Match Frustration

With Trooper at a fun match in Reddick, FL

As you may remember, my dog club has agreed to hold a GSD Specialty Match in conjunction with a breeder's annual BBQ next April. I volunteered to take on the role of Match Chair. It’s going to be great and we’re going to have fun. (At least that's what I keep telling myself.) Unfortunately, the AKC doesn't make things easy.

I’ve been reading through the AKC Match Regulations (very dry, btw) and have gleaned some important information.

Since my club is an AKC sanctioned club, we must hold an A or B match; a fun match (which is what I wanted) would be authorized if it was restricted to club members only. “Any event for which the club solicits or accepts entries from nonmembers must be approved by AKC as a sanctioned match.” Which means paperwork. Ugh. However, a B match is a less formal than an A match, so I suggested we go that route. Everybody agreed.

Part of the paperwork includes a formal application. Per AKC, the application needs to be approved before we can start advertising the match –- therefore, the sooner the better! Required info on the match application includes:

• Match date and start time
• Exact location of match
• Will match be held independently, concurrently with a show or in the evening after a show?
• Will match be held indoors, outdoors or both?
• Is match for all breeds, group only or specialty (single breed)?
• Is match an A match or B match?
• Is match conformation? Obedience? Rally? Tracking? Combination?
• Which classes will be offered?
• Name/address/phone/email of Match Chair
• Name/address/phone/email of Match Secretary

I gathered the Match Committee and started asking questions:

Who will take on the role of Match Secretary? Unlike regular shows, a Match Secretary must be a club member. The duties are similar to that of a Show Secretary: take entries, hand out armbands and keep track of the judge’s book. We must have a name for the application. Fortunately, a B Match does not need to produce a Premium or a Catalog. YAY!

Which classes should we offer? The standard classes are: 6-9 Puppy, 9-12 Puppy, 12-18 Months, Novice, Bred by Exhibitor, American-Bred and Open. We agreed to those plus 4-6 Puppy and Juniors classes. We can offer “Non-Regular” classes as well, but we need to tell AKC what they are ahead of time. I asked AKC what non-regular classes were and got an answer that didn't make any sense whatsoever. There is no list defining available non-regular classes (I asked). However, it's not a whatever-you-want catchall either because the one I asked for -- sterilized pet class -- was emphatically disapproved by the AKC rep.

Who will judge? We don’t need to have an AKC judge. A professional handler or experienced breeder would be fine, as long as he/she knows GSDs and doesn’t have dog in the ring. We're courting a few professional handlers.

So we made the necessary decisions and I sent in the application. It was sent back. The AKC didn't recognize the address as one listed in their system and we needed to clarify a few things. I did and resubmitted.

With Jedi at a fun match in Jacksonville, FL

Then the application was sent back again. The address listed is outside of our designated territory so we need written permission from both of the German Shepherd Dog Club of Orlando and the Tampa Bay German Shepherd Dog Club before our application is granted. Two questions here:

1. Why couldn't the AKC have said that the first time? (Obviously someone looked at the address.) and
2. How can the small town of Dunnellon belong to both clubs? (BTW, there isn't a published list of designated geographic territories -- I looked.)

I've emailed the presidents of both clubs and now we are waiting. Again.

People -- including me -- complain that there aren't many matches for beginners and young dogs to get their feet wet. Old-timers will tell you that once upon a time there were matches nearly every weekend. Now you're lucky to find 2-3 a year. It's sad. And frustrating.

The AKC makes the entire process as difficult as possible. Newbies must learn how to put on a match (or show!) on the fly. There are stacks of dry, vague rules but no concise step-by-step instructions for beginners. Ferreting out info online is tedious. And the "help" I get from the AKC is akin to the "help" I received from Microsoft when Windows crashed. I guess this is why the all-breed clubs use superintendents to put on their shows. And why matches have been abandoned. Seriously, if a club is going to go through all the trouble of finding a location, filling out mountains of paperwork, soliciting volunteers and buying ribbons (yes, the AKC has specific ribbon requirements) then why not just hold a regular show? What a pain this has turned out to be! I'll keep you posted. -- K

Webinar Anyone?

Dave Rinke judging our 2018 AM Specialty Show

Our 2019 specially shows are five months away. We are already in show mode. This year's shows -- our first under new leadership -- went well enough. RK and I are hoping that next year's will be easier. Fortunately, we know some of the steps to take (remember I documented them last year) so we're hoping for a less stressful event in 2019.

• We're using the same site as last year. There's been friction with the Greater Orange Park Dog Club for the past couple years. We were invited to cluster with another all-breed who would treat us more favorably. They offered to handle advertising, ring set-up and coordinate (read: potentially split costs of) judges with us. They also wouldn't require the taxing volunteers hours that OP demands. But the timing (January) and location (Ocala -- 2+ hours away) was too much for the membership to handle. So the decision was made to stay with OP and try to make nice-nice.


