> If we are truly, all fighting for the propagation of good dogs, from excellent breeding lines and not just pot-hunting in one form or another - then we need to ensure that the next Chairman of the Kennel Club is a true representative of dog owners and breeders today - not just a representative of dog exhibitors!

AS there is a very limited pool to draw from does anyone have any idea just what the "component parts" of the KC membership is, and indeed is the Chair chosen only from the General Committee (I know it is chosen by them)?  Leaving aside the overseas members what percentage are from a show background, from agility, from obedience (and any other discipline).

> Caroline works extremely hard for dogs and the KC

No-one is accusing her of not being hard-working. Just not very good at the job IMHO. Aside from her performance, just looking at her CV it's obvious that she is out of her depth.

I think in this day and age with all the hostility towards breeders that is out there, it is vital that the KC makes PR a priority. Otherwise we all suffer.

Your company is learning that it has to keep up. So should the KC.

I would like to see written critiques for the first three in the class, with our large entries it wouldn't be feasible to do one on every exhibit. 

Though why they couldn't give a verbal critique on the rest (which for some strange reason the KC have banned) while they judge each dog.  I learnt a lot in Rabbits as the judge would often give their thoughts out loud so that people knew why they placed as they did.

It would also mean the judge had to critique before they had the benefit of the catalogue to hand ;).

> No-one is accusing her of not being hard-working. Just not very good at the job IMHO. Aside from her performance, just looking at her CV it's obvious that she is out of her depth.
>
> I think in this day and age with all the hostility towards breeders that is out there, it is vital that the KC makes PR a priority. Otherwise we all suffer.
>
> Your company is learning that it has to keep up. So should the KC.

My thoughts exactly.  I am currently trying to reconcile Ms Kiskos press info. concerning the vote on coat testing with the report in Dog World and from those present.  She seems to issue her information very selectively in some circumstances, too much in others!

> It would also mean the judge had to critique before they had the benefit of the catalogue to hand

Now that would be interesting!!!  We have a couple of regular judges who sit ringside at shows coming up in the year before they have an assignment marking catalogues and photographing dogs that are of their own lines to make sure they put up the right ones on their day.  The subsequent critiques bear no resemblence at all to the actual dogs :)

I'm still waiting to read a critique of my dog, but hopefully not too long away now that he's broken his duck :)

I've often thought what would be great is if at the champ shows one could book an assessment with a suitably qualified judge (not judging that day, but available), to give you a hands on live commentary--I'd happily pay for this service rather than live in the dark and hope for the best.