AKC Gazette April 1998

All Ears

In February the members of the American Boxer Club (ABC) voted on whether or not to amend the standard to include a description of the natural (uncropped) ear. Hitherto, in this country, the Boxer has customarily been cropped, both in show and so-called pet homes. This tradition continues, but an increasingly vocal minority of members has been pressing for parity between natural and cropped ears in the standard. Controversy is rife.

The judging community has asked for clarification of the ABC’s position on cropping, as recent natural-eared exhibits have caused confusion in the minds of some judges. The official ABC response came in the form of a September 1997 ABC board-sponsored letter to all AKC Boxer judges that emphasized that the standard is clear: "Ears . . .are cropped." The board believes the language is obvious and not open to debate, and it does not favor acceptance of the natural ear. In addition, there was considerable unofficial but nonetheless very vehement opinion among the board members, with one or two exceptions, that judges should have known better than to debate this issue in the dog press. The board is unanimous that a parent club, and only a parent club, should have autonomy over what goes into its standard, not individual judges, the AKC or any other organization.

Nonetheless, although the majority of the board was clear in its position on the issue, a petition to amend the standard was signed by 137 members and presented to the board according to ABC bylaws. As this number exceeds 10 percent of ABC membership, the members voted on the proposal to change the standard to allow for uncropped ears. The proposal was defeated, 339 to 241.

ABC members also voted on the board’s proposal to add to the end of the standard a statement that the foregoing is a description of the ideal Boxer and any departure from the ideal should be penalized to the extent of the deviation, language largely modeled on a similar clause in the Doberman Pinscher standard. The ABC board felt this statement would make it more clear to judges that they should judge the breed by the standard, whether or not the natural-ear amendment passed. The members approved this proposal, 407 to 169.

Personally, I hope our members will focus their talents towards improving the breed’s health, conformation and temperament, and not allow differences of opinion on ear carriage to distract us from truly critical issues.

Friends of the Boxer are reminded that the ABC national is at the Holiday Inn, Francis Scott Key Mall, in Frederick, MD., from May 4 to 8. We will sponsor health and education seminars, as well as the Parade of Champions, held every four years, and the Top 20 competition. Contact show chair Barbara Wagner (6310 Edward Dr., Clinton, MD 20735) for more information.

Stephanie Abraham
P. O. Box 346
Scotland, CT 06264