The Judges Breed Observations (JBO) document was published in 2021. The first edition is based on the Nordic Kennel Union Breed Specific Instruction (BSI) document. Subsequent versions will be based on the results of seminars, questionnaires and judges reports from Championship shows.
The following documents should be viewed in conjunction with this article and are available for downloading.
Background Documents
Introduction document This document gives the background to the scheme.
JBO Document This is the main information document.
JBO Initial Administrative Review 2023
Forms for Judges and Show Secretaries
Check Sheet A simple guide to carry with you.
Cover Sheet This cover sheet must accompany your completed forms.
Non JBO Breed Report Sheet Form for reporting exaggerations in non-JBO breeds.
Report forms for all JBO breeds by Group
Toy Group Report Sheets
Terrier Group Report Sheets
Gundog Group Report Sheets
Hound Group Report Sheets
Working Group Report Sheets
Utility Group Report Sheets
Non Sporting Group Report Sheets
NZDJA is made of members who are also dog lovers, exhibitors and breeders. As such we understand that breeders and exhibitors are justifiably nervous around the intent of this scheme. Judges have been instructed that they should expect to be questioned – and accept being questioned graciously – and understand that until it is embedded in our show scene, there may be a degree of push-back from some breeders and exhibitors who do not fully comprehend the JBO system.
It is important to note that the scheme is NOT the reason you may have been unplaced in a class, or even refused a Challenge Certificate, it is the way in which the dog exhibited deviates from the breed standard that has resulted in that judges decision. Below are some points that should be remembered.
What the scheme IS NOT!
- It is not a Health Check, it is an expansion of the Breed Standards.
- It is NOT Breed Watch as in the UK scheme (which does require Vet Certification in parts).
- There are no disqualifications (as there are in the UK scheme).
- Because it is NOT a Health Check – you do NOT need to be a Veterinarian to apply the scheme to the dogs presented to you for judging.
- The information collected does not identify individual dogs and there is no intention of that being changed.
- Initially the information collected will not be disclosed to parties outside the JBO Sub-committee.
- Which in turn means there is no means by which the information could be used to approve/disapprove of any breeding activities.
What the scheme is!
- A tool intended to measure the current health and wellbeing of pedigree dogs in New Zealand. In specific, the breeds that are identified internationally as having their health and welfare affected by exaggerations. The scheme highlights the various points of the New Zealand breed standards for those identified as prone to exaggerations so judges are aware of the ramification of these points becoming desirable. These points of exaggeration, if exacerbated, may impact the health and wellbeing of the dog.
- An indication to those outside the organisation that NZ pedigree dogs are happy and healthy! Currently there is no such measure in New Zealand and our external stakeholders rely on international information, normally from the United Kingdom (where our breeders claim the numbers are distorted and not truly representative of our healthier breeds here in New Zealand.)
Which is why;
- It is imperative we collect our own unique information to rebuff the claims that the health of our pedigree breeds in New Zealand, are the same as those in the UK. As an example, the Bulldog Taskforce collect data on the lifespan of New Zealand Bulldogs to accurately compare this to the United Kingdom Bulldogs.
- It is used as an indicator to external stakeholders, that judges understand and acknowledge the seriousness of their role in the health and wellbeing of New Zealand’s Pedigree Dogs.
- It will be seen as an indicator that Dogs NZ members take their obligations to the future of pedigree dogs seriously and endorse measurements that will help define Dogs NZ Breeders, from those with less scrupulous attention to their breed.
- Show awards are the measure of excellence and conformance! The knowledge and training acquired by our judges, then the subsequent testing of the application of this knowledge against the breed and its standard, qualifies Dogs NZ members to be a NZDJA Judge.
- Measure of competence. These qualifications indicate to external stakeholders that New Zealand Judges are qualified and competent and have the proven ability to correctly apply the Breed Standards AND the JBO scheme.
- It is important that Dogs NZ members understand that by working in partnership with New Zealand judges, they acknowledge the seriousness of canine health and welfare and that together we may all be regarded as experts regarding the phenotype of the pedigree dog.
- NZ Judges have been asked to accept that their decisions in the ring do guide or influence the decisions of some breeders and exhibitors and the example set when an award or a prize is given – may therefore have an effect on the future of the breed.
The sub-committee responsible for the running of this scheme is Pam Douglas, Lynley Drummond and Karen McIntyre. We look forward to the first three-year review.
