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4. In order, name the five most important traits you look for in the ring. General appearance, movement, structure and body, head and bite. 5. What, if anything, do you feel non-breeder judges get wrong about the breed? They get hooked on interpreting color, especially with Harlequins, Mantles and Brindled. 6. What do handlers do in presentation that you wish they would not? Feed the dog bait when I am getting ready to check its bite. 7. What traits do you see popping up these days that are going in the wrong direction? What’s better? Tail and croup are going bad. What is getting better? Head planes. 8. What previously campaigned Great Dane come close to your ideal? Please explain. BIS BISS CH Giant Steps Front Page News, a dog that also won Top 20 and the Great Dane Club of American National Specialty. As the picture below displays: out- standing proportions, perfect head piece, exquisite with breed-type, true athleticism. 9. How does the breed in North America compare to other parts of the world? Great Danes in other countries have larger bone. 10. Does the show ring help determine if a dog is able to perform its intended job? Not useful at all. 11. Explain the importance of size to breed type. Very important—the Great Danes’ standard has height as a disqualification if below minimum. 12. What head characteristics are most important to breed type? Level head planes.
13. Describe ideal Great Dane movement and its importance in judging. I look for smoothness and steadiness when gaiting. 14. Which breed traits are strongest? Which need improvement? Most have good size; they need much better proportions. LOWELL DAVIS 1. Where do you live? Number of years in the sport?
I live in La Verne, CA; which is an eastern suburb of LA. I attended my first dog show about 68 years ago, showing my Dachshund puppy to a Breeder/Judge. I took 2nd out of three. I have been judging for 45 years, starting with Great Danes and am now approved for Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7. I have been married to my wife Arlene for 55 years. She is approved to judge Groups 1, 2, 3 and 7.
Ch Jessica Davis
2. What parts of the standard need clarification? The Great Dane standard is as good as many breed stan- dards, but I wish there was some mention of the under jaw as this an important part of the dog’s head. 3. What are the most controversial judging topics for this breed? How do you address them? In judging the Great Dane I wish that more judges would remember that this is a SQUARE breed. I see far too many long backed dogs win—often with soft backs that accen- tuate it. When I judge a Great Dane I want to see a square body with a hard back, well-arched neck and a beautiful head that is clean without thick and drooping fluttering lips accompanied by a lot of loose skin. Many non-breed- er judges do not get it that this is a square breed and don’t pay attention to the parallel planes. Unfortunately some breeders like the over-exaggerated head with the thick pendulous lips that I mentioned before. The stan- dard calls for a “deep muzzle” and faults “fluttering lips.” In an effort to cover up the lack of under jaw we are see fluttering lips and this is incorrect. Color is often overlooked in Fawns and Brindles. A Fawn is “yellow gold” not beige, sooty or washed out. A Brindle’s background is yellow gold, too. 4. In order, name the five most important traits you look for in the ring. Overall appearance (size substance, well muscle ele- gance), true Great Dane type, head, color, mental and physical soundness. 5. What, if anything, do you feel non-breeder judges get wrong about the breed? Emphasizing size over quality, recognizing breed type and not recognizing correct color. 6. What do handlers do in presentation that you wish they would not?
BIS BISS Ch Giant Steps Front Page News
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