SPEAKING OUT IN REGARD TO 'BITCHINESS'

to ignore, reject or counteract it ........ that is sometimes the question

The perception of an atmosphere of 'bitchiness' in the dog world is very much reflected in this knee jerk reaction of a great many people to whom showing is suggested as an activity to be enjoyed with their dog or puppy.   It is such a pity that this is so.   One can only try to counteract it with encouragement to give it a go, hoping that their experience turns out to be positive if they take up your suggestion.    So why the reaction?

Most of us involved in the dog world are aware that an unsavoury negativity exists in some ways and do what we can to ignore or dodge it hoping we can stay under the radar, but not every one is able to do so and some can unwittingly get caught up in politics.     Depending on who they have mingled with, as many exhibitors are supportive and helpful, newcomers particularly can be very intimidated by the whole scenario.   Understandably if the experience of the scene is not a positive one, some exhibitors won't continue and may subsequently talk about the atmosphere they experienced to others. 

It is our view that the rectification of any negative impression of the dog world, as the above knee jerk comments indicate, and in regard to showing in particular, can most readily be effected by those members (usually in the loud minority) responsible for the opinions being expressed - by taking responsibility for their own unsupportive, negative and destructive behaviour.   Not everyone can win and it creates a far better atmosphere if defeat is accepted graciously.  A successful breeder is a positive contribution to the dog world as a whole, not a threat to everyone else.

Breed Clubs are a possible avenue in some ways for assisting with the improvement of the dog world's reputation, as they are affiliated with the Canine Control Councils and have a input into rules and regulations and other matters relating to the individual breeds.    This allows each breed's individuality to be accounted for which in itself is a good thing.   They also contribute towards establishing requirements in the form of submissions to the local Canine Control Council in relation to the individual breeds in many instances. 

Not all, but many exhibitors and breeders are associated with Breed Clubs and it is the members of these clubs collectively that can have an affect on the shows themselves and also requirements in regard to breeding of an individual breed.   Often members will acknowledge their membership of a breed club as an indication of the depth of their dedication to the dog world and to their favoured breed.  Others can offer acknowledgement by way of establishing their status in the dog world.     Not a negative acknowledgement by any means and pride in the association or club one is involved with is commendable.

The competitive (which one would expect in competition) and sometimes seemingly aggressive atmosphere is exacerbated when members, particularly if they are club members, become involved in inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour towards other exhibitors, or breeders.    Some of this behaviour is mild enough and obvious enough to be waived aside as jealousy or a personal grudge by those experiencing the behaviour, however, when positions of privilege or power are utilised in order to discriminate, exclude, denigrate and malign another who is also involved in the dog world (whether exhibiting or breeding), the behaviour has much more of a damaging affect. 

While, to some, our comments might appear to be directed entirely at breed clubs or members of breed clubs as a whole, it is not.  However,  when one is a member of a club or organization, one is naturally associated with same, therefore the actions and behaviours of a member tend to be viewed as representative of and associated with that club or organization as a whole.   This is human nature.

The privilege of membership of a club is not a privilege to be wielded in order to lend weight to participation in a campaign against another breeder or show person, nor is it a means to further that campaign through encouragement of and participation in a destructive and maligning campaign, particularly if participating members include office bearers of a club.  Rather, it is a privilege to be able to uphold the aims itemized in the constitution of the club and to be a positively supportive and responsible representative in those endeavours. 

The membership and position enjoyed by club members can carry an aura of high respect and at times almost reverance with it.   Inappropriate behaviour by these people can therefore stimulate like behaviour in others.  A very powerful position that can very easily be abused by any member, should they be in the frame of mind to do so.

The often discriminating and exclusive, cloak and dagger methods utilized by perpetrators does not make the behaviour any more appropriate or acceptable or less damaging to the person who is the object of the campaign, or the reputation of the dog world at large, including the club of which they may be a member.  If anything the opposite is true. 

While we remain strong in our beliefs that the aims, endeavours and constitions of both canine control councils and breed clubs and the majority of members are, in themselves, a very positive contribution to the dog world at large, we also see it as a great pity that we can speak first hand about the affects of minority groups and their maligning and defamatory behaviour, including the use of exclusion from right of reply, and the contribution this behaviour has towards creating reactions such as those described in the beginning of this article.

