CORYDON CATCH ME RANTIN?

Sheila Crispin is right to say that the dog world is full of nasty arguments. She might have added that the arguments quite often are about the defense of one´s own success and business prospects, while pretending to defend loudly things like breed standard, breed-typical temperament and other pretty words without much other stringent significance than that given to them by the latest trend in show fashion.


A short time ago, a British breeder decided to remove from his kennel homepage a few remarks, in which he vented his deeply felt sentiments about two British judges. Things were in an intolerable way, he felt, as one judge was blind - now, by rights the KC should be sued for accepting such a judge! - whilst the other one, not having read the breed standard, gave awards only to people of his own acquaintance. (The layperson may take this to mean that one judge was unable to perceive that the best dogs in show were those of this particular breeder, wheras the other one had the poor taste to prefer dogs belonging to somebody else.)

A lamentation from a man sorely disappointed? Perhaps, but it smacks rather more of royal displeasure. The disgruntled breeder is himself a championship judge and a person very well known in show circles both in his own country and abroad. The homepage kennel history is studded generously with the names and titles of big-time winners; the caption OVERSEAS tells us about the numbers of successful exports to various countries; photographs and names flash by. Very beautiful dogs, many of them, and quite lovely names: Dark Moon, Tiger Tracks, Catch Me Driftin...
So is there anything wrong with that? Nope. It´s in the nature of a kennel homepage to advertise success. However, there is a bit more to this particular kennel homepage.


Beneath the photos of three dogs exported to this country, the website visitor finds an intriguing message. You may think I´m making this up, but I´m not. This is how it goes:
"The breed has a problem in Sweden as certain breeders seem only to be interested in changing it from a gentle herding breed to a breed similar to the Doberman and the Rottweiler." An aggressive guarding dog is what we´re trying to make of the Collie and we are being given our dues for it. How can we fail to understand that it´s taken "thousands of years" to bring that herding instinct about? And WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE to try to do what we try to do?

This breeder has himself suffered an unwelcome visit from a Swede engaged in this "nefarious plan" (meaning, wicked project) - and indeed, she turned out to be such a rude creature that he saw no other option but to escort her off his premises within minutes. It just goes to show what kind of people we are dealing with here, right?
The poor astounded gentleman fails to understand how things have come to such a pass in Sweden. Imagine breeders having to register their litters in our neighbour countries just to "escape the clutches of these terrible people"!

Enough, our breeder says. The Swedish KC must finally take action now and "get rid of these people" while there is still time. So far, only money and credibility have been lost by the KC here because the terrible people have been allowed to carry on. Now, however, Swedish KC - watch out! The Rough Collie breeders of the world are about to ostracize you!
Once again - I´m not misquoting. Hearts a-tremble at our KC now?

Considering the fact that this breeder, Mr. John Blake of the Corydon kennel, on July 15th of this year made the front page of Dog World as the recipient of a letter in which his very own KC suggested he mind his manners in referring to fellow judges - aye, readers, that´s when he decided to remove the homepage comments - one must admit that he keeps his spirits up. His capacity for veracity and cool comment remain evidently unaltered by the KC reproach. So what about that very rude Swedish lady?

None can tell. Of the people I know who occasionally go to see British breeders, no one admits to visiting Corydon for a great many years, and nobody has heard of such an incident. Reading about the visiting Rottiecollie enthusiast, I get the same feeling as when Mr. Blake talks about that famous herding instinct. I´m not one hundred per cent convinced that he has actually ever encountered either of them IRL, but they do add flavour to his argument.

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The above is a translation of the July 27th blog text "Corydon: Catch Me Ranting?", written now in English. If Mr. Blake hears of this blog by connections in this country, he should be able to read it for himself and not have to depend on selective versions from others. I believe he has received such versions of Swedish Collie affairs before.
I feel that Mr. Blake´s remarks are highly inappropriate and that he is being either wilfully misleading, or very much mislead, to say what he says. However, I do not question his right to express his views. I merely use my own right to call a cat a cat, and Mr. Blake´s notions of Collie people in this country defamatory rubbish.
If Mr. Blake should want a place for a comment - by all means, let him find it here.