The American Beagler Forum

I know that ARHA has a champions class and a grand champions class and so does UKC but what do you think about a AKC F.C. champion class??? I know this would probably never happen but i think it would be neat to see this kind of class???? Also to be able to say that your dog or dogs is a
AKC GRAND F.C. or even better yet if you run your hound and get the IFC title you then would be a AKC GRAND IFC!!!! i think that would be neat and you know that your hound won against top dogs!!!!!! Not taking anything away from any dog that is not a F.C. but i think it would show complete domination!!!!!!

also after you vote if you could explain why you picked what you did!!!!

I think a fc class would be great for a couple of reasons, Once there done then there u are all dressed up with nowhere to go.Also some dogs are finishing at a young age with no one left to compete with.I have often thought the trial of champions was a nice gesture on the part of the akc, but often wished we could explore more options as far as competetion within akc.
Jmho. Since indiana seems to have the proving grounds why not suggest a field trial for fc there.Kinda a central location and the running has always been the greatest, why dont you bring it up to chief?

I guess it wouldn't be a bad thing, but I truly don't see it as a necessary thing. In AKC if a dog gets his wins and points he is more than likely legitimate. In the midwest it is extremely hard for a dog to just luck his way to a title. Most of the big dog classes have between 20 and 50 hounds and most judges give them a pretty good look. If a dog rises to the top out of that kind of competition then he gets the benefit of the doubt in my eyes. In the little dog classes a dog may need 6 or more wins to get its title, and those wins don't come easy. Granted we may not all like the running style of every AKC Champion, but most of them can do a pretty sound job day in and day out, there are those dogs that owners know very well, and only take them to trials where there is good scenting with big running rabbits, because that is where they can shine, but most of the die hard trialers will put theirs down in any conditions.

Big Dog

i have just received a pm for Bev that stated this was already brought to the AKC board members or something of that sort and AKC decided to not for go this type of event or class i should say!!!! I think if we the beaglers agree that we would like to see a champion class i think if we all pushed hard enough its possible we could swing their vote in our favor jmho but i would love to see this done!!!!

John, the BAC (Beagle Advisory Committee) is the beagler's voice. It is made up of delegates from the different AKC beagling factions and regions. Here is a link on the AKC site which will give you the minutes of the different years' meetings and list their members.

http://www.akc.org/events/field_trials/beagles/BAC.cfm

My referral to the Grand Champion AKC title being "voted down" was that it was discussed by BAC members ( one at a Futurity trial ) and the popular consensus among the delegates who voiced opinions on the subject was to not put it on the table at the BAC meeting. So, it wasn't voted down AT the BAC meeting as far as I can read, but what I heard first-hand from some delegates and AKC Reps was that besides the potential regional problems involved with implementing such a title, there simply wasn't enough interest in it to justify writing a new program and set of qualifications.

If anyone wants to pursue it again, or some other issue, there is a protocol made just for that. The same link above will tell you who your BAC delegate is. Contact them and go from there.

I can't say I think it's a great idea, I don't think you would see good enough turn outs to make it worthwhile for a club to host an event like that. I think a trial of champions once a year is enough, if you had a champion trial every week you would have dismal entries after the first year or two then it would cost clubs big $$ for less than a dozen hounds to compete. Currently regular trials have smaller turnouts than in the past and this will only further limit the turn out.


Before anybody jumps in and says trials aren't for beagle clubs to make money I do agree but if they can't break even. it's foolish for them to continue to pour money into trials for a handful of folks.

DIXIEDOG wrote:"I think a trial of champions once a year is enough, ................"and".........Currently regular trials have smaller turnouts than in the past and this will only further limit the turn out."

This pretty much nails it. I believe these were the two predominately shared concerns the delegates were hearing from the different club officers.

Field Champions are more than welcomed to run in an AKC licensed trial anytime. There's no incentive to run them. However, there will be some champions show up this weekend in the Mid-West run-off. Plenty of incentives.
I don't know how the ARHA does it? It would be an incredible endevour for most SPO clubs because of lack of resources.
The other thing is that to trial a hound on the "AKC circuit" cost alot of time away from home and lots of money for the average working man. I'd have to say that it could easily get into the 3,4,5K range for campaigning a hound in AKC. Not to say it's a rich man's sport becuase it's mostly the opposite. Most all do it for the love of the hounds and money is not on their minds.

Big Dog wrote:I guess it wouldn't be a bad thing, but I truly don't see it as a necessary thing. In AKC if a dog gets his wins and points he is more than likely legitimate. In the midwest it is extremely hard for a dog to just luck his way to a title. Most of the big dog classes have between 20 and 50 hounds and most judges give them a pretty good look. If a dog rises to the top out of that kind of competition then he gets the benefit of the doubt in my eyes. In the little dog classes a dog may need 6 or more wins to get its title, and those wins don't come easy. Granted we may not all like the running style of every AKC Champion, but most of them can do a pretty sound job day in and day out, there are those dogs that owners know very well, and only take them to trials where there is good scenting with big running rabbits, because that is where they can shine, but most of the die hard trialers will put theirs down in any conditions.

Big Dog

darn that was a great post. I agree.