Westminster Malinois (best of breed)
- Thread starter release the hounds
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See, if it's that big of a deal for the breed's temperament to stay sharp and fearless, then the breed club needs to write the standard to reflect that. It's not the AKC that makes up the standards these dogs are judged by. It's the parent clubs. And if the parent clubs wrote in signs of shyness as a disqualifying fault, that would be that. As it is, the parent club put having prick ears of higher importance than showing solid temperament in the ring.
Granted, it's also the judge's responsibility to understand what the work the dog is bred for entails, so they can recognize when some aspect of the dogs they are judging deviates from that purpose. What it boils down to is a two way street. Breeders need to stop accepting uneducated judges who don't know the breeds they are evaluating. They also need to be proactive in putting out materials for those judges to learn from, otherwise how else will they learn? On the other side, judges really need to familiarize themselves with the dog's original purposes and get some hands on experience in the field so they can see how different conformation types and temperaments perform under duress and hold up long term. In an ideal world...
Granted, it's also the judge's responsibility to understand what the work the dog is bred for entails, so they can recognize when some aspect of the dogs they are judging deviates from that purpose. What it boils down to is a two way street. Breeders need to stop accepting uneducated judges who don't know the breeds they are evaluating. They also need to be proactive in putting out materials for those judges to learn from, otherwise how else will they learn? On the other side, judges really need to familiarize themselves with the dog's original purposes and get some hands on experience in the field so they can see how different conformation types and temperaments perform under duress and hold up long term. In an ideal world...
American Kennel Club - Belgian Malinois
Yes, it should be a disqualifying fault. But if "strongly penalized" still allows the dog to win, that's just not encouraging.
Yes, it should be a disqualifying fault. But if "strongly penalized" still allows the dog to win, that's just not encouraging.
I'm not saying that part is right or wrong, but if you think about it, making poor temperament a disqualifying factor isn't going to work.
Basically, since it's not something everyone can see, a judge can say "that dog has a faulty temperament" and boot it from the class, whether the dog really does or not. At least if it's something like color or marking that isn't up for debate as much (note: as much) then it's not disputable.
That being said, watching the video someone linked, I'm pretty at odds. I've seen a few Mals (at my SchH club) and none of them looked like those dogs really. Certainly weren't tucking their tails and acting skittish. But I guess that's the show/working difference, which saddens me.
Basically, since it's not something everyone can see, a judge can say "that dog has a faulty temperament" and boot it from the class, whether the dog really does or not. At least if it's something like color or marking that isn't up for debate as much (note: as much) then it's not disputable.
That being said, watching the video someone linked, I'm pretty at odds. I've seen a few Mals (at my SchH club) and none of them looked like those dogs really. Certainly weren't tucking their tails and acting skittish. But I guess that's the show/working difference, which saddens me.
I watched the gsd class, and was happy to see the judge give all the dogs a quick, temp test, as in bringing the dog up, she pet them, sent them back. All of the gsd's were fine with it, I thought the gsd's entered were much better than what I have seen previous.
As for the mals, I saw alot of nice dogs there, but the winner was indeed not my pick
)
As for the mals, I saw alot of nice dogs there, but the winner was indeed not my pick
)
LMAO @ the announcer... Belgian Mali-NOISE!
What a creepy dog, obviously wayyy over stimulated and on the verge of peeing herself. I am just as upset at the judge as I am the handler, who should not force that kind of stress on a dog who is clearly freaking out from beginning to end in the breed ring, let alone the group ring. I certaintly wouldn't want a Mal of that disposition protecting me and my family or working my livestock. Not to mention that scrawny, wirey build and tiny little head. Very sad, indeed.
What a creepy dog, obviously wayyy over stimulated and on the verge of peeing herself. I am just as upset at the judge as I am the handler, who should not force that kind of stress on a dog who is clearly freaking out from beginning to end in the breed ring, let alone the group ring.
I certaintly wouldn't want a Mal of that disposition protecting me and my family or working my livestock. Not to mention that scrawny, wirey build and tiny little head. Very sad, indeed.
There also was one that looked more like a whippet than a mali.
Wow! And I wasn't even there with Harry. Although, he looks more like a Pharaoh Hound. People were saying that ringside when I tried showing him a couple of time. One of my friends was yelling at the people, "He's a WORKING BRED DOG!!" It was awesome.
But, back on track, the poor dog even has her tail tucked in her BOB photo...
The Westminster Kennel Club | Photo
The BOB Groen is welcome to come stay at my place, though.