UKC Dog Show, Brampton, ON
French Bull Dog Nationals 2009 - Butters and Kay showing in open Cream/Fawn bitches.
I’m thinking of entering Butters in a UKC dog show this weekend.
The UKC is the United Kennel Club, a breed registry and event holding club that was formed in 1898. The United Kennel Club was formed as an ‘alternative’ to the American Kennel Club, by Pit Bull fancier Chauncey Z. Bennett. Specifically, Mr. Bennett wanted to found an organization that focused on the ‘total dog’, as opposed to the AKC, which he saw as focusing only on conformation.
The UKC has held a strong line on the concept of dog shows as purely a means of examining a dogs conformational adherence to the written standard, rather than a canine ‘beauty show’.
I like this part, in particular —
I. Prohibition against professional handlers in conformation shows.
United Kennel Club events are intended to be family-oriented recreation for owners of UKC Registered dogs. Accordingly, UKC encourages the promotion of the owner/breeder handler and prohibits the use of professional handlers in conformation.
1. Construction of this rule. The prohibition against professional handlers is one of the cornerstones of UKC philosophy. Therefore, this rule is to be construed as broadly as necessary to achieve that goal. Each UKC Official Entry Form includes the following statement that must be signed by the owner/handler of each dog entered at a UKC event: “I swear that this dog is not being handled by a professional handler in conformation.” Dog owners and professional handlers who look for technical ways to circumvent this rule run a grave risk of losing their UKC privileges if caught.
The part I’m NOT so sure about is this one —
E. Baiting in the ring.
The United Kennel Club believes that dogs should be exhibited in a natural state. We believe that a dog’s temperament, tractability and conformation are best evaluated when a dog is exhibited without any aids used to change the dog’s natural behavior.
Butters’ natural behavior is to EAT. Everything Butters does is designed to give her access to food. She shows well, because showing well gets her bait.
Showing her with NO bait will be sort of like trying to convince me to go to work without getting a paycheck – nice idea, but not gonna happen.
Another interesting side note – the UKC French Bulldog standard’s section on weight differs from that of the AKC and CKC standards, in having a minimum weight limit, and a maximum slightly higher than we’re used to –
WEIGHT
A French Bulldog in good condition must weigh between 18 and 30 pounds.
Serious Fault: Over or under the prescribed weight.
At any rate, there’s more info on the show here — http://www.mapleleafkennelclub.org/november2009showinfo.htm
And more info about UKC shows in general can be found here — http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/WebPages/DogConformation
You can register same day, which is also an added bonus, although there is a discount if you enter in advance. If you’re thinking of attending, please let me know.
Score One for the Good Guys
Leeon and Lorriane Stecher can now walk their pit bull-chocolate lab mix, Angel, in Oak Harbor city limits without a muzzle
The citizens of Oak Harbor, Washington, should be very proud of their city council today. Thanks to their willingness to question facts, rather than just blindly accepting stories about killer Pit Bulls who eat babies, they’ve repealed breed specific legislation within Oak Harbor city limits.
From the Whidbey News Times –
Oak Harbor’s breed-specific ordinance went into effect in 2006 and required pit bull owners who live within city limits to house the controversial canines in a secure pen and muzzle the animals while on leash, among other restrictions. Pit bull owners who didn’t follow the ordinance ran the risk of having their dog impounded or earning a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, jail time up to 90 days, or both.
Now the animal control officer will rely on the “Dangerous Dog and Potentially Dangerous Dog” chapter of the animal control ordinance that deals with animals based on behavior, not breed.
Before the council made their final decision, Councilman Jim Campbell questioned whether the “Dangerous Dog and Potentially Dangerous Dog” chapter was enough to protect the citizens of Oak Harbor.
“We don’t need this because we have sufficient coverage in the one that we already have? Does it also have the hard rules for the owner that has a dog with biting habits?” he asked Police Chief Rick Wallace.
Wallace said yes, and proceeded to read from the “Dangerous Dog and Potentially Dangerous Dog” ordinance that requires the owner of these dogs to keep the animals in a proper enclosure, post a visible warning sign that a dangerous dog is in the area, purchase a surety bond of at least $250,000 or a liability insurance policy, have the animal microchipped and register the dog with the city.
