WITH KAREN ARENDS, KRIS COFIELL, LINDA FOWLER, DAVID HADDOCK, VIRGINA MURRAY, JOYCE VANEK & JANIS WATTS
1. Describe the breed in three words. Breed type, strength and substance.
are scissored in the Lion Trim with comb-able length of coat to give the appearance of substance. Robust build that when felt is not, etc. I had the honor of judging at a National Specialty in Sweden in 2007. With an entry of over 100, the majority of dogs were in very long coat with seven or ten bladed rears and muzzles. The more dogs you see in Lion Trims with full coat, the easier it is to understand what is happening under the coat when the dog moves. Again, ultimately you must put your hands on the dog to truly understand how the dog is built.
2. What are your “must have” traits in this breed? 1) Strength; this breed should have the ability to work in the water tirelessly for a full day. 2) Balance; dogs with an effortless side gait, reach and drive on land and also perform well in the water. 3) Exemplary temperament; confident and happy worker with an endearing attitude.
3. Are there any traits in this breed you fear are becoming exaggerated? We continue to lose desirable angulation. 4. Do you think the dogs you see in this breed are better now than they were when you fi rst started judging? Why or why not? I do not see any appreciable change in quality.
3. Do you believe a PWD should be muscled and strong? If so, why?
Of course. It’s a working breed! The dog should have bone and substance without being coarse. This is an athletic breed, capable of so much: water work, agility, tracking, obedience, etc. if you get an opportunity to see a PWDCA Water Trial it will give you an appreciation of why having a solidly built, muscular body is important. Again, avoiding becoming coarse and ponderous.
5. What do you think new judges misunderstand about the breed?
Judges express great confusion about evaluating our breed, because of different trims, coat types, colors, size, etc. It saddens me to know that a number of them have trouble getting past all of the show to look at the dog underneath and not the trimmings. It is therefore, a true hands-on breed. A good PWD is correct whether they are a 17-inch bitch or a 23-inch dog, whether curly or wavy coated, whether black or brown, whether in a working retriever or lion clip or if they exemplify the standard spirited, yet obedient nature and a robust, medium build that allowed for a full day’s work in and out of the water. I would encourage judges and aspiring judges of our breed to make an effort to see these dogs work in the water to better appreciate the desirable physical attri- butes for the Portuguese Water Dog. Even as a breeder, who now works her dogs in the water, it was a learning experience for me.
4. Bigger and taller is not necessarily correct in PWDs as there is an ideal height quoted in the Standard. Are you seeing this in the breed and if so, why are the bigger, taller dogs are being rewarded?
The breed standard allows for a large range from the smallest/lightest bitch to the tallest/heaviest allowable dog. Judges must take the height of a dog in to consid- eration when judging bone/substance. Too frequently, judges go down the line-up and feel head and bone as a last determination and reward the dog who has the biggest head/bone. This is often the tallest/biggest dog. Head size and bone should be proportionate to the height of the dog, so biggest dog may not be most correct proportionately. Again, seeing a PWD work in the water gives you a far better idea of what is called for in the writ- ten standard. DR. LINDA M. FOWLER I live in Columbia, South Caro-
6. Is there anything else you’d like to share about the breed?
Unfortunately, there probably isn’t enough room in just one article for me to share as much as I would like. DAVID HADDOCK I live in Nashville, Tennessee.
lina. I am presently retired; my career was in nursing and health care administration. It has been a pleasure to be involved in the sport of pure-bred dogs since 1976—as a breeder and exhibitor in conformation, rally, obedience and water work. I obtained first Portuguese Water Dog (male)
When I’m not dogging, I’m mak- ing money as an entrepreneur, investing in real estate and scuba diving. I have always had a dog and started in obedience and breed competition at age 14. My first obedience titled dog was an Alaskan Malamute, which I also handled to a breed champion- ship in the late 1970s. I obtained my first Portuguese Water Dog
in 1986 and a bitch the following year. In 1992, I was fully approved as the first PWD breeder judge and since have been approved to judge all Working breeds, Bearded Collies and Best in Show. It has been my honor to judge our National Specialty on three separate occasions, as well as a number of other Working breeds in Specialties.
S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , M AY 2018 • 295
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