• We've got the committee in place. RK is in the show chairman position again. I have stepped down as show secretary because I plan on showing Trooper. (AKC says show secretary cannot have a dog in the show.) However, I'm helping the new secretary up until the entries start coming in.


• The judges have been secured, though it was a much bigger ordeal this time around. Last year our first two choices were available and willing. (The morning judge, Dave Rinke, was absolutely incredible! Hear him talk about judging on YouTube here. Wowza!) This year RK was told "no" over a dozen times before she got her first "yes." She went through another half-dozen names before securing the second judge. On a happier note, she found two phenomenal judges willing to do our 2020 shows.

Kent Boyles at our 2017 shows

We'll kick into high gear -- Premium, Awards, Catalog, etc. -- after the holidays. Until then we're just planning and trying (unsuccessfully) not to stress over it.

 

A few weeks ago RK discovered something surprisingly helpful. The AKC has stepped into the 21st century! They are now offering free online webinars on various subjects. The latest is Show Secretary Responsibilities. How cool is that?! Less than 18 months ago several of us drove 6 hours to South Carolina for a 4-hour seminar on AKC Show Committees -- and despite the travel, we still had to pay $35!

 

The Show Secretary Responsibilities webinar was scheduled for 3 PM on a Wednesday (because holding it when people can actually watch it is silly). Fortunately, I happened to have the day off, so I signed up. Even though I'm not doing the position, I thought it would be valuable knowledge. Besides, the secretary has a real job (imagine that) and couldn't get time off to participate. Here are some of the things I learned:

 

• One must be "in good standing" with the AKC to hold position of show secretary. I'm not entirely sure what that means.
• While the show chair and show secretary can technically be the same person, it is not recommended.
• A person can be a show/event secretary eight times annually for conformation and/or obedience. After that there is a fee and you must be a licensed show superintendent. (Rally is unlimited.)
• The show secretary must be on-site for the event. Since our sites ate always on a Friday, this can pose a problem.
• Only the show secretary is to have access to the catalog before the show.
• A copy of the breed standard must be on-site during the show.
• The new AKC site allows premiums to be uploaded to advertise events. Hopefully this will help increase entries.

So I learned a few new things without leaving my house. Yea! I still feel woefully incompetent. Do you think this will this ever get any easier? -- K

Showtime -- The Aftermath

I didn't know there was math involved!

There are a few things that must be completed before a show committee can say everything is done.

Day Of:

• Ensure that the steward's and secretary's catalogs match the Judge's Book (which is really just a couple sheets of paper).
• Double check the number of dogs judged (may differ from number of entries) and verify the points earned for the show. This is a big deal!
• Mark a catalog for the judge to keep.
• The Judge's Book must be signed.
• Apparently there is supposed to be a cover sheet that goes along with the Judge's Book, but I can't find one online or in the AKC manual. The judge handwrote the information on the front of the Judge's Book. (Note to self: design something for next year.)
• It's best to have the club treasurer at the show with checkbook in hand. The photographer will want to settle up and the judges may have additional expenses they need to be reimbursed. Plus, there are always last minute purchases, no matter how hard you plan.

Within the week:

• A marked catalog must be sent to the AKC.
• The Report of Dog Show or Obedience Trial form must be filled out and fees tallied. The AKC charges the club $3.50 per entry (on top of the initial $100 they charge just to have the show). Annotate any unusual events on the form.
• The Judge's Book, a marked catalog, the Report of Dog Show or Obedience Trial and the check all have to be sent to the AKC within seven days of the show. FYI: If you have two shows in one day (like we did) you must send the information separately.
• I learned later that our parent club, The German Shepherd Dog Club of America, also wants a marked catalog and copies of the win pictures. Unfortunately, they didn't tell us up front, nor do they advertise who/where to send this information.

For A While:

• Per AKC, the club must hold onto all entry forms for six months. It's a good idea to have a copy of the judge's book and any other paperwork (i.e. disciplinary hearing) on hand as well.
• Keep a clean, marked catalog for the club.
• Once the show is over and all bills have been paid, it's a good idea to have the club treasurer draw up a profit and loss statement for the show.

Repeat:

• While the event is still fresh, the show committee should sit down and discuss what worked, what didn't and what could be done better the next time. (I suggest this be done over a bottle a wine.)
• Ideally, a folder will be made for posterity/the next show committee. That folder should include:
• Copies of all paperwork related to the show -- applications, letters, judges contracts, vendor orders, the premium, the catalog, the Report of Dog Show or Obedience Trial, etc.
• The profit and loss statement
• After action notes from the committee
• Passwords to the Show Secretary email and PayPal accounts
• A flash drive containing the master address list, premium and catalog (to be used templates -- seriously, we shouldn't have to reinvent the wheel every year!)
• Don't spend too much time resting on your laurels (or licking your wounds, depending on how well the show went). It's time to start planning for next year!

