Previous Comments
Show Reviews
Please read the Introductory Comment from the Editor prior to reading the Show Reviews. If you wish to comment on any review please do so in writing.
6 March 2013
To Shackles for some only
I am flummoxed at the lack of response from the ‘authorities’. These are their own rules which have been flouted. The punishment - despite the ‘blood’ cries of some - is not severe. It is minor. Minor. Minor. M.i.n.o.r. Say sorry publically and give up the accolade. I recall a few years back when a multiple award winning Saluki was entered into, oh the “top dog” or some such competition which had qualification criteria that aforementioned ‘top dog’ did not, as then, possess (winning a BIS or similar). The aforementioned Saluki (owner now sadly deceased) won the competition. Cue cries of foul play. Cue apologetic owner. Cue withdrawal of honour. Cue End Of Matter.
Why is this so hard? Fountain of youth, she is not. Minor. mi·nor /ˈmīnər/Adjective: Lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance. Small. Petty. Less. And ah-hem ‘Junior’ (no pun or irony initially intended in definition but how unexpectedly appropriate) (www.onlinedictionary.com) .
Lack of simple action by guilty parties (note plural) - i.e. now authorities and exhibitor: Major. ma·jor /ˈmājər/Adjective: Important, serious, or significant. Main. Chief. Capital. Principal. As in “what is majorly wrong”.
FFS. This is not hard. Public mea culpa. Small price. Public return of prize. Small price. Restore confidence/ confidence building in system, as Mastercard/VISA would say: priceless.
Understanding non-reaction despite negative impact on general confidence. This is hard.
Oh well, back to boycotting, I guess. Roodepoort see ya on the never never.
NS/NL.
6 March 2013
Dear NS/NL
Yes indeed, I do remember the Saluki-that-hadn’t-qualified winning the Supreme Champion contest at TKC several years ago. I don’t remember the award being withdrawn and awarded to the runner-up publicly. If I remember correctly it was all done rather quietly and only after a storm of protest had been unleashed on this very website. I felt particularly sorry for the Erwees who were done out of the joy and excitement of winning on the day.
What made the situation even more bizarre was that just a year or two earlier, the Erwees had been done out of another moment of glory when the announcement of the KUSA Showdog of the Year was botched. On that occasion the withdrawing and re-awarding seemed to me to be a very surreptitious affair.
It appears that “authorities” are very loathe to advertise and rectify their mistakes, no matter how badly people have been affected.
CYNICAL
7 March 2013
I read with interest everything that people are posting and I have to (un)fortunately give my opinion:
1. Baby puppy class – think it is great….BUT SA Dog people cant even look after their adult dogs properly at the shows with the heat. Countries like Australia is far further advanced than South Africans in many ways – therefore the way they treat their dogs, can’t be compared to us. The problem is that we don’t have a good enough SYSTEM in place to deal with people who abuse and mistreat their dogs. In other countries their laws don’t see animals as “possessions” and therefore in some countries animals have rights to. Here in South Africa if someone is just giving BASIC care – food, water and shelter then that is acceptable….so unless there is a proper SYSTEM that can deal with people who do not treat their dogs well, the problem will continue whether there are baby puppy classes, additional veteran classes or not.
2. The insults that people throw at each other is just ridiculous and frankly embarrassing to the Dogworld in South Africa….and to South Africa in general, seeing that these comments are widely published internationally! Dog showing is a sport…a hobby….something we all enjoy doing with our dogs. Take the personal attacks & malicious actions out of it and give each person the right under the sun that they deserve. Start enjoying the day with your dogs and friends and stop bickering about really insignificant things….there are far worse things happening in the world that people can rather focus on. NO ONE can improve ethics for someone else….its up to each individual to act ethically and responsibly.
Start loving your dogs again ….start seeing them as the special creatures that they are, that enrich our lives with so much love, appreciation, dedication and unwavering commitment.
If we all start behaving like DOGS then there might still be hope for this world!!!
Kind Regards,
Arnèl Sauer
7 March 2013
Having read the entire Roodepoort open show saga I have only two comments to make:
1. Reading this forum, and no other issue, is enough to make people think twice about exhibiting. Do you honestly think that anyone seeing how you people behave would want to show their dog?
2. Why should the exhibiter answer on this forum? If the club has an issue, he can answer to them and they can sort it out. If you aren't happy about their action, harass and slander the club. Nobody actually owes you an explanation, no matter how many pseudonyms you use to express your opinion.
Karen Gerhardi
11 March 2013
I can't believe what I'm reading! What a "I'm all right Jack-It's not my concern-I really don't give a stuff-Leave it alone, it will go away" apathetic kind of attitude the dog world has!!
If something similar to this should happen to anyone of 'The leave it alone, it’s not important' crowd', which it easily could because a precedence as now been set, please don't bring it up on this forum or complain about it because you could scare away any newcomers to our sport by bringing it out into the open, by being 'bitchy' 'complaining', 'nasty'! No, just don't say anything, leave it alone, like you recommend the people who actually do care what happens in the show world should do. For I'm sure that the political, 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' kind of judges will drive away any newbies all by themselves without any help from people who would actually like the shows to be fair for everyone not just for 'Faces'.
Saddened and once again, disgusted!
Edie Wright
11 March 2013
I fully agree with Karen Gerhardi & Arnel Sauer and cringe with embarrassment at the thought of people overseas reading all these vicious, nasty posts. What must they think of us?
Also it appears that one person is writing many of the posts under various pseudonyms. The words “Alias Abuser” certainly seem to apply to her! What is your real problem with the exhibitor – jealousy perhaps?
Mrs Silvernail
12 March 2013
Dear Mrs Silvernail, lovely name by the way.
Ok, you got me there! I am jealous,but wait let me ask all the other aliases "Oy, you lot, you jealous?" They're nodding. We are actually green with envy, we would also love to make 'mistakes' and get away with them, have people defend our wrong doing and eventually end up looking like a victim of abuse.
Yep, you can colour me green alright!
Edie Wright and her 15 other Aliases
12 March 2013
I used to show and judge many, many years ago (and was a founder member of a club in Port Elizabeth, Algoa Hound Club to be precise) and breeding/showing still interests me, albeit not actively! There has been much debate over a dog that won and was too old for its category. This is not a difficult issue and my feeling is that the mistake was a “comedy of errors.” I say this because the owner and/or breeder probably erroneously filled in the entry form and the error was replicated by the club who did not check (having many thousands of entries) properly. It is very hard for owners/breeders/clubs to be objective if they perceive overt criticism (in most instances where none was intended) and the subject becomes very emotional. However, in spite of this I do hope that the error is rectified as I am sure the owner/breeder and the club (and by association KUSA) want to be seen to be doing the right thing and want a dignified and proper conclusion to the matter.
Sincerely yours
Professor Kathryn Nel
Psychologist
12 March 2013
I see there are more rather silly posts from the “Alias Abuser.”
You are playing with fire – you can’t go maligning people on public forums and FB with impunity, accusing them of dishonesty without proof and unwisely using your own name, as well as various aliases easily traced back to your computer.
I’ve known people faced with law-suits for defamation and slander for far less than what you’ve been doing these past weeks.
I hope you can afford it!
Mrs Silvernail
12 March 2013
Mrs Silvernail..
