SHCA Sanctioned Education Program: Application of the Standard

This program has been presented to several Area Clubs and a few multi-breed groups. It provides an opportunity for everyone to discuss the Standard in detail and how it relates to real dogs. Depending on the number attending, there can be "hands on" and an opportunity to measure dogs with a wicket. An oversize dog or bitch should be made available.

Items to be considered:

Moderator: This must be one of the moderators previously designated by the Board of Directors. (Please contact the Education Committee Chairman for a list of moderators.) The moderator will be assisted by another person who will read the Standard, sentence by sentence, while the moderator demonstrates the point on one of the dogs. For example, "the stop is well defined and the bridge of the nose is straight from the stop to the tip." The moderator will lead the discussion through the presentation and ranking of the dogs for each section of the Standard.
Financial: All expenses for this program should be borne by the sponsoring group. The moderator's expenses should be paid by the sponsoring group.
Number of Attendees: Ideal 20 to 25. As the vehicle for the program is most likely to be area clubs, the attendance would be self-limiting depending on the size and activity of the club involved.
Ring: Provide a standard-size ring. If the ring is be outdoors, the ring should not be too big. If the program is indoors, the ring should be about 25 ft x 25 ft. Provide mats for indoor ring to be arranged in a "T" with the spectators' chairs in a semicircle around the bottom end. Dogs are placed along the top of the "T."
Length of Program: 2.5 to 3 hours depending on number of group and their participation. Break is not desirable.
Dogs: This is a most critical part of the program. You will need six to eight dogs, which range in quality from medium to good, with no effort to bring dogs that exhibit any particular quality. RANDOM selection is best. Preferably no champions. The moderator MUST thank the people who bring dogs knowing that they will be critiqued. The moderator must also remind the audience to give their thanks to the owners.
Handlers: Use the same six persons as handlers, although only four will be in the ring at any one time. Arm bands will be required.
Standards: A copy of the Standard will be passed out to each participant. Regardless if it is still the current Standard or the one undergoing rearrangement, both consist of 11 logical sections (10, when you combine sections 1 and 11).
Ranking Sheets: A copy of a ranking sheet which will place dogs from 1 to 4. Pencils should be provided also.
Chairs: Provide folding chairs, not more than two rows deep around the ring, or remind everyone to bring lawn chairs.
Easel: Provide easel with 24 sheets of plain white paper (approximately 24 in. x 30 in.) and a very bold felt tip marker.
Wicket: Sponsoring organization should provide. At this time, class can be dismissed and everyone can try their hand at measuring. They can also ask any remaining questions on an individual basis.

Procedure

Step 1
The moderator explains procedure, introduces owners of dogs, and those who will be handers.

Step 2
Bring four dogs SELECTED AT RANDOM into the center of the ring. Moderator selects one dog and demonstrates while "reader" reads one sentence at a time from Section 1 (Head) of the Standard. After that section is read, all four dogs are presented "head first" toward the audience on each side of the ring. Audience will mark rankings as to who has the best head. Nothing else to be considered. Moderator will ask for show of hands to determine how many first place votes each dog received. Especially important is to remind everyone that winning votes is not necessarily a measure of quality. Moderator stimulates give and take discussion by the audience as to the rightness or wrongness of their decision.

Steps 2 to 9
Repeat previous procedure from Section 2 (Body) through Section 9 (Size).

Step 10
Bring all dogs in ring and have audience rank them 1 through 4 based on Section 10 (General Appearance and Summary). No attempt is made to add all previous scores to determine the best dog.

Following is a sample layout of the Placement Sheet to use for this program. Additionally, copies of the current Standard can be obtained from this website. Go to Standard

Placement Sheet

No.	Section	My Placements				Consensus
		1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
1	Size, Proportion, Substance	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
2	Head	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
3	Neck, Topline, Body	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
4	Tail	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
5	Forequarters	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
6	Hindquarters	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
7	Coat	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
8	Color	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
9	Gait	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
10	Temperament	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
11	General Appearance & Summary	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.

Last update of this page: 06/2009.