The Beauceron from Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 08 - Page 8

I feel the dog was rushed to quickly,  after the dog turned around to the judge, the judge slowed down,  had his hand sniffed, he touched the dogs head, then the body, the dog stood better for exam.  You even see the dog being touched on the ear by the judge before the dog was asked to move out.  Look at some of the terriers, some their handlers had their fingers clamped tight on the dogs muzzles.

AKC rules say - a judge can either excuse or DQ a dog. An excusal is appropriate if the dog cannot be examined, a DQ recommended if the dog attacks any person in the ring. This is predicated by - "in the opinion of the judge". A dog that is excused is eligible to compete at other shows. A dog that is DQ'd must be reinstated by  AKC. 

 A dog that is "damaged for life" by some action of a judge inspecting it is of questionable character and nerves to begin with. These are NOT small puppies who have had no experience in life......

OK..I removed the word..unpredictable .  When your dog don't like to be touch and you know it..he's not unpredictable.didn't choose my words right!!

But if he doesn't let people touch him if you there..well I think maybe he doesn't trust you enough! JMO

I used the phrase damaged for life - as no dog should be made to bleed by a judge and we all know that some dogs remember what has happened to them.

I would not allow anyone to damage a dog of mine be it the top judge or the person down the road.  In my mind making a dog bleed is harming it and that should never be allowed in the ring or out.

Good thing you don't do SchH. Dogs sometimes bite their tongues. Sometimes the handler gets bitten or knicked, inadvertantly or not. 

I did not read all the posts above so I do not know who you are referring to, but GSDs should not be wimps. Maybe some of the other breeds are and that is what is called for in their standard, but it should not be true of a GSD. That being said, do not get me wrong, I am not advocating that someone make a dog bleed purposely.

May I suggest you do read the earlier posts and then you will realise that we are talking about another breed.  Also the suggestion that a judge damaged a dog's mouth due to shaking hands when doing a teeth check.

I have been very forward stating that inappropriate behaviour by the dog should have had it DQ from the show ring - then more information was posted and that is what I have been responding to.

This is JMO. 

Unfortunately they don’t show the entire mouth exam.  2 different cameras from different positions.  For what’s shown the dog did not appear to flinch away from any painful stimuli but did seem reluctant to open his mouth in the view after the camera switched from the judge’s backside.  To me his eyes display more fear than suspicion as the judge moves on to complete the examination.  He was clearly uncomfortable with his surroundings during the down-and-back and the run-‘round return to the end of the line.

Did anyone watch the Breed Judging video?

Beauceron Breed Class Judging at Westminster

http://video.westminsterkennelclub.org/player/?id=0#videoid=216317

This dog is stressed.  He’s uncomfortable in the ring, lacks confidence or trust in the handler, one of the two, and as a result is insecure about being forced to submit to being handled by someone he doesn’t know.  The judge.

While the dog may have good conformation and movement it’s lacking still in temperament? Nerve? 

If you watch the video note the signs:

At 7:00-08 – Dog drops his head and slightly backs away from handler as if he’s unsure of what she’s going to do next.

At 6:48 – This is the most animation and confidence I saw in the dog through the entire class judging.

 (continued) 

At 6:26-24 – Dog is obviously lagging

At 4:43-39 – Dog shies from judge.  It’s very slight, but it’s there and eyes judge suspiciously even with the handler placing hand between muzzle and judge.

At 4:07-05 – After the down-and-back to the free-stack the dog is clearly distracted, has no interest in the handler or focus on her and more importantly yawns – a clear sign of stress.

At 1:16-15 – Dog is still lagging

At 0:54-51 – Dog is still lagging and seems insecure at best.

After watching that it should come as no surprise the reaction in the Group Judging. 

This dog lacks self-confidence and lacks confidence in that handler.  Someone mentioned above that the dog had been examined “countless times” with no issue.  It would be nice to have video of those “countless times” for comparison.  Whether a conditioned response from constantly being forced to do something he’s clearly uncomfortable and insecure in doing, or a true nerve and temperament issue this dog regardless of his movement and conformation doesn’t belong in the ring. If his issues are a result of this forced ring-work it’s questionable whether he’d be capable of doing any job that subjects him to the public safely.

If I am correct in my assessment this could well be the beginning of the demise of the Beauceron.  Being a Westminster winner no doubt had many wanting to breed to him.  If there is are temperament or nerve issues he shouldn't be bred.  Yet I can see numerous litters in the ring in the future born of a possibly unsound sire, and them going on to produce numerous litters more.

The world of AKC.  The Beauceron will go the same way as the GSD and pretty much all other working/herding/sporting breeds before them.  Pity.

 Exactly what I think..

This dog was very unsure and anxious..not dominant. No dominant dog tuck their tails and yawn like he did. This is clearly a position of distress and fear.

maybe it was a bad day..but on that day..he was not suspicious..he was affraid.