˃QZGT Q&A
THOMAS & CAROL LATTA BIO Like many others in the
arrival. This in turn requires two essential components: firstly, a square, balanced structure which affords the Boxer to ability to pursue its prey in a ground covering stride while maintaining the ability for sudden changes in direction and secondly, the components of the Boxer head and bite, as the Boxer must be able to hold the prey with its mouth, continuing to breathe until the owner’s arrival. Temperament and an alert expression are essen- tial. Proper conditioning, tight well-arched toes, hocks all contribute to the Boxer’s ability to move in the proper ground-covering stride. 2. What do you consider the ultimate hallmark of the breed? The Boxer head is what sets our breed apart from every other breed. The various components of the ideal head come together to produce the unique stamp identifying our breed as the Boxer. 3. What shortcomings are you most willing to forgive? While the Boxer should be square in structure, I believe the more important consideration is its overall balance. One that is slightly longer but has proper front and rear angulation, while not ideal, might still be able to move efficiently with a smooth, ground-covering gait. 4. What faults do you find hard to overlook? Inefficient movement on the go-around, inability for the track to narrow on the down and back, heads lacking the proper 1 ⁄ ³ to 2 ⁄ ³ proportions and wry mouths. 5. How has the breed changed since you became involved with it? Not that much. 6. Do you see any trends you think are moving the breed in the wrong direction? A tendency to breed to what is currently winning in the show ring, rather than the standard. 7. Any traits becoming exaggerated? While the ideal Boxer “combines strength and agility with elegance and style”, I sometimes wonder if we’re beginning to emphasize the former or the latter. 8. How do you feel about uncropped ears? Undocked tails? I give a Boxer with uncropped ears the same consider- ation as I do one with cropped ears, but an uncropped tail is an extremely serious fault to be heavily penalized. 9. Is there anything Boxer handlers do you wish they would not? Because I believe movement is one of the two most important components in judging the Boxer, I prefer to see the Boxer exhibited on a loose lead wherever and whenever possible. I believe this allows the dog to exhibit a smoother and more natural gait, but understand this is sometimes more difficult with young puppies or poorly trained exhibits. I also appreciate a handler who can move their exhibit down and back in a straight line (if I want to see the dog in profile, I simply walk around).
sport, my wife Carol (who also judges Boxers) and I first entered the world of dog shows in 1996 with a Boxer that quickly let us know that she was much more comfortable shar- ing our bed than running around a show ring. Never-
theless that first experience ignited in us that competitive spark that led us to begin our search for our first “real show Boxer”. We studied the breed and began a year-long search which culminated with the acquisition of male and female littermates from Pam Savoye of Savoye Boxers in Omaha NE, both of which completed their champion- ships. The bitch went on to become AM/Can CH Savoye’s Shantilli Lace DOM, the foundation bitch of LattaLane Boxers who produced a total of 5 champion get, and our 1st Dam of Merit! One of those 5 kids became our 2nd Dam of Merit (CH LattaLane’s Cover Story, DOM) that in turn produced our pride and joy--BIS, Multi BISS CH LattaLane’s Kiss Me I’m Irish. “Mia” was a Top Twenty Contender in both 2008 and 2009, and received Awards of Merit at both the 2009 and 2010 American Boxer Club National Specialties. Seventeen of our Boxers have acquired their AKC Championships, two of which also earned their CKC Championships. Eleven of those cham- pions were home-bred, but we have had the pleasure and opportunity to raise each and every one of our cham- pions in our own home and adjoining hobby kennel in Corder, MO. Carol and I each became licensed to judge Boxers in May 2010 and I was approved to judge Dobermans in Novem- ber 2011, having completed numerous specialty and all- breed assignments in both breeds. None however com- pare to the honor I recently received by being selected to judge Bitches, Junior Showmanship and Intersex at the 2016 American Boxer Club National Specialty in India- napolis, IN by the American Boxer Club membership. 1. What five traits do you look for, in order, when judging Boxers? First consideration must be given to general appearance and demeanor—the Boxer should “own the ground it stands on”, confident and never fearful. The modern Boxer should still possess the essential components necessary to achieve its original purpose—being able to take down and hold boars and bears until its owner
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