Could this name possibly be >gasp< ‘An Alias’. Anyone else see the irony of this?
Sylvia De Klerk14 March 2013
I confess, I’m an Alias Abuser. I have written to this forum several times over the years, and I’ve used aliases on a number of occasions. However, much as I would like to (in some cases), I cannot take credit for as many posts as Mrs Silvernail and the Ethics Police presume are coming from one person. Believe it or not, there are several people out there who feel strongly about subjects and want to have their opinions heard without fear of retribution.
The clearest evidence of this lies in the fact that Mrs Silvernail is using an alias, to abuse all of us alias-abusers. That gave me the best laugh I’ve had all week.
I remain…
CYNICAL
19 March 2013
Having just returned from a few days well deserved holiday, I decided to pay a quick visit to Dog World and was amazed to see such a threatening letter from 'Mrs Silvernail', actually accusing one person of writing under all the aliases. This is mighty slap in the face to all the other people who have opinions on this matter. If she believes so strongly in NOT using pseudonyms, why then does she indeed use one herself? Very hypocritical if you ask me!
As always,
Edie Wright
21 March 2013
Is Mrs Silvernail like the next Bond villainess? We had Mr Goldfinger who had the poor old sweaty Bond spread-eagled on a table with a laser beam creeping up to divide him starting at the crown jewels. I wonder how Mrs Silvernail plans to nail the alias abusers once she’s tracked them down. Maybe she’ll spray them silver and hang them from a Christmas tree!
Ho Ho Ho!
27 March 2013
IT STILL AMAZES ME WHAT PEOPLE WONT DO TO WIN!!!
Judging has been so “off” this weekend......but then it all adds up!!!! You actually see an exhibitor escort the judges wife to the judging table (he is not on the committee!!)but trying to weasel his “bulky self in to the judges eye) so that he might be favoured......so charismatic!!
Then we have a ”puppy” dog beating mature dogs in the ring, taking BOB and winning groups!! ........Wow!! guess what ...the owner of the puppy has her brother taking the judges away on tour to the Kruger park!!!
This is totally unethical...and feel it’s the clubs fault to allow this..... knowing full well she is an exhibitor!!
We pay a lot of money to enter these shows and all I want is to walk into the ring like all the other ”true exhibitors” to receive an honest opinion on my dog....and be judged accordingly ......
IT’S not just our ring but the Utility ring has a lot of “sneaky exhibitors” tooooooooo!!
You people must be so unsure of your dogs to do this type of sneaky business!!!!!! otherwise is it just in your DNA???
THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE!!!
27 March 2013
Those new rings are vrot! The dirt road made us eat dust all week end and there was no space! we had to park our bakkie miles away and just now there will be stolen cars oll over the bottom grounds too! Please don’t put the Terriers there again! I couldn’t stand three shows like that. Two was bad enough.
Begging you!
27 March 2013
The fiasco at Vereeninging and Districts K.C during the miniature dachshund judging.
1) Jack Peden was requested to take Breed Standard and relevant letters to the hound ring to give to the steward, Mr David Jones, in which it is stated that over weight is not a disqualification. Mr Jones refused to acknowledge the rules and rudely informed Mr Peden it was HIS ring. Mr Peden approached Mr Jones long before the Dachshund judging began.
2) When the weight issue began during the judging of Miniature Longs, Mr Jones then called for the KUSA rep, Rob Forsythe, who also insisted that over weight was a disqualification. At NO STAGE was the show manager called to verify the ruling, Schedule 3, Rule 9.
3) My daughter, Hannah Thompson, went into the office before 9 am to verify whether the club was aware of the KUSA rulings re Miniature Dachshunds and their weights. The Secretary was most adamant that it was a disqualification and when my daughter contested her she said my daughter spoke over her (meaning interrupted) and so my well brought up daughter backed down.
4)You will see that Schedule 3, rule 9 and the KUSA Dachshund Standard does not call for disqualification, neither does it for Toy and Miniature poodles where the wording is almost the same in its format.
5) I find it strange that the steward, Mr Jones, incorrectly knew the weight rules but didn't seem to know that the correct procedure was to call the Show Manager and not the KUSA rep!
6) I intend, having consulted an Advocate friend of mine, who informs me that taking the rules and breed standard into consideration, that we have an extremely strong case to apply for an Interdict compelling Vereeniging and Districts Kennel Club and KUSA to declare in total the judging of all Miniature Dachshunds at Vereeniging and Districts Kennel Club Championship Show 23 March 2013 null and void and all awards made in those three breeds (Miniature Long, Miniature Smooth and Miniature Wire) withdrawn, the club to then decide whether to financially reimburse entry fees and make amends.
7)The judge for hounds on the day was Mrs Peak (U.K) an acknowledged Hound Specialist (Bayard Beagles). She must have been really impressed by our 3rd world competence and was put in THE most compromising position and South Africa's apologies should be sent to her.
Yours faithfully,
Graham Thompson (KUSA Number: 003526)
Hound Panel Judge
27 March 2013
The inside arena looked marvellous for this past weekend, and it was nice for once not to have to sit in a hayfield around the perimeter. But the new rings had most of us confused. We were wondering what was the thinking of putting them there all crowded up, when there are bags of space on the other side? I believe there were lots of moans from the Terrier crowd about the lack of space and the dirt and dust.
Just curious
27 March 2013
Talk about gemors! Who was the idiot who designed the new permanent rings? If this is the best that the Goldfields Grounds crowd can come up with then I give up. I have never attended a show like it. Overcrowded, no room to move between cars or to walk your dogs, too close to the road way, so we were eating dust all weekend. Horrible. I believe that the poor Terriers are going to be in the same place next weekend, this time with the Gundogs.
Ag sies mense!
27 March 2013
There is an email doing the rounds from a prominent hound exhibitor complaining about booing and clapping and bad sportsmanship around the hound ring. Welcome to the dog world Ms Hound Exhibitor. We have had to put up with the screaming around the Herding ring for years and after a while you just learn to ignore it. If we had to put money down every time Momma screams and performs, we’ll be bankrupt in no time at all!
Grin and bear it
29 March 2013
Dear Mr. Thompson
Thank you for your email of 25 March 2013. As a qualified Hound panel judge in good standing you are no doubt aware that the Dachshund breed standard pertaining to weighing and exceeding 5kg being a "disqualification" was changed in 2008. Do you propose then that all awards be withdrawn from 2008 onwards as there is always a dachshund that exceeds the desirable weight of maximum 5kg? Or maybe you only want the awards at Vereeniging and Districts Kennel Club withdrawn?
Yours Sincerely
Wendy Davies
Getwick Miniature Long Haired Dachshunds
29 March 2013
As someone who was there, I’m afraid you can drive a bus through parts of Graham Thompson’s story.
Can anybody tell me what Mr Jack Peden has to do with any of this? He does not show mini daxis and is not the spokesperson for any of the clubs. Why was he doing the work of the Club Secretary or the Show Manager? Was his interference supposed to be some sort of influence on a judge from the old country? And since when is the ring steward an authority on the daxi breed standard and equipped to give the judge instructions? And what does the KUSA rep have to do with any of this and why is his opinion of any importance? Where was the show manager to go and check the facts?
This whole thing reeks to high heaven and Thompson’s threats is not helping to solve anything.
