What was that black thing that stood by the sign that said Labrador Retriever. I thought it would need doggie cpr after its waddle around the ring.
Thank you Dazed. Without the comments from the membership, no one ever knows-- do they? We can be part of the solution... but if not, we become part of the problem. It's obvious to me why I'm a member of LRC.Like most of the opinions stated in these 23 pages, i watched Westminster sporting group, and was not thrilled with what the breed group judge chose as "representative" of the lab breed. Once again, any chance of a lab taking BIS was thrown out the window. I did go back and watch about 1 1/2 hours of Lab Breed Group judging, it was 2.23 minutes in length if i remember right. It was evident about 4 minutes in, that the judge was favorable to the body type that later represented the breed. Each time, 5-10 dogs were pulled out (out of 76 total entered)at a time and judged. I would estimate that at least 1/2 of those dogs, longer in leg, and indicative of the "Breed standard" were passed by with barely a look. It appeared that the judge was not familiar with, or maybe biased against the leaner, more athletic appearing lab. Every one of them was dismissed.
I rarely voice my opinions, however i Emailed both westminster council, the LRC, voicing my displeasure at such a sad representation of this wonderful breed. I suggested in the future that any future judge be selected from FT, HT judging, as well as Confirmation background. In all fairness, i am a proud owner of a "Show Lab", who is seeing first hand that they are capable of doing the work labs were bred to do. But, as an admirer of all things Labrador, I believe we must all stand up for the breed, no matter what the "Type", and promote this wonderful working, loving animal, by voicing our opinions en masse to the appropriate panel, or official representatives, and get this train back on the rails.
Dazed.