Showsight September 2021

TERRIER JUDGE Q&A

ANNE BARLOW Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many as a judge? I live in the Greater Austin, Texas, area. I bought my first Airedale Terrier in 1980, and he was the first dog I took to shows. I was approved for my first breed, Airedales, in 2000. Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? I enjoy following college football and basketball (Baylor!), and enjoy watching horse racing. Through Racehorse.com, I’m a micro share owner of Authentic (Kentucky Derby winner), Monomoy Girl, and several other young horses. Makes watching a little more exciting when you have a very, very, very, very small share of a horse. Can I talk about my introduction to Terriers? I can say the only good thing my step-mother brought to the table was her Welsh Ter- rier. That was my first Terrier. A Wire Fox Terrier and my first Aire- dale followed while in graduate school. I bought my first Airedale from Jerry Murphy in Dallas, who had bred and shown them for many years. Henry McGill handled for him, and they encouraged me to show my dog. Ric Chashoudian was the first person I met at my first dog show. The rest, as they say, is history. Have I bred any influential Terriers? Have I shown any notable winners? I’ve been fortunate to have bred and owned a few Terri- ers that I consider very good examples of the breed, who did a lot of winning over the course of their careers. Most recently, GCHS Spindletop’s Miles And Miles Of Texas, “Austin.” Also, CH Spin- dletop’s New Kid In Town, “Randy,” and CH Spindletop’s Blaze Of Glory, “Betsy.” Can I speak a bit about breed-specific presentation and coat con- ditioning in the Terrier breeds? Obviously, coat conditioning and trim are very important; many hours every week on my breed! It is essential for a dog to be in correct trim, and coat—you can’t win on the big weekends without both. What about breed character? Can I share my thoughts on spar- ring in the ring? Sparring is “a must” in the Terrier ring. If you aren’t comfortable doing it, please move on to another Group. The dogs look their best staring down each other. I only bring out two at a time, never more. How would I assess the overall quality of the “newer” Ter- rier breeds? Honestly, I’m not crazy about the quality of the newer breeds; inconsistent in almost every way (size, type, coat, etc.) In my opinion, what makes a Terrier the ideal companion? For me, it is their always being on alert and being feisty, their gameness (mine are happy to kill any and all small furry things), and their overall looks. Why is “Montgomery” a significant show for so many breeders/ exhibitors outside of Terriers? Because it is a gathering of the best Terriers in the world—so many specialties and big numbers of dogs that you don’t see elsewhere. Which Terriers from the past have had the greatest influence on the sport? Too many to mention! FRED BASSETT

the Airedale, the intensity of the Fox Terriers, and so on. Where furnishings obscure the eyes in certain breeds, the ears assume an increased importance, reflecting the character sought through their size, shape, and carriage. In the Bull breeds, we seek self-confidence typified by their deportment, never carrying self-belief over into aggression. There are other distinct expressions to be seen; the soft- er, knowing expression in a Dandie’s face, the intensity in the eyes of the Irish, the Welsh or the Cairn. The Terrier Group has many nuances in the area of expression. How would I assess the overall quality of the “newer” Terrier breeds? Of the two newest, the Cesky seems to be in better shape than the American Hairless. You can speculate as to why this might be the case, but that is my opinion. I say this because I see Ceskys more resembling their breed standard than I do the Hairless, and this is particularly true in front construction and toplines. One rea- son could be that the Cesky has been around for longer (1930s vs. 1970s) and has had a longer period to reach more homogeneity. Of course, individual breeding decisions play a huge role, so it remains speculation as to how they have arrived at their current respective levels. I have no particular insights to offer in this regard. In my opinion, what makes a Terrier the ideal companion? You have to have a lot of patience and fortitude to be a Terrier fancier. They are tricky, intelligent for the most part, somewhat indepen- dent of thought, and strong in will. You have to outwit them at times. They often need a reason to do something. (If it’s not fun, why should I do it type of thinking.) Our BTs are referred to as “kids in dog suits.” This sums up the challenge of being a Terrier owner. Challenging, but if you are up for it, very rewarding. Why is “Montgomery” a significant show for so many breeders/ exhibitors outside of Terriers? Montgomery is a Mecca for Terriers and Terrier people, and has a world-wide reputation for the quality of the dogs being shown. It is THE most important show for Terrier people in this country and the reasons are numerous: The prestige of the win, as invariably the best Terriers are exhibited; virtually every breed conducts a specialty (meaning top dogs will be entered) and several are national specialties; and breed specialists (breeders and mentors) abound. Being the most prestigious of Terrier shows means a win here boosts an exhibit’s reputation no end, and the opportunity to be BIS is a prize indeed, an accolade widely sought. For the neophyte Terrier aficionado, there are opportunities not just to see top dogs being exhibited, but also to make contact with the most knowledgeable people in the various breeds, to gain insight, and boost knowledge. A unique opportunity, indeed. Which Terriers from the past have had the greatest influence on the sport? In my experience, there have been two that really stood out, both of which made the hair on the back of your neck stand out when they were shown. One was the great Kerry (Torums Scarf Michael) and the other was Rufus (Rocky Top’s Sundance Kid), the Colored Bull Terrier; both great show dogs and both great ambas- sadors for their breeds. This latter accolade was particularly true of Rufus who helped to disabuse the general public of the notion that Bull breeds could not be trusted. Rufus loved to participate in “Meet the Breeds” encounters, never tiring of it, even as an older dog. Is there a funny story I can share about my experiences judging the Terriers breeds? The funniest is not a personal tale. It occurred when a judge bent over to examine a Bull Terrier and her hairpiece moved slightly. The Bull Terrier, seeing this, literally rose to the occasion, grabbed the offending intruder, as you would expect of a true Terrier, and had to be persuaded to give up his prize. Never a dull moment!

Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many as a judge? I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and began show- ing dogs in that area in 1961 as a 12-year- old-boy; Miniature Poodles, and later, Pomeranians, which is what I became known for. I moved to the Tulsa, Okla- homa, area in 1975, which is where I’ve stayed. So, I have 60 years in dogs. I began judging in 1977 with Poms, so have 44

SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2021 | 177

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