TOY GROUP Q&A
in my ring, I can really appreciate the time and effort that went into that! Other positive changes are that while we once had certain less popular breeds like Affenpinschers, Brussels Griffons, and English Toy Spaniels (just to name a few) that were not well-represented with a lot of quality, this has now changed for the better thanks to dedicated breeders who have spent so much of their lives improv- ing these breeds. This, in addition to the continued dedication of breeders of the other Toys in the Group, is what has made this Group so competitive and such a joy to judge. Would I encourage exhibitors to enter their Toy dogs in Com- panion events? Absolutely. These diminutive breeds are very good at competing at the highest levels in Companion events. Is there a funny story I’d like to share about my experiences judging Toys? One time, in the early ‘90s, I was showing the Mal- tese “Henry” (Toy Group winner at Westminster in 1992) at a local all-breed show, when the Best in Show judge asked that I take the dog on an “L” pattern on a loose lead. I headed down and then across, turned around, and the dog took off by himself, putting every foot down right all the way back to the judge on the mats, stopped and baited, then turned around and barked at me while I was catching up to him. He was very proud of himself ! As I arrived back at the judge and picked up the lead, all I could say was, “At least it was on a loose lead!” Needless to say, we ended up with the red, white, and blue ribbon. For anyone who would question it, Toy dogs are indeed very smart; there’s always a clown in the bunch, and humor can always be found at the Toy rings! JANET ALLEN Since 1975, Ms. Janet Allen has
bite in the overall choice of rewarding the dog or not. If the devia- tion is slight, is not a disqualification, and does not destroy the breed type of the head (overall structure, placement of the jaw, etc.) and if it is the definite best dog in the ring on the day, yes, I would think on that day it would be acceptable to reward the dog, just as it would be acceptable to reward any dog with a fault. Can I speak to the current overall quality of the Group? The Toy Group, as long as I can remember, has been one of the stron- gest, most competitive Groups. I do not think this has changed over the years that I have been involved, and credit certainly goes to the breeders who have kept it this way. Any Group win in the Toy Group is a tough win, so maybe that is what keeps everyone at their best! Why do I think so many Toy breeds are popular today? From their history as lapdogs of European royalty to present-day centers of attention in our homes, their stature makes them excellent pets for people without a lot of extra space. The breeds in this Group love attention, which serves them well everywhere. I don’t think that the most popular breeds have lost any of their appeal, and I think that by virtue of the quality improving in some of the others, their popularity has increased with exposure to the public. Some of the beautifully-coated breeds have become less popular simply because of the work and time involved in caring for the coat. Are there specific challenges presented when judging the low entry breeds? The challenge of judging any low entry breed is that unless you have attended a National Specialty to observe a larger amount of exhibits being judged to give you a proper comparison of individuals, it may take a judge a longer amount of time to develop an eye for specific breed characteristics. Since knowing type in these breeds is extremely important to judging, it is a shame that some of our Toy breeds that have not in the past been low entry breeds have now entered this category. Do I have any advice to impart to new Toy judges re: the table exam? One thing that I really disliked as an exhibitor was a judge that was too heavy-handed on a little Toy dog on the table, and then expected them to behave wonderfully after the experience. Every effort should be made to make the table a good experience for a little dog—so they’ll behave again the next time and like being in the ring! It is not necessary to apply undue pressure on the dogs, squeeze parts of their bodies or mess-up the hair that it took the exhibitor hours to prepare for you to look at! There are ways to go over these little ones, and it behooves every potential Toy judge to learn this at seminars or from mentors. This would include how to approach the dog, go over bites, heads, tails, and coats in a way that is appropriate for the breed. You will be much appreciated for your attention to these details! Any comments regarding judging Toys outdoors versus indoors? Judging or showing any Toy breed outdoors is always a challenge. Length of grass or deep dirt can severely alter the balanced look of any Toy as they lose length of leg by standing in a hole or deep grass. Movement through these conditions is difficult for little legs, espe- cially while dragging a long coat. Short-nosed breeds out in the heat of the day can suffer, however, not every Kennel Club has access to an indoor facility and some of the most beautiful shows are the ones with lovely grass and big, beautiful tents! In these conditions, I always try to judge the dog’s balance on the table and move the dogs in the part of the ring that has the best conditions for a Toy (shortest grass, hardest packed dirt, no holes in the ground, etc.) What have I found to be the greatest challenges and rewards as a judge of this Group? No particular challenges—great rewards! Much progress has been made over the years in presentation by owner-handlers and professionals alike. Coming from a drop- coated breed like Maltese and having shown many others as well, I know the dedication it takes to not only breed a good Toy dog, but [also] learn how to present it in good condition. So, when someone puts a very nicely groomed, good example of the breed on the table
been involved in the sport as a breed- er, owner, handler and, since 1990, a judge. She was successful in Chow Chows under the Tai Yang prefix, with multiple champions, including BIS and BISS winners. Janet became involved with other Oriental breeds: Pekingese, Shih Tzu, and Japanese Chins. As partner in Sing Lee Peking- ese, she made up over 50 champions
with numerous BIS, BISS (including two National BISS) winners. In addition, Janet handled (and owned) Pugs, Papillons, Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, Tibetan Spaniels, and a BIS Norwegian Elkhound. Licensed for the Toy and Non-Sporting Groups, Junior Showmanship and Best in Show, she has enjoyed judging in the United States and Canada, awarding CCs in Eng- land, Australia and New Zealand, and judging all breeds in South Korea, China, and Taiwan. Janet has judged regional and national specialties in Chow Chows, Lhasa Apsos, Bulldogs, Chinese Shar- Pei, French Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzu, Pekingese, Pom- eranians, Chinese Cresteds, Miniature Pinschers, Japanese Chins, Yorkshire Terriers, and Silky Terriers. She was honored to judge at Westminster in 2014. Retired after a career as an academic medical center administrator, she is active in local all-breed and specialty clubs, and judges education. Janet is always happy to make new friends—with dogs as well as people. I live north of San Francisco in rural Pt. Reyes Station. I’ve been exhibiting for 45 years, judging for 25 years. Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? Food and drink and friends. Can I talk about my introduction to the Toy breeds? I ini- tially bred and showed Chow Chows. I became enamored by the Pekingese; with the same aloofness that attracted me to Chow Chows as well as the glorious coat and melting expression. Apart from size, how would I define this Group? Diversity of breeds, with their function of primarily being companions; enter- taining and decorative; delightful to live with.
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2020 | 141
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