IMHO
29 March 2013
I very seldom agree with Mr Graham Thompson but in this particular case of the weighing of miniature dachshund and the misplaced authority that ring stewards feel they have over the procedure thereof I am 100% behind him.
I do not know exactly what took place however it is quite clear that an overweight dog cannot be disqualified. In fact under KUSA rules no dog can be disqualified. Disqualification implies sending out of the ring. The weighing of Miniature Dachshund is not complicated. The judge weighs the dog and makes a note whether exhibit is in weight or over. Currently the rule states an overweight dog cannot be awarded a "PRIZE". This of course had some relevance in England where dogs can win prize cards up to VHC. So I and I suppose most judges take it to mean overweight dogs cannot be awarded challenge certificates. I certainly hope that the Miniature Dachshund club and SA Dachshund club will put out a statement regarding weighing so that there is no ambiguity about the procedure and outcome.
What bothers me most is that some ring stewards in South Africa seem to feel that they have some part in decisions in the ring and management thereof. They don’t.
I am not saying that Ring Stewards are not important they are and absolutely essential to the smooth running of any show but decisions regarding procedure is the judges prerogative and the steward cannot make the call. If there is doubt about rules then the show manager not the KUSA rep must be called and if the show manager cannot answer, then that is why clubs are meant to have a copy of the KUSA Rules available on the day of the show. And in this day and age the KUSA website is available 24/7.
As a poodle breeder and exhibitor I am so bored by judges who feel the urge to measure miniatures and toy poodles. So some rusty piece of ancient steel is dragged out and carried like a burnt offering to the Utility Ring. And in general judges DO NOT know how to measure correctly. The breed standard uses the words "should " not must, has to be etc. So if a dog is measured over what are the implications?? well none really. It is a fault like any other and must be judged accordingly.
The weighing of mini dachs is a contentious issue and it behoves clubs to make sure that correct procedures are followed.
Hopefully in the future Clubs will make sure that International JUDGES are briefed correctly.
Fran Browning Cristina
Braganza
29 March 2013
Last week end’s shows were a little bit like the Vatican at the moment – all balcony and no Pope.
The shows were completely flat with no atmosphere and predictable wins. I hope the next batch will be a little more hyped up.
Same old, same old
29 March 2013
The status quo re mini Dachshund judging at V & D ch show 2013
1) The show manager, Mr Kuilman, courteously phoned me , and apologized for and on behalf of the club and stated that they wished to refund my daughter's entry fee as her dog never got judged. This gesture has been accepted by my daughter.
2) The secretary , Miss C Diggins , promised me emphatically that she would email me the directive the club was sent from Mrs Bastick at KUSA and even quoted schedule 3 rule 9 as to what I must refer to. I am still waiting for said email.
3) Mr Bruce Jenkins, chairman of S.A Dachshund club informed me in an email that Miss Diggins had phoned prior to the show to borrow the scales and queried how the minis were to be judged to which he responded "as we normally do".
4) What amazes me most in reflecting this fiasco is that when the problem arose at the show that the Chairman of S.A Dachshund club and the chairlady of the Teckel club were all there and even though not requested for their opinion chose to stay mute and this also includes Mr W Janse van Rensberg, one of our leading ring stewards who was exhibiting on the day. He in fact was the one who informed my wife at WODAC last year of the ruling change. Why the silence?
5) The two above mentioned chairpersons are also the people forwarding the motion to FEDCO, May 2013 that the weight and the disqualification clause be brought BACK into the breed standard. This motion is valueless and has to be discarded at FEDCO as the motion is only a committee decision so does not have the backing of their members who have not been given a choice or for that matter the many other KUSA reg'd mini dachies breeders who are not members of any club. There are specific S.A. Government laws pertaining to constitutional rights and the rights of the majority. These SA laws over ride any attempted motion to inflict a minority rule over the masses. I say no more on this matter but it cannot in usual SA dog exhibitor style, be swept under the carpet like so much that has gone before and we are told "to move on" and " that they have taken note" but nothing gets done. NOT acceptable.
Yours faithfully
Graham Thompson
29 March 2013
It is easy to work out which “GIRL” [wishful thinking!!] is on fire here. Just check who the loosers were!!
When your dogs get thumped in the ring its very easy to make bitchy remarks about other exhibitors. Not everybody has the suspicious mind of FIRE GIRL. Maybe its menopause or something else that screws with the mind.
Don’t be kennel blind
29 March 2013
THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE.... No you’re not on fire, your buttocks are burning from the imprint of someone’s foot.
ADVICE … Try spending less time justifying why other people are winning and more time figuring out why you are losing.
Take a Pill
29 March 2013
Grin and bear it!!!.......if you can’t handle the “HEAT” get out the ring!! Last time I checked “DOGWORLD” is a sport!! Why can’t “MOMMA” scream and support her Team???
Do you sit at any sporty events and keep your mouth shut......MMMMmmmmmm bet you don’t!!!
Clearly you were never selected as a cheer leader or blessed with a personality!!! Leave MOMMA out!!!we love her support!!!!
When you get a personality.........and some honest sportsmanship...she’ll cheer for you!!!!! So a word of advice STOP your bitter nasty little remarks and leave MOMMA out!! Try looking for someone else to bitch about!!! She is hardly ever at shows anymore!! And you can’t go bankrupt when you haven’t got it to begin with!!!!!
GOOD to know you “grin and bear it” keep it that way!!!
GO TEAM......SSSSSSSSSS
SMILE AND WAVE!!!
31 March 2013
It is with great displeasure that I have to write about the unpleasant showing experience on Saturday at the Transvaal Midlands show in the Gundog ring.
In the 10 years that I have been showing, I have never experienced such an unpleasant day.
I would first like to appeal to show secretaries to please make sure that you actually WANT to do the job….and then to check whether you are actually competent to do the job. It has been clearly highlighted in this past cluster weekend show that some clubs and secretaries clearly have procedures in place to ensure that entries are received and correctly captured – and others don’t - as I entered for all 3 shows in exactly the same manner, how come my entries was not listed the Friday, but received…..not received on Saturday (to spite numerous email correspondence confirming the entries has been received) but received for the Sunday show – all perfect, 100% with no problem?
So this is where the issues started that led to the issues experienced in the Gundog ring as the ring steward did not have the information on his judges’ sheet.
Then although I appreciate ring stewards offering their services – if it is NOT something you actually WANT to do, please don’t do it!! You just make it unpleasant for yourself as well as all the others around you, including the judge and exhibitors – who PAY money so that their dog can be shown for the opinion of a judge. WE ARE EXHIBITORS THAT PAY FOR ENTRIES and therefore should be treated with respect, dignity and fairness by all judges, clubs, committees and ring stewards.
The ring steward of the day was not much interested in communicating properly and loudly enough so that the exhibitors actually knew what was going on. We already waited over 2 hours for the judging to start – where we were advised to be present at 10h00 on the day of judging.
As judging for Golden Retrievers continued, the Open Dog class started. As the judge was moving very fast with his judging, I pulled the ring steward to the side and softly asked him to please give me a chance to collect my Champion Dog after the Open Dog and CC Class as I am handling 5 dogs on the day….the next moment the ring steward starts yelling at me, telling me that is the JUDGES decision what he wants to do and that I must ensure I am ready. I politely and softly asked the ring steward to please stop yelling at me whilst the judge is busy judging and whilst I am next in line. I find this totally unacceptable and I will be demanding a written apology from the ring steward as well as the hosting club for this incident that was totally uncalled for!!!
