Change the rule for dogs DQ'd by AKC Judges

yesterday my dog was DQed for something she did not do. My dog barked and was accused of attacking the judge after exam.

My dog was DQ because she was startled she went backwards not towards the judge and this judge said she tries to attack her and needs to protect all future judges AKC refused to see a video that was filmed that would have shown the actual incident. They said they MUST go by the judges opinion

Please keep this petition going and keep sharing it.

A handler got my dog DQ'd at a show without my consent or knowledge. I was not able to reinstate dog because of AKC employee simply telling me no, which isn't right!

Totally agree! Seems silly that they would be DQ'd from all events -- should be the venue in question only!

DQ colors or weights take 3 judges' opinions. Same should be true for temperament issues. Maybe the judge smells odd to a puppy and said pup cringes. Too many extenuating circumstances for one judge to be able to play God.

A fair hearing is appropriate. No single judge should have that much power without the availability of a fair appeal.

Strongly endorse this proposed change

There needs to be an appeal process for dq'd dogs. If we want are sport to attract more participants then we should have fair ways to appeal and reinstate dq(d dogs instead of setting people and their dogs for failure at the hands of just 1 person, a judge.

This seems ridiculous especially that it crosses over into performance venues.

Never experienced a DQ but cannot imagine a judge having this much power in such a subjective sport.

I disagree with judges barring a show dog from further competition for a slight hiccup in behavior. The dogs should be able to show in AKC future shows.

Long time overdue.

I especially hate where an owner asks to leave the ring because they see the dog is not going to behave and the judge says no, and then pushes the dog. I watched on judge get down on her knees, owner holding the dog up, so at this point the dog really feels cornered and takes a swipe at the judge, to be DQ'd. Think the judge should have been DQ'd by the owner !!!

I've seen an instance where a judge DQ'd a dog, physically struck a handler, and then after the class intimidated the handler into not filing a complaint with a threat to the dog's reinstatement. "I'm sure it was a misunderstanding," he said, in my hearing, "I'd never strike a woman, and I'm willing to sign off on the reinstatement after your dog has a little socialization." He hit her hard enough to knock her off balance. Now her dog is DQ'd and she's afraid to say anything for fear that the judge who hit her will say her dog cannot be reinstated. Doesn't matter if the dog deserved the DQ or not, that kind of single judge power is not a good thing. The judge who DQ'd the dog should NEVER have the power to deny the dog reinstatement. WAY too much politics can play into that!!

Most deserve a second chance!

Is a review board that hard?

No single judge should have the power to disqualify a dog from showing. There are always circumstances to be reviewed, and they should be reviewed and voted upon by a committee of judges.

If there is no bite than I think the dog should be given a warning. Next warning they are out! A 3 judge panel to bring the dog back in sounds appropriate.

A judge has every right to DQ a dog on the day but the owner should have the opportunity to have a review by a committee of 3 judges.