Dog News, February 12, 2010 B

Dog News

The Digest Volume 26, Issue 6

Of American Dogs $10.00

February 12, 2010

The Westminster Issue February 12, 2010

THE WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB

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Director’s Questionnaire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 178

Patricia Scully

QUESTIONNAIRE

Education: Graduate of Cornell University.

1. What makes you the most qualified candidate for the Board?

BATTAGLIA: I think that my experience on the AKC board and the positions held coupled with my education, training and, background qualify me for a position on the AKC board of directors. Specifically, in the business world I have served as assistant dean at Emory University with broad responsibilities for campus administration. As the regional administrator for the US Office of Education I was responsible for 300 post secondary institutions in the eight southern states. I worked with the college presidents, deans, accrediting associations, and the US Attorneys. I have been the president of a private financial aid consulting business and have owned two other businesses. Few members of the board have had this mix of responsibilities. My breed involvement has been primarily German Shepherds but I have also owned Portuguese Water Dogs, English Springer Spaniels, Long haired Dachshunds, and Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

My club involvement includes president of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. During my presidency I was able to take the club from being $30,000 in debt to having a balance of more than $35,000 when my term ended. I was also president of the Atlanta German Shepherd Dog Club, a founding member of the Lawrenceville Kennel Club and a member of the Conyers and Atlanta allbreed clubs. At this time I am the editor for Guardian, (Newsletter) for the German Shepherd Dog Club of Atlanta and also the current president of Dog Writers of Association of America.

I have been actively involved in the sport for more than 30 years as a breeder, judge, exhibitor, and researcher and have worked with the breeding programs at Lackland AFB. My next visit to Lackland was on January 28, 2010.

GARVIN: The best candidate for the AKC board would have an impressive list of attributes: an ability to assimilate, understand and analyze a tremendous amount of information on a wide variety of topics; a sense of the traditions of AKC earned from decades of experience in the competitive rings yet be cognizant of the importance of the latest innovations and technologies; an ability to discuss concepts logically and unemotionally in

Business experience: Worked as a cardiovascular pharmacologist for Pfizer Inc. Retired.

Dog experience and interests: Finished Pugs in Obedience and Conformation in the United States and foreign countries for almost 50 years. Licensed judge for Obedience for 40 years, and for Rally since its inception. Former president, national show chairman, and honorary lifetime member of the Pug Dog Club of America, Inc. Former president of the Association of Obedience Clubs & Judges, Inc. Honorary Lifetime Member of the Ramapo Kennel Club, Inc.; and the K-9. Obedience Training Club of Essex County, NJ, Inc. Winner of the Richard H. D’Ambrisi National Obedience Award in 1988.President of Tuxedo Park Kennel Club, Inc. Served on the 1999, 2003, and 2007 Obedience Advisory Committees and the 2006 Rally Advisory Committee. Three times recipient of the Gaines Medal for Good Sportsmanship. Officiated several times at the National Obedience Invitational.

Delegate experience: Delegate for the Obedience Training Club of Hawaii, Inc. for 25 years. Former chairman of the Delegates Committee for Obedience, Tracking and Agility. Former member of the Delegates Coordinating Committee. Former Board liaison for the Delegates Committees for: Field Trial and Hunting Test Events; Herding, Earthdog, and Lure Coursing; and Obedience, Tracking and Agility.

Special qualifications for serving on AKC’s Board: 40 years experience in the corporate business world.

Understanding the needs and concerns of the fancy in Performance and Companion Events. Extensive background in the sport, retired and have the time to devote to the Board, and my total dedication. Former member of the following Board committees: Appeals, Audit, Business, Clubs & Events, Judges Development, Judges Review, Pension, and Public Relations & Public Affairs.

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photo by Kate Lacey from the forthcoming book, SHOWDOGS

...and wait ‘til you see her move!

Always owner-handled by: Bruce Sussman

Royalty Glen of Imaal Terriers

Co-owners: Robert Shuter & Maura High Dog News 183

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Director’s Questionnaire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 182

a group setting; confidence in one’s own decisions, but an appreciation and respect for the points of view of others; and the youthful enthusiasm needed to meet the demands of the office. I hope the delegates will agree that I have those necessary attributes.

GLADSTONE: I don’t know that I am the “MOST” qualified, only that I am certainly adequately qualified. I have spent a lifetime watching, guiding, and managing AKC. As an attorney I shaped today’s AKC by representing numerous clients in the 1980s and 1990s changing many policies and causing AKC to rethink and reshape itself. I believe I am directly responsible for the then Board’s adoption of many of our Care and Condition and DNA identification policies in the mid-1990s. As a director I served as chair of the Board Business Committee. As chair of the Board Audit Committee I was responsible for adopting its Charter detailing its responsibilities and for overseeing the hiring of and transition to AKC’s new auditing firm. I am fully engaged in every management and business practice and issue facing today’s AKC. NEWMAN: The other candidates have extensive canine experience as do I, but I have an extensive background in administration, medical business management, human resources, as well as years of corporate and public board service and mayor of our community for eight years.

SCULLY: I am a qualified candidate because of my extensive background in the sport, total dedication, my interest in Performance and Companion Events offers a necessary and essential perspective, extensive experience in the corporate business world, and my personal integrity.

understand their concerns and priorities. The fancy needs to be made even more aware of the concepts and ideas that the board is considering, without alerting our competitors unnecessarily. This two-way communication is essential to develop better relationships between the board, the delegates, and the fancy.

GLADSTONE: 1) AKC is an organization with hugely diverse customers, fanciers, and participants. It serves numerous markets of vastly different needs and expectations, some apparently mutually exclusive of each other.

We are more than just dog shows and we need to adequately govern for many different kinds of people doing many different things with their dogs.

2) AKC’s staff is exceptional in their expertise in the many functions of AKC, but it is still a bureaucracy that needs management from the Board. No individual Board member should intervene with staff directly to influence policy, but should actively seek Board adjustment to staff implementations of Policy when necessary.

3) “The way we’ve always done it” is not necessarily the right way to be doing it today.

Inertia trumps all!

NEWMAN: The first would be the severity of the problems facing our future from lack of revenues and legislative challenges. Second would be the dedication and work effort of our staff for our organization.

SCULLY: Cooperation, consensus building, and compromise.

2. What are the three most important things you have learned from serving on the Board?

BATTAGLIA: Board work means you are willing to volunteer your time to work on many projects and that you are willing to listen, read reports, talk to staff, and members of the fancy and delegate body.

Board work also means visiting clubs and listening to their concerns. Over the past six years I have visited 46 all-breed clubs and have been the invited speaker at 15 national specialties. No other board member has visited 10 of the 27 veterinary schools and interviewed the deans, senior faculty, and senior students.

GARVIN: 1) Essentially every topic or issue the board discusses has more than one side to the story – often many. I have found that I can learn valuable information from all those who provide input, regardless of whether we agree on the conclusions.

2) There is an overwhelming amount of data, reports, opinions, analyses, and discussions that the AKC Board member must manage, as well as an unimaginable number of topics which with we need to be familiar. It is challenging but exciting to be able to keep everything organized, synthesized, and integrated with the overall organization goals.

3) It is very important for Board members to stay in touch with the mainstream dog show enthusiasts and the dedicated breeders, to listen to and

3. What do you consider to be AKC’s core functions?

BATTAGLIA: The core function of the AKC means the basics or the fundamental activities and programs that make the AKC what it is and what it relies on to exist as the organization that is looked to when the subject of dogs arises. These include dog and litter registrations, dog events (purebred and mixed breeds), legislation, our publications, and our educational programs.

GARVIN: The registration of pure-bred dogs, guiding competitive events for those dogs, and encouraging and supporting those who breed those dogs.

GLADSTONE: Registration. Regulation.

Education. Legislation. a) REGISTRATION. Maintenance of a stud book of acceptable accuracy and control over the conditions of kennels using our services.b) REGULATION. Providing fair, level playing fields for the many varied sport endeavors people enjoy with their dogs. c) EDUCATION. Teaching, through training and outreach, for the betterment of the health and welfare of dogs, responsible dog ownership. d) LEGISLATION Shaping and leading the public debate on

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Director’s Questionnaire

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the appropriate balance of government’s involvement in the ownership and enjoyment of dogs NEWMAN: The validity of the stud book would be paramount, followed by our ability to promote and nurture dog shows, and the health and well being of all canines through research and education.

SCULLY: The maintenance and integrity of the registry; fighting anti-dog legislation; and assisting the breeders, clubs, judges, exhibitors, handlers, and all the members of the fancy.

These are our customers.

4. What role should history and tradition play in fashioning current AKC policy?

BATTAGLIA: AKC has a long history and many traditions that make it a great organization. AKC began in 1884 with small beginnings. It has become the premier organization in the dog world, the sport of dogs and dog research. Our three affiliate organizations (the AKC Canine Foundation, Canine Animal Recovery (CAR) and the Museum of the Dog) reflect how history and tradition have helped AKC to be recognized for its importance in areas of health, safety, and the recovery of lost pets. Our goal is to position AKC so that when you think about dogs you think about AKC as the organization that means all things to those who own a dog.

GARVIN: One key advantage that none of our competitors can match is the long successful history and tradition of AKC. We should maintain and leverage that advantage, but not let it interfere with necessary progress.

GLADSTONE: AKC is 125 years old. A remarkable feat! We should ever respect our history and traditions, for they have helped us survive for over a century. They should not, however, dictate policy in today’s environment. Change at AKC is like trying to turn a giant ocean liner. Sooner or later the course is set and corrected, but it takes a tremendous effort and a lot of time. That is why it is so important to fully understand the ramifications of any currently proposed action. Sometimes history will educate us on consequences of proposals, sometimes, history teaches us to ignore history because it was wrong then and wrong now. But it is still our history.

NEWMAN: Growth and improvement are based on knowledge from the past but it is coupled with a responsibility to be able to change with time as needed. It can no longer be business as usual, but never forgetting our core business.

SCULLY: We should respect, honor, and learn from our past history, build on these achievements, and meet the challenges that lie ahead 190 Dog News

while working toward our future goals.

5. How often does the Board need to meet?

Why? BATTAGLIA: In the beginning years of the AKC, the Board met 12 times a year. That tradition continued for several decades. More recently the board responded to the delegates request to be available on a full time basis. The board responded and reduced the number of meetings to eight.

Given the amount of mandated work and the actions required of the board I think that eight meetings a year is sufficient.

GARVIN: The change from 12 meetings a year to eight did not reduce the effectiveness of the AKC Board. If we could make better use of electronic communication systems, we may be able to further reduce the number of face-to-face meetings, with bi-monthly the next step.

GLADSTONE: There is nothing wrong with the current Board meeting schedule. The content of Board meetings, however, is inappropriate. The Board spends the vast majority of its time wearing its Regulator hat – meaning it endlessly deals with issues arising under the AKC’s regulatory function. Club disputes, standard revisions, rule amendments, event regulations, discipline, and the myriad of requested exceptions from all of our rules and policies take up the vast majority of Board time. Little time is actually spent on setting global policies; review of current policies and procedures or on business guidance and implementation review. The Board wastes too much of its “face time” on regulating rather than formulating policy and guiding its implementation.

NEWMAN: The Board has become more efficient in the last year, and in reviewing how we operate i.e. white to yellow to blue, there are many issues that may be handled more efficiently by email or conference call. The time devoted by staff to preparing a meeting takes them from duties that could be more productive and advantageous to AKC. With less dialogue and wasted rhetoric we can accomplish our duties in shorter time with lesser cost and therefore I feel we can be as effective meeting six times a year.

SCULLY: Less frequently than the eight (8) two day meetings annually. The same amount of business could be discussed and voted upon in less time.

6. What do you think is AKC’s Board’s greatest weakness? How should it be addressed?

BATTAGLIA: There are many ways to look at this question. Perhaps a long-range view would be the broad topic that has been called governance. Having said that let me say that this need gives us a great opportunity—to REFRESH our brand. The AKC is a revered CONTINUED ON PAGE 194

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American brand, as well-known as other classic brands, like IBM and GE, and like those brands, the AKC requires periodic invigoration, to remind our supporters of our unique value and to educate new generations about our benefits. The long term solution to governance is with the delegates and whether they are willing to address issues such as the size of the delegate body, representation of the fancy, number of meetings, content of the meetings and how business decisions should be made.

The short-term concern is multifaceted.

