A VIEW OF THE COLLIE
by JOHN BUDDIE
H aving been involved with this breed for over 50 years, and having been involved with both Breeder educa- tion and Judges Education for the past twenty, one gathers many interesting insights. Watching some breeders come and go and others who stay and make a difference is an interesting learning experience. What is it, that makes the difference between the dilettante dab- blers and the serious students who go
on to contribute positively to the breed and become master breeders? That is a question I have always pondered, and now, in later years, I pose the question to those who choose to adjudicate our breed. What is it that makes certain individuals outstanding is adjudicators, while others merely get through it by selecting “decent” individuals and pos- sibly missing a great one? I think it comes down to understand- ing many of the qualities of the Collie
that are not only essential, but realizing which ones are the “hard to get” and “harder to keep” virtues. As a breeder, particularly a breeder whose dogs have contributed to the overall gene pool of the breed, one soon learns, that certain aspects of the standard are more dif- ficult to attain and keep in a breeding program. As a breeder, then, these par- ticular qualities take on a special empha- sis. Knowledgeable judges within the breed are certainly aware of these,
“AS A BREEDER, PARTICULARLY A BREEDER WHOSE DOGS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERALL GENE POOL OF THE BREED, ONE SOON LEARNS, THAT CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE STANDARD ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN...”
152 • S how S ight M agazine , J anuary 2017
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