OFFA Exam or Conformation Judging?

I am hearing of this more and more, as well as having experienced it first hand.  What about you?  

Is this a new AKC directive, or are these judges rogue judges who think that they are doing OFFA exams on my dog's patellas and seeing if they can pop their hips out!  

We all know that there are judges who are 'heavy-handed' and not necessarily the most gentle.  We don't show puppies to these judges, because after all these years, if they haven't lightened up yet, I wouldn't expect them to start now.  Still, those heavy-handed judges examine the dogs, checking the head ratios, the eyes, the bite, following down for the proper shoulder layback, and front legs.  Proceeding down the back checking for proper topline with rise, slope, or level, then the tail, tailset, and rear.  At no time do these judges grab my dog by their elbows and hold on and continue to hold on and pull forward when my dog freaks and tries to back up.  Why are you grabbing and holding my dogs elbows?  What are you looking for?  

Why are you manipulating her patellas?  Are you a vet?  
Did I ask you for an OFFA patellar luxation exam?  NO, I DID NOT!   I paid for your so-called educated opinion on whether or not my dog meets the approved AKC standard for the breed and is worthy of receiving points towards it's championship today.  

And speaking of educated... if you are going to tell me that there is something specifically incorrect with my dog, and are 'quoting' the standard, you had better be quoting the correct standard.  I don't like arguing with judges but when you are so adamant about a specific item, to the point that it makes me question my knowledge of the standard, I am going to go immediately to the standard and look it up, then I am coming back for a chat.

Monroe Kennel Club, Monroe, MI Saturday September 27, 2014

HAVANESE

BENNY - Select Dog 4 GCH points

Congratulations to a great BeBe x Benson puppy:

GCH THAT'S THE ORIGINAL PARTI DOG AT MAPLE HAVEN
Owner Handled by Carol Janes 

THANK YOU JUDGE DR. JOHN IOIA

Forever

OK, I may have found a new show.  FOREVER. 
It is a new ABC series that started this week.  

About a man who is forever 40ish, currently working as the NYC Medical Examiner.  He can't be killed, doesn't really know why. 

Whenever anything happens to cause his death, he is re-born, naked, in water.  

Don't yet know how he explains all that to the cops each time but that brings me to my question:

Does this plot sound familiar?  Dying, coming back to life in water, immortality, etc.  It seems like this is something that I have seen in a movie or on TV, maybe when I was a kid?  I don't know and it is bugging me.  Kind of like Quantum Leap, but he just went from time to time, I think he was naked sometime, but never died. 

IF ANYONE HAS AN IDEA OF WHAT SHOW, OR EVEN WHO MIGHT HAVE STARRED IN IT, or IF IT WAS TV or MOVIES, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.  

Just click below where it says 'no comments' or 'comments' and let me know or drop me an email.

THANKS. 
Darlene

Does YOUR Handler Have Confidence in YOUR Dog?

Well, it happened again today.  

Breeds have been changed to protect the 'not so innocent.'

Handler tells Judge, "Oh, thank you so much for the breed win in Bichons and Maltese.  I am sorry I can't show my Poodle to you today, the one you gave the breed and a group placement to last week, but my assistant Susie will have him in the ring for you"  Handler proceeds to wave at Susie, Susie waves back while holding the Poodle, Judge smiles and waves back.  Handler walks off your Poodle and goes off to show another breed.  The only other Poodle in the ring is owner handled.  Handler saw, and beat, the other dog yesterday, under different judge.  

This judge could have avoided this by walking away and not even acknowledging the comment or at very least, made it look more appropriate and not looked at, or waved to, the assistant outside the ring.  The judge should have been insulted by these comments as well.  The Handler assumed that she could sway the judge, but it also implies that the judge does not have the ability to pick the best dog, therefore she should tell him which one it is.   Now those people who witnessed the interaction, will always believe that the judge was swayed by the Handler's comments, and that maybe he did not choose the best dog.
As a judge, would you want that reputation? 

Should the owner-handler take this as a compliment that the Handler saw your dog as such heavy competition that she had to pull a stunt like this?

What it comes down to is this:
1.     Your Group Placing Poodle is evidently lower on the totem pole than the other dog. 
2.     Your handler doesn't have enough confidence in the quality of your Poodle or her assistant to just let them win on their own. 
3.     Your handler has to try to undercut the competition instead of winning on the merits of the dog and how well she has prepared him for the ring that day.