Declining dog and litter registrations will soon impact the size of entries at our events.

The number of shows that stand alone have dwindled, and most shows can only afford to continue as part of a cluster. Major’s points at some shows are sparse and this problem discourages exhibitors. The list goes on.

There are many projects to address. But it will take the board, delegate body and the fancy to turn these problems around. I wrote a paper called, “The future of clubs – A membership dilemma.” I quote a small part to illustrate this point. “Growing and sustaining a membership is a topic of interest to every club. It is motivated by each clubs need to provide a service to the fancy and the community.” Clubs are important to the AKC which is a club of clubs. The infrastructure they provide is spread across America and is of utmost importance to the sport via their members who do the work required to host the shows, trials and other venues. Without an active group of dog fanciers, the sport, as we know it would be in jeopardy. Because of their importance to the sport and because of my special interest in this subject, I thought it would be useful to meet with club members (all- breed and specialty) with the purpose of gaining ideas from insightful members about the things that work and those that work only under certain conditions. Issues discussed involved all-breeds and specialty clubs and the problems of the “graying effect,” recruitment and retention of new members, kinds of membership, programs offered at meetings and club atmosphere. I concluded by saying that “Growing an active membership that will sustain a club and its future must become an on-going project. It should encompass a strategy that involves an important management principle, “A lot of people doing a few things will take less individual effort than a few people doing a lot of things.” It all begins with good ideas carried out by effective leadership. Mix this with programs that captures the interest of

the membership and you have the formula for success.”

GARVIN: The Board has a hard time distinguishing the validity and extent of the criticisms that it receives. Sometimes criticism from a small minority is taken too seriously; sometimes widespread criticism is not taken seriously enough. Furthermore, sometimes alternative solutions are not investigated thoroughly enough, or unintended consequences insufficiently anticipated.

GLADSTONE: See Question 5 NEWMAN: As much as I admire the delegates and their contributions, there are times when the board needs to move forward rapidly, but we cannot because we have constitutional restrictions and a responsibility to communicate.

Many important action items therefore are delayed putting us in a position of disadvantage dealing with competitors who have no one to answer to except their bottom line.

SCULLY: Business expertise. Address it by hiring well recommended business consultants. Or one or two individuals with proven business experience/knowledge appointed to the Board for a one-year trial period. This would require a change in the by-laws. The specific limited role of the appointee(s) would have to be defined clearly.

7. What experience in your life outside of dog’s best enables you to address that Board weakness?

BATTAGLIA: BSI was trained and educated as a behavioral scientist and I worked with many organizations where my education and experience resulted in significant improvements. My graduate education also included the study of animals and later the problems related to other species.

When I served as assistant Dean at Emory University where I managed the student union, men’s housing, student counseling and many campus activities. Later, as the Regional Administrator for the US Department of Education my responsibilities for the 300 post secondary educational institutions in the eight southern states required me to work with college and university presidents, accrediting associations, federal and state auditors, the US attorneys and the Justice Department. I have been president of a consulting firm and have owned two businesses.

These experiences prepared me to understand and solve budget problems, negotiate with business partners, set goals and objectives and think out of the box. Having to make weekly payrolls and meet business goals separates me from the other candidates. Most board members have not owned a business, nor have they had to make a weekly and monthly payroll. I am the exception having owned two businesses in two states.

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*All Systems **C.C. System

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Director’s Questionnaire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 194

Managing budgets and planning and caring for your employees helps to shape how you think and make business decisions. These experiences outside the dog world give me a different perspective on dealing with some of the problems of AKC and are also one of the reasons I was able to make CAR such a financial success during the 10 years I was president.

GARVIN: The Board of Directors of the Smith Clinic, where I have served since 1984, and been President for twenty years, is elected by the 45 physician shareholders, who mirror the Delegate body in many ways – they are intelligent, committed, caring, and not likely to rubber stamp ideas proclaimed from above without their own involvement. I have been able to manage this organization through times of uncertainty and crisis, yet helped it double in size, revenues and influence.

GLADSTONE: I am a “big picture” person. My law practice and business practices experience have taught me to focus on global policy issues instead of regulatory minutia.

NEWMAN: If you review my resume, you will see that I have been involved in hospital and medical management, served on numerous public and professional boards, and lead our community for 8 years as Mayor bringing a new direction to an old town. If I had not built a new retirement home there is a great possibility that I would still be serving in that position.

SCULLY: My 40 years in the corporate business world.

8. Do you think the allocation of AKC expenditures (its budget) best assures the future health of the organization? Specifically comment on “Information Systems/Data Processing,” “Events” generally and the field staffs specifically.

BATTAGLIA: AKC has changed how it allocates its resources over the past 10 – 20 years. In 1990, AKC’s information system (IT) was in serious need of up grading in order to meet demands of the market place along with the demands of having timely and responsive reports that support could support our 20,000 events each year, the needs of our 3,000 judges and the ability to update and maintain our stud book along with the support needed for new a DNA and inspections program. Over the years the IT department has grown substantially and today it represents more that 15% of the budget. Based on industry standards that may be too high. A new committee of the board is now looking at the short and long term needs of AKC. Their report and recommendations will be presented to the board in the near future. We have reduced staffing levels from 512 employees in the 1990’s to less than 359 in 2009.

There are fewer now than in the past even though the numbers of events and visitors to our events have increased. As things change and fluctuate the board is always reviewing these issues.

GARVIN: The budget is the compilation of the as-

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sumptions, decisions, and priorities of the organization. With core revenues continuing to fall, we are to the point where even some services that were previously thought to be essential may have to be cut. To do that wisely requires an overall strategy, which has prioritized our goals appropriately, and considered the potentially adverse effects of any budget cuts. That is, whether to decrease – or increase – spending on information systems, events, or field staff can best be decided in context with our overall strategy GLADSTONE: I will address questions #8, #9, #10, and #11 together (see Question #11).

NEWMAN: The question appears pointed and it might be better to address a specific concern that you may have. Budgets that I have done in 8 figures more mostly controlled by labor and benefits, materials essential to the operation and capitol improvements to stay competitive or surpass industry standards. We must support core services and products that make us what we are. Our expenses have been curtailed with fewer staff and greater efficiency. But business should never be predicated on only cutting costs, but rather at ways to increase revenues and that is where we need to be focused. Those who are active in management know that soliciting ancillary revenues, and expanding our horizons( the dear to my heart mixed breed program- voted against by three of the other candidates) is where our future and fiscal survival may be. Our IT budget a large part of our expenditures, and perhaps a greater percentage of budget than similar organizations, but we are computer driven service industry and with the demands of the fancy we have of necessity a higher cost. This does not mean they have a carte blanch and the board has just appointed a special committee of members to review expenditures in that area for productivity and return on investment.

SCULLY: Adequate planning after sufficient research, and then preparing an accurate and realistic budget, would ensure the correct allocation of AKC expenditures. These (Information Systems/Data Processing, Events generally and the field staffs specifically) are all areas which require many resources, are fiscally expensive, and must be studied carefully before monetary and staff decisions are made. Requested funds and personnel would have to be warranted and cost effective.

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9. How involved will you be in evaluating (and adopting) AKC’s annual budget? Detail what your involvement will be.

BATTAGLIA: The annual budget is developed by senior management with the involvement of the vice presidents and input from the board. This is a process that takes place over a period of many months and includes the setting of goals and targets. I think a better way to develop future budgets would be to involve a committee of the board in each major income and expense areas during the developmental stage. I will ask for this change to be made in the future if elected.

GARVIN: Every board member should consider the economic impact of any decision – or non-decision - at every meeting. The board needs to set aside enough time to consider the appropriate prioritization of current and future issues well in advance of the presentation of the actual budget. A good board member should be able to ask challenging questions without being offensive, while keeping the big picture in mind.

GLADSTONE: See Questions #11 NEWMAN: The budget process involves the submission of figures from departmental heads to the board, which looks at the bottom line, comparing previous and projected figures and asking appropriate questions of those leaders. It is not our job to scrutinize every line item in every department, but rather to assess the reasonableness of the line item and the expected return.

SCULLY: I would study and review the entire budget, and ask the CFO any questions I had.

10. What tests would you propose to evaluate the necessity for and the effectiveness of all new and increased expenditures?

BATTAGLIA: I learned as the owner of two businesses that when times are tight financially and the economy is not doing well, controls and oversight generally work best. The questions that must be asked are: can we get along without it? Is it something that will contribute to the growth of our core business?

How can we redirect efforts that will grow and refresh our business?

GARVIN: For any new proposal, the simple questions of “why do it?, why do it now?, and why do it this way?” will help identify worthwhile endeavors. In our current crisis, questions such as “what programs or services is this one more important than?” and “if we implement this, what programs or services will need to be reduced or eliminated?” become essential.

GLADSTONE: See Question #11 NEWMAN: Not every expenditure lends itself to an arithmetic formula and many items may 202 Dog News

have more PR value without significant financial return.. Therefore, since we are not General Electric, we may not be able to readily create a formula for predictable return on expenditures (although staff does try) and we are a “not for profit” organization.

SCULLY: All expenses must be clearly defined and justified. Savings are evaluated through cost effective management.

11. What should be done to recoup the loss in CAR (Companion Animal Recovery) revenue?

BATTAGLIA: I served as the President and CEO of AKC/CAR for 10 years, during that time CAR grew and prospered. It became the largest not-for-profit recovery database in North America.

In order to improve CAR’s bottom line some new goals and directions might be in order.

One idea that I believe will expand the CAR brand is to direct more effort at the 4,000 shelters in the United States. AKC/CAR is a brand that from time to time needs a new public relations program designed to inform the public of the unique value and benefits of CAR’s chip and enrollment protection. I have put forth a proposal that will refocus CAR among the shelters. My suggestion is to give the AKC/CAR microchip free to the 4,000 shelters with the agreement that the shelter will collect the AKC/CAR enrollment fee which is paid by the new owner. This kind of effort will help shelters reduce their costs and substantially increase CAR’s income and take market share away from the for-profit organizations that are using microchips as a way to profit from the problems of owners and their lost pets. CAR is the largest database in North America and what makes CAR so attractive to the public and the fancy is the protection it affords those who chip and enroll with CAR. More than 3 million pets are enrolled in CAR and that includes 30 species.

GARVIN: Whatever the source of a loss in the AKC family, whether it is due to poor decisions in CAR’s past or from poor performance in some other area, the need to recoup the loss is the same. However, every program needs to be evaluated on its own merits – what is the cost versus what is the benefit, recognizing that what worked in the past, and what was important in the past, may not be relevant in the future.

GLADSTONE: Each year the staff brings to the Board its proposed budget for the following year. The spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations are most impressive, drilling down into great detail, department by department. We are told CONTINUED ON PAGE 210

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™ Capturing the eye of the judges and the hearts of those who have come to know her! ™ 204 Dog News

w o R l l o o a H d y g ’ s n i G r l p o S ry . h C Soundness & Movement

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Donna

w o l R l o o a H d g y ’ n s i r G p l o S r a l C l M . w e y i y B V h e l u g ff C Rid B Best In Show FCI International JKC Champion Best In Show AKC Champion

In 2007 Bluff won Best of Breed at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship show and an All Breed Best In Show and was a Top Ranked Labrador, All Systems.

Traveling to Japan with good friend, Genji Ozeki, in February 2009, Bluff achieved FOUR Best In Shows and was Ranked Number One Labrador in 2009.

Congratulations to all Bluff ’s friends and supporters!

Owners Genji Ozeki Miyoko Tamagawa

Breeder/Owner Donna Reece ridgeviewlabradors.com Dog News 207

C I G A M

o t g n i u n i t s n t r o a C e H e r u t y p a Ca W s i H g n o l A

Owners Donna Bloom-Schwartz Donna Reece Mary Henricks RidgeviewLabradors.com 208 Dog News

S p n I e t c s i a e l B ty Show W & w o h S In innin t s e B g

w ’ s e i M V e a g g d i i c i R a . n h C

Our appreciation to Judge Mrs. Judith Goodin

Breeders Donna Reece & Anne Merkle

Presented by Erin Hall

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Director’s Questionnaire

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how much every department will spend on every bit of its operations for the year. The budget is presented in a separate document, usually delivered a few days ahead of the meeting, but not always. Jim Stevens is the jewel of the AKC. He explains the tremendously complicated accounting system and legal status of AKC finances in a way most Board members understand. After answering a few questions on the number crunching, the Board then approves the Budget.