Whew. That was a lot of work. Did you learn anything? I sure did! -- K

Showtime -- The Big Day

Manning my table

On April 6, 2018, nine months of hard work finally paid off. 25 beautiful dogs came to our German Shepherd Specialty shows. The weather was clear and warm. But as show secretary, I didn't have time to watch the show. I had work to do!

The Show Secretary's table was set up ringside. With me was a big box of stuff including:

• Entry forms. Per the AKC the club must have "All entry forms, arranged in catalog order so the Secretary can easily refer to these forms to answer any questions exhibitors may raise." (Trust me, they raise questions!)
• Armbands for all exhibitors. To make things easier for everybody, the Secretary should print the dog's name and class on the backside of the armband. (Not my invention. Just passing on what I've learned from others.)
• Catalogs. Have one for the table (mark "TABLE COPY, DO NOT REMOVE" on it -- 'cuz they will). Catalogs will also be needed for stewards, judges, AKC and to be purchased by anyone who wants one. However, the AKC mandates that the catalog cannot go on sale until one hour prior to regular judging.
• The latest versions of the AKC booklets: Rules Applying to Dog Shows Rules, Policies and Guidelines for Conformation Dog Show Judges, Dog Show Stewards, Junior Showmanship, Rules Applying to Registration and Discipline, and Dealing with Misconduct. Fortunately, the AKC sends these ahead of time.
• CYA forms Event Committee Hearing Procedural Checklist forms, Club Incident Report forms, Dog Aggression -- Action by Event Committee forms and Dog Disqualified by Judge for Attacking forms. (Pray you don't have to use them!) The AKC sends these as well.
• A copy of the Premium. Remember, this is the contract the club made with the exhibitors. The club should abide by all the promises made in the premium. By the same token, the premium contained regulations and disclaimers that the exhibitors agreed to when they entered.
  

  

  Winners Bitch competition

• A list of pre-ordered catalogs.
• A list of anyone who may owe or be owed money for entries or catalogs. (It happens.)
• Any miscellaneous things you may need like pens, markers, rubber bands, badges, clipboards, tape and a stapler.

We're a small club, so everybody pulls double (and triple) duty. In addition to manning my table I arrived early to unload the trailer, helped set up the concessions tent, helped the afternoon steward (it was her first time and she was nervous), answered a bajillion questions and refrained from choking a regular busybody. When the show was over I helped break down and reload the trailer before going out to dinner to celebrate a job well done. It was a l-o-n-g day. All we have left is the aftermath, then we can call this show officially over. -- K

Showtime -- The Catalog

The premium was sent out March 1 and entries trickled in -- until the closing date. Then all the entries came at once! Putting together an official show catalog isn't easy.

Dogs (male) or bitches (females) are entered into a specific class. This year our club offered the following classes:

• PUPPY DOGS (6 months to under 9 months)
• PUPPY DOGS (9 months to under 12 months)
• DOGS (12 months to under 18 months)
• NOVICE DOGS
• BRED-BY-EXHIBITOR DOGS
• AMERICAN BRED DOGS
• OPEN DOGS
• PUPPY BITCHES (6 months to under 9 months)
• PUPPY BITCHES (9 months to under 12 months)
• BITCHES (12 months to under 18 months)
• NOVICE BITCHES
• BRED-BY-EXHIBITOR BITCHES
• AMERICAN BRED BITCHES
• OPEN BITCHES
• BEST OF BREED

The entrants are listed in the catalog by class with a whole lot of information. The specified listing required by the AKC is:

Our catalog!

DOG'S FULL REGISTERED NAME. Registration number. Date of birth. Breeder's name by sire's full registered name -- dam's full registered name. Owner's name, full address. (Hired agent, handler)

It looks something like this:

ROLLING STONES' JUMPIN JACK FLASH. DN12345678. 07/04/15. Breeder: John Lennon by GCH Hard Daze Knight -- CH Strawberry Fields V Yesterday, TC. Owners: Mickey and Minnie Mouse, 123 Disney World Dr, Orlando, FL 32830. (Harry Potter, Handler)

Trust me, that's quite the task. First of all, not all handwriting is legible. I had to email several people for clarification. Also, some registered names are outrageous -- hyphens, apostrophes, alternative spellings. Ugh. The Show Secretary's job is to ensure every jot and tittle is correct. I ended up going to breeders' websites and calling owners to confirm the proper spelling of over a dozen dogs.

Once it's determined that every dog is in the right class, each entrant is assigned a number/arm band. The numbers are listed in the catalog with the corresponding dog. To keep things as objective as possible, dogs are judged anonymously. The judge only knows the dog by number until after the show is over.