Unfortunately an actively negative, destructive and bullying minority often overshadows all the good and positive attributes of a group as a whole.  

There is the scope to lessen the ability for negative members or groups of members within the dog world to have a detrimentary affect overall and some breed clubs are already exercising them, such as a club associated with our other breed, the Tibetan Spaniel, and I'm sure there are more clubs taking these positive steps.    We  loudly applaud their efforts towards improving the atmosphere for newcomers, current members of the dog world and in turn the reputation of the dog world overall so that knee jerks about bitchiness are no longer part of responses to suggestions for activities to be enjoyed.

It seems opportune to note that Dogs Qld have recently reminded all members of the following Rule 262 and Section 2tiii of the Code of Practice and which all members sign agreement to.

Regardless of the campaign against us by some, we will continue our own endeavours both in our breeding principles and practices, and also with encouraging people to enjoy the activities available to them with their beloved puppies and dogs.  

BREED STANDARDS AND THE SHOW RING

Another contentious subject from the 'voice in the wilderness' who dares to speak out

As a breeder providing puppies to show, breeding and pet homes, one gets involved in numerous discussions, on numerous topics - relating to dogs and more likely in regard to the breed you are breeding.

One also spends quite a bit of time researching dogs and lines, viewing pedigrees and dogs in order to establish which lines one might introduce into our breeding programme.

Over the last couple of years, particularly, researching has raised the question in my mind as to whether or not the 'Breed Standard' has been changed, particularly locally in Australia and particularly where Cavaliers are concerned.    The question became so loud in my mind recently that I checked the ANKC site to reassure myself that it hadn't been changed recently.  Other than introducing a 'weight range' for the breed, everything remained the same.    So what, if not the standard, has changed was the next query raised in my questioning mind.

Admittedly, the ANKC standard, while stating very clearly what the standard for the breed(s) are, does also state that 'any deviation from the individual standard points is 'highly undesirable', and also states that 'any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog', which could indeed be interpreted as 'anything goes' by some I suppose, but I would have thought that endeavouring to breed - and yes, show - puppies and dogs which closely adhere to the standards would be every discerning and responsible breeders' aim.   Else, what is the point?   We might as well condone breeding oodles if the standard is only something to be considered if you have a puppy or dog happen to come along that does indeed go towards complying with the breed standards overall.

I've heard many comments, from many breeders and showers over the years, not limited to, but including:

There are more comments I could quote, and we've all heard them, but these are the ones that immediately come to mind.

It is interesting that all of the above indicates a lack of regard for the breed standard and more regard to whether to dog is 'winning' or not and the increase of dogs being presented into the ring which move away from the standard, not only begins to negate the current standard, and sets a 'trend' towards which those aspiring to win wish to head by gaining 'some of what's winning', but it also successfuly muddies up the breed.

The above comments are all, in fact, valid when merely discussing 'what's being accepted or winning' in the ring, but as a breeder who genuinely has a breeding programme and direction set to breed consistently to the requirements of the Breed Standard, and ensure that lines are also healthy, it's absolutely astounding to find that breed standards are extremely open to the individual's convenient interpretation, or discounted as unnecessary in favour of show ring trends.

Admittedly, I don't have the time for showing very often at all, but when I have attended, I have been quite amazed at the difference in the exhibited dogs, in all ways, and astounded to come out having won a challenge, given the trends, even though I know I am doing my best to breed to the standard.

From the poor judges' point of view, judging in some breeds must be a nightmare.    Let's face it, the winner can only be chosen from those presented on the day and if none of those dogs are particularly close to the breed standard, then the judge has to do the best possible job with the material presented.      I couldn't blame judges if they did, indeed, become confused between what constitutes a breed standard and what is more a trend, and until such time as breeding programmes are  predominantly planned to breed to the standard, or not at all, and dogs not of the breed standard are not placed, regardless of whether there's any dogs to standard in the class, then the breed will indeed change over time, and puppies/dogs of those breeding to the breed standard will be ostracised as not true examples or suitable for showing.

