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The American Kennel Club CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

October 2006 - Despite our patriotic name, the American Kennel Club® is a world-class organization with an international presence. Earlier this month, the AKC/USA World Agility Team put in a stellar performance in Basel, Switzerland at the 11th FCI World Agility Championships. Sending Americans and their globe-trotting dogs to world competitions represents just one way in which we can help create a global canine community for the good of all dogs. The AKC/USA team, sponsored by Eukanuba and Clean Run Productions, competed alongside 33 countries. We are proud of our team’s dedication and of the more than 100 USA fans that traveled to Basel to cheer for them. Their highlights include: °  College student and former Junior Jennifer Crank and her Shetland Sheepdog “Guess” were the Silver Medalist in the Medium Dog Individual competition, beating out more than 60 other teams. °  Linda Mecklenburg and her Border Collie “Stellar” placed 9th out of 134 large dogs in competition. °  Carrie Jones and her Border Collie “Jive” placed 20th in this group even with Carrie taking a fall on the slippery surface during the first round. °  Barbara Davis and her 2-year-old Sheltie “Rock-It” placed 7th out of 70 small dog competitors. °  In the Large Dog Individual Standard round Marcus Topps and his Border Collie “Juice” had the second fastest run out of the 134 dogs. °  The Large Dog Team placed 7th out of 31 countries while the Medium Dog Team placed 9th out of 26 teams.   Nipping at the heels of this great international showing, the inaugural AKC Agility Invitational will be held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, CA on Dec. 2 & 3. Joining the top-ranked U.S. agility dogs (including the top five ranked agility dogs in each AKC-recognized breed) are teams from Puerto Rico, Canada, England and Argentina, giving our spectators a taste of the best in the world. And in the show ring, thousands of foreign dogs are invited to compete at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. Further adding to the international flair of the event is the fact that it serves as the only all-breed qualifying show in America for entry into Crufts – the world’s largest dog show. The winners of Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Best Bred-by-Exhibitor and the Awards of Merit are qualified to enter Crufts, as designated by The Kennel Club (England). But international good will is more than just competition. Working with other countries with like-minded goals, we are able to further our domestic mission of public education and responsible dog ownership. For example, the AKC Meet the Breeds showcase, held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, was inspired in part by AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung's experiences at The Kennel Club's Discover Dogs. AKC furthered this brilliant idea with an award for the most creatively decorated booth which showcases the breed's specific history, origin or function, a majority of which have their roots in faraway lands. International flavor is always boldly on display at AKC Meet the Breeds. Breeders of American-bred dogs also benefit from AKC’s reciprocal relationships with a wealth of foreign registries – from Argentina to Yugoslavia and Australia to Zimbabwe. Fanciers can register imported breeding stock from a variety of nations to further the sport of purebred dogs, right here in America. Even on our own shores, we routinely see dogs in competition with Canadian, Bermudian, and Mexican Championships, our closest international neighbors. And many have seen English Champions gracing our show rings for breeders to view and evaluate. The reciprocity of information is heightened when we send an “AKC Information Booth” to Crufts or host booths in America from the Kennel Club, the Bermuda Kennel Club, and the Mexican Kennel Club like we did at January’s installment of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. We look forward to continuing this interaction. Whether we are competitors at the World Agility Championship or at Crufts or just working with clubs from around the globe, we are always pleased to encounter the good sportsmanship, responsible breeding practices and pride in purebred dogs that bonds us with foreign fanciers. While our international fanciers may speak many languages it is a universal goal of caring for and promoting the betterment of breeds that transcends borders. Sincerely,   Ron Menaker Chairman

Highlights from the October 2006

meeting of the AKC Board of Directors

Judges Conflict of Interest Policy   (details below)

Three requests for exemption to this policy for conformation events have been received on a breed-specific basis. This will be discussed further in November.

Dr. Davies proposed a motion to eliminate the second portion of the policy, which prohibits AKC-approved judges from judging non-AKC events without the approval of The American Kennel Club. There was a motion by Dr. Davies, seconded by Ms. Scully, to consider the motion at this meeting, waiving the usual prior notice requirement. This motion was defeated, with the VOTE (affirmative: Dr. Davies, Mrs. Strand, Ms. Scully, Dr. Battaglia; opposed: Mr. Merriam, Mr. Menaker, Mr. Goodman, Mrs. Schaefer, Mr. Gladstone, Dr. Garvin, Mr. Keene, Dr. Haines, Dr. Newman.

Judges Conflict of Interest – Rally Exemption

The Board reviewed a request from staff to add the Association of Pet Dog Trainers to the list of organizations that are exempt from the Judges Conflict of Interest Policy for the sport of Rally. The request is based on their existence and participation in Rally prior to the AKC’s adoption of the sport.

