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invite specialist judges for nine Teckels or for six Rottweilers. So their apprentices do not learn like we do in Europe, where we have a big number of dogs at the shows and where the judges get their li- censes first for the breed, and only after that for the group, – but start from the group. But even in the group they don’t have more than 45 entries in all the breeds. How can they learn to understand the breeds? In my time, in the FCI Judges’ Commission we created the title of the national all-rounder. This means that if the judge learns only the breeds which he has in his country, he can be an all-rounder at the national level, for those certain breeds. But when he is abroad, he cannot judge the other breeds, which he doesn’t have at home. Well, we established this rule, but the countries still don’t follow it.
Does this mean that a judge from a small country, with not more than 50 breeds registered in the National Studbook, really can come to a big show in Europe and judge the breed which he has never seen?
Yes, it happens. Not so long ago we judged at four IDS in a row, and there was a dog definitely not purebred. Three judges disquali- fied him, but the fourth one gave him a CACIB! This is our problem, coming from the fact that the FCI doesn’t use its influence and doesn’t insist on the common rules for the judges’ education.
Whose problem? It doesn’t seem that the FCI is interested to think about the breeds.
Look, perhaps we also have to make changes in the FCI statutes. Now you can read there, that it’s the responsibility of the countries to train the judges and to give them the group or the all-breed li- censes. Perhaps we must say that the country can give the breed, but when the judge starts to learn the group, it should go only by the FCI rules and under the FCI supervision. Like they do in FIFA!
There are thousands of football judges, but only five or six in each country are approved as FIFA judges. The same should be done here: when someone applies for the all-breed license, the FCI should check if he really learned the breeds. If we establish this rule, we’ll have much more control, at least over the all-rounders.
And the FCI will know the quality of these judges...
Yes. I think these changes should come from the commissions, they have to make their proposals to the FCI General Committee and then to the General Assembly. The next problem is if we can get the majority for such an idea at the General Assembly or not. Some countries will agree that it’s the way to have really good judges. But many small countries will definitely not accept it. It is written in the FCI rules even now, that if the country has less than 100 breeds at its International Shows, the judges from this country can be only na- tional all-rounders. But who will look after the kennel clubs? I re- peat, only the FCI can solve this problem. The FCI must write how they will check the quality of judges, and what exactly the judge has to do for the all-breed license. And the exams for the all-rounders
Augusto Benedicto Santos III (Philippines), FCI judge, President of the Philippine Kennel Club, President of the FCI Asia & Pacific Section, Member of the FCI General Committee
What can I say about one of the men I admire the most in cynology? Everyone knows who he is. Everyone knows that he is a legend in his own right. A man who has dedicated almost all his life for dogs. I met Horst about ten years ago, that wasn’t too long ago. Even before I met him, I knew who he was, and he was one of the judges I would always admire. There were even times when I would just stand outside the ring and watch him judging. So, it was a real honour for me when I first met him. I couldn’t believe that I am finally talking with the man whose name, distinction and honesty are widely known throughout the world of cynology. Well, meeting Horst was a big surprise to me since I could not believe how humble he was. He was actually very friendly. From the time we got acquainted, I saw him as a mentor, a friend, and soon I called him “Papa Horst”.
“Papa Horst” is as good they get. It is his love for dogs that makes him so passionate in what he does. I can count with my two hands the number of people I look up to in this small world we revolve in. PAPA HORST IS ONE OF THEM.
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