Voted on and approved by SAC members in 1991 - as written above

It seems that the present Executive of the national club, SAC, doesn't know what the membership approved in the November 1991 Ballot on our Breed Standard. At their Executive Meeting on July 19, 1999, they proposed that they query the membership on two possible errors noted in the Breed Standard - namely the absence of the rear dewclaw disqualification in the SAC published copy, and the apparent typo in the colour section of both the CKC and SAC copy where the word "and" is missing between the words "white cream".

Our President feels that her research seems quite conclusive that these are actual errors/typos. One is, one isn't.

The Editor feels it's housekeeping and should be corrected quickly without going to the membership about it. She said they have had letters and discussion from myself, Bob Gaskin, Roy Clark and many others (who, I wonder?).   Apparently they disregarded my input if they plan on saying that leaving out the DQ for rear dewclaws was an error or typo. And how can they correct it quickly if they don't know what is correct and what isn't?

The Treasurer says they are typographical errors and they should only inform the membership that they have corrected it, which is wrong because the dewclaws issue is NOT a typo!

The VP says the membership should be consulted - thank you Roy.

The President says that "the consensus seems to support that we have omitted this in error from our own publications, and that the CKC version (which lists rear dewclaws as a DQ) was what the membership voted to implement back in 1992 - however the paper trail is incomplete, and memories are foggy." She also says, "We will be moving forward with correcting our publication of the Standard to agree with the CKC's in the near future unless compelling new information is presented to us."

Well, I have submitted "compelling information" to the exec but they seem to have chosen to ignore my input. I submitted information to them in April 1999 and again in September 1999. I don't know what is in the Secretary's archives (does our present Secretary have the boxes - at least 4 - containing the old Secretary's archives?) but it's easy enough to check if any of them have saved copies of their old Bulletins as I have and would take the time to find the information.

THE FACTS

The ballots and proposed changes to the Samoyed Breed Standard were sent to the SAC members in November 1991. Members had 21 days to vote and return their ballots. The results were received in December and tallied and sent to (and received by) the CKC prior to the end of the year because of the breed standard moratorium.

The results were published in the February 1992 Sammy News (page 3). Section 14 was the "Disqualifications" section (see above).  Section 14 was accepted by the membership - the results were 51 yes votes, 25 no votes. Accepted was: "Any colour other than white, white and biscuit, white and cream, cream. Blue eyes."

Further, Section 10. Hindquarters: "f) Feet - A hare-foot, same as the front feet, although may be slightly longer and narrower than the front. If present rear dewclaws are to be removed." was also voted on.

That also passed with a vote of 47 Yes, 29 No votes.

It was clearly the intent of the membership to move rear dewclaws to the Hindquarters section and remove it from the DQ. There were a lot of reasons discussed for this move. One was that many Samoyeds are born with rear dewclaws, which most people remove shortly after birth. But if rear dewclaws are a disqualification, then all those dogs born with them should never be bred or shown. Just the same as a dog who is born with one testicle... if he has surgery to implant a second one, he should NOT be bred or shown. Disqualifications are serious faults, and rear dewclaws are not a serious fault. Another argument given was that rear dewclaws are not listed as a disqualification in the AKC Breed Standard for the Samoyed. There were many other arguments and there was plenty of discussion on the subject.

I don't know who decided to put the rear dewclaw disqualification back into the breed standard, but it was NOT the Samoyed Association of Canada members. The only error I can see is the omission of the word "and" between white & cream in the standard. The exclusion of rear dewclaws from the disqualification section was NOT an error nor a typo.

This information has been submitted previously to the executive, but apparently they either misplaced it, forgot it or ignored it in their quest to reinstate rear dewclaws as a DQ.

Members now have the information and hopefully the CKC will correct the error and this will finally be resolved.

Background

I wrote the proposed (now accepted) breed standard in 1985. The first attempt to change our standard failed for many reasons. The second attempt when the moratorium was again lifted was successful and at that time every separate section (14 sections in total) passed with a clear majority.

I know this standard inside and out. I spent countless hours writing it nearly 15 years ago. When it was finished I went through it word by word with three other SAC members - Betty McHugh, Roger & Susan Hild. Betty had been my teacher in the School of Canine Science (Durham College) and my mentor in Samoyeds. She is also a well-known Samoyed breeder and All Breed Judge and Obedience Judge, and is known internationally for her Measuring Clinics and Structure Seminars. Susan was also a graduate of Canine Science and Roger was knowledgeable as well. We didn't end up making any changes, and submitted it to SAC as it was in 1985.  In 1991 it was voted on and accepted.