My open dog was placed 2nd in the class and because of the Ring Steward and the judges requirements, I ran to my gazebo to collect my Champion dog to make sure that the dog is available. The CC was awarded very quickly and within those 20 seconds I was back at the ring entrance to return with my open dog that stood 2nd to the CC dog….only to hear the judge screaming “disqualified” for not being there immediately to award the RCC.
I completely accept that a judge should NOT wait for an exhibitor …but there MUST be some reasonable time allowed for an exhibitor to change dogs / handler or numbers….which this judge was not even allowing! I was ready with all my dogs at the show entrance and not even 5 seconds was given to allow change of dogs!! So needless to say, my open dog was not allowed to stand for the RCC.
The Champion dog class was then judged, of which my dog was placed first.
Again I asked the ring steward to just give me a moment to collect my Puppy Bitch from the ringside and as she was one of the dogs that was “NOT” entered. I asked the ring steward IF he had her number, which he rudely yelled to me he had.
By this time the ring steward ALREADY called the Junior bitch inside the ring and walked off (without announcing my junior bitch)……I tried calling him (clearly he cant hear so well) either. The ring steward eventually turned around after 4 exhibitors yelled to get his attention (another unacceptable behaviour by the ring steward) and was told to just enter the ring with my junior bitch. The judge then threw a hissy-fit and yelled at the ring steward to ensure that ALL dogs are announced …… as the ring steward never ANNOUNCED my junior bitch. I then entered the ring and judging continued - the judge did say that he realise it is NOT my fault….
I asked the ring steward that he cant continue with Junior until he called the Puppy class of which I was just being dismissed – after he told me that he did have her number.
So again I was not allowed to show my puppy bitch.
I was then expecting the ring steward to call BACK the puppy bitch after the Junior Bitch judging which was NOT done….and the following classes were called until CC being awarded.
I went to the ring steward and told him that CC can’t be awarded as my puppy bitch was not called or allowed to show and I was just dismissed by ring steward and judge.
The ring steward did not in ONE instance use the acceptable “calling” method of “ calling once, calling twice, calling 3 times – marked absent” – is that NOT A SPECIFIC KUSA RULE? The problem is that the ring steward spent more time under the gazebo than actually ensuring the dogs on the sheet were at the entrance before the judge was ready for the next class……just to highlight, the ring steward of the Sunday show at Wits was extremely efficient and NO problems with experienced….with the same number of dogs, etc. THANK YOU Steward Davies for doing such a super job on Sunday at the WITS show!!
I then went to lay a complaint at the office and asked that the Golden judging be declared VOID (even though my Champion dog DID win BOB) ….but was told that it would create too many problems and that the ring steward will be removed….but ONLY if this happens in another breed.
It was not even 3 dogs into Labrador when a similar thing happened….so I went back to the office again to state that the ring steward be removed.
The show secretary then did come to the ring and stated that all exhibitors MUST be ready with ALL their dogs at the ring entrance and that they apologise for what has happened but that nothing can be done. Then the judge started yelling at exhibitors and exhibitors yelled back….what a totally unprofessional, unethical, shocking and unpleasant experience indeed!! And most of this is to blame on the entries not being on the judges’ sheets and the incompetence of the ring steward!!
So out of this I would like to point out the following:
1. Show secretaries – please try to do a better job…if one club can do it, anyone can.
2. Ring stewards – please be more professional and ethical. If you don’t want to do it, don’t. Please respect exhibitors and please ensure that the correct procedure, according to KUSA rules are followed and ensure that you call your dogs beforehand instead of just standing under the gazebo. And when an exhibitor talk to you nicely and ask you something, please don’t yell at the them IN FRONT of the judge…..common etiquette comes to mind here?
3. I insist on the refund of my show entry fees for the Open Dog, Puppy Bitch and Junior Bitch classes as I was NOT late for the classes and therefore unfairly “dismissed and disqualified”. The proper procedures WERE NOT FOLLOWED!!!
4. I want a written apology from the ring steward on his rude and unacceptable behaviour in the ring.
5. I want a written apology from the club
6. Please note: Other clubs to ENSURE that the judges take NOTE of how things are done in South Africa, according to KUSA rules and remind them that WE AS EXHIBITORS are paying our money for them to judge our dogs…..that they are invited to judge our dogs and that we think enough of them to take the time to groom and show our dogs under them and that they can really treat us with some respect and dignity. To understand that there are more than likely ONE person showing numerous dogs and we do everything beforehand to ensure that we have enough handlers to help hand dogs over and to be available when more than one of our dogs have to go back into the ring. I have to emphasize that this has never happened at ANY show I have attended in all 10 years of showing and therefore I did NOTHING wrong in this instance!!!
I tried to remain calm and collected throughout this whole ordeal but still thought it only right to highlight what has happened as 4 other complaints was also given to the club. Lets not take things personally – I have not….but yet please just try to IMPROVE things and making showing a pleasant experience for all concerned in future.
And THANK YOU SO MUCH for the show secretaries, clubs and ring stewards that ACTUALLY follow proper procedures, makes showing pleasant for all concerned!! Well done to WITS Kennel Club for the show on Sunday….no hiccups or problems and an enjoyable day overall.
And just another highlight – my Champion Dog won the Gundog Group BOTH Saturday and Sunday and therefore I have no “gripes” about not winning! I am ecstatically happy about the results ….but yet dismally disappointed that my other dogs were not given a fair and just opportunity to be shown or judged accordingly.
Kind Regards,
Arnèl Sauer
Mochavulin & Goldenzauer Golden Retrievers
31 March 2013
Firstly, to IMHO, Jack Peden happened to be walking to the Hound ring when my wife asked him to please verify with the steward that the weight issue was not a disqualifying fault or one that would place over weight dogs down the line. There was no hidden agenda in getting Mr Peden to the Hound ring as he was only asked to address the steward and never the judge. If you re-read my letter the rest would be self explanatory. Are you sitting upstairs or down on this bus that impedes your vision?
Thank you Francesca Browning-Cristina for backing me in this issue. I only ask you two favours A) KUSA has come to the fore on this (as you call it, contentious issue) and put a LARGE notice regarding the ruling on their website, please do yourself a favour and read it as it must surely apply to poodles as well. B) Print out the Dachshund breed standard and also schedule three, rule nine. It leaves no doubt and no room for mis-interpretation. Also, the poodle clubs, were at least ethical when they approached all poodle breeders in S.A for input as to whether they wished to adopt the FCI breed standard or stay with the British one. Mini dachshund breeders HAVE NOT been afforded this right regarding the motion going to FEDCO in May.
