current directive on judging the Sable Merle Collie since you will come into contact with our breed from time to time and we want all judges to be clear on this issue.

We would appreciate it if you would place this addition among your files for your reference.

We hope this information will be of value to you in your future assignments.

Collie Club of America, Inc.

Judging the Sable Merle CollieThe Collie Standard recognizes four colors: “Sable and White”, “Tri-Color”, “Blue Merle” and “White”. Sable Merles appear sable but may exhibit varying degrees of the merling pattern.

Quality, rather than color or pattern, is of foremost importance in judging the Collie. The Standard’s emphasis on overall balance, head properties and expression is clear and should always take precedence over color.

Ideally, the Sable Merle should have dark eyes, matched in color. If the eyes are not dark and matched in color, the Sable Merle should be penalized (not excused or disqualified) to the degree that the expression is affected.

The Standard states “Expression is one of the most important points in considering the relative value of Collies” and “The Collie cannot be judged properly until its expression has been carefully evaluated”. It further states “Eye faults are heavily penalized.”

Sable Merle Collies result from the breeding of a sable to an individual carrying the merle gene. Some sable merles show almost no sign of merling while others very obviously exhibit the merling pattern. However, the identification of a dog’s genotype has to do with breeding, not showing, and hence should not concern judges whose job is to evaluate a dog’s phenotype.

Sable Merle Collies are healthy. The merle gene, inherited from one parent, does not cause any health problems. However, doubling on the merle gene in any breeding can result in deaf and/or blind offspring. Since sable merles are not always obvious as they mature they should be registered as sable merles with the AKC so they can be bred properly.

Sable Merle Collies have been around for a very long time. A really influential sire of the 1930’s, Ch. Hertzville Headstone, was a sable merle. Today there are over 200 AKC sable merle champions. Among them are several CCA National winners, including one Best of Breed winner.

Sable Merle Collies have made important contributions to the gene pool. There are at least three sable merle Register of Merit sires and the all time top-producing dam in breed history is a sable merle.

Education of judges regarding sable merles is important and needs to be clear and concise. We don’t want color to be a distraction from judging the total dog. It is not the judge’s job to determine the genetic makeup of an entry. If a dog exhibits a merling pattern that the judge feels detracts from the general appearance then it should be faulted accordingly, remembering that quality, not color, always comes first. Always keep in mind the Collie Standard’s emphasis on expression. It states: “An expression that shows sullenness or which is suggestive of any other breed is entirely foreign”, “Expression is one of the most important points in considering the relative value of Collies”, and “Eye faults are heavily penalized”. If a sable merle has blue in its eye that the judge feels detracts from the expression, then it should be faulted to the degree that the expression is affected.

Thank you for your consideration.

– Mary Wells Collie Club of America, Inc.

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Herding Group InstituteOnce again in July the American Kennel Club partnered with the Dog Judges of America Association to present an Advanced Judges Institute in Houston, Texas. The subject matter this year was the Herding Group. Attendees had the opportunity to listen and learn from Parent Club endorsed presenters and participated in hands-on workshops. Gina Wieser, AKC Executive Field Representative, also conducted a measuring/weighing clinic. There was even time for some fun and games…

Houston, Texas July 2011

Herding dog judges take their games very seriously :)

THE STANDARD10

Schipperke Club of AmericaMaryAnn Simanek, Corresponding Secretary4004 Sigler CircleJefferson, MD 21755301-834-6302

messchip1@aol.com

August 24, 2011

Dear Schipperke Judge,

The Board of Directors of the Schipperke Club of America is concerned by the current trend or “fashion” toward trimming and/or stripping being seen in the show ring.

Our standard’s section titled TRIMMING states: “As the Schipperke is a natural breed, only trimming of the whiskers and the hair between the pads of the feet is optional. ANY OTHER TRIMMING MUST NOT BE DONE.”

The Schipperke coat pattern and texture are intrinsic characteristics of our breed. Trimming and/or stripping will alter both. A correct, quality coat should be bred, not “styled,” in hopes of achieving the win.

It is essential that the breed standard, in its entirety, be adhered to when judging the Schipperke.

We appreciate your time and your future thoughtful consideration of this when judging our breed. Schipperke Club of America, Inc.

