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Judging Operations Department Spring 2015 8051 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite 100 Volume 16 Raleigh, NC 27617-3390 Number 64 (919) 816-3639 [email protected] Judging Approval Process Proposal S fter several months of review and discussion by the Board, a revised E G version of the Judging Approval Proposal authored by members D ofA the Board of Directors was distributed via email to all conformation U J judges, delegates, club officers, exhibitors and members of the dog press on N Thursday, April 30, 2015. The latest version resulted from comments and O I recommendations made by the fancy, staff and Board members related to T A the original draft. RM The information distributed via email was also posted on the AKC website O F and included the revised draft proposal, an overview of the modifications made, a sample matrix of educational criteria for additional breed applicants ON C and the special email address created to receive feedback. As with the original distribution last fall, the information and all related documents were posted OR F for a 21 day period as directed by the Board to afford the fancy an opportunity R to review and comment on it. That period expired on May 21st, with all E T related information regarding the revised proposal then being removed from T E the website. L S It is the intent of the Board to review the comments offered by the fancy W E during the 21 day period prior to and at its June 2015 meeting. Based on the N feedback received it will determine if additional modifications should be made C K to the proposal before considering for adoption at the June meeting. A E If and when a revised Judging Approval Process has been adopted by the H T Board, the effective date will be approximately three months after adoption. All information pertaining to the newly adopted policy will be disseminated by the Judging Operations Department to the judging community and posted on the AKC website. Until that should occur, all applications submitted must satisfy the requirements of the current Judging Approval Process. AKC National Owner-Handled FSS Open Shows: Series: The AKC Board of Directors has expanded All-Breed clubs offering NOHS at their the types of clubs that are eligible to host events on or after October 8, 2015 will now FSS Open Shows to include all-breed clubs award a Reserve Best Owner-Handled in effective July 1, 2015. AKC approved Show just as is done for regular competition. conformation judges (approved for at least As with the regular competition, the reserve one breed) and any individual who has is selected from the seven NOHS group applied for and received approval as an Open Show judge winners in competition for NOHS Best in are eligible to judge Show. Judges assigned to judge the NOHS FSS Open Shows and the 4-6 month Best in Show competition shall first award Puppy Competitions. NOHS Reserve Best in Show, followed by NOHS Best in Show. Junior Showmanship: The AKC Board Approved the following • Section 13. Ribbons and Prizes. The revision to the Junior Showmanship color of ribbons or rosettes for Junior Regulations and Guidelines for Judging Showmanship Classes shall be: Juniors in Conformation with an effective – First Prize: Rose date of October 7, 2015. – Second Prize: Brown • Best Junior Handler. A club offering Junior Showmanship must offer Best – Third Prize: Light Green Junior Handler. If a prize is offered, – Fourth Prize: Gray it must be described in the premium – Participation Ribbon for Novice list in accordance with Rules Applying Class exhibitors that do not receive a to Dog Shows Chapter 5, Section 5. The placement at the option of the Club: Junior Handler placed first in each Light Blue. This ribbon is not required to of the regular Junior Showmanship have the club name and date. Classes, if undefeated in any other Junior – Best Junior: Rose and Green Showmanship Class at that show, shall automatically be eligible to compete for – Reserve Best Junior: Rose and Gray Best Junior Handler. It is important to recognize that the • Reserve Best Junior Handler. A club Reserve Best Junior is handled as a offering Junior Showmanship may offer “true reserve,” where after Best Junior is Reserve Best Junior Handler. If a prize awarded, 2nd place from the class from is offered, it must be described in the which it advanced is called back into the premium list in accordance with Rules ring to compete for Reserve Best Junior. Applying to Dog Shows Chapter 5, Section 5. AKC staff felt it was very important from After the judge has awarded the Best an educational standpoint that the reserve Junior Handler, the second place winner was handled as true reserve similar to the from the class that the Junior was awarded Winners and Reserve Winners Classes. Best Junior Handler is to return to the ring to compete for Reserve Best Junior Handler. UPDATES...UPDATES...UPDATES...UPDATES...UPDATES 2 THE STANDARD 80% Contents RAMP UPDATES ~IN THIS ISSUE~ The AKC Board of Directors at its October 2014 meeting instructed staff to write to the parent Judging Approval Process Proposal ............. 