My questions for you are:
1.     Why do you continue to hire this handler?  
2.     Is winning that much more important than integrity?  
3.     If you are an 'absentee owner' are you even aware that your handler is doing sh*t like this? 
4.     Or did you hire them because they pull these stunts?
5.     If you knew that a judge was so far in somebody's pocket (or up their ...) would you enter to them again?

When I got started in showing with my Bichon, my first handler Lynette Spitzer (mentored by Tammy Roth), was super-ethical, she still is.  That's why I hired her.  She was honest with me, and about my dog.  I learned a lot from her, and will always consider her a friend.  I brought my dog home because I was spending more time and money going to the shows to see my girl compete, than on anything else.  I took what Lynette taught me, went home and started grooming and showing Geneva by myself.  Hopefully I have done her proud.  I still remember those days, and I don't let Dave forget them either.  Every owner needs to be informed (because there is a pecking order) and every dog deserves the best care you can possible give them. 

But, back to the 'good old days:'
As I entered and attended more shows, I later learned that the handlers that I had interviewed, and did not hire, were the ones that pulled stunts exactly like described here.  I learned that I did not like them as people, and I did not like the way they treated the dogs, or their clients.  The more I won with my dogs, the worse they got.  I worked full time so could only go to shows close to home, so saw them at almost every show that I attended.  Kind of flattering, but at the same time very depressing.  

Even after some of those handlers killed dogs (due to neglect or irresponsibility) people continued to hire them, 'because they win.'  Really, people?  Where are your priorities?  If they do it to one dog, who's to say that your's isn't next.  

I'm not saying that I don't want to win every time I step in the ring, because I DO.  I just want to win because we have the best dogs.  When we lose, we don't like it, but if it's to a dog that we wouldn't mind taking home, then OK, I guess.  Or if the judge is consistent and you can see where he/she was coming from, then you make a mental note and only show that type to them.  

But if it's to a stunt like this, or to just plain bad dogs, then that judge is off of our list of acceptable judges.

The AKC, breed clubs, and judges wonder why numbers are down.  They act like the "Owner-Hander Series" and the "Baby Puppy" shows will bring people in, but it's not enough.  If the AKC doesn't remind judges, that this sport is for everyone, not just handlers, we will continue to lose people.  

Dave has been a handler for 30 years, but even at my prodding doesn't schmooze with the judges near as much as I see other handlers doing.  It makes him uncomfortable, because he doesn't want people making comments about him, like I have made here.  When it comes down to it, he's only going to show a good dog, so feels that his conditioning, training, and presentation should be what shines through to the judge.  

(Yeah, I know the ads, the ads!  It doesn't always help but when you have a top dog, it doesn't hurt to brag!)

I have set this to accept comments, if anyone wants to put your 2 cents worth in.  

Mississippi State Kennel Club, Sunday September 14, 2014 Jackson, MS

HAVANESE
Jewels - 1st/ Reserve
Moriah - 1st 
Zeus - Best of Opposite
Porter - Select Dog 
Selena - BEST of BREED & GROUP 4 

Thank You Breed & Group Judge Mrs. Terry Carter


BICHONS
Nurple - Select
Thank You Breed Judge Raymond Filburn

Greenville Kennel Club, Saturday September 13, 2014, Jackson, MS

HAVANESE
JEWELS - 1st / WINNERS BITCH / BEST of WINNERS
Moriah - 1st 
PORTER - SELECT DOG
ZEUS - BEST of OPPOSITE
Selena - BEST of BREED & GROUP 3 

Thank You Breed & Group Judge Mrs. Terry Carter 

BICHONS
NURPLE - Select
Thank You Judge Mr. Raymond Filburn

Mississippi State Kennel Club, Friday September 12, 2014 Jackson, MS

HAVANESE
Jewels - 1st/ Reserve
Moriah - 1st 
Zeus - Best of Opposite
Porter - Select Dog 
Selena - BEST of BREED & GROUP 4 

Thank You Breed Judge Dr. Michael Woods
Thank You Group Judge Charlotte Patterson

BICHONS
NURPLE - BEST of BREED
Thank You Breed & Group Judge Charlotte Patterson

Greenville Kennel Club, Thursday September 11, 2014, Jackson, MS

HAVANESE
The Boys:
No boys!  What's up with that!?!  OK, Porter finished last weekend, Ted left the country, and that's leaves Dave with no class dogs. :(  What will he do?