Mrs Davies, contrary to what my Advocate friend advised me as to what my option was, I am not insisting that any awards be withdrawn, the ramifications going back as you said to 2008 would be insurmountable. My concept of this was never a vendetta or a witch hunt but a very pointed exercise to highlight the fact that the 2008 has never been efficiently implemented, in fact hardly implemented at all and now you all (minority decision) wish to have it revoked. Yes, I am not against the weight limits as people take liberties but I am highly annoyed now that for four and a bit years the exhibitors have been duped and maybe if you get this right I.e weights brought back in, we should have another four years benefit as compensation in which time breeders have to be notified that they have to make a concerted effort to genetically reduce their size after which there is no going back, call it a window period. Further more I have a HUGE problem in accepting or even understanding that the various Chair Persons and their entourage actually have stood back knowingly and let this happen when THEY were more aware than anybody that the 2008 breed standard had changed, maybe it suited various people's book to not make it public knowledge, more the shame. No hard feelings, life to short, surviving more pressing. By the way, Lance Armstrong was stripped of ten years worth of success when the dope test only actually applied to one year. I think we are all getting off lightly from KUSA when Clubs have either chosen to ignore the ruling or in a few cases, were not even aware. I have obviously become the sacrificial lamb in this instance by bringing it all out into the open leaving no further room for ignorance or deception on this matter. Also my apologies to you yourself as I was under the impression that you were now Chairlady of Teckel club and was not aware that Mr Janse van Rensburg was in fact, in the chair.
Sincerely
Graham Thompson
2 April 2013
Dear Grin and Bear it
Please explain how one achieves the title of a "PROMINENT " hound exhibitor? A few synonyms for the title are : Protruding, projecting, bulbous, bulging, sticking out.
I must say, i wouldn't like the title!
Anonymous
2 April 2013
In answer to Arnel Sauer's posting.
If you have complaints about the competence of show secretaries, perhaps you would like to join a club and take on the responsibility. I know for a fact that Roodepoort KC is without an official secretary and I am sure there are other all-breeds clubs who could do with help as most committees are small. Unfortunately, show secretaries don't grow on trees and we are only human. Ring stewards don't grow on trees either. They are a rare breed and the same people are called upon week after week to officiate at shows. More people need to volunteer to take on this work.
Very few, if any, postal entries are received these days. This year Wits KC didn't get any postal entries. Slip-ups do occur, for no apparent reason with entries or part of entries floating somewhere or other in cyberspace as they ride along the flimsy email and fax communication lines. When this happens, there is a payment on the bank statement and no corresponding entries. Depending on the reference on the bank statement ("show entries" or "Wits KC" being prime examples), there may be absolutely no means of discovering who the exhibitor is until the morning of the show. Depending on how many such entries are received, this can cause mayhem on the morning of the show and then there is a last minute rush to make sure that the missing entries are put on the judges' sheets before the show starts. Mistakes happen. On a three show week-end, most entry problems have been sorted out by the third day, so the club that day has an easier ride. As an exhibitor, when I fax or email entries I always ask for confirmation of safe receipt.
It seems to me that most complainants are not on committees. You haven't lived until you have been on a good committee where the members all work together and eventually produce a good show. No committee is a one man operation. A group of people are responsible for the successful show. If you can rely on everyone doing their bit, then there is a successful show. If gremlins come along, then hiccoughs make the ride a bit bumpy, but at the end of the day everyone has done their level best. You can't ask for more.
So, if there are exhibitors out there who can do better, come along and VOLUNTEER TO HELP. You are highly unlikely to be turned away.
Anne Thompson
Hon. Secretary
Witwatersrand Kennel Club
2 April 2013
I just want to thank all the stewards that officiated during the last five shows for a job well done. Especially the stewards officiating in the Hound ring. THANK YOU. Peter Watson thank you, I was home before four on Sunday. Too often ring stewards get badgered by exhibitors personally and in public forums. Exhibitors and committee members don’t always understand how difficult it is to try to get more than hundred dogs through their paces while trying to keep the judge, the exhibitors and the committee happy (I agree there is problems that need to be addressed sometimes)
I want to ask before you complain about the steward in the future, put yourself in his/her shoes or better, volunteer to steward for just ONE show and complain after that.
I also want to congratulate the “Friends of Goldfields” on the how GOOD the Goldfields grounds look. Yes there are some dusty (and muddy) growing pains, but let us all work through it. Again, before you criticize, offer your help and let us all work towards a better Goldfields.
I also have “’n klippie in my skoen” (or a stone in my shoe as we say in Afrikaans) that has been bothering me now for a long time. Is it so difficult to clean up after your dog? A dog defecated in our gazebo one morning before we arrived.. and the owner had just left it. The same happened next to the best in show ring on Sunday.. Often this is done by prominent show people who ought to know better. An incidence that really stuck with me was a junior handler’s dog that defecated while she was leaving the ring, and it was left there for the ring steward to clean without so much as a thank you from the junior handler and several family members. And again, thank you to all the people who do clean up after their dogs or have a poo bag handy for a fellow exhibitor in need.
Yours Sincerely
Willem Jansen van Rensburg
2 April 2013
So who died and made Jack Peden an official emissary for the Hound ring?
Oh, I suppose it’s his sparkling personality, remarkable tact and in-depth knowledge of KUSA rules that made him the obvious choice.
Silly Me for Wondering
2 April 2013
Can someone please tell me why Veterans are able to compete for CCs when most of them are already made up? What’s the point? Surely, they, like the champion class, should only be competing for BOB and group awards?
Curious.
2 April 2013
Graham, you say “Jack Peden happened to be walking to the Hound ring when my wife asked him to please verify with the steward that the weight issue was not a disqualifying fault or one that would place over weight dogs down the line.”
I don’t understand the following:
1: Why didn’t your wife just verify whether the weight issue was a disqualifying fault with the steward herself? Why ask someone else?
2: You and your wife have many, many years of experience in the dog game between you, but you were not aware that the KUSA rules prohibit disqualification based on faults and have done so for as long as I can remember.
3: Your wife asked Jack to verify with the steward whether the “weight issue” “would place over weight dogs down the line”. Surely that’s tantamount to asking a steward whether the judge will place dogs with missing teeth, cow hocks, straight shoulders etc., down the line?
4: You’re amazed that Bruce Jenkins & Wendy Davies “chose to stay mute ... even though not requested for their opinion”. Why should they react or interfere when, by your own admission, you had not asked their opinions?
Finally as a point of interest, are you or your daughter a member of any of the Dachshund clubs?
JUST WONDERING
2 April 2013
Dear Mr. Thompson
Regarding your postings in this forum on the Miniature Dachshund judging at Vereeniging & Districts Championship Show 2013 (Dated 27, 29 and 31 March 2013). I also want to state it clearly that this letter is written in my private capacity and is not reflecting the views of any kennel club that I am a member of, or served as an official on.
1) The Chairperson of Teckel Club of South Africa is myself and not Mrs. Wendy Davies. Mrs. Davies, the treasurer, is appointed to represent the Teckel Club at DOGSPC on my behalf.
2) On that day both Mr. Jenkins and I was mere exhibitors attending the show, the same as quite a few other committee members of all three of the dachshund specialist clubs. Both Mr. Jenkins and I still needed to be judged by the officiating judge, it would be impertinent of us to get involved in the judging procedure at that stage. As was pointed out by you, it was the show manager that needed to resolve the matter, and we would have gladly assisted him if he asked for our assistance. You question the decision of the ring steward to call the KUSA representative instead of the show manager but you wanted exhibitors that have no official authority on that day to interfere with the judging procedure. To quote Mrs. Christina Browning post on this forum dated 29 March 2013 “If there is doubt about rules then the show manager not the KUSA rep must be called and if the show manager cannot answer, then that is why clubs are meant to have a copy of the KUSA Rules available on the day of the show. And in this day and age the KUSA website is available 24/7”.
