BCSA: AKC Delegate Report

AKC DELEGATE REPORT - CLAUDIA FRANK
January 2006 Meeting - Tampa, FL
Delegate Meeting - Herding, Earthdog, Coursing Committee Meeting

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New Sport
This meeting was in process when I arrived. The main discussion was about the new dog sport proposed by the parent clubs for the GSD, Rotties, Bouviers & Dobermans. Apparently the United States is the only country lacking a canine attack sport and thus is lacking in a breeding program which produces large numbers of dogs capable of performing the real work of law enforcement and war combat. This sport would be aimed at the evaluation of breeding dogs that would produce these actual working dogs. The sport would have the dogs focused on a sleeve rather than biting a person but demonstrate the courage and trainability necessary to be outstanding working dogs.
    This sport would have the same application process as other sports. However, the PARENT Club would be the group actually running the event. As I understood these events would only be held at their National Specialties. The AKC would host seminars.
For a breed to be approved to host such events they would have to go through the process of submitting a letter to the AKC documenting the breeds use for this type of work in their historical background. This would be the same process as used for breeds to participate in the Herding Program.
    Insurance considerations would by covered by the LOCAL club hosting the National Specialty.
    There is actually a competition to be a HELPER (“sleeve carrier”) that is used to pick the best Helpers that would also bring out the best in the dog. It was pointed out that the bigger and heavier the dog the more chance there is for damage to the Helper.

“No Pet Left Behind” Project – Judy Hart (Pembroke Club)
Judy explained what this project was all about. Her Club has started it as a strictly volunteer dog assistance program.
Their focus –
1. Define what is an emergency situation – www.pembrokecorgi.org
2. Find pet friendly Shelters and help them with an emergency plan (www.FEMA.gov website for emergencies)

AWARDS OF MERIT – give out at specialties
1. Awards of Merit should not be given out in any ranking order
2. The club needs to state whether it is just BOB/BOS entrants or include WD & WB
3. Is the Award Of Merit a percentage or a specific number

Evening Specialties
1. Judging should take approximately 2 hours max – about 50 dogs total
2. No special events
3. Can have TWO specialties in one day: 4 hours – 100 dogs – total judging 8 hours

STAFF - Herding
John Ripidou has left AKC
**Carol Delsman is now Field Director & liaison to the H-E-C Committee – cxd1@AKC.org

HERDING, EARTHDOG, COURSING COMMITTEE
The minutes for this meeting are attached.
Field Director and committee liaison Carol Delsman was present. Bill Speck who has rejoined the AKC will also be a liason and he joined the meeting about half way through. Board member Patricia Skully was also present. She made it a point of thanking me for attending the meeting and asked me to attend future HEC meetings.
I had been advised by Committee Chairman Gerard Baudet that there was an opening on this Committee and to apply for a position. I did so along with several other delegates. The Committee held an executive session and chose the new member. The position was given to Don Adams had been around as a Delegate for many years, and is just back as a Delegate for a new club. He had contributed to the Committee in the past and was exactly filling in the shoes of the member that resigned in November (a Lure Coursing person). Gerard asked that I again apply when after the June meeting, I will receive a packet to apply for the standing committees. I know that being part of this Committee is the goal of my attending the meetings so I plan to attend the meetings as a spectator and hopefully have some input when asked.

The Lure Coursing Advisory Committee submitted proposal to AKC Staff last November.
In 2005 there were 1,521 entries, 52 events and 110 clubs capable of hosting events. They commented that Clubs wishing to have more events than they are allowed event numbers can use numbers not used by another club. (* This might be worth looking into further.)

AKC Herding Championship (See attached Committee Minutes Report for proposed rules without some updates below.)
The Committee is pushing to have the AKC accept the rules and host an event in 2007. The funding has been approved by the AKC. It’s my understanding then that it is the job of the AKC to find out where the funds will be found.
    From Committee Chair Gerard Baudet: “There is no proposed date yet to put the Championship in place. By the time we write everything in detail, and by the time it is reviewed by Staff and approved by the Board, we will be a year from now (we also need the IDS to produce the statistics necessary to determine the dogs' eligibility). Assuming we have the Championship in the fall, it could happen in 2007 at the earliest (with little time to advertise and for people to get their dogs out).”
    Eligibility – 5 dogs in each breed – priority to Herding Champions – must compete year prior to be eligible. Slots not filled by a breed will be available for a random draw from breed entries that exceed the five. The AKC needs to be able to give the rankings for each breed. This seems to be a staff problem. I will write the AKC and request that rankings be made available both for our breed and overall rankings including all breeds.
    The ability to change the Herding Championship rules at any time will be written into the rules. Apparently in the past each time the event was mentioned it was so faulted that it was dropped by AKC. The HEC Committee would like to see the event get off the ground and then changes can be made to better it.

Herding Championship Points List
AKC Staffer Karen Rutter is going to formulate a way for the Herding Championship Points List to be part of the public awards material. It was pointed out that often the Championship Points List is prepared by the Trial Secretary at the end of the day or even after the trial and participants never see the list as sent to the AKC. The list will note how many dogs are in the pool and list the top 20 dogs which support the calculation.

Herding Event Numbers
Carol Delsman mentioned that it is important that secretaries keep the event number with the original event it was issued even if on the same day.

Judges’ Updates
Be sure to notify Carol Delsman of errors in the judges which appear on the AKC web site.

Herding Championship Class
Wording for this proposed class is attached. This wording is not finalized. I’m not in favor of this change in championship requirements.