The AKC requires a number of other things be listed in the catalog as well. The cover or title page must include:

• Date or dates of the event
• Name of the show-giving club
• Notice that the event is held under American Kennel Club rules
• American Kennel Club logo
• The event's exact location and time of opening and closing
• List of the club's officers
• List of the members of the Event Committee
• The Show Chair’s address
• Name and address of the Superintendent and/or Show Secretary
• Name, complete address, and assignment of each judge
• Name of the veterinarian or veterinary clinic, and whether the veterinarian will be in attendance or on-call

The catalog must also contain a list of prizes and trophies, the AKC Schedule of Points for the region and a copy of the judging program.

Over-achiever that I am, our catalog included much, much more. I was given carte blanche to write the catalog that I would have wanted to see as a newbie. I included:

• The AKC Code of Sportsmanship
• Our club history, Facebook and web addresses
• 2017 Club Member awards
• The Official AKC breed standard
• A Disaster and Emergency plan
• … and puzzles about anatomy & terminology!

I easily put 80 hours into the catalog. It is beautiful! And now we have a template for next year. I think we're about ready the Big Day. -- K

Showtime -- The Premium

The next big thing we have to do for the show is create a premium. This is the official announcement of a club's event. It contains the show’s entry form plus a slew of other information. Essentially, a premium is the contract between a club and prospective exhibitors.

As Show Secretary, the premium is my job. Unfortunately, a template wasn't handed down. Grr. I've been sketching out our premium for weeks now. Hopefully, I'll develop a decent template that can be passed on to the next Show Secretary -- saving her a lot of work. Like everything else, this is more complicated than I'd like. There's a lot more to it than I thought. The AKC requires a premium to include:

• The name of club hosting the event.
• The show’s official event number.
• The date(s) of the event, its exact location and the time of the event’s opening and closing.
• The words “Licensed Show” when the event-giving club is not a member of the AKC.
• Whether the event is benched or unbenched. (And if benched, the hours that dogs are required to be on bench must be included.)
• The AKC Secretary’s certification that permission has been granted for the club to hold the event, along with the AKC logo.
• List of the officers of the event-giving club and the club secretary’s address.
• List of the members of the Event Committee and the Show Chair’s address.
• Name and address of the AKC-approved superintendent being used, or in the case of a small operation like us, the show secretary's name and address.
• Name and telephone number of the veterinarian associated with the show, and whether the veterinarian will be in attendance or on-call.
• Notice that the club may cancel the event due to extreme weather conditions.
• Name, address, and assignment of each judge.
• The statement that the event-giving club will collect recording and event service fees for the AKC.
• Closing date and time for entries.
• Entry fees and an entry form.
• List of prizes and trophies, with an accurate description of prizes.
• Hours and location where private exercise pens may be set up.
• The following statement: "Exhibitors should follow their veterinarians' recommendation to assure their dogs are free of internal and external parasites, any communicable diseases, and have appropriate vaccinations."

Whew. There are even more requirements for all-breed shows and/or obedience trials.

Since exhibitors choose which shows to enter based on the premium, most clubs also include:

• A statement of the policy on refunding entry fees.
• Whether the event will be held indoors or outdoors.
• The time when exhibitors and handlers can enter the site.
• A list of nearby dog-friendly hotels/motels and directions to them.
• Overnight and reserve parking information (if available).
• Description of social activities available to the exhibitors.
• Admission and parking fees (if any).
• Available amenities (i.e. electricity, concessions, indoor toilets).
• A site map.
• Information/availability of a reserve grooming area.
• Other special attractions (i.e. temperament test, sweepstakes, other shows in cluster).

Currently, our premium is a 14-page booklet. I know! I have a list of over 200 people to send it to. I'll be thrilled if 25% enter the show.

My contact list is proving to be another problem. It's ancient and was handed to me as a pdf, not an editable Word document. I spent 20 hours putting everything into an Excel spreadsheet. I spent another 10 hours combing through old emails, various GSD club sites and past show catalogs gathering more contact data. To date, I have email addresses for 150+ people, and only mailing addresses for another 60. Soon I'm going to have to get my premium to as many of them as possible. This is what I've done:

• Set up a gmail account for the show.
• Created a mailing list with all the email addresses I have.
• Made mailing labels for all the people without email addresses.

The plan: two weeks before we release the premium, I'm sending a mass email to everybody on the list. The email states that the club is working off an old mailing list and they're on it. Recipents will be asked to respond if they wish to be removed from the list. (We understand that things change and some people may not be on the GSD show circuit any longer.)

At the same time l'm sending a postcard to the USPS address people. The postcard also states that the club is working off an old mailing list and they're on it. I'm asking recipients to send an email to the gmail address if they wish to have a premium emailed to them.

All recipients are told that I will send the premium out shortly. Hopefully, they'll be happy to get it.

Ideally, this strategy will keep the cost of postage down. I did the math. Printing, envelopes and postage for 225 14-page premium booklets would be about $530. Thank goodness for email! I don't think our club could afford that expense up front -- if at all. However, the AKC does insist that we send them four copies of our premium when we release it. (Why they can't get it via email and print all the copies they want is beyond me!)