The Girls:
BONNIE - That's Clyde's Femme Fatale - 1st
MORIAH WOODS - That's The Colours of the Wind - BeBe x Bugs -1st  rwb
JEWELS FRAIZER - Wincroft N Angelheart's Diamond in the Rough - 1st

The Specials:
ZEUS - Best of Opposite
SELENA - BEST of BREED &  GROUP 1
THANK YOU BREED JUDGE CHARLOTTE PATTERSON 
& GROUP JUDGE DR. MICHAEL WOODS

Selena Waiting for BIS
PLATINUM GRAND CHAMPION
MBINS BISS AM GCH CAN GCH THAT'S ADORABULL'S DREAMING OF YOU

BICHON FRISE
NURPLE - BEST of BREED & GROUP 3
THANK YOU BREED & GROUP JUDGE DR. MICHAEL WOODS

Maury County Kennel Club, Sunday, September 7, 2014 Franklin, TN

HAVANESE
New Champion PORTER - Moved up to BOB - nuttin :(
Baby Belle - Reserve
Zeus - nuttin, nada, zippo
SELENA - BEST of BREED 
Thank You Judge Charles Trotter

BICHONS
Nurple - Select
Thank You Judge Robert Stein

CHINESE CRESTEDS
Our Boy HUEY - 1st in BBE - WD/BOB - GROUP 4
Thank You Breed and Group Judge Gloria Geringer

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT

A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT TODAY:
SELENA, Shown by David Scheiris was awarded BEST OF BREED today at the Maury County Kennel Club Show in Franklin, TN. Judge Charles Trotter. So, what's the accomplishment you ask? By my count, SELENA is now the FIRST and ONLY Female HAVANESE to reach the PLATINUM LEVEL GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP. According to AKC on 8/27 she had 775 GCH pts. According to Infodog, she earned 6 pts from 8/29 through 09/01, putting her at 781. By my count she picked up 19 points this weekend in Franklin. Total 800 !!!! - Posted by Darlene Scheiris

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday To Boo & Desi's 3rd All Champion Litter:

Cera
CH That's No Special Effects Required
Judge Polly Smith
New Champion with David & Pat Foose

Cera - CH That's No Special Effects Required
         Named after 'Cera' the little girl Triceratops Dinosaur in the the "Land Before Time" movies, because she was a feisty, all about herself puppy, with a loving disposition.  Owner Handled by Patricia & David Foose.

Keisha
AM CAN CH That's Mendota's Sassy Soul Sister
HFC Nationals 2014
Judge Ekarat Sangkunakup

Keisha - AM CAN CH That's Mendota's Sassy Soul Sister
         Keisha was sort of named by Jane's daughter Jessica, but they called her Ke$ha, after a popular singer.  I didn't like Ke$ha (who has now matured and taken the $ out of her name and is no longer the person she was then) so changed it to Keisha.  Patti stayed with the musical theme and picked her registered name.  Winners Bitch at the HCA Nationals 2011 as a puppy, Winners Bitch and Best of Winners HFC regional and HFC National 2014.
We are looking forward to Keisha X Bugs puppies in a couple of months.

Dave & Keisha
Jane & Oprah
BBE Placements HCA Nationals 2011
Judge James Reynolds
CH Adorabulls That's The Queen of Talk

Oprah - CH Adorabulls That's The Queen of Talk
         Need I say more?  It's all in a name.  Oprah is a beauty with an awesome coat and fabulous personality!  Oprah was Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, and Best of Opposite over specials at multiple specialties, as well.  We look forward to beautiful babies from her soon.

Clarksville Kennel Club, Saturday September 6, 2014 Franklin, TN

BICHONS
NURPLE - BEST OF BREED & GROUP 4 
THANK YOU BREED and GROUP JUDGE CHARLES TROTTER

CHINESE CRESTEDS
Our Boy HUEY - WINNERS DOG & BEST OF WINNERS 
THANK YOU JUDGE CHARLES TROTTER

HAVANESE
PORTER - WINNERS DOG - MAJOR - NEW CHAMPION !!!