Councilwoman Beth Munns made the motion to repeal the breed specific ordinance, and Campbell seconded her motion. The council unanimously voted to support Munns’ motion, 6-0. Councilman Danny Paggao was not at the meeting.
Like many of us, I’ve heard the stories, but I’ve almost always dismissed them as fairy tales, on par with stories about Bigfoot, Chupucabras, and the Loch Ness monster. Little did I think that within my lifetime I’d get to hear about an actual, verified instance of a politician with working brain cells, one who asks questions, rather just blindly accepting all those stories about killer Pit Bulls.
And, Holy Hell! Their Chief of Police testified against breed specific laws! He didn’t rave about how it’s necessary to shoot all Pit Bulls on sight, or tell stories about babies being stolen from their cribs and eaten. Instead, he pointed out how the town’s existing, non breed specific laws already make more than adequate provisions for the control of dangerous dogs within city limits. Politicians AND cops with brains, in one single city? I know where I want to move to.
In a statement so shocking that I almost felt light headed on reading it, Oak Harbor city council said that they hope the repeal of the law will “decrease the number of pit bulls surrendered to island animal shelters, and possibly increase their rate of adoption”.
Good lord. If this sort of logical thinking catches on outside of Washington state, there’s a chance that even Ontario’s fiberal goverment might re think their idiotic DOLA laws.
Oh, and look, a pig just flew overhead.
French Bulldog Gift Items, Luxe Edition
With the holiday season approaching, we find ourselves thinking “What the hell, is it that time again already?”. We then contemplate drinking, heavily.
Wait, maybe that’s just me.
Perhaps you’re more the type who gleefully begins to search out just the perfect petit trésor for those extra special people on your list. If money is no object, and the person you’re shopping for is a French Bulldog enthusiast, we have a few shopping ideas for you.
If travel is no impediment to finding the perfect gift, book your plane tickets now for part Deux of the Auction of the Century – the final phase of the Yves Saint Laurent-Pierre Bergé Auction, to be held in Paris Nov. 17-20. As any French Bulldog fancier worth their salt well knows, St. Laurent was a die hard French Bulldog aficionado.
The current incarnation of Moujik, shown above after a memorial service for St. Laurent held in Marrakesh, is actually one in a long line of Frenchies named Moujik owned by St. Laurent. At the upcoming St. Laurent auction, attendees will have the chance to bid on a –
“sculpture set of Mr. Saint Laurent’s favorite pets, French bulldogs, estimated at €400-€600.”
Pricey, but for anyone who loves both the iconoclastic designer and French Bulldogs, a worth while buy. If you can’t quite commit to jetting to Paris to pick up a holiday present, perhaps some on line shopping is more your cup of tea.
Antiques Atlas has this lovely antique papier mache French Bulldog growler available for sale, for the bargain price of $1484.09 – and before you deny that $1500 is a ‘bargain price’, let’s think about this for a moment. This thing is almost a hundred years old, it was created for children, and it’s made of freakin’ paper. It’s a wonder any of them survived this long. Plus, you can enjoy the freaked out cries of ‘what the hell is that thing?’ your non Frenchie friends will emit on seeing it. A definite buy for the more eclectic French Bulldog owner on your gift list.
If you’re shopping for someone who loves traditional jewelry, take a look at the Hunting Horn. Long known for having some of the best, breed specific jewelry in the world, Hunting Horn offers a plethora of French Bulldog specific pieces.
I think this brindle pied French Bulldog piece is particularly adorable, but I’m really more of a fan of sterling silver jewelry. Traditionally, the Frenchie pieces I’ve found in Sterling have been sort of… tacky. At the worst, they looked like badly formed kittens, rather than Frenchies. These new pieces from the Thomas Sabo sterling silver collection change all of that –
Sabo’s unfortunately named ‘Disco Dog’ collection offers two separate pieces featuring French Bulldogs – the enameled French Bulldog miniature shown above, and a small, sterling medallion with a French Bulldog head study, shown below.
Unfortunately, your medallion also bears the rather embarrassing inscription “Groovy DJ Dog”. Oh well, nothing’s perfect. And a note to Sean, in case he’s reading this – the FIGURINE, and NOT the medallion. Just, y’know, in case he’s doing any shopping.