labrador retriever Q&A WITH SUE WILLUMSEN, GREGORY A. ANDERSON, JANIS GRANNEMANN & DR. MICHAEL J. WOODS
4. Labs all seem to be very strong-willed. Does that make them hard to live with and train? SW: Labradors are seldom better trained and behaved than the effort that is put into them. They are very smart, the owner is sometimes the one catching up with the dog. They enjoy activities with their people. When activities not provided, they often entertain themselves by being creatively destructive. 5. Are there any traits in this breed you fear are becoming exaggerated? SW: Heads. They are becoming Rottweiler and/or New- foundland like, losing the kind expression and intelli- gence they are known for. 6. 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? SW: Sometimes. Several long standing kennels have sus- tained and improved “their type”. 7. What do you think new judges misunderstand about the breed? SW: The non-breeder judge gets easily overwhelmed and misses the forest through the trees. Often they will go with a handler feeling that that is a “safe” choice. It is often commented “How can you judge them, there’s so many different types. Because of this, there are a lot of inconsistency in the winners. I always suggest mentor- ing (if possible)and definitely determine a “type” in your mind and compare your assignment specimens to your “ideal”. 8. Have your Labs competed in any performance events? Did that experience affect judging decisions? GA: I’ve actually I never worked with Labs in field work, but I have seen them (so great to watch). JG: Yes, I have done both. After watching dogs in the field, I am more aware of the fact that “form does indeed follow function.” For example, a short nosed Lab will have a much harder time carrying a large goose. The dog will most likely have to take a harder grip on the bird and will probably damage the bird in the process. I also look at some of these really large dogs in the ring and know that I could never get them back into the boat without tipping over. MW: I was a fairly avid hunter and worked my Labs on a number of bird species: goose, duck, dove and pheasant. In addition to amazing insight into the breed’s inherent retrieving instinct and trainability, hunting gives one an appreciation of ‘form following function’. Sitting in a freezing goose blind certainly makes one aware of the necessity of double coats. Retrieving from inclement seas and busting through thick brush stress the power and athleticism needed to perform the job efficiently. When judging, I think I’m pretty consistent in looking for good coats, sound movement, tight eyes and feet and a general indication of the ability to ‘do the job.’ I think a
United States and Canada, as well as the National Champi- onship Show in New Zealand, the Canadian and American Nationals, and BIS at the Potomac, the world’s largest Labra- dor Specialty. He co-judged BIS at the 40th Anniversary show for the Labrador Club in the Netherlands, the largest Labrador show in Europe. Dr. Woods is an All-Breed and all obedience classes judge and has published on the Labrador Retriever, Conformation Judging, Retrievers and Ethics in the dog fancy, and wrote a regular column on Ethics for Dogs in Canada. In 1999, he was named Purina Canine Writer of the Year. Michael has also given seminars throughout the world on judging and evalu- ating the Labrador Retriever. He most recently presented a seminar on the Labrador Retriever at the American Kennel Club’s ‘Sporting Dog Institute’ and at the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac. Michael wrote a column, “Speaking Out”, for the Labra- dor Retriever Club Inc. News and is an approved mentor and presenter for the LRC, Inc. He co-authored the Illustrated Labrador Standard for the Labrador Retriever Club of Can- ada and was chairman of the committee to revise the CKC Labrador Standard. Michael was Vice-President in charge of judge’s educa- tion for the Dog Judges Association of Canada, and is a mem- ber of numerous Labrador Retriever Clubs. He has served as a member of the Canadian Kennel Club’s National Appeals Committee and Ethics Committee. He is now retired from his position as a University Professor of English and divides his time between St. John’s, Newfoundland and Charlestown, Rhode Island.
1. Describe the breed in three words. SW: Temperament, coat and tail.
2. What are your “must have” traits in this breed? SW: Temperament, distinct double coat, otter tail, kind head with soft expression yet strong enough to carry game, balance. 3. What’s the most common fault you see when travel- ing around the country? SW: Inconsistency of breed type.
“LABRADORS ARE SELDOM BETTER TRAINED AND BEHAVED THAN THE EFFORT THAT IS PUT INTO THEM.”
S how S ight M agazine , O ctober 2018 • 297
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