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A Review Of The Wicket's Use For Height Determination At Shows: WHO can protest a dog's height and WHEN. On October 1, 1974, the wicket came into use for determining height eligibility for measurable breeds. In the years the wicket has been in use it has proven time and again to have been a major improvement. Gone are the old measuring committees, time consuming delays and frequently disgruntled exhibitors who had to hand their dogs over to measuring committees in order for a height determination to be made. Now, using the wicket, judges can quickly make a height determination. The wicket takes its name from the croquet hoop or wicket, which it resembles. The principle is that the legs of a wicket of a known height will either touch or not touch the floor or table when placed on the highest point over a dog's shoulder blades, thus indicating whether or not the dog measures within the given height limit. For example, a Miniature Poodle is disqualified if it measures over the 15 inches or if it measures under the 10 inches. Both legs of a 15 inch wicket placed on the highest point over a dog's shoulder blades will touch the floor if the dog measures 15 inches or less. Such a dog "measures in". If both the legs of the wicket do not touch the ground, the dog is more than 15 inches and is "measured out". Wickets are available through the American Kennel Club. Fixed wickets for use by Specialty Clubs and adjustable wickets, expressly intended to minimize the equipment necessary at All Breed shows, are also available. Adjustable wickets come in sets of two, one for heights from 8 to 17
inches, the other for heights from 17 to 30 inches. The wickets are calibrated
in half inch increments, to make an eligibility determination for all measurable
breeds using one or the other of the two adjustable wickets.
Setting The Adjustable Wicket The adjustable wicket is made of stainless steel tubing in the shape of an inverted "U". There is a solid extension leg that slides in and out of each of the hollow legs of the wicket. The hollow legs are calibrated at every half inch. A setscrew at the base of each leg is tightened to lock the extension legs at the desired height. Each leg of the wicket is set separately, and the height is read separately on each leg. Before loosening the setscrew, the judge should turn the wicket so that
the leg does not drop completely out. It is recommended that you lay the
wicket on the table to set it, and then verify its accuracy with a metal
tape measure. Once both legs have been set at the desired height the wicket
is ready to be used.
Please Note: Setting the wicket is a very simple
operation. Please practice to familiarize yourself with the wicket.
Using The Wicket Using a wicket to determine a dog's eligibility is very easy. The handler of the dog positions the dog at the judge's direction and to the judge's satisfaction. The dog should be in a natural position with the head up but not stretched upward, its feet well under it and its forelegs vertical. A common complaint pertaining to measurement is that a judge has reset a dog. Although you measure the dog yourself, you do not set the dog or hold the dog's head yourself. If you follow these guidelines, your measurement will be supported and the disqualification will stand, as stated in Chapter 14, Section 3 of the "Rules Applying To Dog Shows". On a heavily coated breed, such as the Poodle, the handler would part the hair over the shoulders. Once the dog is posed, the height determination is a quick operation. The judge approaches the dog with the wicket at his side. He puts his hand on the dog's shoulders to determine where the highest point over the shoulder blade is; it is not possible to establish this point by simply looking at a dog. Once the judge has found the highest point, he brings the wicket up quickly from behind the dog, over the dog's back, and lowers it so that the crosspiece comes down directly on the highest point over the shoulder blades. Extensive experience in using the wicket has shown it can be put in place, and determination of eligibility made so quickly, that the entire procedure is over before the dog knows anything unusual has happened. Getting The Wicket Into The Ring At Specialty shows for measurable breeds there will routinely be a wicket (or wickets) at the judge's table in the ring. At an All Breed show when a determination is necessary, judges will ask their stewards to get the wicket to the ring and may proceed with judging of that class until the wicket is brought. Where To Measure Measuring may be done directly on the floor, if the floor is level and flat and not slippery. Otherwise, it is to be done on a flat, level board with a non slippery surface, except in the case of breeds that are customarily judged on the table. The height eligibility of such breeds mat be determined on a judging table, assuming that the table is flat and level and has a suitable non slippery surface. "Measurable Breeds" The so-called "measurable" breeds are those with height disqualification's in their breed standards. These are the only breeds on which the wicket may be used in the ring. Marking The Judge's Book If the judge determines that a dog measures within the height limits set in the breed standard, he marks his judge's book "measured in" and initials the finding. It is important that he do so, since once a dog is found to measure "in" at a show, no further height determination may be made of the dog at that show. If the judge finds that a dog does not measure within the height limits of the breed standard, he marks the book "measured out" - disqualified" and initials the finding. Class Eligibility/Ineligibility In any class in which the conditions include a height specification, the judge has the authority to determine whether or not a dog measures within the specified limits (and provided such a determination has not been made previously during competition at the show). If the judge finds that the dog's height is not in accordance with the conditions of the class, he shall declare the dog ineligible for the class, marking the judge's book "measured out - ineligible" and initialing the finding. A dog thus declared ineligible for its class shall be considered to have been wrongly entered and cannot be transferred to any other class at the show. A dog that has thus been found to be ineligible by three different judges may not again be shown in that class. However, the owner of such a dog may enter the dog in subsequent shows in another class, provided that he is satisfied that the dog measures within the class height limit. Dogs Unable To be Measured The use of the wicket is strait forward and appears to be well understood by almost all involved with showing dogs. The problems that occur center on who can call for a measurement and what the correct procedure is in the different situations. Since dogs of measurable breeds should be trained to be measured, any dog a judge is unable to measure must be excused, marking the book "excused - unable to measure" and initialing the finding. Judge's Request Of Measurement In practice, the vast majority of measurements are made at the request of the judge. This is the judge's right and responsibility. The best guideline is, if the judge has any question about a particular animal's height, then it should be measured. Request For Measurement By Exhibitor In The Ring Any exhibitor actually in the ring has the right to protest the size of a dog competing in that class before every dog in the class has been individually examined and individually gaited. The judge must make the determination as a result as a result of such protest. Please note that protests of this type can only be made by an exhibitor in the ring against another dog in the ring in the class being judged. Note that it is not necessary for either a member of the show committee or the AKC representative to be present for the measurement to take place. It is the sole responsibility of the judge to proceed with the measurement using the correct procedure and to mark the judge's book accordingly and inform the exhibitor of the conclusion. This is an update to the article published in the June 1979 AKC Gazette
Editors Note: At the Del Valle Show held in March 1999, a Standard Schnauzer was measured
out. The judge placed the wicket in FRONT of the shoulder blades, not on
TOP of the blades. This resulted in the disqualification of a dog that
has been measured in and is not oversize. The judge had said that a new
AKC guideline has been put out instructing judges to measure in front of
the blades. This is basically measuring on the neck. I would be willing
to wager that every Mini Special would be measured out if this was indeed
the current guidelines. After talking to Florence Males, the AKC representative
for this area, she told me the judge was in error and should not have measured
that way. The above article was given to me by Mrs. Males for publication
and to clear up misconceptions on official AKC guidelines.
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