QUESTION SENT TO THE KENNEL CLUB
We are currently Exhibiting a GSD with a hip score of
3-47=50. We would be very grateful if you could please clarify for
us that if a Judge is aware of our dogs hip score should they
penalise him in the show ring although he is very sound and displays
excellent movement. This dog is not at stud and never will be.
REPLY FROM THE KENNEL CLUB
In
answer to your query, judges are only required to consider whether a
dog is suffering from a visible condition which adversely
affects its health or welfare.
Therefore any knowledge
which a Judge may have with regard to the health status of the dog,
such as its hip score, should not be taken into account when
judging, and it would not be appropriate to base any judging
decisions on such information.