Almost no time at all is spent on discussing the mission of each department, its goals for the year or even its tasks to be performed. The Board does not change much, if anything presented by the Staff. In my years on the Board I can recall only one proposed amendment to the budget, when David and I disagreed with the expenditures budgeted for Judges Operations. The Board pretty much simply approves the proposed Budget without significant comment, so the bureaucracy just grinds on without question. For that reason I voted – alone as usual – to not approve the budget during my last three years on the Board.

My concerns that caused me to vote “No” on the budget largely arose from the lack of review of programs and departmental missions. Once AKC puts something in place – whether it is a new service program or a regulatory policy requiring enforcement – it is almost never reviewed again.

That is what should be accomplished by a budget review. It is not. AKC has had the luxury for most of its history to have non-participants in our events pay for almost all of our expenses. Pet registrations that cost AKC next to nothing to produce and sell, kept millions of dollars every year coming into our coffers. We had to figure out how to spend it. We did: AKC is, at its operational core, a database management company. Our databases and data are our lifeblood. We have a top of the line data center, with all of the state of the art software and hardware available. We certainly have a Cadillac of an IT Department.

Our events are tremendously subsidized by nonparticipant income. Our studies confirm many dollars per entry paid by AKC general funds rather than participants. Different events have different subsidy rates, but they are mostly all very expensive for AKC per entry. Again we have the Cadillac. That is not a bad thing, as long as we have non-participant income to spend on our events. We have Field Staff representation at nearly every All Breed conformation show. We have over 50 Field Staff members companywide, throughout all event departments, attending thousands of events. AKC is VERY well represented at the events being put on by our Member and Licensed clubs in every discipline.

Our Field Staff costs multi millions of dollars.

We certainly have another Cadillac here. We cannot afford Cadillacs in every garage unless we find replacement non-participant income.

Registration and pedigree sale income has

dropped tremendously. I don’t think we can recover the income stream from registration activities that we once had. America is simply not paying us to register their pets any more. We need a replacement stream of income. That is why three years ago I volunteered to serve AKCCAR. I believe America will pay for enrollments in CAR’s recovery database. CAR has recovered nearly four hundred thousand lost pets and has crafted a very efficient recovery system. I took over the Chairmanship of CAR two years ago to help build a new CAR business model. CAR no longer had its relationship with a microchip sales company to rely on so it took on the business of selling its own branded microchip. That effort is beginning to show results. (In the past year CAR’s operating expenses have been stripped and its income stream is being increased significantly). Of course it took significant investment in marketing, sales and inventory to become competitive in the industry, but CAR has firmly established itself as the premier not-forprofit pet recovery service. CAR is now a global player since we introduced our latest product, the ISO standard microchip. When looking at CAR’s financials it should be remembered that CAR contributes over a million dollars directly to AKC’s bottom line by paying licensing, service and logo fees. It also contributes by discounting its services to AKC for resale at AKC’s benefit, and by directly funding projects like the AKC Parent Club Conference and Veterinary Scholarships.. My goal for CAR is to have it replace the non-participant registration income that has traditionally supported AKC so we can keep our Cadillacs in every garage.

NEWMAN: It would have been better to ask what actions led to CAR’s fall in profitability to an operational loss of $900,000 in 2008(check the 990 form). It would seem to me that some business decisions were made that have seriously affected the bottom line and who made them and why should be the focus. The Hunte Corporation is one of our biggest customers and still we are not profitable. Should we get out of the chip business and concentrate on the recovery service 24-7 ? This may be too late since a vet group (I believe the AVMHA) has recognized the need and is pursing such service for their members.

SCULLY: I would order an outside/independent audit, find out what went wrong, and put measures in place so it never happened again.

12. Comment on AKC taking show dog ads.

If it is appropriate for AKC to take show dog ads, why is the number limited?

BATTAGLIA: AKC publications and website attract thousands of readers each day. Many are looking for breed information, articles, puppies and other things. Breeders, owners, exhibitors and vendors who have products and realestate to sell look to AKC for information and CONTINUED ON PAGE 212

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FLASH nd First a p u o r d G Secon ia. p u o r G Virgin , l l e w in Dos

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opportunities. Historically, AKC has accepted advertising. The free market should prevail.

GARVIN: AKC Gazette took dog show ads for many years, without apparent damage. Some limitations and guidelines are appropriate, and the current limits may be valid to avoid outrageous excesses.

GLADSTONE: AKC should not be in the business of selling show win advertising aimed at influencing judges at its events. I find the AKC’s new ad program offensive, especially when coupled with AKC’s antiquated “no solicitation” policy for its judges. It is entirely inappropriate for the Regulator (AKC) to facilitate the attempted influence of its Judges.

NEWMAN: The old AKC registered dogs and approved dog shows, living off the registration fees and not recovering event expenses. We made a venue for others to make money i.e. supers, judges, photographers, handlers, vendors, but less likely the show giving club and the AKC. It is time we become concerned about the organization’s survival and if we can make significant revenue by selling space on our site we should. If we are limiting, I do not know of this or the reason and perhaps it is a space limitation. If successful we will look at expansion.

SCULLY: I do not believe that AKC should be involved with this project.

13. Do you think reducing AKC’s contribution to the AKC Canine Health Foundation by 50% ($500,000) was appropriate?

BATTAGLIA: We have a long history of contributing $1 million dollars each year to the CHF for research. In some of those years we have offered CHF the opportunity to match our contribution which resulted in more than $1 million. Since the inception of CHF, AKC has contributed more than $ 22,000,000 to the CHF. This year we contributed $500,000 and agreed to re-visit the contribution in June. If the market improves I will vote to increase the amount to $1 million.

GARVIN: It may have been necessary (I obviously did not have the detailed budget information this past year), but it seems unfortunate to cut support to one of the most successful and highly regarded components of the AKC family.

GLADSTONE: No. NEWMAN: As a Millennium Founder and former board member of the CHF, it is dear to me but when we have a projected three million dollar short fall for 2010, you must make cuts, never approving a negative budget. In this case we left the door open to revisit the item in midyear, evaluating our financial picture as well as evaluating that groups ability to generate revenue from new corporate sources. We must always support our special groups that

do so much for our dogs and our image.

SCULLY: This was necessary due to the current financial constraints. Hopefully, more funds will be available in the near future.

14. Should all delegate votes be public record and, if so, what will you do to assure that this happens?

BATTAGLIA: Delegates are not afraid to have others know how they vote. There have been many roll call votes in the past. The difficulty in recording every vote is cost, time and the special equipment needed to record votes quickly so as not to delay delegate meetings. Thus far we have not seen a cost effective way to rent or purchase 300 voting machines to make this happen.

GARVIN: Not all delegate votes need to be public, and there are procedural means to have them public when necessary. If a club cannot trust its delegate to vote how instructed, the club needs a new delegate.

GLADSTONE: No. It’s not worth the expense or the time for the vast majority of votes. Any time a majority of Delegates feel a vote should be recorded they can cause that to happen. That will almost always be for a vote that requires a two-thirds majority to pass, so there is real protection from abuse under the current system.

NEWMAN: As a politician of long standing, I believe a vote is a private matter in the ballot box and should stay that way. Most Delegate votes are by hand and not usually contentious so as to require a roll call vote, and therefore public.

Voting for committees and the board should be treated as any election in this country i.e. one man one vote in private. Board votes are a matter of public record and should be.

SCULLY: All votes, no; however specific votes, yes. A motion can be made for “roll call” votes.

15. Should AKC become an individual membership organization, with the club/delegate system remaining AKC’s voting authority?

BATTAGLIA: This question focuses on the fundamental issue of governance which is more than just a membership question. The Canadian Kennel Club is a membership of individual breeders. In 2009 I met with and spoke to their CEO, CFO and their breeders. I was just recently the keynote speaker at their judges association in Ottawa. This subject was discussed at length.

My conclusion is that there is no advantage to a single membership.

GARVIN: I have not seen any data that would suggest that this would be effective.

GLADSTONE: Yes. AKC should also hold an Annual Convention of its individual members as part of its governance. Perhaps it is time for an AKC Constitutional Convention.

NEWMAN: Membership programs have been tried numerous times, and although there may

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212 Dog News

Best In Show & Best In Specialty Show Winning

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Dog News 213

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be some initial success, I do not believe they increase in successive years and do not stand the test of time. It would better serve us to develop a new business plan for the organization.

SCULLY: No. There is more wide spread representation, diversity, and various viewpoints with the present delegate and member club system. The delegate has the opportunity for indepth knowledge by discussing matters with his many club members. The approximately 600 delegates represent thousands of individuals.

16. Should AKC’s bylaws be amended to authorize the Board to appoint one (or more) regular board member independent of delegate election? (Consider this question as an expansion of the number of board members.)

BATTAGLIA: NO GARVIN: No. A critical feature of board membership is accountability to those who elect you, and such a proposal would lack the necessary checks and balances of a representative democratic body.

GLADSTONE: Yes. NEWMAN: The Board has many consulting authorities who are paid, The Delegate Body has many competent people who may run for the Board, or continue as they now do, working with Delegate Committees to facilitate the work of the board and improving the sport.. Increasing numbers is not as important as assuring the quality of the members serving.

SCULLY: Yes. One or two individuals with proven business knowledge could be appointed to the Board for a one-year trial period. This would requite a change in the by-laws.

The specific limited role of these appointee(s) would have to be defined clearly. I would not classify them as regular Board members.

17. Should Board member term limits be repealed?

BATTAGLIA: When term limits were first proposed its purpose was not made clear. If the intent was to force new blood on to the board then the Rule should have been to lengthen the number of years a board member must sit out or limit the total number of terms a board member can serve. A one-year vacation from the board has not served any useful purpose.

GARVIN: Probably not yet, as it has not been applied to a full cycle. Those who claim that the current term limit system does not work neglect the fact that last year, three totally new members of the board were elected – as many as had been elected in the seven previous yearly elections combined.

GLADSTONE: Yes. NEWMAN: The board term limits were something I supported in order to assure change. Political incumbents always have an edge. The problem here is that the Delegates vote for people on the board whose performance they can not adequately evaluate. So term limits have not served the purpose since we keep reelecting old friends after one year. Note that my opponents have served a combined total of 43 years on the board and if reelected are eligible for two terms more, and hence potentially serving 75 years. Therefore it does not work, change it or get rid of it.

SCULLY: Yes. Term limits did not accomplish the desired goals.

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Section II: Registration:

1. Are you well enough versed in all aspects of dog registration, meaning AKC and everything else occurring in the market place?

BATTAGLIA: I think that this is an area in which I am one of the best informed candidates. The five papers I have written on this subject which have been widely published show my extensive knowledge of this issue which is so key to the AKC’s being a viable organization. These articles are entitled: “The Gathering Storm, Part I and part II”, both focused on how the animal rights have used a strategy to get the public and fancy to register fewer dogs. The third article called “Breed Specific Legislation” focused attention on how the animal rights groups have used a strategy that functions like a legal class action to affect an entire city or community.

The fourth article was titled “The Future of Clubs – A Membership Dilemma” and focuses on the impact of declining registrations on clubs and our events. The fifth article entitled “Ticket to Ride” which focuses on breeder trends that limit registrations and future breedings. The combined impacts of these actions have decreased registrations.

GARVIN: One can never know enough, but perhaps the biggest missing piece is the inside of the mind of our consumers and potential customers. What are their perceived needs that we can meet?

GLADSTONE: I have as much expertise, if not more, on all aspects of dog registrations as anyone at AKC except Jim Crowley. I not only understand the commercial marketplace, I have significantly impacted AKC’s role in that market.

NEWMAN: Yes. SCULLY: Yes. The AKC has not placed value on the registration; and, we are in a very competitive marketplace today. I am well aware of the over 35 other registries.

2. Is registration decline an important enough Board priority?

BATTAGLIA: This issue has been addressed by several boards. What is lacking is agreement by the delegates, the board and the fancy on the specific goals and deadlines. Since we implemented AKC’s Strategic Plan we have taken on several projects to reduce the problem of declining registrations. Many of these projects are just now beginning to have their impact. More should and can be done. If elected it will be one of my top priorities. See my response to the next Question (#3) and the recommendations I made in answering question # 12 above.

GARVIN: Yes, I think the board understands this.

