SPORTING GROUP Q&A
and temperament differences. There are also movement differences inherent with the job each is intended to do. I think this is why it frustrates me to see dogs moved around the ring at the speed of light when they have been purposefully bred to go at an easy pace. The other trend I see in the Group is that handlers seem to think all dogs look better with a sloping topline, even when the standard calls for “level.” I think that in judging the Sporting Group, it is mindful to be aware of the purpose for which each breed was developed, and that they be in condition (structurally, temperamentally) to do the job. Reward the dogs that exude breed type. I used to think that the flashy breeds like the Setters, Pointers, and American Cockers had an advantage in the Group. But, of late, I have seen other breeds that are not considered the glamour breeds in the Group rewarded and reach the pinnacle of success. I think this is a good thing because people are rewarding dogs that are very correct for their breed. I have judged the “new” breeds that have recently been admit- ted to the Group and have been impressed with the quality of some of the exhibits. I think this is because many of them are older and establish breeds, and are just new to the AKC. I think the dogs that come to mind as having had the greatest impact on the Sporting Group, and the sport of dogs in general, are the dogs bred by Julie Gasow of Salilyn fame. Her English Springers redefined the breed. I’m not sure that this qualifies as amusing, but one event in a Sporting Group that I particularly remember is of a young man showing me a very lovely Pointer bitch. After doing his down and back, he pulled out his bait and waved it around for her to strike the pose when at the same time a butterfly fluttered past the Point- er who immediately forgot the bait and struck the quintessential Pointer point, watching the butterfly. I thought it was classic! In closing, I would like to say that after almost 40 years, I have bred a litter of Labradors again. And I have to say that after living with them again for the past 10 years, there is a reason they are the most popular breed. Thank you for inviting me to participate. This is all my opin- ion and observations from over the years. I’m sure others will have insights and observations that are pertinent, which I have not mentioned. CAROL BROWN I live in North Carolina. I’ve been involved with show dogs since my daughter started showing at age 12 (1980). I learned from her and, in 1986, started showing a Pointer myself. What is my original breed? I co-owned both Vizslas and Point- ers with my daughter. We selected KROWN as our kennel name by using our last name, Brown, and replaced the first letter with a “K” from my daughter’s first name, Karen! Can I list a few of the notable dogs I’ve bred? I can’t say that we owned notable dogs, but our original Pointer sired an owner- handled Best in Show bitch as well as a Group One winner—from the American-Bred class! We had a few Novice Obedience titles, but that wasn’t our thing. When did I know I wanted to become an AKC judge? After I was involved in a horrific car accident and could no longer run for handling, I worked for Rau Dog Shows as a licensed superinten- dent for a few years until my arm was twisted to judge some sweep- stakes. I was hooked. I loved it. So, I resigned from Rau and applied to judge. Who inspired me to become a judge? Ever since the accident, Jean Fournier kept after me to start judging because she knew the variety and the quality of dogs I had shown to her. I have
Weimaraners, “CJ” the German Shorthair, many of the Whiskey- town Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, “Stump” the Sussex Spaniel, many of the Clussex Clumber Spaniels, Tirvelda Irish Setters (bred and shown by Ted Eldredge), Labradors from the Driftway Kennels in Australia, Crookrise and Chesterhope Pointers, originally from New Zealand. My list goes on! So many of these “influential animals” are really, in my think- ing, the influential kennels that have placed a stamp for breed type and character that is consistent with master breeders. You know that when they show you a dog you will not be disappointed. The most amusing experience I’ve ever witnessed in the Sport- ing Group? Judging a last class of German Shorthairs in a big ring under a barn style roof with open sides, I was just about to start to move the dogs around when a large flock of pigeons flew down into the ring and settled, center ring, eating up bait. I was abso- lutely unable to move any dogs until we were able to chase the birds away—as my class was all frozen in place on full point. No one failed breed character! BETH SWEIGART I live in Bowmansville, Pennsylvania, and while I have had dogs all my life, I have been involved in the sport of purebred dogs and conformation in particular since 1967. I have been judging since 2006. My first breed was Labrador Retrievers. I chose my kennel name because my second favorite thing is gardening, and Yarrow is a beautiful yellow plant, so I thought it was a good name for a Labrador. I bred Labradors through the 1970s and ‘80s. I bred numerous champions and was a founding member of the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac. I started to breed Norfolk Terriers and Norwich Terriers in the mid-70s. With my partner, Pam Beale, we have bred many successful Norwich and Norfolks, including Ch. Yarrow Venerie Winning Ticket who won Best in Show at the Montgomery County All-Terrier show and the Group at the West- minster Kennel Club. We’ve also had the pleasure of campaigning the wonderful Norfolk bitch, Eng. Am. Ch. Cracknor Cause Cele- bre who was Top Dog All-Breeds and won Best in Show at Crufts and at the AKC National Championship. In the ‘90s, I started to breed Affenpinschers, and Ch. Yarrow’s Super Nova was the first Affenpinscher to win the Group at Westminster and be Top Toy Dog for the year, owned by Dr. and Mrs. Truesdale. As a handler, I had the pleasure of presenting the Irish Water Spaniel, Ch. Mallyree Triple Expectation CDX MH who won the Sporting Group at Westminster twice and was Top Sporting Dog. He ushered in a wave of outstanding Irish Water Spaniels that made their presence felt in Sporting Groups. I will always be thankful to Joan Read and Connie Barton who were both great mentors to me throughout their lifetimes, both in all things about dogs and in life. Mrs. Reed, especially, was a great influence on me as she demonstrated that anything is possible with determination and hard work. Her knowledge of both Sporting dogs and Terriers was monumental. After a successful handling career, my partner, Peter Green, and I decided in 2006 to retire and start our judging careers. Of course, one of the first breeds I applied to judge was Labradors, and I have had the pleasure of doing many specialties over the years, including the national. That assignment it was quite amazing because I shared it with Bob Forsyth who, ironically, was the first person I met at a dog show in the ‘60s when I approached him about purchasing a Labrador from his client at the time, Dorothy Howe. So, in life, things come full circle. Judging the Sporting Group is unique and fascinating because within this Group we have some sub-groups as Spaniels, Retrievers, Pointers, and Setters. All are gundogs, but all are bred with a spe- cific purpose in mind. These different jobs lead to structural, coat,
140 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2021
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