AKC Revises Driving Distance for Dog Shows

I am providing an update to my earlier Blog Post titled, "Sad to See" which discussed the issue of far too many AKC all-breed conformation dog shows and the impact it is having on long-established all-breed kennel clubs. Now, the AKC has lowered the barriers for even more dog shows which, by the way, generates more entry revenue for the AKC. If many of you were not aware, every Premium List includes the following verbiage: "Including $3.00 AKC event service fee per entry & $.50 AKC recording fee first entry only."

During the July 2016 BOD Meeting, the AKC Directors approved a modification to the Limited Number of Events Policy which revises the road mileage or distance between show sites. Specifically, to balance with the existing policy of 75 straight-line miles between territories the optional criteria for isolated status will now be reduced from 100 miles to 75 miles. This change will provide additional clubs the opportunity to apply for isolated status which means, even more, dog shows!

What determines club isolation? Here is AKC's definition: "Geographically isolated clubs are determined by there being no AKC club within 75 straight-line miles between territories unless the clubs show site is greater than 75 driving miles from the nearest show site" -- (Their definition and not mine)

As a result and by AKC's calculations, verbatim: "In an analysis of potential shows sites, it was determined that 47 sites/clubs may be allowed to hold additional shows at their show sites by decreasing the driving mile threshold to 75. (This includes 21 clubs currently considered isolated in the continental US). When compared to the 100-mile driving distance this is an increase from 9 to 26 additional potential isolated sites.

Wow, just 75 miles creates isolationism for an AKC purebred dog event. I am amazed -- it is no wonder that we are envisioning tumbleweeds at the show circuits that I already discussed in my Sad to See blog post! As an influential encore, Judges are not allowed to judge the same Breed, Group, and Best in Show assignment within a 200-mile straight line distance of one another, yet, we have AKC all-breed shows only 75 miles distant and to boot, anything over that is considered a remote territory!

What a farce! No one can complain to me about having to drive hours to get to a dog show since I have lived in the Adirondack mountain resort of Lake Placid, New York for approximately 32 years. The nearest kennel club association is either Montreal, Quebec that is two hours distant or the Glens Falls Kennel Club. The latter is an hour and a half distant at a minimum -- depending on the season and good weather -- because we have to come down and out from the mountains which can be treacherous in the winter and painfully slow in the warmer months due to the tourists. However, even then, this is not to reach a conformation dog show event. Member kennel clubs are permitted to hold two shows annually, and as so many kennel clubs have done in recent decades, almost all in the Eastern region of upstate New York have clustered together to make ends meet, and the location of choice is the Eastern Exposition Center in West Springfield, MA. As a result, the usual distance for me to drive so that I can exhibit my hounds in the United States is 3 hours and forty minutes or 222 miles each way.

Despite the hardships that I endure in exhibiting my hounds, even I believe there are too many all-breed conformation events! Pray tell, why? I enter an event at a typical cost of $32.00 per entry -- often taking two to make it worth my while -- and the breed judging attracted low or minimal entries. Therefore, only one point is available in either sex. My familiar scenario is that the scheduled ring time judging is 8:30 AM and the show is nearly four hours away so I must pack up and drive down the day before and pay for a hotel room. All this for just one point and when I arrive at the show ring; the competition is absent because it was not worth their time. You can substitute 2 points for the one point -- it does not make a difference as it frequently happens for two points as it does for one point. Now, do this time and time again and you might just begin to get an inkling of what I have experienced for decades now. As I am fond of saying, "Welcome to my world." In my opinion, the system and sport are broken.

The facts are, according to AKC, it has over 600 independent member clubs who send delegates to AKC meetings to vote on rule changes and policy issues, and over 4,500 licensed and sanctioned clubs who conduct AKC-approved events. Still, why do we need more shows to bankrupt the previously fiscally sound kennel clubs or to steal more volunteers, and members away from once esteemed associations that fanciers once felt privileged to belong? The answer, is that we do not but, if not then why is this happening? Is it all about the money?

Foreign Judges

If you read my previous blog posts you will already know that I attended the Westminster Kennel Club 2016 dog show. My take-away on both the breed judging's massive crowds at The Piers in NYC, and the lack of women's restroom facilities has been discussed earlier. I will mention that if I entertain another visit to WKC, I will not attend the breed judging programs, instead just the Group Judging events on both evenings. I'd much rather while away my day enjoying NYC's numerous attractions instead of re-experiencing the awful crowds during breed judging. Being on your feet, as one cannot find a seat, from 8:30AM until 4:00PM and walking the long distances in and between the Piers is exhausting, especially when you cannot view the competitions.  

However, when I posted from the show I did not go into detail about a glaring issue that was maddening to watch. During breed judging it was plain to see that a foreign judge had limited knowledge to proficiently judge dogs in accordance with AKC procedure. Not only did he demonstrate inadequate procedural knowledge but was painfully slow -- as evidenced by the show breed video and my iPhone video. I can confirm that this particular judge took, on average, nearly 3.5 to 4 minutes per dog -- and it was agonizing. All told, he took almost 26 minutes to adjudicate over 7 entries. From my observation point, he most likely would not have been able to complete his assignment if not for the capable hands of his Ring Steward who had to repeatedly explain how to proceed with the awards. This did NOT just occur in one but several of his breed assignments.

The foreign judge required constant consultation with the Steward regarding the awards process -- he would proceed to award Best of Breed and then wring his hands until the Ring Steward counseled him again as to what to do next. Minutes would fly by as the exhibitors were standing, waiting, while he discussed "who knows what" before he would walk over and declare another decision.

He appeared to be quite a jovial chap but that does not excuse his lack of proficiency in adjudicating under the AKC Dog Judging system. Surely, all foreign judges MUST understand and be fully versed in how to judge under our procedures, at the very least, they need to make an effort to do so. It was evident during this foreign judge's breed assignments that this was not the case and it was and remains maddening. If you are going to accept such a privileged assignment then you better know how to do it, properly.

And what is it with Judges, including this international judge, asking exhibitors the age of the dogs?! Are they not aware that under AKC rules, a judge is not permitted to ask the exhibitor such a question? If age is a factor in their decision making process then they must have the steward provide them with this information -- NOT the exhibitor. As any AKC Field Representative will inform you- an exhibitor might lie so you do not base any decisions on what the exhibitor tells you. The question I ask is WHY are foreign judges not versed in this and other procedures? If you are going to accept an assignment in a foreign country you MUST learn that country's federation judging system. You don't just wing it. I find it disrespectful and I know for certain, that if and when I do receive an assignment overseas, I will do everything in my power to make certain I am studied in their adjudication processes.