GLADSTONE: No. CONTINUED ON PAGE 220

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NEWMAN: Whenever your primary source of income declines, it must be a top priority for any corporation.

SCULLY: Most certainly, yes.

3. Why can’t AKC stop the decline in registrations?

BATTAGLIA: The problem is not caused by a single action. Those who register dogs can be grouped into: the one time breeder who registers about 30%, the fancy who registers about 20% and the commercial breeder who registers about 30%. Each of these groups has changed over the past 15 years each for different reasons. Dennis Sprung stated, “The fact is not only that we are losing the initial registration of a bitch’s but her future litters as well -- and all generations beyond.

The highly prevalent “one-time breeder” still exists, but increasingly they are registering with other organizations.” As these losses continue to trickle down so will the potential for influence in matters of legislation and the opportunities to educate and market our brand.

It is clear that there are many factors affecting these declines. Competing registries continue to make a difference because they are offering financial incentives to cost-conscious puppy buyers. The cost of a registration at a competing registry is often free or included in the purchase price. Dennis Sprung also reported that AKC is receiving more than 400 inquiries per week from dog owners with “papers” from other organizations wanting to know if they can still register their dog with AKC. The competing registries have developed a business model that has shifted Americans away from the AKC as is evidenced by the declines in the number of breeders and exhibitors who participate in AKC events. Today there are 30 other registries who offer “registration papers.” Most charge less then AKC which influences many pet owners and breeders. In addition to the cost of registration, there are about 200,000 pups sold each year on a limited registration each year of which 100,000 get registered and 100,000 do not get registered.

When you combine the effects of these two groups about 200,000 dogs lost to the AKC stud book each year which means that during the past 10 years more than one million dogs have been lost from the registry plus the litters they would have produced. This trend has been ongoing for more than ten years. Another related concern is the stringent interview and application procedures used by some breeders when selling a pup. Hundreds of potential buyers have complained to AKC that our breeders make it impossible to buy from them and they tell us they will go to a pet store. These are only some of the problems that impact registrations.

GARVIN: I do not know a magic answer to this dilemma, but we do need to keep trying, and listening for other options and opinions. I asked at the Delegate Forum in December if anyone did

have the answer, to please send it to me, but I have not received any solutions so far.

GLADSTONE: The public doesn’t see value in our offered product and we have steadfastly refused to offer a product the public might find valuable. We drove out many registrants with our poorly implemented, meaningless DNA policies and we have refused to adopt meaningful, marketable, DNA and registration policies. We do nothing to sell ourselves to any of our customers.

NEWMAN: AKC board has worked with staff to stem the decline, blaming it on the loss of the commercial sector. Looking at our statistics tells us that the number of dogs eligible for registration has dropped in half over that the last 10 to 15 years, and gives credence to the fact that the commercial sector is not the problem but there are other factors creating less public interest in pure bred dogs. In the commercial sector, many are closing up shop, not able to sell their dogs at auction or to brokers like Hunte, who is turning to hybrids which are more popular and generate greater revenue. Hence the request to allow them to put type of dog on the Canine Partner form at the point of sale. I feel that there is a lack of interest in pure breds, fueled by the desire to save a mixed breed from euthanasia at the shelter. Therefore I am inclined to believe that with lack of interest in pure bred dogs, the decline in the commercial sector and our new altruistic society we may never return to the levels of the 20th century. Those who claim other registries have stolen our numbers because of the DNA frequent sire program, cannot provide accurate figures from them, but if added to ours would they return us to the million plus figures.

If this premise is correct we may never return to the old days.

SCULLY: There are many more registries now; and, AKC has not placed “value on the brand.”

It should be emphasized to the public that an AKC puppy is the “gold standard”, and stress that in order to enjoy our many sports the dog must be registered.

4. Is it acceptable for AKC to become a socalled “boutique” registry for the fancy?

BATTAGLIA: As AKC loses it size it will also lose its ability to educate and its ability to influence public opinion and legislation. During the ten-year period (1991 – 2001) the dog population in the United States increased by 9 million dogs, which is a 17 percent increase. Within this decade the percentage of purebred dogs in the United States increased from 57% in 1996 to 64% by 2000. Even though the number of purebred dogs increased, the number of dogs registered with the AKC significantly declined since peaking in 1992. AKC’s customer base is built on a structure that is very diverse. For example, AKC supports more than 195,000 individual breeders, 5,000 clubs, and 21,000 events that CONTINUED ON PAGE 224

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annually attract in excess of 1 million exhibitors, vendors, and spectators. While these numbers are impressive, if we drill down into them, other important concerns can be noticed. For example, although the number of entries in 2007 increased slightly (3 million dogs at all venues) the number of unique exhibitors is declining. In other words, the increase in entries is attributed to the fact that fewer exhibitors are entering their dogs more often. In Conformation, the number of unique dogs competing per year has declined 4% since 2000.

This is directly correlated with the decline in dog registrations. Furthermore, there has been a large decrease in the number of dogs entering 1-6 shows, with a gradual increase in dogs entering 7 or more shows. In 2007, AKC data also shows that on average, each unique dog is entered 12 times per year in Conformation events. Here are some of my concerns in summary form: 1. Dog registrations have declined every year since 1996 (with the exception of a small increase in 2004) at an annual average rate of 4%. However, the decline is worsening, with dog registrations down 7% in 2007 and 11% YTD 2008. 2. AKC litter registrations peaked in 1997 at 564,962 and have declined every year since. In 2007, AKC registered fewer than 400,000 litters for the first time since 1980.

3. Sporting breeds lead in registrations, with Labradors and Golden retrievers at the top, though dog registrations for these two breeds have declined 24% and 43% respectively since 1996. 4. Terrier registrations are the lowest of the seven groups. 5. Herding registrations declined 21% from 1997-1999, and Hounds declined 18% from 2000-2002; both groups continue a modest average yearly decline of 4%.

6. Working Group and Non-Sporting breeds have fallen more drastically than the other groups, both down 52% since 1996. 7. Toy breeds, after rising 16% from 1995 to 1998, have declined 30% since their peak in 1998. AKC registered 521,147 more dogs in 1996 than in 2007. What happened during this period cannot be ignored. Nineteen breeds realized a 5-digit loss accounting for 87% of the decline. These nine breeds (Rottweiler, German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Dalmatians, Pomeranians, and Shetland Sheepdogs) have each seen a decline of more than 20,000 dogs.

This accounts for 61% of the total decline.

What is also less obvious is the impact of these declines on each of these nine breeds. For example, Rottweiler registrations declined 84% in 2007 over 1996. If these trends continue, Rottweilers and other breeds will become low entry breeds and their parent clubs will see declining memberships. When the lack of entries is spread across all AKC shows, both our judges and breeders will experience the residual effect of fewer dogs and breeds. Majors will become scarce and exhibitors over time will start to

become disinterested and will stop showing dogs they cannot finish. The IT department (2007) also added insight into the registration decline when it reported that there are now forty-six breeds (30%) that register fewer than 100 litters per year. More importantly, there are 29 breeds (18%) that register fewer than 50 litters per year which is less than one litter per state each year. When all of this is taken as a whole, these breeds on the average will provide less than 200 show dogs each year. To find competition for championship points, exhibitors in these breeds will have to enter more often and travel farther to find majors. Going forward, most of us are not likely to see many of these breeds at AKC shows in the future. So you can see that attention and action has shifted. For the past 16 years there has been a steady decline in registrations. At the current rate of decline we will become a “boutique” registry when registrations fall to 400,000. Entries will be north of $70.00 and no one will be happy. This is not an acceptable option.

GARVIN: I would not like to see that, but whether it is acceptable or not, it may happen anyway.

GLADSTONE: Only if AKC can generate lots of income elsewhere while only registering participant dogs. My two suggestions to accomplish that are AKC-CAR enrollments and Call-to-Action marketing seeking support of our many good and worthwhile charitable causes. We cannot continue to park our Cadillacs in our garages – or even Schwinns – if we are only a boutique registry for our participants without alternative funding.

NEWMAN: AKC may some day become a boutique registry of a very high quality, but we currently have thousands of dog shows and over a million dogs shown in conformation every year. With a successful mixed breed program, we can not only bolster our registration figures, we can open the door to a new group of people who may learn to enjoy conformation with a pure bred dog.

SCULLY: No. It could not be supported financially.

5. Should a greater effort be made to pursue commercial breeders not now registering with AKC? If yes, how?

BATTAGLIA: Over the past several years AKC has put emphasis on cleaning up the registry via its care and conditions policy and its inspection program. Both have had a major impact on breeding and how dogs are cared for and sold. Today commercial breeders are annually inspected by the USDA and the AKC. The reports of these inspections show that very few problems exist. The “bad” guys who earned the name “puppy mill” still exist but in far less numbers than portrayed by the press.

A greater effort should be made to work with all breeders of purebred dogs. If we can raise the breeding standard and produce dogs with better pedigrees that are healthier we should include everyone. The millions spent by the CHF to find DNA markers should be made available to all breeders.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 228

224 Dog News

Celestial

The Number One Samoyed 2009 All Systems

We would like to thank Judge Miss Joan Luna for this prestigious Group First and Best In Specialty Win. We would like to thank all the judges who have honored Celestial with her wins and made the year so memorable.

Celestial: winner of Eight All Breed Best In Shows Nine Best In Specialty Show Wins National Specialty Best In Show

Multiple Best In Show and Best In Specialty Show Winning

Ch. White Eagle’s Celestial Sky

Breeder/Owners: Terry Litton James Augustus

Co-Owners Sue Klar Carol Montgomery

Breeder/Owner/Handler: Mary Norton-Augustus AKC Registered Handler Dog News 225

*

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*The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed

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GARVIN: Commercial breeders, along with all breeders who are willing to follow AKC policies and rules, should be aggressively pursued. This includes listening to their concerns and their perceived needs, and then figuring out how we can meet those needs better than anyone else.

GLADSTONE: Yes. When a High Volume Breeder is one of our customers they must comply with our Care and Conditions policies. That makes them better than those who do not and are not our customers. We must treat them with respect for having met our standards. We should support them by proclaiming that those who do not meet our standards are sub-standard breeders. The public should know that any AKC registered dog is better than a non-AKC registered dog because of our Care and Conditions policies. We care, so they should too!

NEWMAN: Staff has worked religiously on this but the figures keep declining. I recall being told that the pet industry could supply us with 50,000 registrations a year, a far cry from what has disappeared. I do not believe the commercial breeders have the business to return the numbers, and the concessions to them that include conditional registrations with reconstructed pedigrees, waived fines et al may jeopardize our most important product, the validity of our stud book.

SCULLY: Yes, by communicating with licensed professional breeders of repute, and coming to terms agreeable to the AKC. 6. How can the value of AKC registration be increased for people only interested in a pet?

BATTAGLIA: The value of AKC Registration to a pet owner must be expanded so that AKC registration means more than a piece of paper that is needed to breed and exhibit a dog. Bundling registrations with the CAR microchip/enrollment and pet insurance is just one way to increase the value of an AKC registration and will attract the pet owners.

GARVIN: We must be willing to state without apology that a pure-bred dog, registered with AKC, with the breed specifically chosen for your circumstances, is the most predictable, reliable, and best pet that you can obtain.

GLADSTONE: See Question 5 NEWMAN: AKC has a valued name in the industry, country and the world. Even those who do not register with us respect us. But the problem is that we do not get the message across as to how we differ from other registries, including what we do with our money i.e. our Humane Fund and CHF. If they understood that we are truly a not for profit, they may be more willing to accept a higher fee that does not go into a private pocket. Should we consider a lesser fee for a spayed or neutered dog? Should we give people the option to register and allocate a portion of that money to our charitable areas or the museum? We must think differently or we could be ineffective or in the worst scenario out of business.

Has anyone seen a Plymouth, DeSoto, Nash or Hudson lately?

228 Dog News

SCULLY: Informing the potential puppy buyers of the integrity of the pedigree, explaining the proper conditions under which the puppy was raised, and telling them that the AKC supports the Canine Health Foundation, Companion Animal Recovery, the Humane Fund, the Museum of the Dog, the Pet Healthcare Plan, etc.

7. If registration income does not recover and noncore revenue sources have limited success, what (where specifically) would you do to reduce expenditures? Assume several million dollars annually must be saved.

BATTAGLIA: A top to bottom review similar to the approach used with the 2010 budget would be in order. Out of that effort came several recommendations, some of which focused on ways to increase revenues, others on cost cutting.