Judges Conflict of Interest – Request for Obedience and Tracking Exemptions

The Board reviewed a request from the Companion Events Staff to exempt the organizations Australian Shepherd Club of America and the United Kennel Club from the Judges Conflict of Interest Policy for the sport of Obedience. The Board also reviewed the Companion Events Staff’s request to exempt the Australian Shepherd Club of America from the Judges Conflict of Interest Policy for the sport of Tracking.

Both of the above matters will be considered in conjunction with a general discussion of the Judging Conflict of Interest Policy in November.

Full Registration

The Board reviewed a staff proposal that aims to further encourage the use of the Full Litter Registration option. (see October Editorial for another view...)

ADDENDUM TO THE OCTOBER 9 & 10, 2006

AKC BOARD MEETING MINUTES

Items that may come to the Board for a VOTE in November 2006:

• A modification to the Judging Conflict of Interest Policy.

• Bylaws amendments to change the timing of nominations and to raise the number of signatures required for a petition candidate.

• Amending the Spaniel Hunting Test Regulations per recommendations of the Spaniel Hunting Test Advisory Committee.

• Amend the Rules for Basset, Beagle, and Dachshund Field Trials re: retaining entry forms.

• A request from the Giant Schnauzer Club of America to have the breed compete in the Working Dog Sport.

• A request from the U.S. Kerry Blue Terrier Club to have the breed compete in Herding Events.

• Requests to give full participation in Herding Events for Pyrenean Shepherds, and Norwegian Buhunds.

• Request to give full participation in Herding Events to the Swedish Vallhund.

• Several amendments to the Dog Show Rules as recommended by the Delegate Dog Show Rules Committee.

• The Guidelines for writing breed standards.

• New Obedience Titles and Classes.

• A revised policy on judging solicitation of assignments.

AKC JUDGING CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY

Here is the actual policy that has generated so much debate:
"The American Kennel Club ® Board of Directors has adopted a new Judging Conflict of Interest Policy, effective January 1, 2007. AKC ® believes that it has the best judges in the world and expends millions of dollars a year to administer its judging approval system to ensure that quality remains high.

“AKC judging approval confers a certain status on an individual and with such status comes an enormous responsibility to both AKC and the Sport as governed by AKC,” said President and CEO Dennis B. Sprung.

The policy states, with some notable exceptions, that AKC approved judges should be focused on judging and supporting AKC events. Approved judges should not have a significant interest in another registry that is in direct conflict with AKC or be judging for another event-giving organization to the possible detriment of events held by AKC member and licensed clubs.

The complete policy is as follows.  Bolding has added for added for emphasis.

JUDGING CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY

No AKC judge may have a significant interest in a dog registry or dog event-giving organization deemed by the AKC Board to be in competition with the American Kennel Club. Significant interest would include, but not be limited to ownership of, employment by, a directorship in, and holding office in.

Any AKC-approved judge, who shall judge a purebred dog event in the U.S. not in accordance with the rules of AKC, which apply to such purebred dog events without the express permission of the AKC, may be disciplined even to the extent of having his or her AKC judging approval revoked.

An AKC-approved judge may judge breeds that are not AKC registrable and/or that they have not been approved for by AKC at non-AKC events. The AKC Board has also given permission for the judging of certain other events based upon the following criteria:
1. AKC has no comparable events in place.
2. While AKC has a program in place, AKC judges have officiated at events under the aegis of the other organization for years before the AKC program was initiated.
3. The type of event is not or would not be perceived as being contrary to the best interest of AKC and the sport of purebred dogs.
4. The event is a breed or type of breed-specific performance activity.

No AKC approval is needed to judge versatility or performance activities developed by AKC Parent Clubs and sponsored by such clubs.

Events held by the following organizations meet the above criteria, and AKC-approved judges may continue to judge them:

• American Sighthound Field Association Coursing Events
• American Working Terrier Association Earthdog Events
• American Herding Breed Association Events
• North American Versatility Dog Association Pointing Breed Hunting Tests
• American Field Pointing Breed Field Trials
• United Kennel Club Coonhound Events
• Professional Kennel Club Coonhound Events
• Any of the various organizations sponsoring Agility Trials

Other activities may be added to this list at the discretion of the AKC Board.

......  end of quotation 

____________________ Handy links:

Senior Conf. Judges Assoc. Letter to the AKC Board April 2006
Individual Rights or AKC's Right to Change The Rules in Mid-Game?

Senior Conf. Judges Assoc. Letter To Members
No Judges' Associations Were Contacted, SCJA Reacts, Seeks Input

Conflict Policy Prohibits Learning New Breeds May 2006
Where Are Judges To Learn About Plott Hounds and Icelandic Dogs?

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