As you can see, I've been busy! If you'd like to see the premium you can use the "contact me" form to the right and I'll send you one. Send an email to GSDCNFLShowSec at gmail.com and I'll add you to the list. We're shooting for a March 1 release date. 

As tedious as the premium seems, it's nothing compared to what's next -- the catalog! 

Showtime -- Judges

We're still putting on a dog show! So are you following along? We've secured a date and location and have formed the Show Committee. Whew. Now for another toughie: finding judges.

I discussed what it takes to become an AKC show judge here. It’s not an easy thing to do. Each judge starts out with a specific breed. It’s most likely a breed that he/she has been showing and breeding for decades. Later, judges may work to have other breeds added to their “approved list.” However, a judge’s primary breed is always known, and they are highly sought after for specialty shows (like ours).

Ideally, a club starts soliciting judges a year or more out. We had less than nine months and we need two of them. It’s stressful. Besides finding GSD judges -- not judges that also judges GSDs -- we're looking for judges who are available, attractive and affordable.

Available:

The AKC puts limits on how often a judge can judge. A judge cannot judge the same breed at two shows held within 30 days and 200 straight-line miles of each other.

The AKC also restricts who a judge can judge. He/she cannot judge:

• A dog that the judge or his/her immediate family members owns.
• A dog that the judge or his/her immediate family members has owned, handled in the ring more than twice, sold or boarded within one year prior to the show.
• A dog or the owner of a dog for which the judge has provided handling and presentation instructions classes within one year of the show.
• A dog being shown by professional handlers that the judge or his/her immediate family members have used within the four months of the show.
• Anyone or a dog belonging to anyone who may give the impression of an unfair advantage, including relatives, employees, employers, co-owners and traveling companion.

The dog world is smaller than you'd think. We shared our potential judges list with club members and asked for possible conflicts. Several of our prospects were disqualified because of relationships they had with club members.

Attractive:

The 2017 AKC Show Manual says that “The judges panel is one of the most important factors to consider when planning an event.” Like it or not, judges bring (or repel) participants. Things to keep in mind when looking at judges:

• What can they judge? For a specialty show like ours, we want a German shepherd judge. However, an all breed show would want someone who can judge multiple breeds. Even more desirable, would be someone who could judge groups or Best in Show.
• Reputation. Does a judge focus on movement? Is he rough while inspecting the bite? Does she prefer typey dogs? Professional handlers and veteran fanciers know these things and will avoid showing to judges they think won't give their dogs a fair chance. I have a DNS (do not show) list.
• Newness. Handlers don't want to show to the same judges all the time. Since a dog has to earn majors under two separate judges to make champion, there's no point for a dog to be shown to a judge that is already given it a major.

Affordable:

Each judge’s contract is different. Some judges charge a flat fee, some charge per dog and others want expenses only. Those expenses often include air fare, a hotel room, ground transportation (mileage or rental car) and a couple meals.

Ideally, a club would bring in well respected judges from out of state to maximize interest. However, that can be expensive. And there's no guarantee that there will be enough entries to cover the cost. Our club had a bad year in 2015 and lost $800 on the show. We're still feeling the effects from that show!

Who knew finding judges would be so complicated? Not me! It's stressed me out big time, but I've got good news. RK was able to secure our number one and number two choices. Both judges live within driving distance; one is in Georgia and the other has a winter home in Florida. Both judges asked for expenses only. Even better, they know each other, like each other and were thrilled to hear who was judging. Whew. How's that for good fortune? We have a little time to breathe until the next big step -- The Premium.

More later, but for now I need to relax!-- K 

Showtime -- The Committee

One of the first things you need to do before putting on a dog show (or trial) is set up a Show Committee to run the whole shebang. To keep things moving smoothly (and satisfy the AKC) the Show Committee needs to select a Show Chairman. This person’s duties include:

• Proper planning of the show
• Ensuring all AKC is submitted in time (and there’s A LOT of paperwork)
• Securing/contracting venue
• Soliciting/contracting judges
• Overseeing all sub-committees (Advertising, Catalog, Concessions, Grounds & Equipment, Hospitality, Parking, Stewards, Trophies/Awards, etc.)
• Coordinating with other clubs if the show is part of a cluster
• Hiring stewards (if applicable)
• Verifying insurance and permits are in order
• Getting the premium out on time
• Contracting an official photographer
• Developing a Disaster and Emergency Plan
• Preparing for any misconduct hearings (while simultaneously praying there are none!)
• Meeting with the local AKC representative
• Ensuring ring is set up properly
• Putting out any last minute fires (there are always fires)
• . . . Plus a million other things as required

Next, the Show Committee needs to select a Show Secretary. A club may choose to hire a professional superintendent/show secretary (i.e. MB-F, Onofrio, etc.) to handle the all the paperwork. However, they’re expensive. A small club like ours usually chooses someone from within the club to handle things. The secretary’s duties include:

• Developing and sending out premiums (entry forms)
• Ensuring entries are properly filled out and fees are included
• Organizing entries into proper classes
• Assigning armband numbers to dogs
• Developing official show catalog
• Passing out armbands at show
• Maintaining a correctly marked “Official Show Catalog”
• Filling out/sending in official judges' reports to the AKC
• . . . And a whole bunch of things I don't know about yet!