GARVIN: In general, I prefer belt-tightening across all departments rather than lopping off entire departments or service lines. That does require a sense of urgency, and careful coordination of management and staff. The board should act in its governance capacity, clarify our priorities and expect results, but the details of any cutbacks should be administration’s responsibility.

GLADSTONE: Ultimately, it is unlikely we can continue to maintain separate offices in New York and North Carolina. Certainly we will no longer be able to afford staffing levels in attendance at events at the current saturation point – 97%.

Departmental services offered to fanciers and event participants will either have to be cut or the costs shifted to participants. For example I would not impose a Judge’s application fee without entirely revamping the Judges Ops Department, the judging approval process and the show and judging conflict policies. Even then, I doubt an annual judging fee would be either practical or appropriate.

NEWMAN: As I said previously it is not optimistic for a corporation to be looking at cutting expenses without looking at increasing revenues. However until we overhaul our business plan we can cut non-essentials and review high ticket items. That of course, implies Delegate and Board expenses, salaries of key employees whom we might lose, and our real estate expenses. Remember, image is very important and we are the largest most respected dog club in the world. Therefore we must carefully evaluate what expenses we decrease and at what cost to the public image of the organization.

SCULLY: Fewer Board and Delegate meetings, more meetings for staff via online teleconferencing (advisory committees, etc.), online seminars and educational programs, a review of expense accounts and travel budgets, and a leaner and more efficient business model.

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230 Dog News

Ch. Glennhaven’s Danny Boy O’Donnybrook

Sire: Best In Show, Best In Specialty Show Winning Ch. Donnybrook’s George

Dam: Glennhaven’s Autumn Mist

Danny finished 2009 in style with: Best of Breed/ Group Second Los Encinos Kennel Club • Best of Breed/ Group Second Long Beach Kennel Club • Award of Excellence AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Our appreciation to the Breed and Group Judges: Mr. John Bink and Mr. Wayne Burton (Australia), Mr. Kenneth McDermott and Mr. Robert Black and Group First at the Chambersburg Area Kennel Club Our appreciation to Judge Mr. Alfred Ferruggiaro • He started 2010 with a Group Second at the Annapolis Kennel Club and Group Placements at the Nolan River and Middle Peninsula Kennel Club shows Special Thanks to Claudia Tuttle, Danny’s Breeder Dr. Fred Askin and Blaire Miran Baltimore, Maryland 232 Dog News

Churchwarden Westies

DANNY!

Danny is Presented and Conditioned by Rebecca Cross Photo by TELLS-Sweden

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Director’s Questionnaire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 228

Section III: Clubs and Shows 1. Is the delegate body sufficiently representative of the sport? If not, what should be done to make it more representative?

BATTAGLIA: The delegate body has changed from its original make-up of an all male body whose interests were primarily in the sporting breeds. The current membership is primarily that of all-breed and parent clubs with a mix of sporting and obedience clubs. Today performance activities and events are growing. The bigger question is how large should the delegate body become and should there be a different mix of delegate representation?

GARVIN: Currently, there are portions of the fancy that are under-represented in the Delegate body. However, it is very unlikely that any substantial change in our structure will happen soon. Therefore, it is up to the board and administration to make sure that the opinions, ideas, and comments of those parties are frequently solicited and always valued.

GLADSTONE: Of course not. Most of our event-giving clubs are not eligible for membership in AKC. They are not represented.

See question 15 above.

NEWMAN: The Delegate Body is an excellent cross example of the sport. That is not to say that it could not be better, and clubs might be better served by heeding the suggestions of the Delegates Advocacy Committee for a delegate. As we keep approving more clubs, i.e. groups, agility, coonhound etc we could end up with a body membership of over 1000, to me a very unwieldy number and one which could mandate fewer meetings. It may be the time to discuss a moratorium on new clubs or limiting the number, the manner in which we meet and the manner in which we do business on the delegate level. Personally I prefer a smaller number of more intense people who have the ability to comprehend and arrive at plausible solutions, i.e. the delegate committees.

SCULLY: No. All recognized sports should have representation. The governing system should be updated by changing the by-laws.

2. Should AKC continue to host an annual, unlimited entry point show or revert to the Invitational format?

BATTAGLIA: There is room for both kinds of shows. The unlimited point show format used in 2009 was an experiment and we are gathering information from the fancy and others about whether we should use it in the future. The Invitational format has much to offer and allows AKC to showcase the best purebred dogs in each bred as a very special event. I like them both, but for now would prefer to retain the Invitational format until we have a full report on the point show format used in 2009.

GARVIN: On the 125th anniversary, it was nice

to have an open unlimited show. However, in order to maintain a unique, premier event like no other, I prefer the invitational format.

GLADSTONE: Either format is fine with me. Perhaps alternating formats or once every five years?

NEWMAN: No to the point show and yes to an invitational that provides outstanding PR with little or no cost to the organization.

SCULLY: We should continue with the Invitational format.

3. Are you satisfied there is adequate evaluation of judges’ application of breed knowledge?

BATTAGLIA: Having judged in several countries and where testing, interviews and observations are held to a minimum or not used at all, it seems clear to me that AKC expects more of its judges. The open book test, combined with interviews and observations, requires more study and preparation. I believe that the current program works but it is expensive and needs to be reviewed to see where we can trim or eliminate cost and requirements. I have suggested that the costly mailing, handling, scoring, and reporting back to judges about their open book breed standard test should be replaced with an on line system of testing and scoring which is widely used at universities today. When I was teaching, many of my tests were taken and scored on line. It is cost effective, and the students received timely grades.

GARVIN: Yes, although I would like to see more input from Parent Clubs via a mechanism that would counterbalance any political biases.

GLADSTONE: Absolutely not. I think our judges approval process and alleged evaluations are a huge waste of time, money and effort, all designed to maintain the status quo.

NEWMAN: No system of approval will make all happy, but we do have the best judges in the world although some do have their moments. As long as we make the system fair and equal, I feel we should continue as we do. It is costly, but it is better than the suggestion of eliminating the department and allowing anyone to judge whatever.

SCULLY: In general, yes. The vast majority of our judges are knowledgeable and competent.

4. Do existing judging approval policies need change? Why or why not?

BATTAGLIA: Over the past 10 years we have had several reviews, updates and changes to our judging policies.

The process is an on-going effort designed to streamline and improve the quality of judging. The judges association and the fancy have had input in those efforts. Over the past year I have discussed with both judges organizations their concerns and suggestions. This is an effort that will take several months, but in the end we should have a better, less costly, program. At the January, 2010 board meeting we discussed taking a fresh look at our current policies, practices and programs.

GARVIN: No, I think the board tends to spend too much time debating, discussing, and tinkering with the judges approval policies, none of which will increase registrations.

GLADSTONE: The current Judges Approval process needs to be scrapped in its entirety and replaced

CONTINUED ON PAGE 238

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Director’s Questionnaire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 234

with a meaningful, cost effective, equitable system. Our current process is none of those.

It is hugely expensive and returns little for the huge investments of both the AKC and the judges seeking approval. We need to scrutinize carefully judges as they begin their careers, but then, as those with talent for the art of judging are identified, they must be moved forward with little resistance. The key is identifying those with an “eye” for a dog and letting them progress rapidly. Those who cannot demonstrate that “eye” in fairly administered, objective, anonymous tests should not be encouraged to seek more breeds.

NEWMAN: See Question #3 above SCULLY: Some of the operations could be more organized and efficient, giving the same valid results with less time and money.

5. Do you think the judging approval policies for low registration breeds should be continued?

BATTAGLIA: Here are the facts about “Low Entry” breeds. The judges department released their new list of 49 (33%) “Low entry” breeds. This list is significant because all judges who are attempting to complete provisional assignments will have greater difficulty meeting their provisional requirements. In 2008 a low entry breed is defined as one whose entries fall below 3,500 in a year.

The approval process requires judges to officiate over a reasonable size entry coupled with field observations and interviews. Many judges have come to me because there is no entry in their breeds and their application is being held up. Having experienced this with my own application, I think that this is an area that needs change and some original thinking.

GARVIN: Yes, until and unless someone can come up with a truly better mechanism.

GLADSTONE: See Questions #4 above NEWMAN: All practices should be reviewed and evaluated for effectiveness and possible change. This applies to low registration breeds as well. Those applying know the difficulty in reaching numbers for those less common breeds as does staff. I would prefer to continue as we are doing and allow staff to make necessary changes.

SCULLY: Yes. 6. Should the practice of permitting seated Board members to be approved for more breeds be continued?

BATTAGLIA: As long as seated board members meet the same criteria as all other applicants I see no problem. Fair and equal treatment of all judges is what we should expect for all judges.

GARVIN: Since the board no longer is involved with the administration of the judges approval process, I do not object to seated board members applying for more breeds. We want 238 Dog News

the best possible delegates to be willing to serve on the board, and so limiting any barriers to participation should make for a better board. On the other hand, in the eight years that I was on the board, I did not apply for any additional breeds.

GLADSTONE: Yes. Why should service on the Board have anything to do with judging? What needs fixing is the system.

NEWMAN: I have not applied for new breeds since I have been seated nor do I intend to initiate a new application if reelected to another four years. But I do not think someone who enjoys judging, does the classwork, and can fulfill the requirements should be penalized because they are serving on the board.

SCULLY: Yes, on a limited basis.

7. What would you do to revise approval of foreign judges? Specifically should foreign judges be automatically approved to judge here all breeds they are approved for by their own kennel club?

BATTAGLIA: A significant number of foreign judges are all-breed judges meaning that in their country they are qualified to judge all of the breeds. When AKC judges officiate abroad they are for the most part allowed to judge the same breeds as those approved for by AKC. This relationship seems to work.

GARVIN: I have concerns that allowing foreign judges blanket approval without anything like the rigorous requirements for a United States AKC judge creates a very unlevel playing field.

GLADSTONE: Exactly like new, unknown judges here, if foreign judges do a bad job when invited here they will not be invited back, or will not draw entries. We produce good judges and bad judges. So it is everywhere.

NEWMAN: Foreign judges may be very good or very bad.

It is more important that they be qualified to judge in their own countries the breeds they will judge here. I do not think it unfair to send them our standards and ask them to take the test for the breeds they are requesting to judge here. I also feel that with the cost of reviewing their requests, the added cost of staff time should be passed on the them.

SCULLY: No. I would limit them to the number of shows they are now allowed annually, however requiring that they pass a basic/short online test on the breeds they will be judging. This would denote knowledge and experience.

8. Does the recognition of foreign kennel clubs need reevaluation?

BATTAGLIA: I have served on the board when the issue of recognition has been discussed and voted upon. We require that all kennel clubs have in place policies and standards to ensure the quality of their own stud book. Over the years very few problems have occurred and when they did, the foreign clubs quickly responded and corrected the problem. There does not seem to be any reason to change our current policies regarding foreign kennel clubs.

GARVIN: Yes, specifically I would like to see an overall cost-benefit analysis of this area.

GLADSTONE: Certainly. I championed this cause in the boardroom, to no avail.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 242

Dog News 239

William

C H . U NIQUE A NTICIPATION FRANCES S. ESPOSITO MD COOL SPRING KENNEL 240 Dog News

PRESENTED BY GAIL S. WOLANIUK UNIQUE

JOAN E. McFADDEN UNIQUE

A G REAT A MBASSADOR

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Director’s Questionnaire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 238

NEWMAN: Foreign clubs seem to be applying for recognition on a more frequent basis. I do feel that we need to review why we do it and what is the benefit to us. Are we merely allowing their pedigrees to be more easily and how do we verify their accuracy. Are we endangering the validity of our stud book?

SCULLY: Yes, with higher standards required.

9. Does AKC need to be more proactive in monitoring/assisting/maintaining the health of approved clubs?

BATTAGLIA: This is one of the most important questions on the list. AKC needs to continue its efforts to be proactive with its relationships with approved clubs. I think we need to develop new material along with an orientation program for all new clubs.

GARVIN: Yes; AKC can help provide mechanisms for sharing the best practices across the country, and encourage club participation by making the work of the volunteer club officers easier.

GLADSTONE: Yes. NEWMAN: Yes, we should be involved in the health and well being of our clubs. We did initiate a survey last year to numerous clubs attempting to ascertain if there were common problems and solutions that needed to be shared with AKC as the facilitator.

