AKITA BEST IN MAINE

CH Nakodo's Reign Of Glory

It was day two in Scarborough ME and Sulie Greendale-Paveza was in the final ring for the York County Kennel Club of Maine.  Among her finalists were the Irish Setter, CH Shadagee’s Caught Red Handed, the Afghan Hound, CH Genesis Silverado, the Akita, CH Nakodo's Reign Of Glory, the Cairn Terrier, CH Maverston Double Dutch, the Toy Poodle, CH Smash Jp Moon Walk, the Miniature Poodle, CH Surrey Sugar Spice, and an Australian Shepherd, Propwash Bindi.  Today the BIS winner was the Akita, Echo, her first this year.  Congratulations to breeder/owner Keith Venezia and handler Paul Levesque.

KERRY BLUE BIS IN OYSTER BAY

CH Bluebeard’s Suddenly Bridey

(Photo by Kenneth Reed Photography)

Ron Menaker was in Oyster Bay NY on Long Island to judge BIS for today’s  Ladies' Kennel Association Of America show.  His Best was the Kerry Blue Terrier, CH Bluebeard’s Suddenly Bridey.  Also in the final were the Irish Setter, Ramblin’ Red Luxury Tax, the Norwegian Elkhound, CH Sumerri Dunharrow’s Devil Ray, the Rottweiler, CH Falkore Taking Care Of Bizness STNHDG, the Affenpinscher, CH Velvet Dandy’s Dipsy, the Chow Chow, E-Lin Traveling Man, and the Puli, CH Moremi Matter Of Fact.  It’s the first all breed BIS this year for Bridey, the nation’s top winning Kerry Blue.  Congratulations to breeders/owners Lawrence & Carole Brown.

BEAGLE BIS AT BLENNERHASSET

CH Torquay Midnight Confession

They also have four shows scheduled in Marietta OH where today’s opener was hosted by the Blennerhassett Kennel Club.  Dr Robert Indeglia’s seven finalists were the English Springer Spaniel, CH Cerise Tender Is The Night, the 15” Beagle, CH Torquay Midnight Confession, the Boxer, CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, the Border Terrier, CH Meadowlake Overnight Celebrity, the Pug, CH Woo Woo It's A Derby Shuga Daddy‘, the Chinese Shar-Pei, CH Chaoyangs Take It To The Limit, and the Old English Sheepdog, CH Bugaboo's Big Shot.  Lola and breeder/owner/handler Marcelo Chagas have been having a very good spring winning five all breed BIS since the beginning of April.

GREYHOUND IN JACKSON TN

CH GrandCru Clos Erasmus

Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine was in Jackson TN today to do Best In Show for the Jackson Tennessee Dog Fanciers Association.  Her seven hopefuls were the Flat Coat Retriever, CH Wingmaster's History Repeats CD JH RE, the Greyhound, CH GrandCru Clos Erasmus, the Boxer, CH Bravo N Sunset Stealing Time, the Norwich Terrier, CH Skyscots Poker Chip, the Pekingese, CH PalaceGarden Malachy, the Keeshond,  CH  Red Fox's One Wing In The Fire, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek’s Sangria V Barick.  BIS went to the Greyhound, Era.  BIS number five just night move Era and breeder/owner/handler Rindi Gaudet into the Top Twenty All Breeds.

AND THE BIG BIG WEEK BEGINS

CH Riversong’s Broadway Joe

Our big big weekend begins in Scarborough ME where the Vacationland Dog Club opened a four day set with Catherine Bell in the final ring.  She chose the Pug, CH Riversong’s Broadway Joe, as her BIS.  Also in her final were the Irish Setter, CH Shadagee Caught Red Handed, the Afghan Hound, CH Genesis Silverado, the Newfoundland, CH Bowater's Even Now, the Cairn Terrier, CH Maverston Double Dutch,  the Keeshond, CH Darkenwald's Cavaliar O'Southcar, and the Bearded Collie, CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins.    It was the first big rosette for the country’s number one Pug.  Congratulations to breeder/owner Carolyn Koch and handler Barry Clothier.

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER

You can tell school’s out for summer by checking this coming weekend’s dog shows, perhaps the busiest weekend of the year with 48, yes we said 48 all breed shows.  This is going to be confusing so find yourself a map of the US and follow along.

We start with the Northeast where we have shows in three locations.  There are four shows in Scarborough ME starting tomorrow hosted by the Vacationland Dog Club & the York County Kennel Club Of Maine.  Or you can head over to Alexander NY, near Buffalo, for the Wyoming Valley Kennel Club’s two shows.  In the NYC area, head out to LongIsland (residents think it’s one word) for three shows, Friday & Saturday with the Ladies Kennel Association of America in Oyster Bay & Sunday with the Long Island Kennel Club in Bethpage.

