FOR CIRNECO DELL'ETNA

Hi Folks, I trust you are all keeping warm during this cold period. Facebook has been amusing to see all the Cirneco’s with the various coats, boots and hoods.

Great News from Discover Dogs in November the Cirneco booth won the runner up prize from 200 competitors. Well done to all who helped and supported the breed and to all the visitors, let's hope that the Crufts edition of Discover Dogs is as successful.

I have managed to be out and about with my dogs and visited Belgium for the EuroShow and Amsterdam for the Winners Show where Anharbn's Clementine won Best of Breed at both shows, well done Tina.

Changes on the Import Register breeds show the Lagotto was due to move groups but have been successful in their campaign to keep in the Gundog group and the Eurasier Breed from the Utility Group has been elevated to have it's own classes so leaves the Import Register in April next year. It has taken them nine years to achieve this so the Cirneco’s could possibly look forward to 2018.

The Breed Club has also had some changes to it's committee, Jacqui Whitworth has had too leave and so Sally Anne-Thomas has agreed to step in and be co-opted.

Your next edition of the newsletter will be out in January if you have any content could you please forward it to Jackie Brown at morridge.topfarm@btinternet.com

I was asked why the Kennel Club, American Kennel Club and the FCI have different Breed Standards. Having first explained that they are virtually the same I decided to have a review of the three standards. Taking the Kennel Club Standard (December 2007) at 525 words. The AKC Standard (June 2012) at 926 words. The FCI (August 2001) at 1748 words. Using the KC standard as the template and isolating the common points, the AKC standard covers all the points from the KC standard and expands on some points with more explanation on disqualifying faults. This accounts for the additional 401 words plus eleven additional descriptive points. The FCI standard offering a far more elabourated text to describe the points of the breed mainly on the body construction, accounts for the 1223 additional words. It's difficult to be as prescriptive in any additional points because of the way the descriptions are given with angles and terminology but I can isolate at least 15 additions to the KC standard. I do like the Gait/Movement gallop, with intermittent trotting phases description.

A couple of references that did catch my eye when looking at these three standards is the AKC makes reference to "Dewclaws - May not be removed", on the front legs. Another point that is missing from the AKC Standard is any reference to “Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.” I’m sure this is an omission but it would be interesting to here if castrated/monorchid exhibits are penalised when shown. The FCI Standard for all it's descriptive text does have a conflict when it refers to Coat, in the General Appearance it’s “coat is fine”. Tail “short hair”. and in “COAT-TEXTURE: hair smooth on the head, on the ears and legs; semi long (about 3 cm) but sleek and close lying on the body and the tail”. So is the hair on the tail short or semi long ?. Both the KC & AKC refer to the hair on the tail being“Hair on tail is semi-long.” Again the FCI standard Head & Skull “length of muzzle at least 80% of the length of the skull” does this mean it can be much more ?. The KC & AKC is “Length of muzzle equal to or only slightly less than length of skull.” which makes it clear as to the requirements. Both the AKC and FCI standards outline a tolerance allowance on the size, this was not allowed by the KC when the early proposals were submitted. These are just some of my observations when looking at the three standards side by side. Another point is that the breed standards for Pharaoh Hound 430 words, Afghan 457, Beagle 491, Sloughi 472 and Whippet 451 words, confirms the point when we were trying to get the proposed standard through the KC that they only accepted it once the word count fitted into a similar profile to other standards. And finally where did the KC get the Cirneco illustration that is used along side the Standard? It depicts a sad Cirneco that does not represent the breed in a good light. A “Medium sized hunting dog, elegant, slender build but strong and robust. Long limbed, of light construction and square outline”. I much prefer the AKC representation of the Breed.

Jill Morris

E-mail  ~Jill@anharbn.com

8th December 2012