The response was abysmal with no conclusions determinable.

SCULLY: Absolutely, yes.

10. Are parent clubs a special category requiring greater AKC support and nurturing?

BATTAGLIA: I represent the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. We have had more than 110 regional clubs, the most of any AKC parent club. Dobermans are second with 90 clubs. Size of a parent club does not seem to matter when it comes to needing assistance. The smaller memberships seem to have similar communication problems because there will always be the ongoing turnover of officers and committee chair persons. When you combine the graying effect and loss of membership it seems clear that we need to rethink how we can support all-breed and parent clubs. Clubs complain about the requirements to hold a show, lack of manpower, costs, lack of entries and majors. These topics now seem to dominate conversations. It is time to revisit this subject.

GARVIN: All AKC clubs have their special characteristics and needs, but the Parent Clubs do deserve a unique place in the organizational structure of AKC, as they are guardians of the individual breeds and the authority for breeders of that breed.

GLADSTONE: Yes. Parent clubs are a key component of the AKC world. They hold a special place because they are the protectors of their breed.

As President of the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of America I know how important it is for my Parent club to get and receive AKC’s help and largess. AKC services to Parent Clubs, including new services supporting rescue, should be the last things cut in an AKC budget of the future.

NEWMAN: Parent Clubs are an integral part of our 242 Dog News

group, setting breed standards, ethics codes, health policies, doing rescue and breeding the dogs for us to show. I would be hesitant to say that they should get greater support and nurturing rather than Obedience, Herding, Agility and All Breed Clubs. Let each work for their own well being and purposes and when we are approached with project of demonstrable need it should receive equal support.

SCULLY: Yes. 11. Should member clubs be held to a greater level of accountability than non-member clubs?

BATTAGLIA: No. All clubs should be treated equally.

GARVIN: On the contrary, member clubs that go to the effort and expense of maintaining a delegate to represent them in the AKC organization deserve greater respect and privileges than non-member clubs.

GLADSTONE: Yes NEWMAN: Accountability sounds punitive in this question. Better reward those that seek a higher standard and belong to the organization.

I feel we should be looking at how we can support our m ember clubs, not make them jump through higher hoops.

SCULLY: Yes. Their delegates are our legislative body.

12. Should AKC require clubs be insured against theft of their funds by a member?

BATTAGLIA: There has been a growing number of clubs that have had problems with their treasurer and accounting for club funds. The cost of a “Dishonesty Bound” is about $360.00 per year. It would be better to ask all clubs to annually report whether their treasurer is bonded. With better information there might be a way for AKC to negotiate with a bonding company for a group rate which would be better then the current rate.

GARVIN: Yes, malfeasance and misappropriation of club funds is much more common than most people realize, and AKC should do what we can to help our clubs.

GLADSTONE: Yes NEWMAN: AKC has done all it can to warn clubs of the necessity of having good fiscal guideline in place because of the numerous cases of financial misappropriation We have offered the use of our insurance sources to obtain a favorable rate to bond treasurers.

We should be careful in mandating to our member clubs, but like a good parent should be responsible for guidance.

SCULLY: Yes, this should be strongly recommended. There must be internal controls, audits, and audit committees.

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*

*The Dog News Top Ten List

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Director’s Questionnaire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 242

This is the question asked on January 26. “As a result of the Board’s new policy having AKC solicit/accept show dog ads, the following questions are being added to DOG NEWS’ Candidates” Questionnaire: 1. Do AKC’s strictly defined amateur requirements for delegates/directors conflict with directors having authority over a show dog ad business?

BATTAGLIA: No GARVIN: No, since none of the profit from the ads inures to the delegates or to board members, it should not affect their “amateur” status.

GLADSTONE: No. NEWMAN: No. SCULLY: The AKC should not be in this show dog ad business.

2. Should AKC which is responsible for approving and regulating judges also be in the show dog ad business?

BATTAGLIA: Yes GARVIN: Yes, I think it is reasonable to try many different forms of revenue generation, some of which may be better than others, both in terms of effectiveness and in side effects. This attempt seems less onerous than some other alternatives.

GLADSTONE: No. NEWMAN: Yes. SCULLY: No. 3. If your answer to either question is yes, how you would suggest this new Board policy be administered?

BATTAGLIA: Historically, AKC has always accepted advertising. I looked into this and there is no new policy.

GARVIN: Guidelines that are generated by staff and approved by the board should be implemented by the publication team of the Gazette, who, of course, have no involvement with the Judges Department.

GLADSTONE: See Section 1; Question 15 NEWMAN: Staff suggested the new policy as a way of increasing revenues and presented it to the board, which approved. They will be the ones to follow the program, as will the board and making changes as deemed necessary.

SCULLY: The AKC should not be involved with this project.

Finally: What question should we have asked that we didn’t ask and/or what would you like to comment on that the questions did not get at?

BATTAGLIA: I think the questions asked were sufficient to cover the subject.

GARVIN: Since this election has several candidates who have not been on the board for a year, the question should be: “What did you do in your year off the board to better prepare you for board participation?”

246 Dog News

I decided to acquire a new Dalmatian and get back in the ring. He had quite a bit of our breeding in him, and had been in a couple of unsuccessful placements when we got him at 14 months of age. I experienced the joys and the hassles of planning and entering, getting packed and ready, bathing and grooming the dog, getting up early for a long drive to a little county fairgrounds, schlepping cages, staying at old Knights Inns or worse, wishing I had trained the dog more, worrying about which way the judge is going to point, and all the things I used to do for decades before I was on the board.

It gave me an opportunity to reconnect to our sport from a different angle than when I was wearing a tuxedo in the spotlight of a carpeted arena. I was able to learn firsthand the many concerns and issues of today’s exhibitors and breeders.

The experience rekindled the spark that brought me into the sport 45 years ago, and even more importantly, it has made me a better listener. That is sure to serve me well as a member of the AKC Board.

GLADSTONE: I voted against the mixed-breed program while last on the Board. When Tom Davies first began talking about AKC implementing a mixedbreed program years ago, with very few restrictions, I was in favor of the concept. Unfortunately, by the time a proposed mixed-breed program was ultimately presented to the Board for approval, after being diluted beyond recognition by politics, I could not vote to approve. I did not believe the business plan to be sound because it limited participation to standalone events. The two problems with that approach were significant to my negative vote. There simply are not enough entry slots available in standalone Companion Events to have supported the business plan that was proposed. Just as importantly, we already have more than enough of our customers thinking we treat them like second-class citizens while taking their money. Shuffling mixed breed participants off to the side at standalone events continued to send the wrong message. Thus I voted No. Now the Board has apparently seen at least that light.

NEWMAN: Should AKC provide Internet connections at the Board meetings to enable the Board members to do their personal e-mail during the meeting?

SCULLY: 1) How important is it that the AKC fight anti-dog legislation? The protection of the rights of all dog owners involves fighting breed specific legislation and mandatory spay/neuter laws, in addition to other serious concerns for dog owners. If we lose the right to breed and own dogs, all other issues will be insignificant. The barbarians are knocking at the door; and, this is one battle we must win. 2) What would you like to comment on that the questions did not get at? All of us must work together as a united team to ensure that the AKC remains the leading organization in the world devoted to the advancement and protection of dogs. We must keep open and improve the lines of communication and trust, and promote group involvement to meet the challenges that lie ahead while working together as a cohesive unit toward our future goals.•

Dog News 247

WHOL STOP THE Multiple Best in Speciality Show WINNING Multiple GROUP WINNING “RAIN “ was Ranked

Number Three*

Position early in year &

“RAIN” REMAINED Number Three* till the END of the year!!

Thank you Judge Mrs. Jean Fournier

A Judge’s comment: This dog has what the breed needs, this is what effortless, ground covering motion is all about!!

Breeders/Owners Ron & Lisa Webb Stone Ridge German Shepherds stoneshep@aol.com 248 Dog News

Handler Mike Reed * German Shepherd Dog, The Dog News Top Ten List - Breed points

THERE WILL BE Multiple Best in Specialty Show WINNING Multiple GROUP WINNING CH. STONE RIDGE WHOL STOP THE

Breeders/Owners Ron & Lisa Webb Stone Ridge German Shepherds stoneshep@aol.com

Rain will be escorted by Mike Reed Dog News 249

2010 Westminster JudgingPanel CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50

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*The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed points

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2010 Westminster JudgingPanel

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 250

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254 Dog News

Ch. Francesca’s Bewitched

“Samant ” ha

TOP TWENTY RANKED

FIRST GROUP FIR MASON CITY

K E N N E L CLUB

Finishing her championship as a puppy, Samantha went straight to the big leagues as a Special! In her first five months of limited showing she climbed to number twelve in the DPCA standings.

A sincere Thank-you to Judge Ms. Patricia Leakey Brenner for recognizing the quality in our red girl and this GROUP ONE WIN! Owned and loved by: Judi & Don Shiffer Joliet, Illinois

Bred by: Francesca Dobermans Shari Demitrowicz Chicago, Illinois spoileddobie@yahoo.com 708-481-5101

Exclusively Handled by: Dawn Honaker

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258 Dog News

Multiple Group Winning

Ch. Shore Lookin’ Good

Our America’s # 1* Owner Handled Appreciation To All French Bulldog 2009 The Judges Who Have Recognized This Magnificent Pied Boy!

2009 saw Gibson take 67 Best of Breeds with 41 Group Placements, including 13 Group Firsts.

Gibson is pictured here winning the prestigious People’s Choice award at the French Bulldog Club of America National Specialty Show.

We would like to thank all our peers, fellow breeders, and exhibitors, for this amazing honor.

Breeder/Owner/Handled by Barbara Orr co-owner Marion Hulick www.shorespringerspanielfrenchbulldog.net *Number Six overall, C.C. All Breed

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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE FLUSHING SPANIEL SHOW? CONTINUED FROM PAGE 82

ring and two or three rows of chairs were setup all around each ring. There was an announcer’s stand between the two rings and tables with white table cloths and blue table skirts at the entrance of each ring. The trophy table was just beautiful with the letters ASC across the front. Everything was in balance. Whatever was on one side of the rings was also on the other side of the rings. In the tack area there were people with Springer’s set up next to people with Cocker’s and people with English Cocker’s talking about future breedings with people with Clumber’s. Everyone was excited for the show to begin the next morning.

B

eginning that evening there were parties, wonderful parties. There were parties every evening following the judging and everyone attended. It didn’t matter what breed you bred or if you were even showing, you were there. Friday was the day for the Cocker Spaniel Futurity.

At my first American Spaniel Club show the winner of the Futurity was an ASCOB puppy named Kaholas Keybitzens bred & owned by E.B. & P Alper. They would be the proud hosts of the Futurity Party that evening. Everyone at the show went to the party no matter what breed they had and everyone felt welcome. Saturday was the beginning of the regular classes for all of the Flushing Spaniels. All of the dog classes and bitch classes were judged through the winner’s classes and everyone knew who went Winners Dog and Winners Bitch in each breed. Saturday night there was another party hosted by some other member of ASC and everyone came. Sunday was the day everyone was waiting for, the Specials Classes! The two rings almost magically became one big ring. The judging started at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday and there wasn’t a seat to be had by 7:45. Anyyone who was anyone in the dog world was there. Judges, breeders, exhibitors, and spectators of all breeds were there to see who would win, as were the board members of the American Kennel Club. Everyone wanted to see who would win the Flushing Spaniel Show.

If you were involved in show dogs this was the place to be on the first weekend of each year no matter what you bred.

In 1966 when I was just 12 years old, the ASCOB Cocker Spaniel Ch. Artru Globetrotter bred by Art & Ruth Benhoff and owned by Joseph M. Johnson went Best in Show and Best Cocker Spaniel at the American Spaniel Club Flushing Spaniel Show. I still remember the thrill of watching the

judge point at him and the goose bumps running down my spine. It was of course late when the judging ended but that was just part of Spaniel Club. Everyone knew that we would be up late watching the great dogs of the day in all of the Spaniel Breeds. Then it was off to the Best in Show party, which no one ever missed. There were drinks and food and of course my parents said I couldn’t stay until the end because I wasonly 12, and so I needed to say congratulations and say my goodnights to all. I went to bed dreaming about all of the great people and dogs that I had had the opportunity to meet.

