I saw that the AKC had created an Advisory Committee for Scent Work, but had no real idea what an Advisory Committee is (or even that it is A Thing). But since the human brain defaults to “seeing” what it wants to “see,” I immediately formed the idea that this was some sort of “Town Hall,” a chance for Scent Work participants and Judges and Trial Officials to give feedback to the AKC on the Sport. Woohoo, Game On, we’ve got a list!
But WHOA, Big Fella!!!!! Turns out I did NOT go through the Start Cones on that one!
So, instead of a Town Hall, imagine the Marketing Research Focus Group that a Company has put together to analyze what is good and not-so-good about a Product. It’s a very INTERNAL process, right? The Research Group **may** have questions for Product Users, but, if they do, they will ask them… they are not standing around waiting to be pelted willy-nilly with Thoughts, and DEFINITELY not there to take complaints about whatever goofy thing happened the last time a consumer interacted with the product.
When I first saw that the Advisory Committee had been created, I wrote to the AKC Performance Events and Scent Work Departments to ask that they provide at least a brief announcement about it to set community expectations appropriately, because a) it’s so easy to misunderstand it and b) they did that in the past with Advisory Committees created for other sports. They have thus far chosen not to do so. At some point, people are going to realize it exists and go through the same roller-coaster of understanding that I did, so I just want to share what I learned.
I drilled down into AKC History to gain better understanding of just what an Advisory Committee is (and isn’t). I’m not sure it’s possible to use an internet search engine now without AI getting involved in providing “information,” but the words here are definitely all mine, not those of AI.
Regardless, I *absolutely* may have gotten things wrong. If so, I would love for you to let me know so that I may correct them, as the whole point of this is to be an informational resource for the community. Thank you!
What is an AKC Advisory Committee?
AKC Program Advisory Committees are composed of volunteers who are experienced in the program in question. Committees are created on an ad-hoc basis and are tasked with reviewing the particular AKC program and providing results of that review back to the appropriate Event Division staff members. Reviews may include recommendation for changes to the regulations or operations of a program, but the Advisory Committee has no authority to effect change and cannot speak on behalf of the AKC in any way — they are only tasked with gathering and analyzing information, and providing recommendations for change if they identify any they deem advisable.
It can’t be emphasized enough that an AKC Advisory Committee is accountable only to AKC Staff and not to the sport community; they are not intended to be judge or exhibitor “voice” to the AKC but are a ‘brain trust’ who have volunteered to dig deep into the current state of a sport and identify from the standpoint of the AKC what is and isn’t working. They do so on behalf of AKC Staff who recognize the need for such a comprehensive review but whose own time is too taken up with day-to-day operational responsibilities to undertake the analysis, themselves. Undoubtedly passionate about the sport and advancement of it, Committee members will likely ask for input from the community at some point. When that happens, think more along the lines of a product focus group and less of a community town hall.
How are AKC Advisory Committee Members Selected?
Advisory Committee members are selected and invited by AKC Board of Directors and AKC Program Staff. There is no application process or announcement of openings. The AKC chooses the number of members and appoints the chairperson for the Advisory Committee. Members are often but not always selected with geographic representation in mind and are typically considered to be experts in the sport, experienced judges and exhibitors.
How do AKC Advisory Committees Operate?
There have been several Advisory Committees convened for AKC Obedience over the years, in 1988, 2007 and 2014, at least. AKC Agility had Advisory Committees in 2009, 2013 and 2018. It appears that those Advisory Committees were active for a period of roughly two years and that their members worked really hard during that time. Their work appears to have sometimes resulted in very substantive program changes, but media from those periods also describe proposed changes that were not, in the end, approved. In operational contrast, the Retriever Hunting Test Advisory Committee and Retriever Field Trial Advisory Committee seem to be more or less perpetual, at least since 2017, as does the Beagle Advisory Committee, with a roster listed since 2003.
According to a description of Advisory Committees by the Master National Retriever Club, the guidance given to Committee members tends to be something along the lines of
- identifying issues within the regulations and operation of the sport
- obtaining written input on identified issues from exhibitors, judges, clubs and trial officials and AKC Directors, Field Reps and other staff
- discussing these issues and developing potential methods of resolution, creating Committee-wide consensus on any recommendations for change
- creating a final work product that includes recommended clarification of existing regulations, regulation updates, and other modifications to sport operations
- submitting this work product to AKC staff and answering questions from Staff, the representing Standing Committee, Board of Directors and possibly Body of Delegates as the report is considered by those parties.