BABY BELLE - 1st in BBE - Reserver Winners Bitch

SELENA - BEST OF BREED

THANK YOU BREED JUDGE GLORIA GERINGER
Group Judge Charles Trotter

Maury County Kennel Club, Franklin, TN Friday, September 5, 2014

HAVANESE:
PORTER - Winners Dogs & Best of Winners - MAJOR !!!
BABY BELL - Winners Bitch - MAJOR !!!
ZEUS - Select Dog 
SELENA - Best of Opposite 
Thank You Judge Robert Stein 

BICHONS
NURPLE - Select 
Thank You Judge Barbara Dempsey Alderman

Clarksville Kennel Club, Thursday September 4, 2014 - Franklin, TN

HAVANESE
ZEUS - Best of Opposite
SELENA - BEST OF BREED & GROUP 3

Thank You Breed and Group Judge Barbara Dempsey Alderman

BICHON
NURPLE - Select 
Thank You Judge Gloria Geringer

Cary Kennel Club, Monday, September 01, 2014 Raleigh, NC

HAVANESE
TED - Reserve Winners Dog
PORTER - 1st in BBE
MYRA - WINNERS BITCH & BEST OF WINNERS - NEW CHAMPION !!!
ZEUS - Select 
SELENA - Best of Opposite 
BREED & GROUP JUDGE MR. ROBERT HUTTON

The dog that won the breed also got a Group 1 (Robert Hutton) and RBIS (John Wade).  You know if we scissored/razored/trimmed the head piece like that we would get excused, for an 'unauthorized trim'.   The hair on the top of a specials head should be as long as the rest of their coat, or pretty close.  I understand a few shorter hairs, a scratched out part or something, but to have the same short length for years in the same convenient spot, the dog either does not grow the correct coat, or it is trimmed.  For the judges that fall for the 'oh, the puppies were playing with him and ripped it out' I am not sure what to say, except what handler/owner/breeder with a top special, let puppies chew on a dog they are campaigning?  Think about it!  
Yes, he has a cute face, but the handler that did this and was rewarded with her last special, and now with this one.  

That's like an insurance company giving you a discount for getting speeding tickets.  I don't get it. 

From the AKC Standard:
"The long, untrimmed head furnishings may fall forward over the eyes, naturally and gracefully to either side of the skull, or held in two small braids beginning above the eyes, secured with plain elastic bands."
"In either coat, minimal trimming of the hair at the inside corner of the eye is allowed for hygienic purposes only, not in an attempt to resculpt the planes of the head."
"The hair on the feet and between the pads should be neatly trimmed for the express purpose of a tidy presentation. Any other trimming or sculpting of the coat is to be so severely penalized as to preclude placement."
Since this was a judge from a recent Havanese National Specialty, I would have assumed that he would know that standard a bit better.  
BICHONS
NURPLE - Best of Breed

Nurple did not make it to the Group Ring as the Havanese were in the ring at the same time as the Non Sporting Group and Dave couldn't find anyone to take him in.  Sorry Dr. Simmons, we hope to see you again soon.  

THANK YOU BREED & GROUP JUDGE DR. DALE SIMMONS

Raleigh Kennel Club, Sunday August 31, 2014 Raleigh, NC

HAVANESE
TED - WINNERS DOG
PORTER - 1st in BBE

MYRA - WINNERS BITCH & BEST OF WINNERS

ZEUS - SELECT

SELENA - BEST OF BREED & GROUP 4

THANK YOU BREED & GROUP JUDGE MRS. CINDY VOGELS

BICHONS
NURPLE - BEST OF BREED

THANK YOU BREED & GROUP JUDGE MR. ROBERT HUTTON

Durham Kennel Club, Saturday August 30, 2014 Raleigh, NC

HAVANESE
TED - WINNERS DOG
PORTER - Reserve Winners Dog

MYRA - WINNERS BITCH & BEST OF WINNERS

ZEUS - BEST OF OPPPOSITE

SELENA - BEST OF BREED & GROUP 4

THANK YOU BREED & GROUP JUDGE MS. PEGGY LLOYD

BICHONS
NURPLE - BEST OF BREED & GROUP 3

THANK YOU BREED & GROUP JUDGE MS. DENNY MOUNCE

Alamance Kennel Club, Friday August 29, 2014 Raleigh, NC

HAVANESE
TED - Reserve Winners Dog
PORTER - WINNERS DOG
MYRA - WINNERS BITCH & BEST OF WINNERS

SELENA - BEST OF BREED & GROUP 2
Zeus - not shown today

THANK YOU BREED & GROUP JUDGE MS. DENNY MOUNCE

BICHONS
Nurple - Not shown today
Dave apologized to Judge Peggy Lloyd and explained the situation.
We look forward to showing Nurple to her again soon.