For those judges planning to apply for additional breeds in the future, the Evaluations and Observations received from the Field Staff comprise 45% of the decision made by the Staff Committee on the breeds in which you have applied. Without at least three current evaluations the Staff Committee may not approve your application for additional breeds. If the Staff Committee turns down an applicant you are then prohibited from reapplying for one year from the date denied. The evaluations that were used to grant you regular status may be used on your next application providing that application is within the next three (3) years. If you have not been provisional for breeds within the three years prior to your application or if you have not had any Judging Evaluations from the AKC Executive Field staff in the same time frame, you are advised to request the Field Staff at any upcoming events to observe you in a breed with a sufficient entry in order to have current Evaluations on file. The absence of recent Evaluations or Observations could result in the delay of the processing or the decline of your application by the Staff Committee.

Reminder

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Trimming of the Siberian HuskyThe Board of Directors of the Siberian Husky Club of America wishes to remind all judges of Siberian Huskies of the section in the standard pertaining to coat. It is with increasing concern that we request your particular attention to the following quote:

“Trimming of the whiskers and fur between the toes and around the feet to present a neater appearance is permissible. Trimming of the fur on any other part of the dog is not to be condoned and should be severely penalized.”

It should always be remembered that the Siberian Husky, a very social, active, and NATURAL breed, is one of the easiest to groom and prepare for the show ring. A current tendency to over-chalk and alter the coat by scissoring or stripping has become a prevalent practice in all areas of the country. The natural outline of the Siberian is one of great beauty.

We grant there are other levels of responsibility in the trimming of the Siberian. Due to the expertise of exhibitors whose skill in sculpting is permitted in many other breeds, it is not always easy to detect. But we urge you to give this serious consideration before making your final selections. The NATURAL beauty of the Siberian should be protected as intended by the charter members of the Siberian Husky Club of America. In the conformation ring, it is the sole responsibility of the judge to select those Siberians that best meet the Standard of the breed.

– Phyllis Brayton SHCA Education Chair

At the September 2011 meeting of the Delegate Body of the American Kennel Club, the Reserve Best in Show Award was passed with an implementation date of July 3, 2012. A Reserve Best in Show must also be offered by any club giving group classes. The Reserve Best in Show winner will be chosen by the same judge that has been assigned Best in Show from the remaining group winners in the ring after awarding Best in Show.

The second place from the group in which the Best in Show winner advanced from WILL NOT be called into the ring for the selection of Reserve Best in Show.

Reserve Best in Show

THE STANDARD12

Dear AKC Judges,

The Board of Directors of the Black Russian Terrier Club of America has become aware that there have been recent incidents relating to judging under our new standard that require attention. Specific issues reported include requesting a wicket during ring judging and incorrect comments made pertaining to size. As a result, the Board thought it prudent to remind all Black Russian Terrier judges of our revised breed standard, and request that you take time to review it.

The Black Russian Terrier is not a giant breed, and must retain proper proportion in order to be able to perform its designated working function. It must have good bone and musculature. Here is what the standard addresses in regard to size:

“�The�height�for�males�at�maturity�(over�18�months�of�age)��is�between�27"�and�30"�with�the�desired�height�being�between�27"�and�29".�The�height�for�females�at�maturity�(over�18�months�of�age)�is�between�26"�and�29"�with�the�desired�height�being�between�26"�and�28".�Any�height�deviation�is�a�serious�fault.�Height�consideration�should�not�outweigh�that�of�type,�proportion,�movement�and�other�functional�attributes.”��(Emphasis�added)

We also ask that, in reviewing our standard, you notice the updated section on coat and grooming.

The time you take to study and judge our breed is appreciated. If you have any questions about our standard or application of any particular point to our breed, please feel free to contact me directly and I will be glad to review the standard with you.

The future of our breed is not only in the hands of our breeders, but in the eyes of our judges. Thank you again for your service on behalf of our Black Russian Terriers.

Sincerely,

Susan Sholar BRTCA Judges Education Coordinator/Director

13THE STANDARD

Hound InstituteIn August 2011, the American Kennel Club presented an Advanced Hound Institute in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was our first time holding an Advanced Institute in this area and we could not have been happier with the facility. Many thanks to the Penn Ridge Kennel Club and the Keystone Cluster for making us feel so welcome and accommodating. Not only were the attendees afforded the opportunity to hear from some phenomenal presenters, but in addition they attended some valuable hands-on workshops. Some of those workshops were held outside as the weather was extremely cooperative, where both the dogs and the attendees seemed very comfortable!