As the years went on, my parents didn’t leave me home from the “show of shows” anymore. They knew the importance of the Flushing Spaniel Show and they just made sure that there was an educational element to the trip each year. I had the chance to go to the Empire State Building one year, which, at the time, was the tallest building in the world, as well as the Statue of Liberty another year. One time we even sent all the dogs home with friends and took the train to Washington D.C. and got to tour the White House, see the Smithsonian Institute, and the Capital Building.

After a few years there was a need to find a new venue for the ASC and we moved to a few new places before finding the Rye Town Hilton.

It was at the Rye Town Hilton the new generation of my family went to his first ASC show. At just three months of age my son, Ryan Wolfe, attended his first Spaniel Club. The rings were in the Grand Ballroom and the grooming was held in the smaller meeting rooms that surrounded it. We were there for many years until we moved to Secaucus, NJ to the Meadowlands Hilton.

Again, the rings were held in the Grand Ball Room of the hotel and the grooming was down the hall in another room. It was 1996 at ASC Flushing Spaniel Show where we were all stuck at the show site in a blizzard for days after the show ended. This was, in my opinion, the best ASC I ever went to. We all had to spend time with each other. We had to borrow dog food from each other, had a match in the tack room with all of the Flushing Spaniels competing in the same class and the winner of each class would judge the next class. A few of us even became “open bitches” on our hands and knees with our handlers showing us. We had fun! We held an impromptu breeders seminar just discussing whatever anyone wanted to discuss. We had a panel made up of breeders and judges of all of the flushing breeds and we learned a lot.

We then moved to The Adams Mark Hotel in Philadelphia, PA, which was a good place for the show, but I really noticed how the breeds began to be split up at the site. We began to lose the camaraderie of the different breeds working together even though there was a beautiful ballroom with plenty of space for two rings and a good place for the grooming. In 2004 the Adams Mark Grounds were sold and the hotel was to close right after the ASC Show would have been held. It was decided to move the January 2005 show at the last minute with concerns of there not being enough help left at the hotel to be able to handle the show. Thanks to the showchair and her committee, they were able to find a site in less than a month, sign a contract and move the show to the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA where it remains today. It was at this point that the division between Cocker Spaniels and the other breeds became even larger. The area where the dog show is held in is in the basement. It is a good place for a dog CONTINUED ON PAGE 274

270 Dog News

CH. SKANSEN’S C’SOFIA OF

Grandeur

PHOTO © LINDA KRAMER

Sofia is the Number Four* Giant Schnauzer Owned, handled and groomed by Ben and Anna Franzoso New York

Bred by: Sylvia Hammarstrom

Co-owned by

Grandeur

*The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed Points, 2009 Final Statistics

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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE FLUSHING SPANIEL SHOW? CONTINUED FROM PAGE 270

show, but not THE Dog Show. It’s in the basement. There are no chandeliers and no carpet. The announcer’s stand is now at the ring that the Cocker Spaniels are being judged in rather than in the middle of the room between the two rings and this year there was a picture of three Cocker Spaniels on the front of the stand even when the Springer’s were being shown in that ring. Perhaps we need to have two banners made with all the Flushing Spaniels on it and put one at each ring. That would remind everyone that this is the Flushing Spaniel Show. There are two pillars in the area where the rings are and no way to make one big ring to judge all of the specials. And as of two years ago the AKC rep. complained that the show was running too late and insisted that because we had two rings we should judge the specials in both rings at the same time! That show was the 87th American Spaniel Club Flushing Spaniel Show. The specials had been being judged in one ring for 87 years and now we have to change?

As of the 88th Annual Flushing Spaniel Show we have divided the breeds even further by judging the specials classes in two rings at the same time causing handlers to have to make decisions as to what top dog to show and which to hand off along with the exhibitors and spectators having to make the decision as to which breed is more important to watch. We who attend the show year after year expected that on Sunday we would be in the show ring area until at least 9:00 p.m. if not longer. This is no surprise to us, the Flushing Spaniel breeders, owners, exhibitors and spectators. Why can’t we just keep the tradition and hold the specials in one ring? This year we had a big lunch break and many smaller, 20 or so minute, breaks throughout the day in each ring. We could have judged all of the specials in one ring and still would have been done with the judging at about the same time. We need to go back to holding the specials classes in one ring so we can once again enjoy the Flushing Spaniels.

O

n Friday after the Futurity judging ended and everyone was waiting to hear if there would be a party, we finally heard the announcer say “Cocker Spaniel Exhibitors” and then tell them where the party was to be held rather than saying “Exhibitors and Spectators.”

When did the Futurity party become open to only Cocker exhibitors? The ASC has many members, exhibitors, and spectators who own and show Flushing Breeds other than Cocker Spaniels. I know this is not done purposely but many of the ASC members and even club officers tend to forget that the January show is not for Cocker Spaniels only. They don’t remember that in January they need to wear their Flushing Spaniel Hat. They can wear the Cocker Spaniel Hat during the other 11 months of the year.

I know I have been one of the very lucky people involved 274 Dog News

in show dogs. I have had the opportunity to see so many of the great Flushing Spaniels of the past. I have seen great dogs like Ch. Artru Globetrotter (ASCOB Cocker), Ch. Salilyn’s Aristrocrat (English Springer), Ch. Ancram’s Simon (English Cocker), Ch. Oaktree Irishtocrat (Irish Water Spaniel), Ch. Kamp’s Kaptain Kool (Parti-Color Cocker), Ch. Salilyn Private Stock (English Springer), Ch. Raycroft Sherriff (Clumber), Ch. Salilyn Condor (English Springer), Ch. Westglen Blak-Gammon (Black Cocker), Ch. Empire’s Brooklyn Dodger (Parti-Color Cocker), Ch. Three D Stonecroft Endeavor (Sussex), Ch. San Jo’s Born to Win (Parti-Color Cocker) and many, many more. Sure, I saw all of these great dogs in the Best in Show ring with all of the other Flushing Spaniels but that is not where you learn what great dogs they are. I also got to see them compete against their own breed in top competition. You have to see them in breed competition to truly appreciate what they are, what contribution they will make to their breed.

If you are truly a “dog” person you appreciate quality in any breed. The American Spaniel Club is the show that you attend to see that quality in Flushing Spaniels.

I do believe that the show dog world has changed just as the world has.

As a child I would have never been allowed to go to the ASC ring in my blue jeans and sweatshirt, nor have my children been allowed to do so.

At the BIS ring you were dressed in appropriate attire.

This should be a rather formal event. The judges are even asked in their contracts to dress in formal attire. There is no longer the respect for traditions that were present in the past. People are not as concerned for others as they were in the past. They are for only themselves and they take whatever they can get and move on. It doesn’t matter which dog is the winner if they don’t own it. I’m sad that this is what the dog world has come to. People are missing the opportunity to learn so much about their own breed by watching other breeds. People don’t even watch all of the classes in their own breed anymore. You cannot be a good breeder if you don’t know what is going on in the ring. Dog Shows are where we all exhibit our breeding stock. You have to understand the job that your breed was bred to do and the trends that are happening in the ring at any given point.

You may think I’ve been rambling on about things that mean nothing to many people, but think about it. Would you attend the Academy Awards in your jeans and sweatshirt? Would you get up and leave your seat just because the guy you thought should win best actor didn’t win?

Would you leave just because they were giving an award that you really weren’t interested in? My guess is that you would stay throughout the entire show.

And finally, while we are the parent club of the Cocker Spaniel the American Spaniel Club also has the distinct opportunity to wear another hat each January. We are given the chance to hold a very unique show that no other club gets to hold. It is a show like no other in the world, The American Spaniel Club Flushing Spaniel Show for All Flushing Spaniels. We are not a group show. We are not a partial group show. We are privileged to hold the only multiple breed Specialty Show in the world and that includes all of the Flushing Spaniels. This is not the Cocker Spaniel “Winter National.” The Cocker Spaniel National is held each year in the month of July. That show is the ONLY National Specialty for Cocker Spaniels. A very special show its self. There is only one winner of the National Specialty every year, not two. The ASC Flushing Spaniel Show is held the first weekend of each year for all of the Flushing Spaniels and all are equally important. Please try to embrace them that way. •

Best In Show Winning

CH.VAJE’S MISS JAYNE HATHAWAY

2009 #1* Chinese Shar-Pei-All Breed Points 2009 National Specialty Winner 2009 Top 25 Invitational Winner

FLASH nd’s e k e e w t s La uit c r i C a n o z i Ar Four Days Four ents m e c a l P p Grou

Judge Dr. Alvin Krause Breeders & Owners: Jeff & Vicki Mauk New Albany, Ohio 614 855-3095 vickimauk@aol.com *The Dog News Top Ten List

Handlers Clint & Karen Livingston Brighton, Colorado 210 865-8415 tclpdb@aol.com Dog News 275

An Interview with

David Frei

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 86

ties in the New York City metropolitan area. Indeed, David’s influence has spread to many parts of the United States through the charity he heads, Angel On A Leash.

David didn’t plan for things to go in this direction. He enjoyed success in the public relations field, working in professional sports. An oft-asked question is about his Super Bowl ring. It came from his stint with the Denver Broncos. He was there in public relations in the late 1970s when they went to their first Super Bowl - -and he earned his ring, even though they lost (“It would be bigger if we had won,” he says). We had a good chuckle about the fact that most people nowadays who ask about it weren’t even alive back then. I suggested to David that he could tell those folks he was the quarterback--they wouldn’t know unless they looked it up!

David worked with the San Francisco 49ers after that and also with ABC Sports in New York. He later owned and operated two sports-themed restaurants in Seattle. It was a busy, fulfilling life.

In 1990, when David was still living in Seattle and showing his Afghans, Chet Collier, the Westminster president, called and asked him if he would be interested in doing the television commentary for the Westminster telecast on USA Network that February.

David said yes, thinking “it might be fun.” Little did they know it would turn into a 20+ year partnership.

Things changed for David when in 1999, he was hired to do public relations work for the Delta Society (a not-for-profit agency supporting ways to improve human health through service and therapy animals).

He met Cherilyn through their mutual interest in therapy dogs and eventually they married.

As time passed, David and Cherilyn moved to New York where he went to work fulltime for the Westminster Kennel Club. While there, he created Angel On A Leash as a charitable activity for Westminster. Angel (www.angelonaleash.org) eventually became an independent 501(c)3 charity with David as the head. It was a match made in heaven.

This type of work is a family affair. Cherilyn is a Catholic chaplain who ministers to the Ronald McDonald House in Manhattan, which provides tem-

porary housing for pediatric cancer patients and their family members. Between the two of them, they’ve touched many, many lives.

“I didn’t consider myself uncaring”, David commented in a recent interview for Dog News. “It was just that there was always a job to get done, an appointment to keep. It wasn’t until I became immersed in therapy dog work that my outlook and my life changed.”

F

or a number of years, David has been a fixture in many New York City hospitals. With his two Brittanys Belle and Teigh, certified therapy dogs, David has visited many terminally ill patients as well as stroke victims and others suffering from an array of maladies. “You’re not allowed to form personal relationships with the people you work with”, said David. “We work under strict, medically supervised guidelines and are not allowed to maintain contact after the person leaves the hospital.” Indeed, most people never knew who was handling the dogs that visited them. It’s always David’s hope that he no longer sees the person in the hospital, because it means they’ve left to go home. Obviously, if they’ve received treatment and been allowed to go home, it’s in the hope that they’re improving and will get better.

One poignant memory is a cancer patient at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital named Karen. David visited Karen after she had undergone extensive surgery. He brought along Teigh, his Brittany. “Teigh just seemed to sense what Karen needed”, David recalled. “She was in quite a bit of pain, and crying. We asked if we could visit with her for a while. I put Teigh into bed with her, he lay along her side and put his head on her shoulder, and then laid there like a rock for 20 minutes, at least, while she hugged and petted him. Neither of us could take away her pain, but before too long she was smiling in between crying. When we left, she was in better spirits, which is about all we can hope for on our visits, making something happen in the moment ” David recalls a homeless man he and Belle met on the street in New York while walking to work one spring day. “His name was Robert, he was in a wheelchair, with a hat that said ‘Jesus loves you’. At another time in my life, I would have moved right past him on my way to work or an appointment. My therapy dog work made me begin to see people. Belle and I got to know Robert and we would always stop to converse whenever we saw him on the street. She loved to lead me into a courtyard at a church on Park Avenue where there were a number of people waking up from a night of sleeping on cardboard. It didn’t make any difference to her, CONTINUED ON PAGE 286

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An Interview with

David Frei

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 276

everyone was a potential friend. And they became my friends, too.”

