“THE ENTIRE TIME THAT YOU ARE EXAMINING AN OES YOU MUST THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE FEELING AND PLACE IT IN YOUR “MIND’S EYE”. BOTH GOOD AND BAD QUALITIES MAY BE HIDDEN IN THE COAT.”
Now the individual examination is where the “rubber-meets-the-road”! You cannot just feel the surface of an OES when you examine the dogs. You must go through the hair to feel the actual structure of each dog. The entire time that you are examining an OES you must think about what you are feeling and place it in your “mind’s eye”. Both good and bad qualities may be hidden in the coat. Everything will be simpli- fied when you get past the coat. When examining each dog roll a checklist through your mind. From your training and experience you know what each of the features of the dog should be and you will know from your examination if you can check off these features as being correct or incorrect. Some coun- tries, such as Canada, use a point scale that accompanies the standard, and judges will often calculate the points per feature on each exhibit as they examine and observe movement. EXAMINATION CHECKLIST
• Fit of Neck into the Shoulders • Shoulder layback and angles • Depth of Chest and Spring of Rib • Straightness of Front Legs and Feet • Topline • Length of Loin • Croup • Rear Stifle Angulation • Well let-down hocks • Not Cow Hocked • Bone and Substance • Double Coat • Texture of Coat and Overall Condi- tion of the Coat • Balance, Proportion and Squareness While this checklist may appear lengthy, as your hands move through the dog’s coat each feature is seen with your hands, and you will move quickly as you examine every component. This check list should roll through your mind as you examine each dog and you must remember which dogs complied most closely with the breed standard and correct canine anatomy and which dogs did not. Following your examination you will have each dog go down the mat and back to you. From this view coat may influence your perception of the
way an OES is moving. A lot of coat on the front may make a dog look out at the elbows or even a little sloppy. Otherwise don’t be fooled by all of the hair on an overly wide front that does not converge. An untrimmed hind- quarter can look close and markings on the legs may give a false impres- sion of movement. When the dog goes away watch the pads coming up and when you see the bottom of the feet watch how the feet fall with each step. When the dog completes the down and back he will then circle the ring to the end of the line. When watching each dog move to the end of the line you will watch the front to see that it reaches easily and smoothly without hitching, rolling, waddling or hack- ney movement. Watch for the rear to drive straight back without any wasted motion such as kicking up. Watch that the dog remains square and the topline is visible in motion. The final look at the lineup of the class will have you review the checklist in your mind and recall the movement of each dog. After this review you will eliminate dogs from a placement and determine which dogs you will use for S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J UNE 2018 • 259
• Nose, Bite and Eye Color • Muzzle Shape and Fit and Head Shape • Neck Length and Arch
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