Friday 4 April 2008
WELL, THE reported observations of our Crufts Basset ring stewards has raised more reaction than any subject that I have ever included in this column and I have taken the time to talk to the KC on the matter so that we can explain accurately its ring procedures. It all started when Margaret Ledward, wife of our Crufts judge for 2008, mentioned to Trish Wells and me that the stewards would like a word with us.
Now, I know that in his critique our judge, Dennis Ledward, has praised his team of stewards so he was happy that they performed their duties to his satisfaction. But, when I sat down with the stewards they did not have a good word to say about Basset exhibitors. One said that they had stewarded for all four days, seven breeds in all, and the Bassets and their handlers had the poorest ring hygiene of them all.
Here are a few of the exhibitors’ comments that I received in emails in response to my recent report: Several said the carpet was not clean at the start of the day and you could see where it had been soiled on previous days. One person said: “While speaking to friends in the days leading up to Crufts I had said to them that since we were showing on the fourth day of the show then we would have the smells that are the legacy of hundreds of dogs having used the rings over the previous three days. Showing a scent hound on a surface that has delightful and hidden attractions just waiting for the canine olfactory senses to discover can be a real challenge.
“I was in the first class of Basset Hounds and I had tremendous difficulty keeping my dog’s head off the carpet. At times it felt like his nostrils were super-glued to it such was his determination to investigate the aroma left by each and every exhibit which had used ring 33 at Crufts this year.”
“Yes, Basset Hound males, through lack of handler awareness, will try to water any post that they pass and bitches will say they can’t possibly use the sawdust exercise area because it isn’t a bit like the lawn at home and all of a sudden, they just have to wee now! While not condoning this behaviour in any way, I feel it isn’t just the Bassets who are the bad guys here.
“For three whole days before hound day there were dozens of breeds of dogs which all felt like leaving their often invisible, usually indelible, but oh so perceptible, mark at Crufts.”
Another exhibitor wrote: “As the handler of one Basset bitch who puddled in the ring I feel I must reply. Contrary to the assumption made by the stewards she had passed urine three times in the exercise area before judging. As I entered the ring I was aware of large dirty marks on the carpet which I assumed to be urine from previous day’s judging and therefore avoided them while stacking. I always carry poo bags in my show clothes pockets but with the best will in the world do not have the facility in them for a mop and bucket. Not only was there no equipment for urination in the ring I believe there was nowhere to place poo bags if a dog fouled.
“I am sure that most other scent hound owners would agree that it must be very difficult for a hound to differentiate between an indoor exercise area and an unhygienic carpet that has smells on it from over three day’s use. As the classes were proceeding at very fast rate there was no opportunity for me to leave the ring to hunt down a mop and bucket (I didn’t see one for the four days I attended). Perhaps the stewards disgust and/or upset would be better directed at the show management who choose to use carpet that cannot be cleaned never mind not providing any equipment for us to at least try.”
The Kennel Club was very helpful when I called to ask questions about the facilities they now provide at Crufts to enable exhibitors to clean up after their dogs. The bucket, shovel and sawdust have gone – probably as a health and safety issue. The stewards have a supply of poo bags although it is to be hoped that every exhibitor is never caught without a few in a pocket. I was surprised to learn that the method of disposal of poo bags is to put them into any waste sack or bin that you can find in the area adjacent to your ring (I would have thought that this is not a very hygienic policy).
As for the puddles, it seems that the stewards had been told that they should arrange for a cleaner to attend the ring with mop etc and clean up the puddle but this was not happening in ring 33 and I am not too sure how the steward was going to contact the cleaner as they seemed rather thin on the ground.
I asked about end of day cleaning of rings but my contact could not confirm that all rings are fully cleaned at the end of each day. One would hope that the rings would be mopped over with a good disinfectant every day so as to leave them clean and odour free for the next breed. If the carpets were all cleaned before being put away we should be okay in 2009 as hounds are on day one next year!
Another old chestnut topic about Crufts is the lack of a dog crèche that would enable exhibitors and the public to park their dogs while they enjoyed the show. It was reported that the veterinary centre had to take in some non-entered dogs that had arrived from abroad together with their owner who did not appreciate the UK ruling regarding NFC dogs. I know that some people bring their dogs and leave them in the car park and then have to spend most of the day trolling backwards and forwards between the show rings and the car. Surely the number one dog show in the world could easily find a way to provide a NFC area within close proximity of the show rings – many of our general championship shows seem to manage it and it’s much more humane for dogs to go to the show than to be shut up at home for many hours.
Linda Skerritt has emailed during her Australian trip and writes: “I judged the BHC NSW with an entry of 74. Dog Challenge and BIS was McGinn’s Ch Ammidan Abrahamm (A Sun Chacer ex Ch A Our Lady Fergie). Bitch Challenge O’Flynn and McClung’s Gr Ch Lachambre Bonnie Star (Ch Burnvale Quintessential ex Ch L White Scent).
“RDCC and RBIS was Mangelsdorf’s Ch Yarramba Causin Chaos (Ch Dunscreka Tyme Lord ex Y Having My Way) from puppy and RBCC McGinn’s Ammidan Hillary (Ch A Benjamin ex Ch A Raicheal).
“You may like to know that there was some other UK breeding there as, from a class of 12, I gave intermediate bitch to Carius’ Aaru Galadriel (Ch Kortebin Ted Sandyman ex Ch Kortebin East Farthing).
“I gather the weather is a darn sight better here than it is in the UK at the moment!
“One more thing Jenna and I did while in Queensland was go to a Basset/PBGV lecture evening for Australian trainee judges in Durack. A complete coincidence we happened to be there when the seminars were being held so we were really pleased to be able to see how seminars here compare with our own. Maree Mackenzie (Longfellow Bassets) conducted the Basset seminar, assisted by two of her own dogs and drew me into helping her by asking me some questions.
“After the talk, Jenna handled one of her dogs so the judges could see them moving round outside, under floodlights. The PBGV lecture was on similar lines with Lorraine Grey (Bonhaven) going through the breed Standard and, with only two PBGV specimens present, Jenna moved one of them outside. The mosquitoes were out and biting well.”
I send thanks to Linda for taking the trouble to email us these interesting snippets of the Australian show scene.
A quick check on the BHC of Wales website tells me that at its open show Garry Hatter’s BIS and BPIS was Luxmoore Ball’s Woferlow Cherry Ice for Tanneron. The stakes class was judged by Pat Pask (Baronglen) the winners being dog Kelsey’s Malacante Bay Of Silence and bitch Bray’s Brackenacre Vivacious.
The club continues to add little touches in its efforts to continually enhance its status and on the website you can see the BHC of Wales new committee shirts – very smart they look too.
TED CONNER, phone/fax 01775 766332, ted_dogworld@hotmail.co.uk