3) We only became aware of the change in the Dachshund breed standard at the beginning of last year when Mrs. Davies and Miss Dorrington started to qualify for judging. The matter was discussed in a Teckel Club Committee meeting and then after the committee had voted, it was decided that Mrs. Davies would raise the issue at DOGSPC. However, if my committee agrees, we will add the matter on the agenda of our AGM this year.
4) You stated on your letter dated 31 March “Furthermore I have a HUGE problem in accepting or even understanding that the various Chair Persons and their entourage actually have stood back knowingly and let this happen when THEY were more aware than anybody that the 2008 breed standard had changed, maybe it suited various people's book to not make it public knowledge, more the shame.” Then you should have also asked why various hound panel judges that have judged Miniature Dachshunds after 2008 have not picked it up and made the show holding clubs aware of it. You also stated that you are “highly annoyed now that for four and a bit years the exhibitors have been duped” and “Furthermore I have a HUGE problem in accepting or even understanding that the various Chair Persons and their entourage actually have stood back knowingly and let this happen when THEY were more aware than anybody that the 2008 breed standard had changed, maybe it suited various people's book to not make it public knowledge, more the shame.”. I really don’t think there is this big conspiracy by Dachshund specialty club committee members going on to “dupe” exhibitors of dogs that weigh more than five kilograms. Almost all of us that showed miniature dachshunds have had an experienced of a dog that were disqualified for being overweight, for instance my champion bitch bombed the scale at the 2011 Sporting Dogs Association Show and three dogs of one of a Dachshund Specialty Club committee members have bombed the scale at the Vereeniging and Districts show the same day that started this whole debate. And if it is true, then quite a few highly respectable judges are in on it, because they also did not make the 2008 change public.
5) You argue that in a democratic new South Africa, that committee members elected by the club cannot decide on behalf of their members, then the change of the Kennel Union of South Africa’s, breed standard in 2008 without consulting the Dachshund specialty clubs or all the breeders can also be perceived as infringing on the constitutional rights of the Miniature Dachshund breeders and exhibitors. Furthermore, the majority of the exhibitors actively showing currently are serving on at least one of the dachshund specialty clubs committees, and I know all the club committees would welcome additional committee members.
6) I wholly agree with you in the matter that the club officials appointed by club members cannot speak on behalf of all the Miniature Dachshund breeders, but they also did not have a say in the change in 2008. There was even less consultation in the 2008 change to the breed standard that you defend now. I might be mistaken, but at that stage the Dachshund specialty clubs were not even consulted. Furthermore, then one can also argue that on the current structure of KUSA, where club representatives made up the quorum of the provincial councils, a breeder that is not a member of a club has no representation.
6) This is my personal opinion and I am not speaking on behalf of any club I am a member of or officiating for. The KUSA Breed standard for Miniature Dachshunds stated regarding weight: “Ideal weight: 4.5 kgs (10 lbs). Desired maximum weight 5 kgs (11 lbs). Exhibits which appear thin and undernourished should be severely penalized”. This means that there is already a 500g allowance built into the breed standard. What will happen if we keep increasing this allowance, the Miniature Dachshunds will keep on get bigger and bigger. And in the long run, the dogs that answer to the breed standard will look like midgets against the flashier bigger dogs. Silly but a probable case scenario, if we enter a really good standard as a miniature it has only one fault its size.
7) You stated “to make a concerted effort to genetically reduce their size after which there is no going back”. There should be no need to go “genetically reduce the size of the dogs. The ideal weight of 4.5kg was NEVER changed. Only the status of a FAULT was changed from being a disqualification to one a judge should keep in mind when make a decision. Therefore, if a breeder has actually increased the size of their dogs, they actually have to breed a fault into their lines.
Yours Sincerely
Willem Jansen van Rensburg
2 April 2013
At Sunday’s show, an exhibitor asked me to comment on Fran Browning Cristina’s post as she (the exhibitor) was confused by it. I told the exhibitor that I was unable to comment, as I hadn’t read the post, but would check it out on Monday.
Upon eventually reading the post, I was surprised to find Fran citing a standard (she calls it a “rule”) which hasn’t been in use since 2009. In 2008, the previous Dachshund standard was replaced by the new Kennel Club standard in which the weighing imperative clause for Miniatures, i.e. “It is of the utmost importance that judges should not award prizes to animals over 5kg (11lb)”, was replaced by a fresh clause, i.e. “Desired maximum weight 5 kgs (11 lbs). Exhibits which appear thin and undernourished should be severely penalised.”
Citing the provisions of a standard which hasn’t been in use for a number of years is unhelpful in the current debate and, as a person involved in judges’ education in Gauteng, Fran should know better.
Fran is correct in saying that an overweight dog cannot be disqualified; that is specified in Schedule 3, Regulation 9.2. Fran is also correct in saying that ring stewards in South Africa often overstep the mark and become involved in matters which do not concern them. If there is disagreement or uncertainty about ring or judging procedures, the Show Manager needs to be summoned to guide the judge.
Under the previous Dachshund standard, exhibitors of Miniatures which “weighed out” had the option to remain in the ring and be placed (in the knowledge that they would not be in contention for any award), or to withdraw voluntarily (which the majority seemed to prefer to do). Post 2008, exhibitors are still at liberty to exercise either of those options, with two important differences:
1. There is no longer any obligation on a judge to weigh the Miniatures; and
2. If the judge decides to weigh and a dog “weights out”, and if the exhibitor then elects to stay in the ring and be judged, the judge must treat overweight as a fault like any other and be guided by the “Faults” clause,
“Any departure from the foregoing points including desired body condition should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to the degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.”,
in making his/her awards on merit only. In other words, post 2008, there is nothing in the Dachshund breed standard preventing a judge from awarding CC, RCC, BoB, or any other accolade, to an overweight Miniature.
I hope the above clarifies the position and puts an end to speculation.
A final comment: In fairness to exhibitors, I urge show-holding clubs to publish in their schedules whether their judge for Dachshunds would be weighing the Miniatures. That way there can be no surprises on the day and exhibitors would have the choice to show, or not show, under a particular judge knowing his/her decision on weighing beforehand.
Gérard Robinson
President: The South African Dachshund Club
3 April 2013
Hi Anne,
I would like to extend a special THANK YOU to you for the entries at the WITS shows. It was done with no problems, no issues, etc. and it goes to show that you are an EXCELLENT show secretary and many can learn from you.
I am HAPPY to volunteer as show secretary for Roodepoort – please let me know who I can contact as I will definitely take up the position if wanted.
Kind Regards,
Arnèl Sauer
3 April 2013
I don’t want to come embroiled in mud slinging and therefor will keep anonymous, but from what I saw from where I sat at Vereeniging’s judging, Hannah Tompson left the ring voluntary. When her dog clunked the scale she withdrew it and left.
I have read Graham Thompson’s account of events, but I know what I saw.
Exhibitor
3 April 2013
Dear Exhibitors
Port Rex Kennel Club Ch. Show 26 May 2013
In view of the controversy surrounding the weighing or not weighing of Miniature Dachshunds I will be following the KUSA adopted Breed Standard together with Schedule 3 Reg 9.2.. That is there will not be any weighing of Miniature Dachshunds during my judging appointment. This position will remain until such time that KUSA formally amends the regulations and breed standard to make weighing compulsory.