1 clubs of breeds currently on the “ramp breeds list” and inquire if the parent club prefers that Updates .................................................... 2 the ramp remain optional at the discretion of the judge or does the parent club wish that the Ramp Updates ........................................... 3 ramp be expected for their breed. Clubs were Natural Selections ...................................... 4 given until March 15, 2015 to reply with an effective date of July 1, 2015 for any changes Norwich Terrier Club of America ................ 6 that were to result from this inquiry. Golden Retriever Club of America .............. 7 The AKC Judging Operations Department on March 27, 2015 notified all conformation The United States Australian Shepherd judges via email as per the request of their Association: Critical Breed Proportions .........8 parent clubs, effective July 1, 2015 Sussex Getting to Know the Spaniels and Chinese Shar-Pei must be judged Judging Operations Department ................. 9 on the ramp in all conformation competition associated with AKC conformation dog shows Recommendation Regarding or at which AKC conformation titles may be Conducting Oral Exams ........................... 10 earned. This requirement applies to breed, group, BIS, Jr. Showmanship, 4-6 month puppy Sloughi and American Hairless Terrier ...... 10 competition, and the AKC NOHS competition. 2015 Advanced Judging Institute.............. 11 In addition, based upon its request, the Cirneco dell’Etna has been added to the list of Weigh/Measure Tutorial Guides ............... 12 breeds eligible to be judged on the ramp at the Chihuahua Club of America ..................... 12 discretion of the judge effective July 1, 2015. The Table-Ramp list has been updated and is English Springer Spaniel Field available on the AKC website. Trial Association ...................................... 13 The Norfolk Terrier Club ........................... 14 Emeritus Judges ....................................... 15 Upcoming Seminars ................................. 16 THE STANDARD 3 Natural Selection atural selection is a phenomenon of nature. One of AKC’s recent initiatives to help draw and/ NBy definition, Natural selection is one of the or keep exhibitors in our sport is the creation and basic mechanisms of evolution and Darwin’s most subsequent promotion of the AKC National Owner- famous theory; stating that evolutionary change Handled Series. Unfortunately, as is often time comes through the production of variation in each our nature, this was received with skepticism and generation and differential survival of individuals ridicule from exhibitors, handlers, the dog press and with different combinations of these variable most unfortunately, many judges. A couple of years characters. In simple terms, evolve or die. later, I think I’ve heard it all as far as what is “wrong Darwin’s theory in essence also applies to with it,” but what is evident is what is “right with it” conformation dog shows. Our sport has evolved is that those exhibitors who are eligible and compete in many ways over the years; the addition of new enjoy it tremendously. If you are yet to come to the breeds, the growth of clusters, evening specialties, same conclusion, please take a look. concurrent specialties, televised events and the Without a doubt the program has been far from Grand Championship titles are just a few examples. flawless. There have been difficulties with getting With every change comes griping and grumbling the judges and the stewards on the same page and screams that we are “tearing at the fibers of the regarding how to designate the award. But, with sport!” But to date, we have evolved and survived. consistent effort on the part of AKC staff to educate, However, we face changes today unique to anytime it has improved. But no matter how many charts in the past. First and foremost societal changes are created, articles are written, videos are created have had a direct impact on the make-up of our and letters are sent; it will not make a difference constituents, what factors attract and draw new unless the judge (and steward) makes an effort people into our sport as well as the attention to understand the process and cares that he or span of those who do compete. We are an instant she does it correctly. The biggest shame of all is gratification and immediate result society. Like that some who have chosen not to make an effort it or not, times have changed. For years, the to understand then elect to display their distain greatest minds of our sport have pontificated through their demeanor toward the exhibitors who on how we can stop the decline of entries at our compete in the NOHS competition. conformation shows. While almost everyone has had an opinion, there is no quick fix or immediate solution.

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