Re: Need a class for oversize dogs?
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2018 6:11 pm
mybeagles
For over 20 years I hunted coon hounds for fur and in competition.Mostly just Nite Hunts but did frequently enter a dog on the bench.
When showing a coon hound you stack the dog so he is right up on his toes,belly tucked up,slight roach back,head held high and tail curved over his back.
I know that A.K.C. says that a dog should be measured in a natural stance and NOT stacked in a show stance. But what constitutes a "natural" stance.
Some dogs will stand up proud with little attention and we've all seen others that absolutely can't get them to stand at all. I've actually seen judges in frustration bodily hold up a dog,measure it and say "he's good".
Everyone has heard of the tricks to make a dog crouch when he goes under the stand.
I've been to LPH trials and Mid-West trials and seen some very big hounds being run. Hounds that were much bigger than my female that I measured at 15 3/8".
I think we all know what a 16" hound looks like but what about the 14 7/8" - 15 1/4" hound?
The measurement on those hounds quite often are determined by two judges who are responsible for measuring 30-40 dogs and who may have varying methods for how they put a dog under the stand,how tight they drop the bar,how patient they are to get an "accurate" measurement. A lot of variables here to say the least.
I'm sure that there are those looking for an advantage with an oversize hound but I'm also convinced that there are dogs that get disqualified because the methods are basically unreliable from trial to trial.
I measured my dog at 15 3/8" but I'm no A.K.C. judge and not even a regular trialer [3 in the past 10 years] so was I stacking her? Didn't I push the bar down firm enough? Was I too high up on her neck and not on the top of the shoulder?
Two A.K.C. licensed judges who measure on a regular basis said she was a 14 1/2" inch dog. That's a 7/8" difference ! So what does my dog measure?? Do you accuse me of cheating and running an oversize dog??
You might accuse these guys of cheating or not knowing how to correctly measure or not taking the time to care or trying to save the club's money but I think the burden rests with A.K.C. to come up with a better and more accurate measuring system. Either that or do ALL measuring at trial themselves.
I'm all for enforcement of the rules in regards to measuring. I'd just like to see some consistency.
As always JMHO.
For over 20 years I hunted coon hounds for fur and in competition.Mostly just Nite Hunts but did frequently enter a dog on the bench.
When showing a coon hound you stack the dog so he is right up on his toes,belly tucked up,slight roach back,head held high and tail curved over his back.
I know that A.K.C. says that a dog should be measured in a natural stance and NOT stacked in a show stance. But what constitutes a "natural" stance.
Some dogs will stand up proud with little attention and we've all seen others that absolutely can't get them to stand at all. I've actually seen judges in frustration bodily hold up a dog,measure it and say "he's good".
Everyone has heard of the tricks to make a dog crouch when he goes under the stand.
I've been to LPH trials and Mid-West trials and seen some very big hounds being run. Hounds that were much bigger than my female that I measured at 15 3/8".
I think we all know what a 16" hound looks like but what about the 14 7/8" - 15 1/4" hound?
The measurement on those hounds quite often are determined by two judges who are responsible for measuring 30-40 dogs and who may have varying methods for how they put a dog under the stand,how tight they drop the bar,how patient they are to get an "accurate" measurement. A lot of variables here to say the least.
I'm sure that there are those looking for an advantage with an oversize hound but I'm also convinced that there are dogs that get disqualified because the methods are basically unreliable from trial to trial.
I measured my dog at 15 3/8" but I'm no A.K.C. judge and not even a regular trialer [3 in the past 10 years] so was I stacking her? Didn't I push the bar down firm enough? Was I too high up on her neck and not on the top of the shoulder?
Two A.K.C. licensed judges who measure on a regular basis said she was a 14 1/2" inch dog. That's a 7/8" difference ! So what does my dog measure?? Do you accuse me of cheating and running an oversize dog??
You might accuse these guys of cheating or not knowing how to correctly measure or not taking the time to care or trying to save the club's money but I think the burden rests with A.K.C. to come up with a better and more accurate measuring system. Either that or do ALL measuring at trial themselves.
I'm all for enforcement of the rules in regards to measuring. I'd just like to see some consistency.
As always JMHO.