JUDGE'S CLARIFICATIONS

A judge’s clarification does not change the Breed Standard. The purpose of a judge’s clarification is to provide information useful to a judge in assessing a breed. It helps them make a sound judging decision based on the standard for the breed. Clarifications are usually issued when judges persistently question a particular sentence or wording.  

The Breed Education Committee and breeder judges of English Cockers noticed an increase in the number of questions regarding acceptable color and markings. In order to provide information on color and markings in accordance with the breed standard, a clarification was drafted and issued by the committee.

There are differing opinions on the meaning of the term “various” in the color section of the breed standard. To some it is inclusive of all colors – to others it is inclusive only of the colors listed in the paragraph. There are also different interpretations of what constitutes a “little” white.  Everyone feels their interpretation is the correct one.

At a Board conference call held on the 30th of August some changes were made that affect the judge’s clarification and the protocol for future ones.

With regard to the judge’s clarification issued in July – this has been sent back to the committee to be rewritten. Once the committee has reached agreement, the clarification will be sent to the Board for approval before distribution.

A normal channel of distribution for a judge’s clarification is the judge’s newsletter published by the AKC on a quarterly basis. The clarification issued in July has not been published in a newsletter and the AKC has been advised not to publish the document. Once the revised clarification has been submitted and approved, it will be submitted to the AKC for publication. Once it has been submitted to the AKC, it may also be released on the judges-L list, a secondary distribution channel.

With regard to future clarifications - the Board of Directors will approve all future clarifications. Each clarification will be annotated with an issue date and will be published in the ECSCA Newsletter and website. The clarification will be sent to the AKC for publication in a judge’s newsletter and once submitted to the AKC, it will be released to the judges-L list.

It is hoped that these changes will help eliminate some of the confusion and misinformation surrounding the clarification issued in July and give our members clear lines of accountability.

Terri Burrows, President
9/1/10
ECSCA release 9/1/10

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