AKC At It Again

[CHAD_PLUNKETT]

Mybeagles,

I judge AKC trials and I am also the field trial seceratary of a club that is going to have our ARHA fun hunt this fall and will be holding little pack trials.

It gets me a little hot on how AKC does things. Always after a buck.

[Todd Morgan]

This policy will not affect the UKC Beagle program at all. Any AKC licensed field trial judges will be able to still judge at a UKC hunt because judges at UKC hunts are not licensed. Bench Shows, they are another story. I’m not worried one bit about that because there are a lot of “just as qualified if not more qualified” judges out there that do not judge AKC. ARHA will be affected by this. Their judges are licensed. To be honest I was shocked to see that AKC didn’t even recognize NKC on their list. Anyone who just reads the first paragraph need to go back and read the statement “or be judging for another event-giving organization to the possible detriment of events held by AKC member and licensed clubs.” Do they really think that other registries are a detriment to their clubs or do they think they are competition to their clubs. Any of you members of Sams Club? What if Sams club told you that you couldn’t shop at Kmart because it was a detriment to Sams Club? Not much difference.


Whether or not it affects the UKC Beagle program doesn’t matter. That is one thing it won’t hurt one bit. Ten bucks says they go back and exclude UKC/HRC retriever judges as their program will begin to go down. If you go through the list of exclusions they are all the things that they are the “little guy”. So what they are saying is that if they have market share in a division, you are their property, if they don’t you are public property. The thing they forgot is that they don’t have market share in the beagles, UKC and ARHA does. Oops on their part!

Just my personal opinions.

[johny]

If AKC were anything other than a non-profit organization the government would step in and declare a monopoly. Causing them to sell or change the way they do business. It seems though, that AKC would be shooting themselves in foot. Eliminating judges would hinder having field events, thus taking money from their own pockets and placing it into another registry. I can't hardly believe this could possibly pass. In the Mid-West, every club can hold two trials a year now, I hardly doubt AKC is in finicial straights enough to do this. This is what happens when some ignorant individual with a big mouth gets an idea, it happens alot here in America.

[Aaron Bartlett]

I emailed AKC the following question.
Comment: I have been reading about the new JUDGING CONFLICT OF INTEREST
POLICY AKC will adobt in 2007. The details I have found are sketchy but
I did read that AKC judges will be allowed to judge UKC and PKC
Coonhound events. I am curious if AKC Beagle judges will be allowed to
judge other registries Beagle Field trials such as UKC, PKC and ARHA.
Thanks! Aaron Bartlett


Here was the response I got.

Please see the attached. Under the policy that becomes effective Jan.
1, 2007 it will be against AKC Board policy for any AKC judge to judge a
non-AKC Beagle trial.

Bri Tesarz
Performance Events
Sr. Admin. Asst.
5580 Centerview Dr
Raleigh, NC 27606
919-816-3904
919-816-3905 - FAX

Here is the attachment they sent me.

JUDGING CONFLICT OF INTEREST
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Q: Why did AKC adopt this policy?

A: AKC believes that its judges are among the best in the world. Among Conformation, Performance, and Companion events, AKC spends millions of dollars every year to educate, train, and approve judges to ensure that this is the case. This encompasses things like processing applications, testing, interviews, observations, recording assignments, communications, education, and even liability insurance.

When individuals apply for and are granted approval as AKC judges, they are granted a certain status in the Sport, which is recognized both nationally and internationally. In fact, many overseas registries will not approve individuals from the United States to judge their events, unless they are AKC-approved judges. In return for this status as AKC judges, AKC believes that they in return have a special responsibility to AKC and the Sport as governed by AKC. AKC does not object to other organizations sponsoring events in conflict with AKC events, but does object to AKC-approved judges giving those events the credibility that comes with using AKC-approved judges. This would not be in the best interest of either AKC or its licensed and member clubs.



Q: How does this effect judging rare breed events?

A: The policy specifically excludes breeds that AKC does not register. It also excludes breeds that an individual is not yet eligible to judge.



Q: Why are certain events excluded from the policy, while others, e.g., Obedience and Tracking, are not?

A: There are some types of Performance events that AKC does not sponsor. There is no objection to anyone judging these events. There are also some activities, which other organizations may have been sponsoring long before AKC became involved. In some cases, the initial pool of AKC judges may have come from those organizations. In these cases, those events have been excluded from the policy.



Q: Why are some organizations included in the list, while others are not?

A: The list of events excluded from the Judging Conflict of Interest policy, was prepared based upon input from the AKC Performance division. The initial list is subject to review and revision at the discretion of the AKC Board, and others may be added to the list in the future. Inquiries on this may be directed to the AKC Performance Department.



Q: Why are the exemptions limited to Performance Events, and why aren’t Conformation, Obedience and Tracking included?

A: The exemptions are limited to areas where other organizations predated AKC involvement in the activity. Conformation Events (AKC has sponsored since 1884) as well as Obedience/Tracking (AKC has sponsored since 1936) would not fall into this category.



Q: The policy refers to being able to obtain “the express permission of the AKC” to judge these events. What is the procedure for that?

