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Did You Joining A Club
Know Is Important!
By Michael Canalizo
For you newcomers, there is a “seat at the table” at 3 out of 10 components to renew. It ranged from
one of the dog clubs in your area. Quite frankly, giving programs in the community, holding a
it’s rather important that a local breed or all breed “match show”, buying a book for the local library
club welcomes new blood. It’s a two-way street and so on , and so on. Now I often wonder if any of
for all involved. A newbie will gain experience in those components are required.
a number of different ways and a senior member
finds someone to pass on their knowledge. All- The AKC has made some exciting changes that
Breed and Specialty clubs are in great need of a impact the Specialty Clubs. Many of the changes
dose of new blood. were made due to their understanding of the
hardships placed on the clubs from loss of venues
If you join a club, the first thing to do is learn how due to a variety of reasons. Now a club can move
to steward! This experience will make you familiar out of their area to join another club or offer
with ring etiquette and help you understand some more than one event on the day–which is always
of the quirky rules our sport seems to have. Don’t attractive to exhibitors. There were/are two options
worry about being new at it…many judges enjoy offered to Specialty clubs in recent years. One
helping out a new Steward, and we know how seemed to be wildly used with great success by any
important it is to have talented Stewards assisting regional or national event and the other…not so
us. The biggest concern these days is the “graying much
of the sport”. Club members are slowing down
and need some youthful members to help with The popular option was to allow any person (not
the logistics of getting things set up, and doing currently approved as a judge) to officiate at a
some last minute running around. There is value specialty. This could be a longtime breeder or even
to “paying your dues”–both in dollars and time a successful handler of the breed. They took a few
offered in order to keep a club active. I dare say that basic tests…and Shazam…they were judging a
a club might still offer breed specific programs for Specialty…and most everyone supports this option.
their members, but it may have tons of information It provides a new and valued opinion which could
online. Remember my advice for keeping good otherwise be lost.
records toward a future judging career–having solid The second option available to a Parent Club
club experience is a big deal on that application! member is greatly underutilized.
There are some breed clubs with differing First: I share the exact wording from the AKC:
requirements for membership. Many open it up
to anyone with interest and welcome them in at PARENT CLUB’S RECOMMENDATION FOR
the get-go. Others have a process that requests a AKC APPROVAL ON A MEMBER OF THEIR
few years of involvement before an application CLUB TO JUDGE
can be accepted. I never understood the clubs that • Parent Clubs are invited to submit
have a minimum requirement in years of activity. recommendations, not to exceed three members
My own breed club won’t accept a new member each year.
without seven years in the breed. Sh*t…I could
get a law degree and sue the hell outta them in less • Submit certified copy of meeting minutes at
time! As it was told to me, it was to “protect” any which action was taken by the Parent Club
attempt of a mass of new members coming in and Board.
trying to make a change to the Standard. Spare
me…you can let new people in and change your Requirements from Applicant/Judge
constitution, or make it a policy that only members • All recommendations by Parent Clubs must
with seven or more years can vote on any Standard include 20 years in the breed by the applicant
revisions. And good luck with getting over 3/4 of with breeding/exhibiting success.
any membership to clear the hurdle for a Standard
change. Let’s move on…this still hits a nerve with • Must include 10 years membership in Parent
me! Club.
Most all-breed clubs have a long and valuable • Must be occupationally eligible.
history. Many are now well over 100 years old. That • Must be 21 years of age.
history needs to be preserved.
• Procedural and anatomy test required and if
Kennel clubs used to have a minimum number of applicable, scale and wicket test required.
requirements to protect their show date. The list
used to be very long, and one had to do maybe • If for the first breed, pass procedural interview
with an AKC Executive Field Representative.
