JUDGING THE DOBERMAN by FAYE STRAUSS, CHAIR DPCA JEC
D oberman breed author- ity Peggy Adamson said, “Breed type emerges from the whole standard”. The whole dog is important, devia- tions should be taken to the extent of the deviation. The only deal break- er other than the disqualifications, is temperament. In the beginning, when the Dober- man didn’t look like a purebred he acted like a Doberman. This was the endearing characteristic that made them so valuable. With time their look developed. So, first and foremost, never award a dog with poor temperament. How can you be expected to deter- mine temperament in a 2.5-minute examination? I say if a dog can’t keep it together for 2.5 minutes, he has flunked the temperament test. A dog should be expected to stand proud, determined, alert and noble. When the judge approaches, ques- tionable temperament is evidenced when the dogs’ eyes are rolling (show- ing white), if his ears are pinned back, if he is shaking, or looks like his skin is crawling, if he is leaning on his han- dler, or racking back upon approach. These are signs of improper Doberman temperament. He may be the best look- ing and moving dog in the ring, but he should not win. If there are no other good dogs on that day, withhold rib- bons. That is how important tempera- ment is. If I see a dog with questionable temperament I give them more time to help make the experience positive. If the dog is superior I tell them how lovely their dog is and that they need to correct the problem. I get complaints from exhibitors and handlers when they witness a shy dog winning. Unfor- tunately, it happens way too often. We don’t want you to give a temperament test in the ring. We just want the Dober- man to display breed type as described in the first paragraph of our standard.
S how S ight M agazine , S eptember 2018 • 353
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