A Study of THE SCOTTISH TERRIER
J. CLIFFORD SCHULTZ
When judging, I can overlook some grooming errors if there is a good, solid dog under the coat. I have a hard time, however, overlooking gay or curved tails. The breed standard states that the tail should be “carried erectly, either vertical or with a SLIGHT (my emphasis) curve forward but not over the back” ...my feelings exactly. 4. Has the breed improved from when you started judging? Which traits are going in the wrong direc- tion or becoming exaggerated? I believe that Scotties over the past few years have been trending toward a long, smooth (not cheeky) head, and I’m worried that some of the bodies are going the same way. I remember in the past some dogs with solid, substantial bodies and coarser, cheekier heads. Scottish Terrier breeders need to keep in mind the first sentence in the breed standard calling for a “sturdily built dog of good bone and substance.” 5. Why do so few judges spar Scottish Terriers? Is that a good thing? I believe judges have not been sparring Scotties because too many exhibitors do not keep their dogs in check, and are concerned about aggressive behavior in the ring. I will spar dogs at shows with a larger entry. I won’t bring out more than 3 exhibitors at one time, and strongly caution them that they are to let their dogs look at each other but keep their distance, and strongly warn them I want to see all four of the dog’s feet stay on the ground. Any growling or going after another dog will make me think far less of that particular entry and exhibitor. As stated in the standard, “alert and spirited but also stable and steady-going” is what I want to see and reward. 6. Why do fewer wheatens and brindles win at higher levels? I believe we see fewer brindle or grizzled Scottish Terri- ers in the higher levels of competition because, to some degree, judges seem to see black coats in their sight pic- ture and therefore put up black Scotties. I do not believe that the majority of our registered Scotties are black.
1. Please tell us about your back- ground with Scot- tish Terriers. My wife and I have been owned by Scottish Terriers since 1976, but we didn’t start exhibit- ing until 1989. Our kennel name is Glengala, and we have finished
(Photo courtesy of AKC Archive)
a dog or bitch from almost every litter we have bred over the years with my wife doing the grooming and me in the ring exhibiting. In 2006, two of our home bred champions, Ch. Glengala’s Llewelyn Lothario and Ch. Glengala’s Seven of Nine won Best Brace in Show at the Montgomery County Kennel Club. They both also won BOB at specialty shows, and Llewelyn was awarded an AOM at Montgomery in 2005 with me on the lead. As our breeding program wound down, I started judging in 2014, and was granted approved status that year. My wife has almost completed a TD (Therapy Dog) title on our youngest bitch. 2. In order, name the five most important traits you look for in the ring. When judging I’m looking for a cobby, well-groomed Scotty of substance and attitude. On the table I want to feel a solid forechest and rib structure and see a good, flat topline and a solid, carrot-shaped tail. When walking down the line, I’m looking for the breed standard—“keen, ‘piercing’ expression” with a dark eye and ears held erect. 3. What shortcomings are you most willing to forgive? What faults do you find hard to overlook?
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