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Education Education Education .....There Can’t Be Too Much Education

I attended the Judges’ Hound Seminar organized by the Oakville & District Kennel Club.  It was two full days of presentations by breeders of Irish Wolfhounds, Whippets, Scottish Deerhounds, Black & Tan

Coonhounds, Norwegian Elkhounds, Bassett Hounds, Afghan Hounds and Blood Hounds.  I had never been to a judges’ breed seminar before.  Now that I have experienced it, I will want to attend as many as I can.

First, I was very impressed with the Oakville and District Kennel Club that organized this event.  They did a great job with the venue, had beautiful handouts in a binder about each breed and also provided all the presenters’ programs on a CD to review again at home.

Second, it was interesting to see who showed up to the seminar.  I have a lot of respect for the judges that attended.  It proved to me that they truly are interested in understanding

the breeds and to make judging fair across the group.  The judges asked pertinent questions and genuinely seemed interested in understanding each breed presented.  There were a few owner handlers there, but not near enough.  These seminars are for anyone interested in learning about the other breeds.

Third, we compete in the Hound Group and I want to know about the breeds I regularly compete with.  How can I complain if I don’t know a good wolfhound or whippet?  I hate hearing people leaving the ring putting down another breed that won, when they can’t explain accurately why that dog wasn't worthy of the placement.  I encourage owner handlers to take advantage of this kind of educational opportunities.  It’s not enough to just know your

breed’s standard, you need to at least understand your group.  I really don’t think anyone can complain about a loss or tout a judge’s decision to award you the win if you don’t understand why it is happening.

Fourth but not the least, thanks to Pierry McLean for providing Royal Canin’s facility for the seminar, to Barbara Heal for taking great pictures, to all the presenters for sharing information about their breeds and again to the Oakville and District Kennel Club for providing a wonderful experience and a delicious lunch on each day and making the atmosphere very welcoming.

 Mixed Breeds Allowed at Westminster Agility Competition

Roo, "All American" Mix Breed competing at Westminster Agility 2014

I have been mulling this over for several weeks since I returned from Westminster.  I have seriously tried to weigh all information to make a final decision on my opinion about mixed breeds participating at the grandest Dog Show in the USA.

I don’t like it!  I don’t agree with it!  I hope it never happens again!

In my opinion the inclusion of mixed breeds at Westminster is a fissure that will get bigger and bigger unless the dog fancy steps up to make it clear that it is unacceptable.  When the dog fancy allows mixed breeds to compete in agility, the conformation of the dogs may not be well suited for the various obstacles and could cause pain and injury to the dogs.  How educated or informed are the mixed breed owners to conformation, structure and movement?  With so little information given at adoption, only a real dog fancier would see poor shoulder placement and lack of reach, etc, etc, etc.

True dog fanciers spend an outrageous amount of money, time and personal sacrifice to perpetuate the breed standards, healthy dogs and to research and find methods to eliminate genetic faults or disease.  How is this wrong? Why should we allow ourselves to be considered some kind of second class dog citizen? 

I say that the Prestigious Westminster Kennel Club allowing mix breeds to participate in the same forum as pure breeds, we have given the public and all our dog fancy opponents the message that we are willing to admit that we have been wrong, elitist snobs and we are now willing to recognize the error of our ways and welcome mix breeds as our equals. 

With comments like the one below, we will be hard pressed to combat puppy mills and pet store dog sales.

Here is an excerpt from CBS NY newscast:

Nicole Bozich of Southern Pines, N.C., recalls being petrified by dogs before her husband persuaded her to get Audie, a probably-pug-terrier mix that a pet store was selling for $20. Obedience classes evolved into agility training and, eventually, into a spot in Saturday’s contest.

“If you told me five years ago that I’d be at Westminster showing a dog,” Bozich said, “I wouldn’t believe you.” 

Congratulations to Colton O’Shea on winning the World Junior Handling Champion at the Crufts 2014 International Junior Handling Competition in Birmingham, England on March 8, 2014.  

Colton is a Nova Scotia native and qualified to compete at Crufts by becoming the Canadian National Junior Handling Conformation Champion 2013. 

Congratulations also to Colton's family, his mentors and the CKC Junior Handler's Program that helped to nurture him.

Colton has made Canada very proud and we wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.

Remember to go to www.canuckdogs.com for all the latest Canadian Dog Event Schedules, updates and results.  Canuck Dogs is a 100% volunteer service headed by Sue Coghlan.  Remember to contact Sue early about your 2014 advertising campaign.