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I have translated the following article from the “Deutsches Windhundzuchtbuch” Band XXVII with registrations from the years 1974-1975. The book was published in 1976 and the article was written by the then chairman of the DWZRV and judge, Karl-Heinz Nause.

The article has been taken from my heart and I hope that both, the exhibitors and judges want to take it to heart.

Qualifications and their effect on breeding – accountability of the judges.

If you have decided to study this article and continue reading after the introductory sentences, I can already assure you that this contribution will deal with a theme of great strength but also with great importance.

It concerns everyone who has to do with dogs: the exhibitor, the breeder and last but not least the ladies and gentlemen judges.

If one walks attentively through a dog show, or rather breeding show, it will be established that in most rings and therefore in most competitions there is an overvaluation of the dogs. That is, the number of qualifications “Excellent” and “Very Good” is far too high and is not in relation to reality! “Good” or even “Sufficient” when forgiving the qualifications are a marked rarity.

I said: with most competitions. A few did not participate in the inflation of the qualifications. The DWZRV unfortunately does not belong to this laudable exception.

The person who looks at the result-boards in the rings and reads the qualification “Excellent” and 2 times “Very Good” at 20 entries, or, as is often the case, the qualification “Excellent” behind all numbers, then it must be any objective viewer becomes clear that something is not right here! To put it very clearly: we let our breeding shows become a mess.

It doesn’t speak for the quality of the judge when, for fear of inciting the exhibitor’s displeasure or not being so quickly invited to judge, he let him self relegated to an “Excellent” dealer.

I literally hear the protests that I provide extreme examples. Admittedly, I have chosen extremes to make my concern clear. But believe me, these examples are not that rare! Although it is not always that scratchy, the scope remains the same. It is quite possible that the quality of a class is really superior and that all dogs deserve a “Excellent”. Of course all dogs will be able to obtain their qualifying qualification. But that will be the great exception and not become a rule!

Let us once again clarify the literal meaning of the qualifications:

“Sufficient” is: a dog embodies the characteristics of his breed to a sufficient extent. He may therefore show some errors.

“Good” is: all characteristics of the breed are to a good extent embodied. Some defects are allowed. This is clearly praised by stating that the dog is a good representative of his breed.

“Very Good” is: people give great praise. Only minor, insignificant defects may be present in order for this assessment to be justified.

“Excellent” is: The dog must unite the characteristics of its breed in excellent and perfect forms.

The movement, which is extremely important for hunting dogs, has great significance in the assessment.

Of course the general appearance also includes the character and that has a suitable influence on forgiving the qualification. Particular emphasis should be placed on this because it is often not sufficiently taken into account.

Deficiencies in movement and character must be expressed in the qualification!

Once you look at the qualifications from this point of view, you must agree with me that there has been a constant rise in inflation for some years. This trend is promoted by the exhibitors, who already show an offended facial expression if their dog has just been given only a “Very Good”, instead of being happy that they have a very good dog. This setting complicates an objective assessment for the judge. Judges are only people! It is absolutely not easy to always have the necessary rigor.

The qualifications have great significance for breeding. Every judge must be aware of the responsibility he takes on with his assessment. The development of the varieties is largely in the hands of the judge. Of course, those dogs with the highest qualifications or titles are used in particular for breeding. Do the judges tend to forgive only too high qualifications, and if these dogs are taken into breeding as a result of the overvaluation, then the errors that these dogs have are inevitably not only passed on but also multiplied by the multitude of offspring.

Since our breeding regulations for the approval, and with that the breeding admission requirements, at least prescribe the qualification “very good” as one of the conditions, a certain decision about an approval for the show has already been made. The judges will also have to be clear about this!

When putting dogs for an approval, the judge has the important task to decide: will the dog proposed to him be accepted for breeding, yes or no! He will have a hard time making it clear to an owner that he does not consider his dog to be breedingable, while his colleagues-judge’s has given the dog a “Very Good” qualification. However, the substantially more critical assessment of a dog on breeding admission requirements can make a decision absolutely necessary. That is why a judge who is aware of his responsibility for the breeds will not shrink from making such a decision. The width of the blood base at most of our hunting dog breeds allows us to use only the dogs with the best aptitude for breeding.

Especially at the approval, the character of the dog will be judged correctly.

For every judge, the convergence of several shortcomings must be a reason to reject the dog’s approval. If the approval of a dog has already been refused by a fellow judge, the judge will have to be very attentive. The basis for this, however, is that the rejection of the approval is at least noted on the back of the pedigree in the space provided for that purpose.

If I haven’t mentioned the facts deservingly here, please don’t see me as a hair splitter who wants to know better. As a judge, I also let myself be carried away by this trend. However, if we tighten the screws and want to get back to the “real qualifications”, then that is only possible if all of us, judges, breeders and exhibitors, are prepared in the first place to take on the alleged strictness.

Only when a “Very Good” gives us pleasure again, do we have the right position. An honest “Very Good” will give the breeder and owner more pleasure than a “Excellent” with three, four or more listed errors in the report.

Let us hope that we will find this correct attitude for the welfare of our beloved Sighthounds.