AKC Show and Field champion

[AlabamaSwamper]

Tom/TC/WIndkist/Southern,

I hear all the time that actual AKC shows do not reflect the actual breed standard for a functional field hound.

Is this true?

[TC]

If the standard was used as written, and not placing personal preference it would. It is just like anything else when you put a human factor into anything there is always going to be someone that interprets things different, or just plain want to change the direction something is going and will do what ever it takes to direct it to go that way. In fact if they truely did use a score card as the standard does place certain points per body part and correctness due to that part I think this would change a lot of the way they were judged. But since they do not have to use a score card like in some of the other registries do you can then see what they are truely looking at on the dog. For instance, a dogs tail is worth 5 points, however have seen a ton of dogs not even get placed because they wouldn't hold up their tail in the ring, how can 5 points out of a hundred shoot that dog out of contending? This is just a minor example and then at the same shows seen a dog that had such a major over bite you could place your finger between it's teeth and it should have been excused and was placed over some nicer dogs. Reason I know this is because I was ahead of this dog and seen the handler show the dogs bite to the judge and if I seen it surely the judge did for I was at least 3 to 4 ft from the dog.

I would seriously like a real good discussion on every point of the standard, especialy with the judges just to see how much they really know or how they interpret what is written and or see who is using their own personal preference to gain the flavor of the month club following.

[Honey Pot Hounds]

Considering we will certainly lose if our hounds nose is to the ground on the go around I would certainly say this is true. There are all kinds of show standards that have nothing to do with hunting ability, I think the biggest being fancy heads, flashy markings and lots of overangulation, especially in the rear.
On the other hand there are some excellent judges who do consider breed function. The show breeders here on this board breed with both structurally correct conformation and beauty/show quality in mind. When you do have a dog with the total package presented well most good AKC judges will find it.

[Beaglebrit]

I became intersted in the Dual CH Beagle beacuse I feel that form should fit function. There is nothing prettier than watching a beautiful dog work at it's job. My primary breed is Brittanys, at Christmas time last year ,2006 ,we achieved 505 AKC DCH, I am not sure as to the current total. Many of these dogs were owner handled to their titles. In one exciting show circuit a few years back 2 different DCH Britts went Best in Show (one was owner handled)...That is form and function coming together at it's highest levels.
I became involved in Beagles several years ago(maybe 5? yes I am a newbie) and wondered where I could get beautiful dogs (Show Quaility) to trial and hunt over...or on the other hand where to get trial dogs that I could show.
That animal just about does not exist. To this I blame the show breeders for following fads ( strait shoulders and that flying show dog trot) not considering talent before breeding...or even function. How many show dog breeders can describe a dog's mouth? This is not a recent occurrence but has evolved over many genrations. The trial dog breeders are also at fault for not showing their great looking field dogs, but I cannot blame them beacuse some of the show folks can be less than welcoming to someone who has a field dog on the end of their lead.
I show in AKC conformation...and i show my Beagles with their whiskers on and unshaved bellies and at times they have dew fungus and briar scratches on the ears!

[thornie]

I don't like to brag, but I have a dual champion already. This is my new Annie dog and one of Jason Praters, twin boys, its either Zack or Brice, can't tell them apart yet, but they sure make my dual champions list.

[TC]

Thems the best ones Thornie