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Originally Posted by Woogie Man  I don't mean to imply that the show world is full of sub-standard dogs, but I think the focus has become skewed towards the 'beauty pageant' aspect of it. As a result, you have people enhancing dogs, hiring well-known handlers and shopping for venues to get points. It's called politics, but it really does seem more like a silly game,
If you looked at the part I copied from the Polish K.C., you'll see that a dog can be judged to be excellent and not win a title. This could happen in a field of very strong competition. While the dog may not 'win', consistent 'excellent' gradings would, in my mind, validate a breeding program. It shouldn't be all about the 'win' at any cost. If a dog can't be shown in it's natural state with good competiton and do well, then that owner is only fooling him/her self.
Unfortunately, the American system is set up for one to have to 'play the game' in order to do well. This is sad as I see it as detrimental to any breed. A cynic could say that championships are questionable under a such a system as ours and that is unfair to the truly great dogs being shown.
One other thing...did you notice that, under the FCI system, a health certificate must be presented before showing any dog? |
Absolutely not, and I didn't take it that way. I just think if those dogs that were enhanced were shown in their natural coat, their wins would be fewer. That is... the wins would be fewer until
all exhibitor breeders showed with natural coat color, at that point it would be an even playing field with regard to traditional coat color.
That's interesting in Poland dogs can be deemed excellent and still not win a title....here it seems a dog can win a title and shouldn't have been deemed excellent
I noticed the health certificate part but wasn't real impressed with that unless it entails more than a health certificate in the States does. Working with rescue, going to dog auctions, dealing with breeders, I've seen too often vets sign off on a health certificate and only a cursory exam could have been given, if any exam at all.