R.O.M. -
Good or Bad???
The idea of designating dogs or bitches as being worthy of
Register Of Merit listing is not new.
Lots of other breeds do it and the intentions are probably always good,
but does it end up that way? Does
the desire for R.O.M status make people breed too many dogs as does the
feverish desire to be breeders of the year? Given the number of dog shows and the ease of making your
own majors the criteria for R.O.M. status obviously needs some changes. We have people showing dogs year around
who can create an R.O.M. very quickly by the same standards used when it was
much tougher.
It’s long been my feeling that credit given to dogs or
breeders such as top stud dogs, brood bitches, R.O.M. or breeders of the year
should be done on a percentage basis.
My theory has always fallen on deaf ears, but I still think it’s the
right way to do it. If your dog
sires ten puppies from two litters and five finish why should he be considered
inferior to a dog who sires one hundred puppies and six finish? Of course, we know dinosaurs have weird
ideas.
The R.O.M., top breeders, and top studs and dams are just a
few of the things the C.C. of A. might think about addressing. The C.C. of A. has done a lot of good
things for the Collie, but remember the club is not an entity, but only a group
of people. Its ability to move the
Collie forward is only as good as the people we all elect. Often some who seem to be excellent
candidates decline getting involved at the national level for various reasons.
My own choice was not to seek national office though I was
asked several times. It’s just not
something I cared to do. I was
District Director in New Jersey and chaired both the Standard Committee and
Tellers Committee. My choice was
to work at breeding better dogs rather than hold national office. We each need to use the talents with
which we are endowed by our maker.
Our current president, Pati Merrill, has my wholehearted
respect and admiration. She has so
many outstanding qualities and sets a good example for our membership. Pati is not just an exhibitor/breeder
or a politician hoping to wear a little pin. She genuinely loves the Collie and cares about all Collies
not just the ones that can win at shows.
In addition she’s crazy enough to run for president after having done it
before.
A friend who knows of my involvement with Collies asked me
recently, “what’s happening to Collies?”
For years our breed was in the top ten in registrations. It seems as though many people remember
a Collie from their childhood. The
fall from favor has been going on for years and could be for many reasons. It’s not size or grooming since
Shepherds, Goldens, and Labs are all in the top ten and are big dogs with
grooming needs.
It could definitely have to do with the eye issues and the
ads in papers over the years saying “Collie pups, eyes checked” which made the
public sensitive to a problem they and most vets didn’t understand. Albert Payson Terhune no longer cranks
out books and magazine articles and Lassie no longer performs heroics on
TV. All of these things have an
impact and we’re not always good to each other. We need to think more about the good of the breed and less
about improving our image by knocking the competition.
Collies have gradually over time become a tough breed to
show. The makeup, fixed ears, and
some other unsavory practices have made it tough for the little guy to compete. Nowhere is this more evident than at
the highest level. It may be too
late to see Collies go back to being the people’s breed. They may be doomed to the fate of most
terriers, poodles, and some others.
If so, I’m glad to be an old dinosaur since I don’t wish to watch it
happen.
To all our many friends, Phyllis and I wish a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year. My
cracked pelvis continues to heal and we have a new puppy coming courtesy of
Jerry and Kathy Zehetner. Yes,
there is a Santa Claus!
Think about it!
