"STATIC OUTSIDE ATTRACTION" IN THE UK - Page 1

In the WUSV aktuell interview Reinhardt Meyer - SV Nationa Breed Warden, he was asked the following question:
WUSV aktuell: You are judging the male working dog class in the upcoming National Breed Show in Braunschweig. Will there be innovations for the exhibitors here and how do you intend to set the main focuses?
Part of his answer referred to outside attraction in the following manner:
This event is a traditional event of our club and is well though-out at heart. We have the good luck that we have highly motivated members in our ranks, who ensure year after year of flawless proceedings of this large-scale event in collaboration with a very well-functioning main branch office. Nevertheless, I think we can do somewhat more for the actual main players of this breed show. I am not thinking about the dogs and their handlers when I say that; they have it relatively easy. I am thinking about those people who make the dog fit for this event; they are the same as those who also guide them in their guarding activities and the same as those who motivate them afterwards from the outside in the competition. They are the members, who influence to a high degree the aesthetics of a class and the same as those who “are locked up” at the front of the stadium and are “supervised” and carry out the “hardest work”. I know all this from my own experience. In this regard, the breed committee is trying, in collaboration with the event management, to find ways to make the work easier.

Surely the GSD Breed Council can assert and establish with the Kennel Club our exhibitors right to participate in their sport and conduct static outside attraction, which is key to the presentation of out dogs for judging and key to the aesthetics of each class, as well as the key to a much higher level of enjoyable atmosphere created at our GSD Breed Shows. I emphasise that this should be allowed at GSD BREED SHOWS ONLY.
see: http://www.videxgsd.com/interview_with_reihardt_meyer.htm

I would agree.

This is something WE ALL DO, if we work together on this then surely we can come to some arrangment.

This is the current Kennel Club position on "OUTSIDE ATTRACTION
part one:
Outside attraction (known as double handling)
As you may know, the Kennel Club has for some time been concerned about a perceived increase in this activity. It is prohibited under Kennel Club Regulations and also raises serious issues of health and safety arising from the sometimes frantic activity around some rings. The Kennel Club believes that outside attraction does not allow all exhibitors an equal and fair chance of winning.
The Kennel Club wishes to ensure that exhibitors enjoy the highest standards in their hobby and is therefore keen to help manage the issue of outside attraction. It has been working with German Shepherd Dog clubs and the 350 Breed Council to develop an escalation procedure which will help do so but it will be up to the GSD community to police these measures which are being introduced in the interests of all exhibitors.
The escalation procedure agreed is as follows:
• Societies should provide adequate notices in the Schedule and around the ring and by PA announcements requesting that there should be no attraction from outside the ring and reminding all that to do so is against Kennel Club regulations (sample notice attached).
• If attraction is observed - the show management should request the judge to make an announcement and if the attraction continues then a Senior Officer of the Society to then make a further polite request for it to cease. If the judge declines to make the requested announcement a report should be made to the Kennel Club.
• If the conduct is extreme or continuing and is causing disruption then a Senior Officer of the Society is to go into the ring and suspend the class until it stops. Some element of peer pressure may then come to bear?

• If the attraction restarts then exhibitors may be warned that if it continues and a further request has to be made then the class will be abandoned.
CONTINUED

part two:
• Where a person attracting the attention of dogs from outside the ring is an exhibitor/competitor or joint owner and are readily identified he/she should be reported to the Kennel Club for a breach of Regulations F(1)17.h
This escalation procedure should be implemented with immediate effect and failure to prevent outside attraction could place future show licences in jeopardy.
Any Judge or exhibitor failing to comply should be reported to the Kennel Club for investigation and possible disciplinary action. The following information is to be included in Show Reports:
• Confirmation of what steps the Society and Judge took to enforce Kennel Club Regulations with regard to outside attraction.
• Which steps of the escalation procedure were applied and the outcome e.g. was the initial request sufficient to prevent attraction continuing, or was it necessary to suspend or abandon the class?
• Name of any exhibitors considered to be in breach of Regulations, and full name of dog.
• Statements from any witnesses who were involved or who took any action to enforce the escalation procedure. (A specimen Witness Statement form is available).
Kennel Club Field Officers will make visits to randomly-selected shows in order to assess how the procedure is being implemented. The Field Officer's role is to observe; it is not his/her responsibility to enforce the Regulations.

Read the following extract from the Kennel Club document above:
"The Kennel Club wishes to ensure that exhibitors enjoy the highest standards in their hobby and is therefore keen to help manage the issue of outside attraction. It has been working with German Shepherd Dog clubs and the GSD Breed Council to develop an escalation procedure which will help do so but it will be up to the GSD community to police these measures which are being introduced in the interests of all exhibitors.
The escalation procedure agreed is as follows:"

With friends like these - who needs enemies??
Was this "agreed" escalation procedure, agreed with BAGSD, GSDL & the BC???

I trust that GSD Breed Council delegates will place on the next BC agenda, an item which will require an explanation from the Secretary of the AGREEMENT reached with the Kennel Club in respect of "OUTSIDE ATTRACTION.
Any denial that an AGREEMENT was reached with the GSD Breed Council, or BAGSD, or GSDL, should result in a strongly worded letter to the Kennel Club from each of these GSD organisations. Emphatically denying that any agreement was reached to stop outside attraction, and most importantly making the position of the overwhelming majority of GSD exhibitors throughout the UK very clear in regard to STATIC OUTSIDE ATTRACTION at our GSD Breed Shows.
The GSD Breed Council, BAGSD, and the GSDL can separately and jointly assert and establish with the Kennel Club, our GSD exhibitors right to conduct static outside attraction, which is key to the presentation of out dogs for judging and key to the aesthetics of each class, as well as the key to a much higher level of enjoyable atmosphere created at our GSD Breed Shows. and emphasise that this should be allowed at GSD BREED SHOWS ONLY.