A: any exceptions to this AKC Board policy may only be granted by the AKC Board. The Board has already granted general permission for AKC judges to judge a number of non-AKC events. These exceptions are incorporated into the policy. Inquiries concerning the procedure for obtaining an exception for a specific competition, e.g. a tournament sponsored by a dog food company, dog magazine, etc., may be directed to the Judges department.



Q: May an AKC Judge approved for one type of event, judge different types of events given by other organizations?

A: Yes. This policy is specific to the individual’s approved judging status with AKC. For example if an individual has AKC approval for Obedience only, he or she would be able to judge any type of event other than Obedience at non-AKC events.

[Bev]

Just throwing this into the ring - don't know if it has much bearing, but it's an interesting fact that i didn't know before. The National Beagle Club owns the Beagle Standard that AKC uses.

[hounddog]

From what I see above that was sent from AKC, us UKC judges are not trained or educated enough to judge a beagle. I've had beagles for right at FORTY years. Does this not qualify me as a judge or do I need to go back to classes to learn what a beagle should look like.Maybe they should send some of their judges to my school, the school of hard knocks.
AKC better wake up before their beagle programs end up like their coonhound programs, not worth the paper they are printed on. Now that I have vented I'll go back to work!!!!!

hounddog
Jim Umbarger

[blunder]

Just throwing this into the ring - don't know if it has much bearing, but it's an interesting fact that i didn't know before. The National Beagle Club owns the Beagle Standard that AKC uses.

That's true, AKC does not write the standard for any breed, and the standard is the responcibility of the national breed clubs.

I'm afraid that AKC is about to find out that UKC is a bunch bigger than they ever imagined. Beagle trials are only the tip of the iceburg, autta look at UKCs hunt test programs for retrievers, pointers, etc,etc.

tom

[TOUCHSTONE]

It is bad enough to battle HSUS and PETA. Now you have AKC to add to the list of those who actively restrict the rights of dog owners. The antis are surely jumping for joy to have AKC pitching in on the effort. How does a non-profit organization use for profit buisness strategies? Could that be one for the attorneys to figure out? Who will pay for all this? It is fortunate that UKC and others have a solid program in place to meet the needs of dog enthusiasts in a wide spectrum of canine events. They will meet the needs of individuals who are active in performance events, conformation all-breed shows, hunting, obedience, agillity, etc... I invite you to come enjoy sporting events with those of us who believe in protecting the rights of dog owners. Dan M

[tommyg]

Well put Dan. The UKC is growing leaps and bounds,they will be the Biggest trial Registery soon if not already. Its another slap in the face from the AKC.

[Chief Long Hair]

I don't see a problem, I don't judge in AKC and I don't plan to. I think this effects very few people. Just let AKC have their judges, UKC have theirs, ARHA have theirs, etc. Don't Worry Be Happy! Chose your format or formats and go have fun!!! Me, I still like AKC's large pack and SPO, some UKC and I"m going to some ARHA LP in the near future. I don't care what AKC is doing in this. I'm just gonna have a bunch of fun!!! Can't we all just get along, (Rodney King). But if you're into AKC bashing, this is good as any.

[TOUCHSTONE]

Setting another restriction on the rights of dog owners/ chipping away at our rights little by little is no small matter and should not be taken lightly. Many will be adversely affected by this. The UKC All-Breed shows will take a big hit since many of their judges judge at least one breed with AKC. The UKC format eliminates Professional handlers and the shows are much fairer and more fun. The UKC shows are growing at a steady rate and many do less in AKC showing once they try it. Bashing AKC is not the intent but they should be held acountable for their actions. This new policy is a buisness strategy. It shows no respect for the rights of dog owners or for the breeds that will be adversely affected. It may not affect what you do but dog owners and sportsmen should stick together on all fronts. The opposition/antis are very well organized and very clever. Where did the idea for this policy originate? The PAWS Bill put AKC and the antis on the same team. The cozier they get the more of this type of thing you can expect to see. If you are one that is forced to take a stand, choose wisely. Dan M

[jdmart]

Chief Long Hair, not sure where you are from but where I am from it will affect many if it stands. ARHA and UKC judges are also AKC judges!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jamie Rice]

You know there's an ole saying, "simple minds are amused easily." I must fall into that simple minded class at the moment. I find it funny so many folks that don't compete in AKC whatsoever and say they could care less about AKC are so justiful concerned whenever AKC makes a ruling. Makes one wonder. Nevertheless I can't see this ruling affecting many AKC judges I know. Most don't trial ARHA, UKC, or whatever other registries are out there. Fact of the matter, how the heck are they to tract this anyway. Do you honestly believe AKC is going to have representatives at other registries events checking? Or furthermore checking results in magazines and whatnot to see if some AKC judge judged it.

Chicken little the sky is falling! Run, run, run!

[MasonsBeagles]

I dont see how they will regulate it. There are several judges that do however judge ARHA LP and are licensed AKC judges and that list keeps growing. I dont trial much at all but like both formats. I plan on attending an AKC judging seminar eventually as I would like to have a better understanding of the rules. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. But all in all I dont see it as any big deal.

[JIMMIE ABSHIRE]

AMEN BROTHER