The Advisory Committee has no obligation to report any progress or determinations to the Community. If they do so as a courtesy, it is only with the approval of AKC staff.
What happens when the Advisory Committee has created their recommendation report?
As far as I can tell, the decision-making process goes like this:
- Advisory Committee recommendations -> AKC Staff for review. Staff have complete freedom to modify and/or choose to disregard recommendations and will likely prioritize those with which they do agree.
- AKC Staff -> AKC Standing Committees. Composed of volunteers from the AKC Delegates, the Standing Committee is responsible for supporting clubs in the conducting of events. They regularly field all requests for changes to the sport programs from Delegates and from Staff, as well as occasionally taking up petitions from sport participants and are typically responsible for several different programs — Scent Work falls under the Herding, Earth Dog, Coursing and Scent Work (HECS) Standing Committee. They have the right to approve or disapprove anything submitted by Staff and are likely to have questions and request alteration to the material before sending it on to the Board.
- AKC Standing Committees -> AKC Board. Any recommended changes approved by the AKC Standing Committee are forwarded to the AKC Board which is responsible for approval of all changes to program regulations. For any really big changes, a majority vote of the Delegates is required, as well.
How long does this take?
It takes as long as it takes. There is no requirement for frequency of meetings by the Advisory Committee. The Standing Committees meet quarterly, the day before each Delegates meeting. The meetings are time-limited and the agenda is typically set six months in advance.
What can I do to help?
Okay, this is just me writing here, and my guess on an answer to this question. But I’m a dog trainer, so I strongly believe we need to explain (and reward!) desired behavior — “what do you want me to do?” — instead of waiting to correct when an undesirable action is taken, and then everybody getting all aroused and bitey and growly, ‘are those your hackles or are you just mad to see me,’ ewwww.
If anyone, and especially the Advisory Committee, takes exception to these suggestions, please let me know! And if the AKC and/or the Advisory Committee provides their own guidance, I will absolutely substitute it here.
- Recognize that the Advisory Committee is a working group of volunteers. They are accountable only to AKC Staff and are likely constrained in their communication to the community as a result. Be responsive to their requests and trust that they are doing the very best job they can. Chances are very good their process will take longer than anybody wants it to, chances are good that changes that you want won’t be recommended, and that changes they recommend will be shot down further upstream. All you — and they — can do is to be objective and analytical and realistic in identifying and recommending potential change. Oh, and when they DO ask, be sure to offer potential solutions rather than just listing problems!
- Give the Advisory Committee some grace. These are dedicated enthusiasts who love the sport and are volunteering their time to help advance it. Members of the Community need to be professional, courteous, empathetic and supportive as these experts do their work. No matter how you feel about the fact, the Advisory Committee exists at the convenience of the AKC and are most definitely not there to field grievances from the community. You can choose to work constructively with them under the terms they dictate or you can have a Big Mad about how unfair that all is, but I’m pretty sure the first option is the only one that’s actually going to get you anywhere.
- Give the Advisory Committee some space. When they want input on something, they are most likely going to ask for it. They have signed up for the long haul – nothing is going to happen overnight, so take a breath. Reasonable, orderly communication is going to be a lot more useful to them — and therefore, in the end, to you — than impassioned lambasting. Also, this means you likely have some time to gather data and provide well-supported arguments of your own. Don’t go off half-cocked — make sure you’ve got an alert and not just interest on cortisol-laiden slobber, right?
- Help everybody else understand what the Advisory Committee is there for — and what it is not. Some frustrated, over-aroused exhibitor somewhere is undoubtedly going to draft a heated letter to the Advisory Committee to describe a bad hide or unfair call they believe they saw or experienced at a trial, or to ask whether they should enter their dog in Novice A or B, or to ask why they haven’t yet gotten their award certificate for a trial held last weekend, and that’s not why the Advisory Committee exists. Don’t be that exhibitor and if you happen to meet them, perhaps gently re-direct their communication in a more productive direction.
- Oh, and just as with those essential trial volunteers — be sure to tell Advisory Committee members how much you appreciate their service!