Head on down to the Mid Atlantic region and you can spend Saturday & Sunday in Manassas VA with the Mattaponi Kennel Club, in Gray TN with the Greater Kingsport Kennel Club, or in Florence SC with the Myrtle Beach Kennel Club.   A little further south you get the same offer from the Greater Fort Myers Dog Club in Ft Meyers FL. 

Ohioans get a full four days (Thursday to Sunday) in Marietta OH courtesy of the Greater Clarksburg WV Kennel Club & the Blennerhassett Kennel Club.  25 miles east of Flint MI is Corruna, Site of this weekend’s Genesee County Kennel Club.  The Packerland Kennel Club, the Oshkosh Kennel Club, & the
Winnegamie Dog Club are in Oshkosh WI for three days starting Friday.  Midwesterners can head to Greentown IN, 60 miles north of Indianapolis.

Look for us Saturday in Jackson TN, just 80 miles from us here in Memphis, where there are four days with the Jackson Tennessee Dog Fanciers Association & the Clarksville Kennel Club starting Thursday.  The Sunflower Kennel Club Of Olathe, Kansas will be in Gardner KS on Saturday & Sunday.  The little guys will be in Oklahoma City for twofer with the Central Oklahoma Toy Dog Club.  Visit the Texas state capital for two days with the Austin Kennel Club or head out to the Four Corners, where CO, UT,AZ, & NM meet, for three days (Friday to Sunday) with the Durango Kennel Club in Cortex CO.  Cortex is 400 miles SW of Denver, 350 miles SE of Salt Lake City, 400 miles NE of Phoenix, & 250 miles NW of Albuquerque, i.e.  in the middle of nowhere.   If they get entries from all those big cities, it could be quite a competition.

Our final three locations all have a topographical connection.  There are shows  in Logan UT, 80 miles north of Salt Lake City, with the Mount Ogden Kennel Club.  Out in the Pacific Northwest the action will be in Lyden WA where the Mt Baker Kennel Club will give us two.    Just north of San Francisco, the Coyote Hills Kennel Club has Saturday/Sunday shows in Vallejo CA.  In the South State the Mt Palomar Kennel Club will spend the weekend in Valley Center CA, 40 miles north of San Diego.

So burn a tank of gas and visit an AKC dog show.  You’ll never have more to choose from.

A VERY CLOSE TOP FIVE

CH Dawin Spitfire

The Standard Poodle, CH Dawin Spitfire, made it BACK2BACK BIS in Albuquerque NM today.  Also on hand in William Cunningham’s ring were the Irish Setter, CH Antares Amelia Earhart,  the Whippet, CH Sporting Fields Bahama Sands, the Portuguese Water Dog, CH Spyglass's Legend Of Bahia, the Welsh Terrier, CH Bayleigh Shaireab's Super Hero, the Maltese, CH Rhapsody's Regarding Henry, and the Old English Sheepdog, CH Bugaboo's Georgie Girl.  And suddenly our top five is looking very close.

AKC HEARD YOUR INPUT! THE JUDGING FEE HAS BEEN RESCINDED!

We just received the following:

May 18, 2010

Today the American Kennel Club faces unprecedented financial challenges. These challenges not only impact us in the present, but also raise critical questions about our future.

There was a time when the American Kennel Club’s robust registration revenue provided the opportunity for the sport to flourish and the ability to do more for dogs grew unabated. However, the past few years have witnessed a marked downward spiral in registrations, leaving the memories of yesterday in the wake of the harsh realities of today. Therefore, it has been necessary to embark on a number of new initiatives in the quest for additional revenue. At the same time, there has been a constant tightening of all expenses in ways that, thus far, have not impacted our preeminent position in the world of dogs.

Our ability to maintain a reasonable operating budget has come from alternative revenue sources, as well as some previously enacted revenue initiatives that have required exhibitors, clubs, and registered handlers to accept increased or new fees. In addition, there have been significant staff and expense reductions at AKC. When revenues fell below projections, staff made the necessary cuts to avoid an operating loss. While purebred dog organizations in other countries face serious threats to their very existence, we have been able to maintain the high level of our services to the sport, launch new programs, continue our important philanthropic contributions, and protect a financial reserve that helps ensure our future. Yet the decline in revenue continues.

Our judges are crucial to our sport. They not only officiate at our events; they are thought leaders, mentors, and breed experts who help bring the next generation of the fancy to maturation. Now it is time for judges to join the other constituencies of the AKC - clubs, breeders, exhibitors, and registered handlers – to make a financial contribution to help maintain the quality of the sport we all love so much.