Frei’s wife Cherilyn also is very involved with bringing a ray of hope to people’s lives through her ministry at the Ronald McDonald House in Manhattan. Like David, her route was not planned. “I had a Master’s degree in chemistry”, Cherilyn said. “After working for Pepsi and Starbucks, I wanted to return to school and obtain my MBA. However, at an open house at Seattle University, I saw a table displaying literature for their theology and ministry program. I took the literature and did some introspection. I thought I could bring a theology degree back to the corporate world to use in human resources or corporate ethics.”

It was in the process of writing her thesis that Cherilyn brought Belle and Teigh into her practicum. From there she found her pathway into pastoral care and therapy dog work.

Cherilyn worked for various programs in Seattle.

When she and David moved to Manhattan, she continued her pastoral work at NY Presbyterian-Cornell Hospital, and the Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center. She was then hired to work with the Ronald McDonald House in Manhattan.

“We were successful in starting an Angel On A Leash therapy dog program at the Ronald McDonald House, and David was my first therapy dog volunteer worker”, Cherilyn recalls. To enter the program a dog has to go through about a year of extensive training, with “shepherding” provided by Cherilyn and Angel On A Leash. Participants attend training classes at the ASPCA in Manhattan. At the ASPCA, Nancy GeorgeMichalson or Greer Griffith works with the dogs and handlers. Dogs and handlers must know basic obedience, the dogs must be well socialized, and then humans and dogs must pass handling and written tests.

They are re-evaluated every two years. Dogs must also have served at least 1 year in other therapy work before being accepted for Ronald McDonald House.

“We have 12 dogs currently working in the program--from miniature Poodles to Goldens, Bulldogs, Basset Hounds, our Cavalier (Angel) and eventually, Grace, our Brittany puppy, we hope, to carry on for Teigh and Belle”, Cherilyn told me. The dogs are allowed to work 1-hour shifts with their handlers. The humans volunteer their work and can be scheduled during the time from 4 PM to 8 PM each evening. This means there is usually one therapy dog and handler at the house to greet children returning from treatment at the end of the day. Cherilyn commented: “For some children the dogs are the only thing that helps them respond. They are moved to interact, to get up and walk around. Even for just a brief moment, they’re distracted from their pain.”

I asked David, “How do the two of you manage?

You deal with people who are suffering day in and day out. What helps you stabilize?” “It’s not easy”, he answered. “I sometimes leave a visit saying to myself ‘I need some help’. After getting to know them, you are sometimes losing a person you’ve grown to have affection for.”

Great sadness visited David and Cherilyn in the last 12 months. “We lost both of our Brittanys. Belle left us in June, 2009. Teigh left in January, 2010.” Da-

286 Dog News

vid grows silent and I know not to say anything. After a few moments, he continues. “I looked for Robert, the man in the wheelchair. He loved Belle. When I found him, he was sitting outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I had such a hard time but I had to tell him we lost our friend. Robert said, with a tear, ‘God bless her, she’s in a better place now.’”

D

avid unexpectedly received a phone call from Karen, the woman he met early in his visiting at Sloan Kettering. “We’re not supposed to maintain contact”, he told me. “However, if they find you and contact you, you can re-establish your relationship.” Karen never knew who David was until she watched the 2009 Westminster Kennel Club show on TV. “I didn’t realize who you were!”, she exclaimed. “Can I meet with you and Teigh again?”

She had a follow-up visit at Sloan Kettering. She was surviving. David brought Teigh to a meeting with her that was emotional and tear-filled for everyone. Sadly, it wasn’t long afterwards that David had to share the awful news with her that Teigh had passed. Karen wrote to David: “I have a loving memory with Teigh at my bedside while in great pain, and so scared, Teigh helped me - a memory and feeling only the two of us will ever share and for that I am beyond grateful.”

Today, David continues on with his work with his 3 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Angel. “Dogs and people become teams”, David told me. “I’ve loved my dogs and they’ve given more than I could ever ask. I’ve often realized that Belle and Teigh were more worn out from a one-hour visit to a hospital than if we spent the whole day in the field. They did that for me, and because they loved people. People need to realize that many of the dogs they see at dog shows don’t lay around on cushions every day eating ‘doggie bon-bons’. Many of them have jobs and humans that depend on them.”

Without a doubt, Frei is truly a star. With a book, TV appearances (including an episode of Sex And The City), and his gig with Westminster and now the National Dog Show, the world knows who he is. What I’ve been privileged to see, and I hope you do, too, is a glimpse into the lives of two wonderful, caring people and their dogs who are working hard to make this world just a little better place to live.

Thank you, David, Cherilyn, Angel and Grace. Rest in peace, Belle and Teigh. You are all a tremendous gift to the human family. •

Lynn Meyer Member Dog Handlers Guild 19314 Dabbs North Rd Jerseyville, IL 62052 618-498-2464 www.DzineTTs.com Assisted at home by: Danielle Maher Emily Beasley Valerie Cummings Assisted at shows by: Jody Weaver Dog News 287

Barnstorm Tibetan Terriers

2010 is off to a Fabulous start with DJ already winning two Bests in Show this year for a total of 12 Bests in Show!

Dj has been the Number One* Tibetan Terrier and among the Top Non Sporting dogs in 2008 and 2009!

We would like to thank all of the judges for their support, encouragement and kind words regarding DJ. He is truly a once in a lifetime dog!

We would also like to thank our friend and handler Lynn Meyer. Lynn has shown our dogs now for 15 years! She has opened her heart and her home to our Tibetans always presenting them beautifully and in top condition. The results have been amazing with multiple Best in Show winners (Tally, Annie, Salem, and DJ), multiple national specialty winners (ProďŹ t and Salem) and many other top awards too numerous to mention!

Lastly, we need to thank our friend and coowner Mary Lou Laer. Without you, none of this would have been possible. *The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed

288 Dog News

*

*The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed points

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Dog News 291

“Trouble”

Ch. Kumakura’s The Last One Standing Breeder/Owner: Ree Keca

As a puppy Trouble was Chosen as Best in Futurity at the National.

As a teenager he was among the Top 20* Akitas in the country.

Now as a young adult Trouble has become a Multiple Best of Breed and Group Placer.

We look forward to his future!

Let’s see how much TROUBLE he can get into!

Proudly bred & owned by Ree & Keith Keca Kumakura Akitas Plainfield, IL 294 Dog News

*C.C. Breed System

Ree Keca Kumakura Akitas kumakura@comcast.net http://kumakura.home.comcast.net

Remembering

Mary Jo Hosteny CONTINUED FROM PAGE 90

kennel name of the breeder of record.

In addition, a puppy sold from a show kennel was not always registered with that kennel’s prefix. And in the case of Welcome, it is found that the original kennel name that was used

by Mary Jo was Indian Summer and several champions carried that prefix.

Waiterock (Juanita Waite Howard) was the kennel name of the first four dogs owned by Mary Jo yet no entries were made to suggest that any of these dogs were used for breeding although all had multiple Obedience titles. Purchases in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s came from Joan Ross’s Crooked Pine Kennels and Mrs. Fred Jackson’s Frejax line. Later purchases were made from Julie Gasow of Salilyn fame who later sent bitches to be bred at Welcome. Imports from Jean Taylor’s Kennersleigh Kennels in England were bred to Salilyn’s Aristocrat with great success. In the mid ‘60s Mary Jo bought the beautiful Flo-Bob’s Me Too and handled her to title and later to BOS at the National Specialty

Kennesleigh Cleavehill Beliza Bee (imp UK) owned and handled by Mary Jo Hosteny to Reserve Bitch at the 1968 National Specialty Judge: Peter Knoop

CONTINUED ON PAGE 304

Ch. Welcome Great Day taking one of his first of many Breed wins

Ch. Welcome Great Day winning the Stud Dog Class 1970 Gateway Specialty Show

295 Dog News

Welcome ESS go Best Brace at San Francisco under Anne Rogers Clark

the

Gossip column WELCOME to NEW YORK, our hometown and that of the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB and the WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB. I hope that you get a chance to enjoy some of what the city has to offer.

While we were spared from the snowstorm that crippled most of the Mid Atlantic states, southern New Jersey’s Sand & Sea Kennel Club (or should I say Sand & Snow Kennel Club) and Boardwalk Kennel Club held their dog shows, knowing that a crippling major storm was eminent. What were those folks thinking by not cancelling their events with a major storm coming down on that area? The storm dumped 18.2 inches of snow in Wildwood, where the shows were held.

Why would you want to subject anyone to those

296 Dog News

By Eugene Z. Zaphiris

conditions? The Sunday show had 1,277 total entries with only 426 dogs in competition.

Power outages, no motels and no restaurants (except a Domino’s Pizza) were all that was left in the wake of the storm, with exhibitors sleeping in the venue. I could think of better places to have a pajama party. Onto this week, the Wednesday snowstorm put a lot of travel plans on hold, as hundreds of flights were cancelled. Just a reminder for those of you who don’t have to deal with snow on a regular basis, don’t forget to wash your dog’s feet after walking them outside, as the city streets are loaded with salt and other chemicals that melt snow and ice. The annual DOG MUSEUM THEATRE BENEFIT, which has been a huge financial success

and has given the museum its most exposure, will be no more. The powers that be have decided to end its 25-year run. Not to worry, wiser minds have seen the benefit of this evening and you can expect an announcement that another charity will take on this popular event. So keep the evening open, same time next year. Happy 29th wedding anniversary to SUSAN & CORKY VROOM. Who would have thought that NAT REESE’S little matchmaking would turn out to be such a great love story? As you may or may not know, CORKY had some major health issues that have kept him sidelined for sometime.

Now with that behind him he’s back where he left off….getting out and about, golfing, and just being CORKY. Best of all he is back

giving his popular and well attended seminars, with two in the near future in Oklahoma and Oregon. Welcome back CORKY, we missed you.

Happy Anniversary to NANCY & BRYAN MARTIN. Our thoughts and prayers are with NANCY and her family as her beloved father is gravely ill. The upcoming March 1114th DFS CRUFTS DOG SHOW drew an entry of 21,947 dogs plus entries in their Breeder’s Competition, Agility and Obedience Championship. No wonder that the schedule (premium list) for the dog show held in Birmingham, England is 150 pages. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to NANCY SPELKE and family on the passing of her beloved mother. A correction to the recently published

2010 AKC/EUKANUBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP judging panel for several sporting breeds, it should have read MR. LOWELL DAVIS, not his lovely wife ARLENE. Birthdaying…SUSAN & DENNIS SPRUNG, LEE RIDDLE, LARRY CORNELIUS, ALLISON SUNDERMAN, NANCY RUSSELL, ROGER ELLIS, LINDA O’CONNOR, TRACY POTTS, JOE WOLF, TERRY MILLER, CHARLOTTE PATTERSON, EDD BIVIN, PAT KOLESAR and that leap year baby JOY BREWSTER. You can add two more names to this birthday list…Congratulations to MARK & DANA SCHUMACHER GABEL on the premature birth of their twin boys, BRETT & BRYCEN. Happily everyone is doing fine and as “Grandpa” JIM SMITH writes, it’s all thumbs up!

PO Box 3698 Belleview, Florida 34421 352-347-4628 mkkjlb@aol.com

Dog News 297

Sire: Ch. Cambria’s Irish Rebellion

Judge Mr. Norman Kenney

Breeders: Doris Spivey SunStyle Dobermans Christmas, Florida 298 Dog News

Owner: Victoria Sweeny Shamrock Dobermans Lawrenceville, Georgia

Handler: Jeff Brucker Monarch Dobermans Belleview, Florida 352-347-4628 mkkjlb@aol.com

Dam: Ch. Sun Style’s Alfresco Brick

Judge Mrs. Leah Lange

“Bella ”

Dog News 299

Sire: Ch Vonriesenhof Here I Am

300 Dog News

Dam: Rojon’s Turn Back Time

Judge Mrs. Terry Berrios Breeder: Ray Cataldi Jr & Adam Protos

Owner: Keith Hanlon Hanlondane Great Danes Tarpon Springs, Florida

Handler: Jeffrey Brucker Belleview, Florida 352-347-4628 mkkjlb@aol.com Dog News 301