1. Describe the breed in three words. PB: Compact, powerful and athletic. ADH: Powerful, amenable and vital. AH: Confident, engaging and intelligent MM: Strong, athletic and courageous. DM: Agile, active and alert.
stops too deep, heads too large with wrinkle and lacking the tight lip.)
MM: Head pieces over balance and athleticism. DM: Some are getting too large and exaggerated.
4. Do you think the dogs you see in this breed are better now than they were when you first started judging? Why or why not? PB: More often, I am seeing exhibits that are wispy and without substance. ADH: They are much better as the breeders have similar demands for their get. Every breeder has a preference and may breed in that direction, but this is a breed you can pretty much count on having some good level of quality. I am, of course, referring to conscientious breeders and not puppy producers for monetary gain. You can spot those folks in the ring in an instant. Talk about don’t-care attitudes!
2. What are your “must have” traits in this breed? PB: In the show ring: confidence and awareness. ADH: I dearly love seeing the defined muscles, especially knowing he’d never use them against people unless necessary for survival. The head is a picture of a clown, with sincerity, eagerness and attentiveness. And, I’m not looking for a tabletop topline. AH: Correct temperament and correct breed type. A Stafford, or Staffordshire Bull Terrier (no other term is correct) is a dog that is both very human friendly and not so dog friendly. Sadly it is my view that the temperament is being bred out of them due to the times we live in. A dog with a bit of life about it nowadays is somewhat frowned upon and in some countries actively excluded and that is simply not right. Type as in all breeds is very difficult to quantify, it lies in the size and stature, a certain look in the eye, the face, the chin, the condition, the never-say-die attitude, the color, especially in real brindles. I can point it out to you, but it is very difficult to put into words. MM: Balance, type and movement. DM: Happy, outgoing attitude with proper balance and good heads are my top properties. 3. Are there any traits in this breed you fear are becoming exaggerated? PB: No exaggerated traits. ADH: Actually, no. I truly feel the breeders are so protective of their breed standard and the results of their breedings that I don’t think they would let anything get out of hand. Yes, sometimes you may get a big one, and you may even want to show and champion him, but if there are pedigree reasons for not losing that particular line—so be it. You can’t always count on winning, but you can keep trying. However, I firmly say, making your own majors doesn’t really prove a blasted thing, now does it? AH: Size and weight are being ignored in too many instances and judges who know no better seem to mistake bulk for quality and who have patently not read the breed stan- dard. This is further illustrated when a number of judges who actually don’t recognize the breed, and so biggest is best? It’s a worry. In some places heads are being rewarded for exaggeration as well. (Muzzles too short,
“haPPy, outgoing attitude With ProPer Balance and good heads are My toP ProPerties.”
AH: I think the best ones are. It is very difficult to measure quality in the past especially in times when you eye is still very uneducated. Using films and videos of dogs I have seen in the flesh, but a long time ago, I think the dogs are more sound now; the heads are better and the best ones are more uniform. MM: By and large, they are better; they seem to conform to type. DM: I think the breed is improving in depth of quality worldwide. We are seeing good depth of quality in over- all type, balance, heads and movement. 5. What do you think new judges misunderstand about the breed? PB: I feel some new judges (as well as experienced judges), don’t realize the standard calls for proper lay back of
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