AKC board minutes for the AKC rule change pertaining to a client judging their professional from Connie Kieckhefer AKC Board of Directors - Board Meeting October 2009 Performance Events Doug Ljungren, and Lisa Carroll, AKC Staff, participated in this portion of the meeting via video conference. English Springer Spaniel Field Trials – Judging/Business Relationships Following a motion by Mr. Goodman, seconded by Mr. Arnold, it was VOTED (unanimously; absent Dr. Battaglia) to amend Chapter 5, Section 1 of Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedures for Spaniel Judges to forbid an individual from judging a professional dog trainer within one year from the time that they have had a business relationship. The Section now reads: (revisions underlined) Section 1. Persons judging field trials are not required to obtain licenses and a field trial club may submit the name of any reputable person who is in good standing with The American Kennel Club for approval to judge at its field trial. Such approved Judges may run dogs in any stakes in which they are not judging, excepting as the rules applying to trials for particular breeds may provide otherwise. (See Chapter 14, Section 4) Panel Experience: In order to be approved to be published in the premium list, the two Judges of the All-Age Stakes for English Springer Spaniels must have a combined record of having judged at least twelve previous AKC member or licensed field trials. Except for good cause, the same requirement applies to substitute Judges and to judges of a licensed or member club water tests. As a matter of policy, in order to be approved to be published in the premium list as a judge of a licensed or member club English Springer trial, all prospective judges (persons who have never judged a Springer Spaniel field trial) shall (1) have a record of having completed two Open and two Amateur apprentice judging assignments at a licensed trial(s), (2) have attended a Spaniel Field Trial Seminar, and (3) having received a passing score on the test. Judges must also be a minimum of 18 years of age. A professional dog trainer and a client with an ongoing business relationship should not be allowed to judge one another within one year of their relationship. The definition of a professional relationship is one where the professional dog trainer, or a member of the trainer’s household, is compensated for the training of a client’s dog for field trials or hunting, or the handling of a client’s dog in a field trial or hunting test. It would not include the purchase or sale of a dog, attendance at a seminar or the purchase of dog training equipment, or other business transactions that may occur not related to the training of dogs. To further clarify, the definition of the professional relationship also would extend to a member of the client’s household.. Supplied by Connie Kieckhefer to go into effect 1/01/2010 Link to the AKC board minutes for the AKC rule change pertaining to a client judging their professional To dates page To essft.com