 According to the 2017 AKC Show Manual:

Individuals should be appointed to committees based on experience, the workloads they can handle, and the time they can apportion to each task. Candidates for committee positions must familiarize themselves with the specific duties and responsibilities involved.

Doesn’t that sound nice? Unfortunately, when you have a small, limited experience volunteer base like we do, you just take what you can get and hope not to screw up too badly. It may not be ideal, but it makes for interesting blog posts!

So for those of you following along on our journey: RK has taken on the responsibility of Show Chair and I have agreed to be Show Secretary. Are we nuts? Probably. I'll keep you updated on our decent into madness progress. But for now, I'm trying not to freak out over Step 3: Judges! TTFN, -- K

Showtime -- What, When and Where

As I've mentioned, we're putting on a dog show. RK and I have never done this before. It's proving to be more difficult than I think it should be. As a blogger, I naturally looked to the internet for guidance. I can't find anything offering useful information for a clueless newbie. So, we're doing this blind -- eek! And in true blogger fashion, I'm sharing my journey (much like the A to Z of Dog Shows series several years ago). I hope that someone else will find my efforts helpful -- maybe even encouraging. Let me know!

I've been combing through extremely dry booklets and manuals for weeks, trying to make sense of it all. My brain hurts! I've labeled this Step 1, even though these things were set up by a previous show committee. [Note: We're holding a conformation show, though much of this step would apply to performance trials as well.]

What:

First, you must determine what kind of show you're holding. Conformation shows come in different varieties. A Specialty Show is a dog show of only one breed, given by a specialty club. An All-Breed Show is a dog show where all (or almost all) the different purebred breeds are being shown and judged simultaneously. A Limited-Breed Show has more than one breed but less than an all-breed (i.e. a herding club hosts a show for all the herding breeds).

The German Shepherd Dog Club of North Florida is a specialty club. We're holding two specialty shows back-to-back on one day -- Friday, April 6, 2018. The Greater Orange Park Dog Club is an all-breed club. They are holding back-to-back all-breed shows April 7 and April 8. Currently they are doing the same thing RK and I are, but on a much larger scale.

When:

The AKC has strict rules regarding show dates. However, said rules are not clearly written in one centralized, easy-to-use location. It's enough to give a girl a headache! 

Chapter 2, Section 3 of Rules Applying to Dog Shows states:

Each club or association which she'll hold the show in its territory at least once in every two consecutive calendar years she'll have the sole show privilege in the city, town or district of its assigned territory.

I read that several times and keep thinking WTF? First of all, why did the AKC feel the need to underscore "in its territory?" I can't find anything anywhere defining territorial boundaries. 

That aside, the AKC divides the year up into 52 weekends. Weekend 1 is the first full weekend of January. Clubs are assigned the weekend number. For example, my club has weekend 14. No other German Shepherd group within 200 miles can hold a German shepherd specialty show on that weekend without the express written permission from the German Shepherd Dog Club of North Florida.

Where:

Once a date is secured, a club must find a place to hold the show. There are many things to take into consideration, including:

• Cost of rental. This is a biggie! A club can’t spent its entire budget on the venue. As you will see soon enough, there are a lot of expenses when putting on a dog show.
• Location. Is it in the club’s geographical location (wherever that may be)? Can out of town exhibitors find it easily? Are there dog-friendly hotels nearby?
• Type. Is it an indoor site? Outdoor site? Combination of the two?
• Size. Is it large enough to hold all necessary rings, exhibitors and spectators? Enough space for x-pens? Is there room for vendors?
• Parking. Is there enough parking for the judges, volunteers, exhibitors and spectators? Is there room/hook-ups for motor homes? Where is parking in relation to the rings? 
• Conditions/Usability. Is there grass? If so, will it be mowed beforehand? Is the area level and free of tripping hazards? Is it clean? Is there adequate light, ventilation, heat, or A/C? Is there access to water?
• Toilets. Are there flushing toilets on site? If not, is there room to set up porta-potties?
• Other amenities. For example, indoor space with electrical for grooming, kitchen use for concessions, covered pavilions, available trash cans/dumpsters.