With this in mind, at its May 2010 meeting the AKC Board voted, without an opposing vote, to enact a fee for conformation judges. The need for that fee is undeniable. The feedback from the judging community on the necessity for the fee has been very supportive. However, the feedback on the methodology for application of the fee has met with universal disapproval. Healthy debate is critical to the viability of a strong and vibrant organization. The Board values the opinions of the judging community and appreciates the many constructive suggestions offered concerning the fee structure methodology.

With the input of the judging community in mind, the Board today has taken the following actions:

1.    The previously approved fee structure has been withdrawn by the Board and new fee structures will be considered. The concept of judges’ fees remains intact.
2.    The Board has instructed AKC staff to revisit the alternatives discussed over the past year in addition to the other suggestions made recently by several judges to arrive at several equitable methods for consideration.
3.    The Board has instructed AKC staff to meet again with representatives of judges organizations for input on these methodologies before any final decision is made.

It is imperative that all of us come together to face our challenges with the same passion, sportsmanship, and determination that is the hallmark of the great competitive spirit of the fancy. When we have come together in this manner in the past, we have accomplished great things. For the good of the sport we all love so much, we must now move forward together.

Ronald H. Menaker   
Chairman of the Board

We thank all those that stepped forward and contributed to a solution to this issue. We hope that all the stake holders continue a open and honest dialogue that puts the best interests of the pure bred dog first.

HOW WILL THE NEW JUDGES FEE IMPACT OUR SPORT?

CH Foxrhode Virgils Morgan
An English Foxhound, AKC’s Rarest Breed

For the most part we consider ourselves a cheer leader for AKC dog shows.  Every week we encourage the public to visit a dog show and dutifully report on every all breed show for those who didn’t get to attend the shows.  So whenever we hear of something that might negatively impact the shows, we are alarmed.  We were recently told of AKC’s plan to charge judges for the privilege of judging your breed.  AKC recently mailed a letter to all conformation judges that states in part,

“Judges will be charged an annual maintenance fee of $50 and a $10 per breed per year fee, however in the first year (2011) the per breed fee will be reduced to $5. The initial billing will be sent out in early November of this year. Fee per breed will be calculated on November 1st of each calendar year and will be based on the number of breeds that an individual has either regular or provisional status for on that date. The $25 judging application per breed fee charged all applicants including delegates will not be increased.”

That means that an all breed judge would have to pay nearly $1700 annually to be able to judge all 164 breeds.  One would think that with the current inventory of judges getting grayer by the hour, the AKC would be doing everything they could to encourage qualified people to enter the judging ranks, not encourage people to get out of the business.  Now, quite a few of our judges already contribute more than $1700 to AKC sponsored charities, but we suspect they might rankle at being told to cough up another $1700 for the AKC’s general fund.  Try as we may, we cannot come up with a rationalization that makes us believe that this will increase the number or quality of our judges.

We have another concern.  One thing we are passionate about is the preservation of what the British Kennel Club call “breeds at risk“.  We use that term to refer to those breeds which have annual registrations around 200 or less.  Think about that. More than 25 percent of AKC breeds are “at risk”.   Now, if you read this blog, chances are you have actually seen a Komondor in person, but how many people out there have never been to a dog show?   Do you think that the average dog owner could tell the difference among an American Foxhound, an English Foxhound, or a Harrier?  Most of these at risk breeds have been saved from extinction by dedicated people who rely on AKC conformation shows to educate the general public about their breeds.   What will happen to these breeds now that judges will have to pay for the right to judge these rare breeds?  Might a judge decide that he/she could reduce their annual fee by eliminating those breeds they rarely see anyway?  Maybe not, more likely the judge will just decide to go back to being a dog fancier and an occasional exhibitor and leave judging to those people that don’t mind paying more and getting nothing more. 

A Face Book group, I Am Opposed to the Judges Maintenance/Breed Fee, was formed this past Friday in protest and already has over 2400 members.  We encourage you to educate yourself on this issue and contact AKC with your concerns.  We truly believe that the future of our sport is in jeopardy.

LOTS OF POINTS IN ALBUQUERQUE

CH Dawin Spitfire

Three of the four shows in Albuquerque NM are in the record books.  There were nearly 5000 points  up for grabs. The Coronado Kennel Club of New Mexico opened their two shows with Norman Patton calling the Best In Show.  His final seven were the Golden Retriever, CH Budddy’s Boppity-Bop Blue Moon, the Whippet, CH Sporting Field’s Bahama Sands, the Rottweiler, CH Cammcastle’s Kore Elements CGC, the Welsh Terrier, CH Bayleigh Shaireab’s Super Hero, the Havanese, CH Bellatak McDreamy, the Standard Poodle, CH Dawin Spitfire, and the Bouvier des Flandres, CH Donlee Jewel of Aquitaine.  He went with the nation’s Number One Non-Sporting Dog, the Standard Poodle, Jetta.  It’s BIS number 12 this year for Jetta and handler Sarah Riedl.  Check back with us later for today's results.