My Musings on the Irish Wolfhound's Country of Origin Breed Standard Changes

The new Autumn 2017 Harp & Hound magazine published several North American fancier opinions concerning the changes made to the Standard of Excellence set forth by the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland and the removal of the List of Points in Order of Merit.

There were those in favor and others who were critical of the changes, especially the elimination of the List of Points in Order of Merit. A few advocated their positions by explaining that by giving the full particulars to various aspects of anatomy, these revisions would make it easier for novices and aspiring judges to interpret and understand the breed standard.

I disagree. Accepting the premise of this argument is akin to dumbing down science and mathematics in our educational systems to make it easier for students and our youth to comprehend and to apply such.

Why is it that in today's society we feel the need to deliberately oversimplify intellectual content within education, literature, and culture for it to relate to those unable to assimilate more sophisticated information?  

If such people are incapable of assimilating the information outlined in the original breed standard, then logically these people should be asking themselves if they should be adjudicating dogs in the first place because they lack the inherent knowledge, confidence, and qualifications to do so. Breeding dogs is an art form. It is the process of creativity. Judging the results is an art form. It involves the natural ability to be informed of, absorb and integrate words and expressions that which make up these living, breathing creatures.

Gartha of Ambleside

Moreover, why shouldn’t aspiring judges and fanciers learn the history of our breed, its unique characteristics, and study the blueprint for the architecture of the Irish Wolfhound as it was founded? Our breed ancestors expended blood, sweat, and tears, sacrificing much in desperate times to preserve this exalted hound and to ensure its continuity. Our breed founders did not strive to set forth a list of excellent qualities and merits for this breed with the expectations and anticipation that future fanciers would needlessly decide to revise it in favor of generalizations and expediency for the uninitiated.

Kingsland Song

Our brotherhood requires preserving this noble hound by adhering to our forebearers original Standard of Excellence, and in doing so, we advocate the architectural principle, “Form ever follows function.”  

It is my considered opinion that this broadscale "dumbing down" mentality is one of the reasons why we are facing the degeneration of the sport and passion of purebred dogs. It is not a secret that purebred dog registrations have plummeted in the past several decades nor is it a surprise that confirmation dog show entries have markedly decreased. Enthusiasm and passion for purebred dogs have waned, and one only has to look around a show ring, whether it be an all-breed dog show or a specialty event, to observe that the average age of exhibitors is 55 years of age and older, with the preponderance over 65 years. For many, expenses and contributory lifestyle changes have made it either prohibitive or no longer conducive to raising multiple dogs.

Nonetheless, I believe the decay is also due to many long-standing purebred fanciers being profoundly dispirited and dejected over the perceptible diminished intellectual level of most modern fanciers today. They are gravely concerned about the future of the breeds; consequently, many veterans are no longer breeding or have drastically reduced their participation as they no longer are optimistic about the breed's destiny. I have heard this from acclaimed breeders of various breeds of dogs, not just Irish Wolfhounds.

Thus, oversimplifying the Standard of Excellence will in time produce distorted impressions and misunderstandings of a once majestic breed that today already one or more doyenne or doyen hardly recognize. The result of FCI uniformity of breed standards will inevitably lead to dogs of universal traits. Already, generic dogs are seen with regularity today in the show ring, and they are predictable and unoriginal; they lack refinement, distinctions, and subtlety. To have lost an elemental part of the Country of Origin's Standard of Excellence, "The List of Points in Order of Merit" is a cop-out. This list is the one aspect of the breed standard that set the ancient Irish Wolfhound breed apart from many others! It was a valuable feature that furnished the Reader the ability to assess virtues and shortcomings of this greyhound-like sighthound. Now it is gone for the sake of banality.

Here follows the unblemished Standard of Excellence of the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland including the List of Points in Order of Merit

What Are They Looking For?

Have you recently heard this question ringside at a dog show? Perhaps even you have asked this a hundred times over. More often than not, it is posed rhetorically as a reflection or criticism of your observation. I am referencing the deliberations and decisions made by the AKC dog show judge. We all at one time or another have stood ringside and observed judges that have left us shaking our heads and muttering, “I must have missed something!” Even more frustrating is attending our breed specialties, and we are left altogether bewildered. Here, in particular, we ask, “What are they looking for?” The judges explanation is not forthcoming unless you attend a dinner where the judge says a few words about their selections, or you may read it later in the club’s publication.

At the all-breed level, we can surely solve this issue while improving upon the adjudication process. In recent times, there have been debates about adopting a few practices of the FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (FCI). For instance, we now offer a Reserve Best in Show, and although I do not see a restructuring of the classes I believe we can and should adopt one other highly useful and logical method. We need to embrace the custom of judge’s grading and critiquing each dog entry. This is not just an enlightening tool for exhibitors, but a valuable tool for judges and AKC Field Representatives, as well. The latter I touch on further down. For those who are unfamiliar with FCI Regulations for Show Judges,

 “The candidate has to produce a consequent critique with the good and less good points of the outline and movement of the dogs and he must pay attention to the health and welfare of the dog.”

From there, the FCI qualifications given by the judges must correspond to the following definitions:

EXCELLENT may only be awarded to a dog which comes very close to the ideal standard of the breed, which is presented in excellent condition, displays a harmonious, well-balanced temperament, is of high class and has excellent posture. Its superior characteristics in respect of its breed permit that minor imperfections can be ignored; it must however have the typical features of its sex.
VERY GOOD may only be awarded to a dog that possesses the typical features of its breed, which has well-balanced proportions and is in correct condition. A few minor faults may be tolerated. This award can only be granted to a dog that shows class.
GOOD is to be awarded to a dog that possesses the main features of its breed. The good points should outweigh the faults so that the dog can be considered a good representative of its breed.
SUFFICIENT should be awarded to a dog which corresponds adequately to its breed, without possessing the generally accepted characteristics or whose physical condition leaves a lot to be desired.
DISQUALIFIED must be awarded to a dog which does not correspond to the type required by the breed standard; which shows a behaviour clearly not in line with its standard or which behaves aggressively; which has testicular abnormalities; which has a jaw anomaly; which shows a colour or coat structure that is not according to the breed standard or clearly shows signs of albinism. This qualification shall also be awarded to dogs that correspond so little to a single feature of the breed that their health is threatened. It should furthermore be awarded to dogs that show disqualifying faults in regard to the breed standard. The reason the dog was rated DISQUALIFIED has to be stated in the judge’s report.

Mandatory judging critiques have numerous advantages with the most obvious being that exhibitors receive an immediate explanation and grade. Moreover, the process can strengthen the overall quality of the judges pool. When a judge has to grade and explain ‘why they did what they did,’ it may accentuate incompetence. Frankly, most judges prefer not to look like a fool. Similarly, this process benefits both Judges and AKC Executive Field Representatives, as well. The critique is a written opinion and rating that serves as a tool to enforce an AKC Field Rep’s evaluation on a permit or regular status judge. Likewise, it can act as validation for a judge’s quality of selection when confronted and challenged by an AKC Field Representative, hopefully preventing an unfair, unfavorable evaluation.

Moreover, this elaborating and grading process may give some judges pause in accepting breed assignments that they may be both unqualified and uncertain in. If they are compelled to expand on the virtues or merits of a breed, they may hesitate to accept the assignment in the first place. This sure sounds better than the current system at all-breed shows where we have judges hastily, all in a cloak of secrecy, flick a finger or wave their hand at placements and awards, then rush to fill out their judging book. The satin ribbons and rosettes are handed out and finito!, the judge is on to the next breed...

This article was first published in a previous version on the Canine Chronicle website. Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=12388