TERRIER JUDGE Q&A
Can I speak a bit about breed-specific presentation and coat con- ditioning in the Terrier breeds? Since COVID hit, the Terriers I have seen lately are in surprisingly good condition. Maybe with the extra time on hand, the correct grooming techniques were taught and executed. Thank goodness some of the new people coming along are learning the correct way to groom Terriers. There will always be that percentage of them for whom scissors, clippers, and razors are the go-to because it’s so quick, whereas hand stripping is a dying art. What about breed character? Can I share my thoughts on spar- ring in the ring? It is bone chilling to watch correct use of spar- ring. An Airedale will increase in height, shorten his back, change his stare to an intense glare, folding his ears tightly, all while he is approaching the other Airedale. There is no other way to achieve such an intense stance without the use of correct sparring. Same with the Smooth Fox Terriers, Scotties, Westies, Lakelands, and several of the other breeds. You will definitely see the correct tail carriage and attitude doing sparring. I must express, however, that the correct use of sparring is important. It is NOT a dog fight or an uncontrollable melee. It’s a sight of beauty. Many Terrier breeds are known for their singular expression. Can I offer a few examples? The expressions on Terriers are impor- tant to do their work, including shielding their eyes. (Bunny rabbit eyes have troubles in tunnels.) These are go-to-ground breeds, and breeds that use their expressions to get the job done. The Terrier expression is supposed to invoke fear into their prey. Their folded ears are influential to keeping dirt and debris out so that they can focus on the task at hand. As breeds go, the expression on Border Terriers has some consistency to an otter. Then there is the infa- mous Terrier tail… to pull it from the hole without breaking it and harming the dog. Thus, why docking is such an important part of Terrier history. Why is “Montgomery” a significant show for so many breeders/ exhibitors outside of Terriers? This should be a very good year at Montgomery County. Everyone has cabin fever and is itching to get out. Montgomery is a special place where seasoned exhibitors can rekindle friendships and newer exhibitors can develop friendships. It’s the King of Dog Shows. People from all over the world come just for the Terriers. I highly recommend that every judge who is plan- ning on judging Terriers should attend Montgomery several times for not only the education, but for the experience. Many breeds have educational projects, and there’s always a good mentor to sit with to just watch the dogs move correctly and to see how they are groomed properly. At Montgomery, you have the ability to see the grooming techniques of the senior exhibitors and to just talk and absorb all the knowledge of Terriers from all over the world. This is a place where you can pick the brains of people you only see in magazines or hear of. This is truly the place to be if you are an admirer of Terriers. This is where we come together. This is the Terrier Mecca of dog shows. Which Terriers from the past have had the greatest influence on the sport? Terriers have captured not only my eye, but have also intrigued me to dig deeper into their history. The Terrier lineage, ironically, can be traced back to several dogs that are too numerous to count at this time. But due to these influ- ences of their past, we were presented with dogs such as the Wire Fox Terriers, Ch. Lonesome Dove, handled by Michael Kemp, and Peter Green with Ch. Galsul Excellence. There are also so many great dogs that have been presented by some of these legends. Just to name a few: Peter Green, Clay Coady, Gabriel Rangel, George Ward, Beth Sweigart, Woody Wornall, and many, many more… too many to name. The Smooth Fox Terriers, especially, have Ric Chashoudian to thank for presenting Ch. Ttarb The Brat. I actually had the honor to have the last breeding with the Brat.
Is there a funny story I can share about my experiences judging the Terrier breeds? I will leave you with a true, but funny, story. I was judging Wire Fox Terriers at the Canfield dog show, when this gentleman came into my ring and set up his dog. As I went to go over his dog, he apologized for the coat. I told him not to worry because I care more about what is under the coat. I then sent him down and back… that’s when I noticed that the coat he was wearing was ripped in the back. I’d assumed he was talking about his dog, but I guess he has a good story to tell as well. I still laugh when I think back at that. Congratulations to all the Montgomery winners! You are all winners just for competing! DR. VANDRA L. HUBER
I am an AKC Platinum Breeder of Merit of Scottish Terriers. My husband, Michael Krolewski, and I have bred more than 150 AKC champions under the McVan ® prefix. Scottish Terriers owned and/or bred by myself have gone Best in Show at four of the most prestigious dog shows in world; Westminster, Crufts, Euro Asia Dog Show in Russia, and the Benelux World Dog Show. I have also
owned other breeds such as Border Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Russell Terrier, Bearded Collie, and Affenpinschers. I am licensed by the American Kennel Club to judge all Terriers and Toys, Poo- dles, and numerous Herding breeds. Internationally, I have judged in Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Latvia, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, and Thailand. I am active in the Olympic Kennel Club, the Washington State Scottish Terrier Club, and the Scottish Terrier Club of Amer- ica (STCA). I am a frequent speaker on Scottish Terrier history and conformation, and have presented seminars to judging and/ or exhibitor groups on the topics of conformation decision-making and judging biases. Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many as a judge? My husband and I live in Woodinville, Washington, just outside of Seattle. I’ve been in dogs since 1982. I started judging in 1997 under the 1 for 1, 2 for 2 system. Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? I collect vintage jewelry (Bakelite and Galalith) that, of course, fea- ture a Scottish Terriers motif. I have more than 200 pieces of unique vintage (1920-current) pieces. I am a published writer and poet on a variety of subjects. Since retirement as a business professor, I’m becoming more interested in birdwatching and gardening. Can I talk about my introduction to Terriers? I grew up with cats, but wanted a dog from the time I was eight years old. (My mom only liked cats.) I got my first Scottie as a gift to myself when I graduated college and was no longer living at home. Have I bred any influential Terriers? Have I shown any notable winners? My first notable winner was Ch. Gaelforce Postscript who went BIS at the Westminster dog show in 1995. She holds the record for winning the most National Specialties. “Peggy Sue” was shown by Maripi Woolridge, but I put her first BIS on her in Canada. Other notable winners include: Am. Russian, English Ch. McVan’s To RussiaWith Love, aka “Knopa.” She went BIS at Crufts, the world’s largest dog show, and is a National breed winner. Knopa was shown by Rebecca Cross; and BIS BISS GCHG McVan’s Big Bopper at Beameups. “Bopper” is a three-time National Specialty BIS, Breed and Group Winner at Crufts, and BIS winner at the World Benelux Dog Show. Bopper is shown by Rebecca Cross. Regarding influential Terriers, I would say that BIS and BISS Am. Can. Ch. McVan’s Stamp of Approval, who is the son of Peggy
196 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2021
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