Consistency in Dog Sports
The HEC Committee will write a letter to direct Jim Crowley (Board) to have the AKC staff make all sports consistent in terminology and required times.

JANUARY 2006 DELEGATES QUARTERLY MEETING
(The minutes for this meeting are available on the AKC web site and also in the February issue of the “AKC Gazette”.)

My impression of my first AKC Delegate meetings was one of very precise planning and strict adherence to agenda time allocations. I was very favorably impressed by the apparent dedication of the delegates to the running of the AKC, carrying it forward and the ironing out of the wrinkles that appear.

Jason Miller and Carmen Battaglia - CAR (Companion Animal Recovery) provided a screen presentation along with commentary on KATRINA rescue efforts. Two biggest problems – 1) pets not microchipped & 2) owners did not return. Prior to Katrina the AKC had only furnished coordination and not hands on assistance. Diane Alvers and Susan Hamilton started the Support Relief Fund with 911 and DogNY. All funds sent to “not for profit” status groups such as search and rescue and fire assistance. After Katrina the AKC provided collaborative efforts which included first hand involvement.

1. Provided supplies to key geographic areas
2. Pre ordered needed supplies
3. Prepared on grounds staff
4. Coordinated with Fed., state & local authorities

Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of the AKC National Herding Championships is to provide a competitive showcase for the accomplishments of the very best AKC registered herding dogs, and to demonstrate the inherent talent and usefulness of AKC registered herding dogs on farms and ranches and in competitive trials.

Section 2. Description. The AKC National Herding Championship Trials are to be held annually during the Fall on a regionally rotating basis. Separate National Herding Championship competitions will be held for each course (A, B, and C) in different areas of the country, each consisting of three trials in three days. Classes offered shall be Advanced Course A ducks, sheep and cattle, Advanced Course B ducks, sheep and cattle, and Advanced Course C sheep, provided there are eligible dogs entered in each class. There will be two judges for each class, and each dog will run twice, once under each set of judges. The lowest of those four scores will be thrown out, and the other three scores combined for a total score for the day. Fifty percent of the dogs with the highest scores will advance to the next competition, and at the end of the third day the dog with the highest combined score for all three days shall be awarded the Stock and Course Specific AKC National Herding Champion. Breed specific awards will also be made. These trials will be exhibition only, no qualifying scores, points or majors toward an AKC Herding Champion Title will be awarded at this event.

Section 3. Rules. The current AKC Herding Regulations shall govern in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with these regulations.

Section 4. Eligibility of Dogs. Until a competitive ranking system is developed, the AKC National Herding Championships are open to all dogs who have been awarded an AKC Herding Champion or Herding Excellent title, in the stocks and courses for which these titles were awarded, and who have participated in at least one trial within the past calendar year.

Section 5. Eligibility to hold the AKC National Herding Championship. The AKC National Herding Championship Trials will be held regionally and may be bid for by any club or association eligible to hold AKC herding events in accordance with current AKC Herding Regulations. The AKC Performance Events Staff will approve sites based on suitability of facilities, cost, availability and suitability of livestock, convenience of lodging, airport facilities and major interstates for maximum accessibility by a majority of exhibitors, and other factors as may be determined by the AKC Performance Events Department. Host clubs will work with the AKC Performance Events Department and trial chairmen and trial secretaries as will be assigned. The committee has the right to change eligibility.

Section 6. Regions. For rotational purposes, the United States will be divided roughly into three regions, East, Central, and West. Facilities in geographic areas that are ‘borderline’ between two of these regions may be considered for use in either region when bids are being made.

Section 8. Judges. A list of preferred Judges may be submitted by the hosting organization, and selections will be made by the AKC Performance Events staff.

Section 9. Entries. Openings will be held for up to five dogs in each breed eligible to participate in AKC Herding Trials, with priority given to Herding Champions. Should there be more than that number of entries in a specific breed, entries will be drawn by a lottery system (first for Herding Champions, then for Herding Excellent entries), with all entries then assigned a number on a breed specific list. Once up to five reserved breed specific openings have been filled for all breeds for which there were entries, all other available openings will be filled by lottery. Those entries not selected may be kept on an alternates list.

Section 10. Numerical limits. The numerical limit for entries will be determined by the facilities chosen for each trial.

Section 11. Closing of Entries. Entries for the AKC National Herding Championship shall close no later than thirty (30) days preceding the trial. If lottery drawings must be held, they will be done by the AKC Performance Events Staff within 3 business days after entries close, and entrants will be promptly notified of their status.

Section 12. Entry Fees. The sponsoring clubs will determine entry fees based on the cost of facilities, stock and awards. Entry fees must be reasonable to ensure maximum participation and shall be considered in the application approval process.

Section 13. Running Order. The running order for all three days will be determined by draw in accordance with AKC regulations.

Section 14. Scoring. All scores will be recorded for a completed run, and dogs running out of time will be awarded all points up to the last completed section of the course. All sections not completed will be scored zero. Dogs and handlers that are removed, excused, disqualified, or that retire shall be awarded no points for that run.

Section 15. Awards. The sponsoring clubs shall provide the following minimum awards: Rosettes shall be awarded for first through fifth place in each combined (three day) class. A large rosette, sash, and a silver belt buckle shall be awarded for the AKC National Herding Champion in each stock and course. A large rosette shall be awarded to the highest combined dog of each breed in each stock and course.

Section 16. Sponsorship. AKC would be responsible for securing sponsorship for the AKC National Herding Championship trials.