If a club is moving to a new venue, the site must be approved by the AKC beforehand. The 2017 AKC Show Manual states that:

Any site not previously used for an all-breed or group club event must be visited by an AKC Executive Field Representative prior to approval by the Event Operations Department. A site diagram (detailed layout) must be provided at the time the event application is submitted to the AKC’s Event Operations Department with ring size and aisle widths and location of all amenities. If there are possible problems that may occur with the parking, a layout and parking plan should also be submitted. Approval from the Events Operations Department must be attained if any change of date or venue location is required.

This is a lot to take into consideration. Fortunately for us, we've had an agreement with the Greater Orange Park Dog Club for several years. They've jumped through all the hoops to secure a location (the St. Johns County Fairgrounds) for weekend #14. Several specialty clubs have subcontracted to use the grounds the Friday before. It works out for everybody.

• The Specialty Clubs get a nice location with decent amenities. Honestly, our club wouldn't be able to afford the location on our own.
• The All-Breed Club can offset some of their expenses and/or get additional volunteers (our agreement requires man-hours in lieu payment). Plus, there are people at the show grounds on Friday as they set up.
• Exhibitors have the opportunity to show in two specialty shows (Friday) and two all-breed shows (Saturday and Sunday) giving them four chances to win in a three day period. That's awesome! This increases the likelihood of entries for both clubs.
• The larger number of entries warrants a higher point value for the winner. Since we've had this arrangement, our specialty shows have all been major-pointed shows -- and that makes everybody happy! (See here for an explanation of points.)

And as far as I can tell, that's Step 1 in a nutshell. Tired yet? Wait until you see Step 2! TTFN, -- K

P.S. If you have experience putting on a show -- successfully or not -- PLEASE chime in. Don't tell RK, but I think we're in over our heads here.

We're Back

We're back from South Carolina. The AKC Show Committee Seminar was informative and overwhelming. I was given tons of paperwork. In addition to a handout of the PowerPoint, I came home with a bag full of official AKC rule booklets:

• Rules Applying to Dog Shows
• Rules, Policies and Guidelines for Conformation Dog Show Judges
• Dog Show Stewards
• Junior Showmanship
• Rules Applying to Registration and Discipline
• Dealing with Misconduct
• Match Regulations
• Obedience Regulations
• Obedience Judges' Guidelines
• The Steward in Obedience
• AKC Rally Regulations
• Rally Judges' Guidelines
• The Steward in Rally
• Rally Signs and Descriptions

To be honest, it's some dry reading. I'm going to sort out all the paperwork next weekend. And it appears that I'll to have to print out the 197 page 2017 AKC Show Manual myself. Unfortunately, that wasn't included in the ton of paperwork.

I learned a lot at the seminar. I also discovered that there's a lot more I need to learn. Ugh. But all in all, I'm glad I went. I met some very nice -- and more experienced -- people from other clubs. Each gave us a card and offered assistance via email. One woman told me that she had signed up this seminar three times in the past and it had been canceled each time. I guess RK, VP and I were lucky to get in first try.

After the seminar Hubby and I went to my favorite aunt's house. (Love you Auntie!) We spent time with my aunt, uncle, cousins and some friends who moved to SC several years ago. I also got to meet Rosie the White. (I'll tell you all about her in another post.)

On Saturday morning Hubby and I returned to the TD Convention Center to catch part of the dog show. GSDs were in the ring at 8 AM and I didn't want to miss them. I have priorities! Auntie went with us and I think she had a good time. I was able to narrate and answer questions, hopefully making it more enjoyable for her. I love dog shows and it's fun for me to share with others.

It's been a busy weekend and I'm exhausted. I need to unpack and watch Game of Thrones (again, priorities!) before heading off to bed. I have some fun stories to share later, so make sure to come back soon. TTFN, -- K

Road Trip!

True story!

Hubby and I are getting up before dawn tomorrow and driving six hours to South Carolina. Why? So I can attend a four hour seminar on dog shows at the TD Convention Center in Greenville, SC. (Yes, the math seems a little off. Fortunately, I have family there and we're turning it into a mini-vacation.)

This event has a fancy schmancy name: AKC Show Committee Seminar -- Symposium for Show Committees. It's being sponsored by the American Kennel Club, the Greenville Kennel Club and the Piedmont Kennel Club. I hope it's not a waste of time and money. BTW, it's not a free seminar. Did I mention that the AKC doesn't make things easy?

Learn, Baby, Learn!

RK and VP are meeting us in SC to take the seminar as well. We're hoping that this will better prepare us for the German Shepherd Dog Club of North Florida specialty (conformation) shows in April. Topics to be presented include:

• AKC Paperwork Made Easy
• Attracting New Exhibitors
• Communications Between Clubs & Judges
• Event Hearings
• Judging Contracts
• New Programs
• Premium List
• Rules and Regulations
• Show Site Planning
• Superintendent/Secretary Selection

I'm excited. And a bit anxious. I'll share what I've learned when I get back. -- K

Still Sniffing

K9NWSource has the AKC target odors!

