[fbkeays]

I do not appreciate having been entertainment for the USRC. I innocently believed that since the rules for the class stated that an altered dog was permitted to enter that he could actually then be shown. Silly me! I am sorry that I don't have the sense of humor to find it funny.

Shame on me for not rooting out the few people that had actually shown under Mr. Spindler. As I understand it, the last time he judged in California (more then 300 miles away from the Dixon show site and an AKC venue, btw) was about the same time that my veteran male was born. Too bad that this veteran male was my FIRST show dog.

I guess if I was older and had been in the breed for longer then 9 years that I would know some of this stuff. I have been an USRC member off and on for seven years. My first ever show experience was actually at an USRC match- just over nine years ago. I was fortunate then that the judge decided to NOT DQ my dog, for having 4 missing teeth as she was still a puppy.

When a judge tells me that he is disqualifying my dog, I at least want my dog to actually have done something to deserve it. Disqualification is a serious word. It has a serious meaning and consequences. It means that your dog is DONE. It means that you can not come back. It means that your dog is no longer welcome. I am a little sensitive about this. I don't think the letters "DQ", uttered by a judge, be something I should take lightly.

I am sure this is splitting hairs, but *I* was lead out of the ring. Monica, the actual handler on Duncan, was not escorted out of the ring. She was told to leave. The written apology was in an e-mail. I am a little old fashion, but when I think of "written apology", I think of good paper with actual handwritten signature. Perhaps in this case from the president of USRC on letter head would be sufficient.