Kind regards
Mark Simpson
3 April 2013
I’m getting rather sick and tired of this argument from certain quarters that it is somehow a sin for a judge to hoop poodles. What is wrong with a judge verifying the height of a poodle in order to make sure that it is within the height limit?? Why is scorn constantly been heaped on judges who want to hoop??
This all flared up again when a miniature of suspect size started doing some winning. God forbid that anybody should dare to put a hoop on it.
And what is also strange that that there is apparently only two specialists from the same household in the whole of South Africa who has the knowledge of how to hoop a poodle and this knowledge will seemingly die with them. We must demand training from them before all this knowledge goes six feet under.
Stop intimidating judges!
3 April 2013
Thank you to the Hound ring steward for the Wits show.
Peter Watson, you did a great job, things ran like clock work and we managed to get home at a reasonable time.
Also I would like to take this opportunity for your assistance when my dog had a little “mishap” and giving me the time to get her settled again.
Daelene Venter
3 April 2013
I agree with Willem Jansen van Rensburg, Peter Watson did an excellent job in the hound ring on Sunday. It was plain sailing and a far cry from Friday’s fiasco.
G’d’n you mate!
3 April 2013
Dear Arnel
Please can you advise how many committees you serve on, how many times you’ve stewarded, and how many times you’ve judged?
Based on your answers I’ll decide how much value to attach to the comments in your recent post.
Just asking
3 April 2013
To ARNEL SAUER – Clean up your own act before you criticise
lol or LOL
3 April 2013
Gauteng Shows
It is a pity to see what was once the premier club of Gauteng now lying at the bottom of the pile. The only remnant of the past is a dark dingy pub.
One only has to look at the current leadership who at the last championship shows were seen running around with beer bottle in hand and semi-inebriated, chatting up the good looking well-heeled ladies. It is noted that he is never seen to offer any guidance and encouragement to both our child and junior handlers.
Their last open show was staged the day after an all breed championship show, more emphasis was placed on who would man the pub rather than anyone from the committee bothering to advertise their show.
The only vision coming from this committee is either seen through the bottom of a beer bottle or an empty whiskey glass.
The current bunch of drunks are more interested in running a tavern than focusing on the upliftment and future of the club. A year has passed and all that has happened is that the club has slipped deeper in the pit.
All other clubs have to rely on staging quality shows to generate funds to keep them afloat and to provide for the future. This club seems to rely on the revenue generated from the tavern to keep them afloat rather than staging good quality shows.
A grounds committee was formed of sober clear thinking people to rescue the grounds and have successfully turned it into a venue of which we all can be proud.
The junior kennel club should be an example to them of what can be achieved with a committee who are sober, clear thinking and have a passion for the sport.
It’s time that the drunks of the tavern should be booted out and an interim committee formed consisting of sober, clearing thinking people who have passion and FORESIGHT for the future of this club and our sport.
Don Smith
3 April 2013
Whatever happened to the Ethics Police? Where’s the charge sheet that’s usually issued after a weekend of shows? We’ve already had 3 weekends of shows and not so much as a spot fine has been issued. I would have thought the EP had truckloads of subject matter to work with after some of the shenanigans that I saw occurring over the last two weekends.
JUST CURIOUS
5 April 2013
Dear "Exhibitor" and "Just Wondering"
Firstly, yes I am a member of the South African Dachshund Club and have been for the last four years. I am also a member of the Dachshund club of Queensland if that counts for anything.
Secondly, I did not leave the ring voluntary, I put my dog on the scale and when the scale went down the judge said "sorry he is over the weight" and indicated that she could do no more. I then left as she clearly had no intention of judging my dog.
May I ask, just out of interest, why neither of you could have put your name to these letters? If you have an opinion why not put your name to it?
Lastly I would like to add my opinion on the weight issue. Many of you will say that I am influenced by my parents but I am 16 so I think that I should be able to think for myself.
I say, leave the scales in the ring and weigh, but make it judges discretion, a fault like any other and not a total disqualification therefore good (or even brilliant) dogs are not thrown out the ring. I realize that if the scales are completely done away with, we will lose our miniatures because they will all be too big. Another point I would like to make is that in the breed standard of Dachshunds regarding weights, the wording for Standards and Miniatures is exactly the same so I would say that if you make weighing a must for the Miniatures then it should be the same for the Standards. Lets face it, if the Standards can't make the weight why should the Miniatures have to?
As I said before I am 16 and am therefore still a junior so I would just like to say that I am not wanting to estrange myself from the Dachshund people as they have made me feel very welcome and have been extremely supportive. My parents are happy that I am friendly with the Dachshund Breeders (both Standard and Miniature) as they feel that they are very good role models for me to have.
Hannah Thompson
Hillstone Miniature Wire Haired Dachshunds
P.S My parents left me to write this letter of my own accord
7 April 2013
I cannot but agree with Stop intimidating judges because I was bad mouthed to kingdom come by the twisted twosome when I dared to say I was in favour of hooping. Poodle people have eyes you know and it is not so difficult for them to see that a dog is over the measure. Why else was everybody talking about it?
So the tactic was to scare judges off hooping by maligning them in advance. Its a bit like a serial killer suspect refusing to have his DNA taken to eliminate him as a suspect.
Judges mustn’t be intimidated. Hoop if you want to and remove all doubt. Whether you come from the back or the front there is only one place for the hoop to go.
Dingle Dangle
7 April 2013
Hannah Thompson is quite correct in stating that she was disqualified from being Judged at Vereeniging KC's show. I too had a Mini Longhaired Dachshund who "bombed the scale" and the Ring Stewart and the Judge suggested that i leave the ring as my dog was now disqualified. I stood my ground and insisted that my dog be judged as i had paid my entry fee. The Judge's response was "Whats the point". My dog was placed 2nd out of 3 dogs but was not called back for the Reserve Best of Breed.
Hannah may be able to think for herself but being the polite, sweet natured, 16 year old girl that she is, declined to argue with those in "authority" and left the ring just as she was told to do.
Karen De Klerk
Chadamyle Dachshunds
7 April 2013
Dear JUST CURIOUS
I think the EP has gone under cover and will not be heard of again.
The EP has obviously discovered that no amount of patrolling and finger wagging will fix the ethics of dog show exhibitors and given the whole thing up for a bad job. The EP had probably also discovered that its a waste of time to preach the ethics gospel to a bunch of scallywags.
So as predicted the threats of “I’m coming to get you” were empty.
EP = Empty Pot
9 April 2013
Well, it seems that 'Mrs Silvernail' scared off all the other aliases! Why am I not surprised about this, the whole incident was swept under the carpet never to see the light of day again!
I agree with Empty Pot, It's a total waste of time hoping for ethics in the dog world!
As ever,
Edie Wright
9 April 2013
Two questions for the Ethics Police:
1: Is it ethical to rush off to shows over 1000 kilometres away to enter under people who are your very good friends and others who were your very good friends before they emigrated, especially when you haven’t set foot at a show outside Gauteng for several years?
2: Knowing this, is it ethical to travel with such people?
