Showsight September 2021

TERRIER JUDGE Q&A

with my husband. The sport has given me so many wonderful expe- riences and I look forward to many more. Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many as a judge? I live in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, and have been involved in the sport for 45+ years. I began judging in 1984. Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? Hobbies, other than dogs: I am an artist and enjoy gardening, woodworking, and cabinetmaking. Can I talk about my introduction to Terriers? My mother was from Scotland, so when I was finally old enough to get my own dog, I was drawn to the Scottish breeds; first a Scotty and then a Westie. But, the one that got me into this sport was a Cairn. (The cutest ball of fur you ever saw.) I brought him home a few days before Christ- mas 1973. He was just six weeks old (shocking, I know). I knew nothing about Terrier temperament, and at six months, I decided that he needed to learn how to behave. So, off to obedience class we went. He so impressed the instructor that she suggested I join the local obedience club. It was through that club and that Cairn that I was introduced to the world of dog shows. BTW, that Cairn’s name was Lord Duffer MacBriar Rose CDX, Canadian CD. He was the #1 Cairn and #5 Terrier in obedience. I later acquired his half-sister, and she produced my first homebred champion. I was hooked. Have I bred any influential Terriers? Have I shown any notable winners? After 45+ years of breeding Cairns, I would like to think that of the 50 or so champions, some have had a positive influence on the breed. But, only history will tell. The most notable Cairn that I have shown is an import from Finland named GCHS Rocco’s Collar King Carl XVI Gustaf, bred by Rina Niemi. Gustaf is the winner of 14 SBIS, including two national specialties. The most recent was in 2018 from the Veterans Class. He was in a 3-way tie for #1 Cairn in 2013. Can I speak a bit about breed-specific presentation and coat conditioning in the Terrier breeds? This is an area that is very important and is specific to the individual Terrier breeds. The hard coat on one breed may not be the same hard coat on another. Some breeds have a double coat; some have a single coat. Some standards call for a weather-proof coat, while others call for a weather-resistant coat. It is important to know the difference. There are a few breeds that have a soft coat, and others that have a smooth coat. Each breed requires the correct coat conditioning and presentation. This is not an area where one size fits all. What about breed character? Can I share my thoughts on spar- ring in the ring? In general, Terriers are independent. They were developed, for the most part, to help with ridding the farm and home of unwanted vermin. In some cases, as with Airedales and Kerries, they were bred to be all-around farm dogs. They needed to be able to think on their own, and not turn away from a chal- lenge. Sparring is a way of judging that characteristic. Not all Ter- rier breeds, however, are sparred. In my opinion, if done correctly, there is nothing more exhilarating than to see two or three Terriers up on their toes, nose to nose, with tails quivering in the middle of the ring. Unfortunately, too many people think that sparring is fighting, and many judges won’t do it. Many Terrier breeds are known for their singular expression. Can I offer a few examples? Expression in a Terrier is a combina- tion of eye color, eye shape, and eye placement, along with the ears. In reviewing the various standards, I found 10 breeds that call for a keen expression. Others want an intelligent expression. Piercing and varminty (Scotty), foxy (Cairn), determined and inquisitive (Bull Terrier), and fearless and implacable (Border) are also used to describe the different breed expressions. A Terrier’s expression is hard to put a finger on, but you’ll know it when you see it. How would I assess the overall quality of the “newer” Terrier breeds? Most have developed quite nicely, but there is room for improvement in some others.

coated Terrier breeds. It is important that they have dense double coats, but their coats do not need to be “worked” every few days like the broken-coated breeds, i.e., Airedale, WFT, Welsh, Lakeland, etc. To keep them in show condition, rolling the coat every one- to-two weeks does the trick. Cairns keep themselves in good body condition as long as they get adequate exercise. What about breed character? Can I share my thoughts on spar- ring in the ring? It goes without saying that Terriers should be ener- getic and on their toes. I personally prefer not to see “push button” dogs in the ring. Therefore, I strongly approve of letting dogs have an opportunity to interact in the ring. The term “sparring” is some- times wrongly interpreted as looking for aggressiveness, and that is not how I view it. I want the dogs to show interest in other dogs, not just in the food the handler is using for bait. Many Terrier breeds are known for their singular expression. Can I offer a few examples? Almost all of the Terriers require an alert, keen expression in their eyes. One exception is the Dandie Dinmont, which has somewhat large eyes with a soft, gentle expression. How would I assess the overall quality of the “newer” Terrier breeds? All of the newer breeds have a way to go to solidify type. In my opinion, what makes a Terrier the ideal companion? Ter- riers appeal to people who like the Terriers’ independent attitude and spunkiness. Generally, Terriers lead long, healthy lives. Why is “Montgomery” a significant show for so many breeders/ exhibitors outside of Terriers? The “Best of the Best” are usually there, and it is thrilling to see the head-to-head competition. Which Terriers from the past have had the greatest influence on the sport? Terriers have had a great impact on the sport and there are too many to try to include here. At the top of the list, though, have to be “Willum” the Norwich, “Mick” the Kerry, and “Rufus” the Bullie. Is there a funny story I can share about my experiences judg- ing the Terrier breeds? Possibly the funniest experience was when I was judging the Group and a Bull Terrier came in handled by a total novice. The dog managed to wipe out the ring fencing at all four corners! I just stood in the middle of the ring, laughing to beat the band! KEN KAUFFMAN

I have been involved with Cairn Terri- ers for over 45 years, starting out in obe- dience and transitioning to conformation. My first Cairn, Lord Duffer MacBriar Rose CDX, Can. CD, was the #1 Cairn in obedience in 1974, and was the reason I became interested in the sport of dog showing/breeding. Since beginning my breeding program, under the Brehannon

prefix, I have produced and finished over 50 champions. Always owner-handled, many Brehannon Cairns have been Group and Specialty winners. The most recent, GCHS Rocco’s Collar King Carl XVI Gustaf, was imported from Finland, and to date has won 14 Specialty Bests, including Best of Breed at the 2012 Cairn Terrier Club of America National Roving Specialty and the 2018 National Specialty, from the Veteran Class. In addition to breed- ing and showing, I have been approved to judge Cairns for over 35 years, and the Terrier Group for 25 years. I also judge the Toy Group, BIS, and Junior Showmanship. My involvement has also included serving as an officer of the Cairn Terrier Club of America in various positions, and most recently, as a four-term president. I am retired from Girard College, where I had been an art teacher for 39 years. I am currently VP and Show Chairman for Montgomery County KC. I live in Upper Bucks County in an historic farmhouse

SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2021 | 199

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