Perhaps the judges' lot and the survival of the breed standards would be better served with a pointscore system of judging incorporating the individual breeds points of standard as the basis for the scoring, and the winner of any class being ascertained through the highest set of scores.   It would require a penciller, yes, but Equine Dressage has never been short of pencillers for their two judges per event - what better way to learn than pencil for a judge.    The exhibitors also have the benefit of receiving their scoresheets which gives the basis for where 'work needs to be done'.   Beneficial to all parties.    It's worth noting also that criticism of judges or judging results are very much lacking in the world of equine dressage, and so is the 'bitchiness' that the dog showing world is reknowned for.   These elements are replaced by comraderie, willing encouragement and mentoring of newcomers by the more experienced and respect for judges.   Gosh, wouldn't that make a change in the dog showing world.

I am not niaive enough to believe that there is a 'perfect example' of any breed, or that any of us would be likely to breed such a dog, but surely aspiring to breed to set standards, in all ways, is going to be more likely to produce consistent and quality examples of the breed.   I ask again, if breed standards are treated as nothing more than irrelevant or extremely flexible guidelines, then why have them in the first place?

I've actually spoken to people who believe that a breed 'standard' is 'what's winning in the show ring', some of them breeders, and some showers, and some who have never really known what the breed standard actually is.

This is a very sad state of affairs which leads to the above comments having substance.

This link is well worth reading and says it far better than I do  

CANE TOAD WARNING !!!

On the evening of the 21st January, our beautiful little Connor took it upon himself to mouth a Cane Toad and despite our efforts to save him we didn't even have time to get him to the vet before he died.    Folks it took 15 minutes for the poison to kill our adored and beautiful boy, so please be careful of your dogs and cane toads.  It is commonly thought that Queensland bred dogs seem to have an inate knowledge of the dangers of these toads, and we have certainly found this to be seemingly so, and have only experienced interest in the vermin from dogs born down south, but don't take any chances.    We had missed a very big one in our nightly patrols to keep the cane toad population down.  Try to keep your yards as cane toad free as possible, and express to your dog that cane toads are off limits.    I certainly wouldn't want any of you to go through the distress of trying to save an adored little dog the way we have just experienced. 

Needless to say our nightly patrols have become much more stringent searches.

Our sincere  thanks to all the fellow breeders and families who have been so supportive during recent adversities.

To help others avoid a similar experience ..

At Cavalrite we know first hand that sometimes things go awry when breeding puppies, no matter how hard one tries to do everything right and correct.   If nature wants to throw in a glitch, it will.   It is our view that as breeders we should act responsibly in regard to any glitches that occur and that we, in turn, deserve to receive the same responsibility when purchasing a puppy.   How a breeder behaves if something does go wrong is a measure of responsibility.

Some time ago we were approached by an interstate breeder offering us a top quality, show and breeding puppy and although we weren't seeking a puppy at the time, we purchased the female pup on her recommendation in good faith for the price of $2,000 only to find on it's arrival that it not only had a very large hernia, but it was later discovered to have a heart defect.   To make matters worse, another Qld breeder received a puppy from the same breeder, at the same time, which was also faulty.

Having approached the breeder in regard to the puppy's problems, the breeder subsequently caused much distress in refusing to be reasonable in our attempt to resolve this matter, including fervently denying the puppy was the puppy she provided.  It ended up costing us nearly $4,000 by way of identifying the unmicrochipped puppy, caring for it, ensuring it's needs were kept uptodate, and legal fees as a result of being forced to deal through her solicitor.   The matter was never settled and we were not refunded a penny in the end.   This matter could have been quickly and amicably resolved, had the breeder been approachable, honest and responsible.

The poor puppy was rehomed into a beautiful loving forever home with dear friends of ours, and we still see her from time to time.    It was not her fault and we wanted to ensure she had a lovely life, but while her fate was being decided, the breeder had the audacity to register her as 'Cliveden Forlorn Hope'.   I guess it was thought to be 'funny', but the poor puppy was saddled with this name.  

Unfortunately, we receive stories similar to this from time to time and, while we stress that most breeders are responsible and honest and not all breeders should be judged by these instances, it is as well to ask other Cavalier owners or breeders or check with your local canine council prior to purchasing a puppy interstate.   If you are having misgivings, seek a written guarantee from the breeder.