PG Forever
9 April 2013
To Vereeniging and Districts Kennel Club
I’ve read all the posts on the weighing of the dachshunds and I see in Mr. Thompson’s post of 29 March that the Club has decided to reimburse the Thompsons as their dog did not make the scale and could then not be judged. Will the other exhibitors that did not make the scale on the day also be reimbursed, or is it easier to just ignore them as they are not making any waves?
I did not watch all the dachshunds being weighed but I know of 5 of them that did not make the scale. The whole fiasco started with the Champions class in Miniature Longs where 2 out of the 3 dogs ‘bombed’ the scale. As Mrs. De Klerk stated in her post of 7 April, the judge placed them, but it was only because they were already in the ring, she did not consider them for any awards. All dogs that came in after that was disqualified for not making the scale, you couldn’t even take your dog around the ring.
I am sure the Ring Steward marked all the overweight dogs off on his judges sheets.
Fairness for all.
10 April 2013
Such a lot of information implicating individuals involved in immensely illicit, immoral irregularities and impropriety. Incident upon incident – incorrigible, inane and invalid - indicators of an inauspicious 2013.
If only the EP was not so busy having a life.
I have the utmost contempt for the competitors who have to cheat to win, but jihads are expensive, emotionally draining and time consuming, and there would be such a lot of effort involved digging two graves.
To find the answers to all the questions posed to the EP please revert to previous posts, they are all there and repetition is so boring. You will note however that my forecast about the reduction in the number of entries has been “spot on”.
A short while ago I was having a chat with an acquaintance of mine who happens to be a medical professional.
We were discussing the cheating that goes on in the two sports/hobbies in discussion, and the fact that it was generally known who was cheating and how.
He was explaining to me that the prize money in the sport/hobby he was referring to was anything from R10 thousand to the top competition which was a R1 million prize,
“So”! he asked what do you win at a dog show, “A Rosette” I replied, “Yes but what is the prize?” he responded “Well generally nothing – just the rosette, but” I added hastily seeing that he was singularly unimpressed “you often get a bag of dog food and occasionally someone might win a dog blanket”
He looked at me in total incomprehension, “Just to clarify, what you are saying is that people spend money to enter a show either intending to cheat or in the certain knowledge that others are cheating, that the rules of the competition allow cheating but you all enter anyway? And after you all invest time, money and effort - the ultimate prize that you MAY get IF there is an honest judge - is a piece of ribbon!!!!! You really can’t be serious”
I swiftly changed the subject deciding that no amount of justification would help and unwilling to solicit a lower opinion than he had already.
Dog Shows R.I.P.
Rosemary Elliott
10 April 2013
At the PE Shows a Golden Retriever puppy bred by me was attacked (unprovoked) by a Pointer exiting the ring. Attached is the letter from the vet. This poor dog might have permanent damage and this just because the owner of the Pointer did not have control over their dog when exiting the ring. But my big question is that SINCE WHEN DOES A POINTER HAVE SUCH A BAD TEMPERAMENT THAT IT ATTACKS AT GOLDEN PUPPY WHEN JUST PASSING BY, UNPROVOKED? IS A POINTER NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A GUNDOG …WITH A SOUND TEMPERAMENT???? I would like to know who the owner of this dog is as well as the breeding of this dog and would appreciate any further information about who witnessed this incident firsthand. Please send me email with information that you might have to arnel@goldens.co.za
I would expect the owner of this dog to at least pay the vet bill of this puppy – even though one enters shows “at own risk” but we still expect handlers to be able to CONTROL THEIR DOG AT ALL TIMES as per the KUSA Rules & Regulations at every show!!!
Apparently the owner of the dog did not even apologise and was unable to control the dog. It ripped into the puppy so badly it had to go to the vet to be stitched up. These are owners that are NEW to the show scene and needless to say doubt that they will be interested in participating at shows again if this is the way that people behave, unable to control their dogs…not even prepared to apologise for what happened.
Kind Regards,
Arnèl Sauer
10 April 2013
My Staffie got nailed in Vereeniging show for “being too big”, in other words too tall, high, whatever. Will I also get my entry fee back from the club?
I have now heard it all. I don’t know who is in charge of Vereeniging, but does he/she realise what they’ve started??? One must seriously question the intelligence of whoever made this ridiculous decision.
Club Committee Member
12 April 2013
WELL DESERVED – LOVELY WIN
Wow, it was so nice to open one of the sites today and see a lovely achievement for an exhibitor over the P.E. Weekend.
So nice to see an honest opinion go through and to take BIS … a dog well discovered.
Congratulations to the South African Judge for the Group and the “ex” South African Judge for BIS.
What a special “ON THE DAY”.
Not even my Group or there
12 April 2013
Dear Arnel
Did the puppy’s owners go and report the incident to the club, or did they receive advice that as the GSP belongs to the daughter of a provincial councillor and the Kusa Rep for two days it would be pointless?
F**ting against thunder
12 April 2013
Dear Mrs Silvernail,
Just to let you know that you didn’t scare me away!
I came to the conclusion that I actually do have a life and I wasn’t going to spend any more of it pursuing something that was a sheer waste of time.
To Rosemary.
When you put it like that, it is rather pathetic isn’t it and to think that people have had to leave the dog showing world for a while due to stress, obviously worried about not winning that fancy rosette!
Sorry, no alias.
Sylvia De Klerk
12 April 2013
My word, but the EP is a real professional at ducking and diving.
Many questions, still no answers
12 April 2013
Dear club committee member
Was your dog judged? Yes, well then why should you get your money back?
Hannah Thompson's dog WAS NOT JUDGED! It was disqualified by the Judge (who admitted to having been briefed the night before the show) and the Ring Steward. What don't you understand?
Exhibitor and a club committee member
12 April 2013
Oh gross, Arnel. It’s terrible when a Gundog has such a shocking temperament that it will just attack a puppy.
I hope the people have laid a complaint at show because dogs like that must be banned from the show grounds before they attack people as well.
Anti aggression
23 April 2013
I was thrilled to see the current ad on the Dogworld website. How wonderful that the judges had the guts to put up something different in the Utility group in PE. Honestly one is so tired of seeing the same coiffed creatures (take your pick which one) go up show after show. There are other beautiful dogs in the Utility group that never get a look in.
Congratulations Roenel Swart!
20 May 2013
Please can someone explain the logic of this to me:
High profile family is very involved in sourcing judge, importing judge, entertaining judge, and is on committees of clubs where he judges.
High profile family wins two groups at show where he is judging Best in Show.
High profile family does lap of honor and withdraws ONE dog from BIS.
High profile family does NOT withdraw second dog.
Am I missing something here?
Explanation required
20 May 2013
Shew! Talk about a guaranteed win! Isn’t it sad when a Show’s committee member exhibits their dogs at their own show and then go on to win big under a judge who is obviously their friend- You scratch my back, I will scratch yours!! Do you think they ever wonder why the show entries are on a rapid decline??
Amazed!
20 May 2013
After the shenanigans we all witnessed this past weekend, I presume the ETHICS POLICE is busy compiling a docket and will come out guns blazing in a day or two.
Waiting in anticipation
22 May 2013
EP ALERT!!! EP ALERT!!! What’s going to be done about a committee member showing in Best in Show on Sunday under a judge she’s been entertaining for a week?! And she’s in charge of a province’s judging training nogal.
No wonder our sport is dying.
Sad state of affairs
