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DCA'S RECOMMENDATION TO JUDGES REGARDING UNACCEPTABLE PATTERNS

Considering the level of controversy surrounding the 2007 change to the AKC standard for the Dachshund, it is not surprising that some fanciers were very pleased and others were unhappy about the notification sent by the DCA Boardto AKC-approved judges for the breed. That communication, after an explanation of the change to the breed standard regarding color, stated:

"…..Therefore, as such decisions are at the discretion of the judge, the Dachshund Club of America strongly recommends that conformation judges EXCUSE any Dachshund that displays an area of white anywhere other than on the chest and write "Excused: color" in the judge's book."

The decision to send this notice to judges arose from the number of questions from judges that were asked of the Judges Education Committee and other Board members about how to handle show situations involving exhibits with white areas not acceptable according to the standard. They wondered which of the options open to judges did the parent club recommend to those choosing not to award these dogs….excusing the dogs, withholding ribbons, or putting those dogs at the end of the line? After discussion, the Board agreed that the recommended procedure would be to excuse those exhibits and the Judges Education Committee was charged with writing and mailing the notice.

DCA members should not have been surprised by such a communication to judges, as it was noted on the ballot that judges would be contacted about the change to the breed standard, and stated quite specifically regarding the option to add the piebald pattern to the standard:

"… It is customary for a parent club to inform AKC judges of revisions to the standard and how the changes impact the judging of the breed. If the piebald pattern is added to the breed standard, judges will be informed that they are to judge piebald dachshunds as they would judge any acceptable color or pattern, paying particular attention to the standard's description of correct piebald markings. If the piebald pattern is not added, judges will be notified that the piebald pattern was not approved as an addition to the breed standard, and thus this pattern is not an acceptable one for Dachshunds."

Previous to this DCA direct-mail communication to judges, an article regarding the changes to the standard appeared in the "AKC Judges Newsletter," and it is fair to surmise that many of the questions from judges about how to specifically handle these in-ring situations arose after reading that article.

The American Kennel Club Judging Operations Department was fully aware of the direct communication to judges from AKC and had no objection to it, as such communications from parent clubs are regularly sent to judges. Furthermore, that AKC office was instrumental in having DCA's notice to judges mailed to AKC Field Representatives, (whose mailing addresses are not made public to the fancy,) so that they would be aware that judges had received it.