"We bear the responsibility" and Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs
Author: Margo, Translation: Przemek (Jan 21, 2002 - 04:09 AM) |
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When we started showing Bolton (our first CzW), wolfdogs in Poland were a
real rarity (Bolton was the third czechoslovakian wolfdog in Poland).
No-one, neither audience, nor judges didn't have an idea what kind of dog
breed it is and how to judge it in the ring. But they "knew" their
characters.
One of the final competitions overstep the mark: it was "Best Junior Dog"
competition. In the main ring appeared lots of young dogs from all groups.
The judge, with long job seniority and experience, was judging very
detailed. He was checking the character, was stroking all the dogs, looking
at the head and depth of the chests, sometimes teeth - every dog was
touched. He judged the "devilish" Terriers, arousing fear Bulls,
self-confident Rottweilers, huge Mastiffs or having own opinion Caucasian Ovtscharkas.
Wolfdogs' turn came and then the judge went around us keeping us at a
distance and said: "Aha! I know this breed already. I know that it's better
not to touch these dogs!".
Three years passed. During this time in Polish rings we had seen substantial
group of CzWs and the situation changed dramatically - for the better. Days
of special treatments for aggressiv wolfdogs are over. The people stopped to
believe that the dogs representing this breed have to be skittish. The group
of judges who are not affraid to touch CzWs are getting bigger and bigger.
Many of them put the character on the first place while they are
establishing the winners (it can be only an example worth of copy when it
comes to Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs - a working dog breed).
Why I write about it?
Last year (2001) in June representatives of Verband für das Deutsche
Hundewesen (VDH), Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft (SKG),
Österreichische Kynologenverband (ÖKV), Raad van Beheer op
Kynologisch Gebied in Nederland, Union Cynologique Saint Hubert du Grand
Duche de Luxembourg (UCHL) and Polish Kennel Club (Zwiazek Kynologiczny w
Polsce) prepared a writing addressed to all judges, in which they ask them
to change the method of judgement.
The fact that most judges already comply with the new regulations could be
observed during the recent club dog show in Lüringsen, where all
cowardly and aggressive dogs did not receive a note higher than "very good".
And this point we should discuss a little bit further:
"Of course, You bear partially the responsibility only when, during the
judgement, You are able to identify yourself the negative features. That's
why we would like to ask You for extraordinary caution while judging because
your opinion can have a crucial influence on the genetic base, when we speak
about features that are not hidden, clearly visible and identificable for
judge's eye, about which we know are hereditary features. The fact is that
the titled dogs are being used for breeding purposes more frequently than
other dogs. That's why You, as judges, should give your opinion with
greatest caution and should not give the most important titles to such dogs
which have mentioned, unwelcome features that have a negative influence on
dogs."
The judges have to pay higher attention to (among other things):
temperament
angulation in hinquarters
movement
"Any deviation in one of the above listed points should be treated as a
serious defect."
In the end something "special" for us:
"In some of the breed standards we can find in the section which describes
CHARACTER the following notice: "keeping reserve to strangers", which can be
also described as "distance-keeping". But dogs that belong to these breeds
must have a strong character. These dogs should let the judge touch them, as
it's the case in all other dog breeds, as long as the judge approach them in
natural matter, moves in natural position and speaks normally with the owner
of the dog.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are convinced of the fact that You will support
our initiative to protect our friends - dogs - against mental and health
defects."
Margo Peron (Poland)
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