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania August 2011

THE STANDARD14

ACROSS 1. WascreatedinpartduetoRedStarKennels,

anarmy-controlledSovietkenneldedicatedtodevelopingspecial-dutybreeds.

3. In1925,thecityofNome,AKwasstrickenbyadiphtheriaepidemicanddogteamsofthisbreedledheroic“serumruns”toretrieveantitoxins.

5. Oneoftheoldestarcticsleddogs,wasnamedafterthenativeInnuittribecalledMahlemuts.

10. ThebreedisIceland’sonlynativedog.GainedfullrecognitionJuly1,2010.

12. NativetoJapanHelenKelleriscreditedwithbringingthefirstintotheUnitedStatesin1937.

13. AReindeerherder;Sleddog;Multi-purposedogaccompaniedRoaldAmundseninhissuccessfulreachoftheSouthPolein1911.

14. Originallyusedtolocatefreezingandhelplesstravelersduringsnowstorms.

DOWN 2. Theiruniquefootstructure(atleastsixtoesoneachfoot)

andunusualflexibilityenabledthemtoclimbthesteep,rockycliffsandnavigatethesmallburrowsandcreviceswherethePuffinsnest.

4. Alsoknownasthe“VikingarnasHund,”the“VikingDog.”Theirherdingstyleislowtothegroundandtheyherdbyroundingupandnippingatthehocks.

6. AhuntingdogthatoriginatedinNorwayasearlyas5000B.C.usedtohuntelk,bear,andotherwildanimals.

7. AncientversionsofthisbreedtraveledwithVikingsontheirmanyjourneyshavebeendocumentedasfarbackastheyear900.

8. ThenationaldogofFinland.Directshishuntertotreedgamewithadistinctiveringingbarkoryodelandpointstothepreywithheadandmuzzle.

9. AlsoknownasLapinkoira.Thefirstbreedstandardwasacceptedin1945inFinland.

11. Possessesablue-blacktongue,Hunter;guarddog.

Answers on Page 16

AKC’s Breeds from

Northern

Descent

THE STANDARD

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T

HE

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hA

KC

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dg

e

SENIOR EDITOR

Tim Thomas

EDITOR

Ines Maldonado

CONTRIBUTORS

Darrell HayesTim ThomasInes MaldonadoGina WieserCurt WillisSusan Sholar Phyllis BraytonSuzanne HudsonMary Wells

PRODUCTION EDITOR

Kathy Caruana

DESIGNER

Monica Tate

PUBLISHED BY

The American Kennel Club for Approved Conformation and Junior Showmanship Judges

The Most Useful and Beneficial Institute Available to New Judges

The Only Institute Approved by the American Kennel Club to Fulfill theRequirement for Judging Applicants Applying After January 1, 2009

PRE-REGISTRATION FOR SEMINAR ENCOURAGED

Ring Procedure • Evaluating Dogs • The Approval Process

Februrary 4, 2012 Arizona State Fairgrounds – Phoenix, AZ

In conjunction with the Heart of the Desert Classic Dog Show

Februrary 5, 2012 Arizona State Fairgrounds – Phoenix, AZ

Judging Junior Showmanship Seminar

March 17, 2012 York Interstate Fairgrounds – York, PAIn conjunction with the Celtic Cluster Dog Show

March 18, 2012 York Interstate Fairgrounds – York, PA

Judging Junior Showmanship Seminar

AKC Advanced Toy Group & Low Entry/FSS Breeds Institute

In conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship

December 15-18, 2011 – Orlando, FL

Advanced Judges Institutes

For additional information including registration, contactKathy Caruana at kac1@akc.org or (919) 816-3862.

To view the complete listing of seminars and to download registration forms, click here.

The AKC Institute for Aspiring and Newly Approved Judges

ACROSS1. Black Russian Terrier3. Siberian Husky5. Alaskan Malamute10. Icelandic Sheepdog12. Akita13. Samoyed14. Saint Bernard

DOWN2. Norwegian Lundehund4. Swedish Vallhund6. Norwegian Elkhound7. Norwegian Buhund8. Finnish Spitz9. Finnish Lapphund11. Chow Chow

Answers from Crossword Puzzle on page 14.