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about nosework. Don’t worry, we haven’t quit! In fact, we’re plugging along nicely. Trainer is incorporating the new AKC Scent Work rules into our Thursday night classes. What does this mean?

• We’ve added another odor -- Cypress (which replaced peppermint). Jedi is still working Sweet Birch (level 1 AKC/UKC/NACSW), Aniseed (level 2 AKC/UKC/NACSW), Clovebud (level 3 AKC/UKC/NACSW), Myrrh (level 4 UKC) and Vetiver (level 5 UKC). Yep, my dog smells!


• We’ve added another element -- odor buried in dirt. Only AKC has this element. All three organizations (AKC/UKC/NACSW) have interior, exterior and container searches as well. UKC and NACSW also have vehicle searches whereas AKC does not.


• We’re practicing handler discrimination. Jedi has to find something with my scent on it. UKC does this too, but they always use cotton gloves hidden in boxes. At UKC level 1, Jedi has to find a box with my glove in it while all other boxes are empty. As UKC levels increase, gloves scented by other people are added to the other boxes. AKC went a different direction. Level 1 is still cotton gloves and boxes. However, as levels increase the handler's scent is put on cotton balls or Q-tips and hidden like the odors.


• We’re learning to pinpoint the location of the odor. During competition a judge can require a handler to point out where the odor is hidden. The handler's guess must be within 6 inches of the actual location. The acceptable margin of error decreases as the competition level increases. Gulp.

Jedi says the odor is in THIS box

The Scent Work Club of Ocala is holding a Scent and Go (same concept as a Show and Go) next month. It's being judged by the standards of the new AKC Scent Work program and is offering all five elements (interior, exterior, containers, buried and handler discrimination). Despite it being on a Sunday (my regular work day) and a two hour drive, I signed up. The club shooting for an AKC Scent Work trial in December and I want to be ready.

The Nosework and Rally Club of North Florida is holding UKC trails in Ocala this October. I'm going to enter. Yes, I plan to compete in both AKC and UKC. They are similar enough that Jedi should have no problem. Jedi's job is: Find odor, tell Mom, wait for treat. I'm the one who has to worry about the rules.

Even more terrifying exciting, the German Shepherd Dog Club of North Florida has received licensing to hold official AKC Scent Work trials. We're working with Trainer to see if we can make this happen. RK and I are already working to put on a conformation show -- do we really need this stress too? Yes, yes we do. We're currently scouting out areas to hold a Scent and Go and a Scent Work Trial. We're also brainstorming on ways to encourage other club members to get involved. Any ideas?

So my friends, keep following. One of two things will happen: I will pull this off or I'll implode. Either way, it'll be epic! Later, -- K

The Show Must Go On

My current expression

(if I were an adorable pup)

I'm a little frustrated right now. When I gave up the presidency of my dog club last month, I was looking forward to having less responsibility and more free time. Like I said many times, there are a lot of little things that come with the office. Those little things quickly become a large time suck. My intention was to concentrate on competing with Jedi and looking for another show puppy.

Well, plans change. At the May club meeting I was told that the two women who’ve planning our dog shows for the past few years have called it quits. Just. Like. That. Even more frustrating: for two years I tried to get them to share information about show planning -- I even had someone willing to take it all in -- but said women guarded the information like a virgin guards her hymen. Now we need to come up with a Plan B.

Channeling my inner Butterfly McQueen

Only a handful of club members have any experience with conformation dog shows, and all but two -- me and RK (the new Club president) -- have stated they want nothing to do with putting on the show. Grrr . . . So the choices are:

1. RK and I do it ourselves (and hope that others change their minds about helping) or
2. It doesn't get done.

I've wrestled with this for a few weeks now. I worked so hard the past two years to build this club up, I'd feel guilty letting it flop. Hubby wants me to relax and concentrate on my health -- "Honey, remember what happened in February? You need to slow down." (Why does he always get to be the voice of reason?!)

From what I can gather, the club is required to put on a show to keep our AKC sanction. How often we have to do it is in unclear. I know there are problems with securing and/or giving up assigned show dates if they conflict with another nearby show. It’s very confusing and I can't find any definitive answers on the internet.

Recently I discovered that an AKC Show Committee Seminar being held in Greenville, South Carolina at the end of the month. I signed up. It's a six hour drive (each way) for a four hour seminar. (Fortunately, I have family in Greenville that I haven't seen since last August, so this is a great excuse to visit.) RK found a pdf of the 2017 AKC Show Manual online. It’s 192 pages long -- eek! -- and I’ve been going through it slowly. It very detailed. And surprisingly empowering.

So, guess who’s putting on a dog show? I’m unbelievably nervous. And strangely excited. True to Kelley fashion, I’ll share our efforts over the next nine months and we’ll see how this baby turns out together. And out of respect for my husband, I will try to watch my stress levels while doing it. Wish us luck! -- K