Q&A Scottish Terrier
4. Has the breed improved from when you started judging? Wheaten dogs are again gaining popularity and the breeders are doing a good job with this color. 5. Why do so few judges spar Scottish Terriers? Is that a good thing? I feel that many novice exhibitors do not have the correct concept of sparring and let the dogs get out of control which can cause harm to the other dogs as well as their handlers. 6. Why do fewer wheatens and brindles win at higher levels? Color is irrelevant. We bred and showed mostly brindle dogs and did quite well with them. 8. Explain the importance of grooming. Grooming can enhance or destroy the outline of the dog. A good groomer is able to conceal many faults while an inept groomer can make these faults more visible or even create the image of a nonexistent fault. 9. What do handlers do that you wish they would not? I wish handlers would understand the term “bait”. Many are shoving food into the dog’s mouth while you are trying to examine it. I have even looked at bites that are covered with bits of bait since they have not had time to swallow the bait. 10. How can this breed’s Judges Education be improved? The people in judges’ education are doing a fine job. 11. What previously campaigned Scottish Terriers come close to your ideal? Please explain. My ideal type would be exemplified by our homebred dog, Ch. Jabberwok Bristol Stomp. 12. How does the breed in the US compare to other parts of the world? When we have visited abroad, it seems that the Scottish Terriers there are considerably larger than what we see here. They are quite uniform in their size and shape. MERLE TAYLOR 1. Please tell us about your background with Scottish Terriers. We attended our first dog show in 1968 when we were in college; and in January, 1971, showed our first dog, received a second place ribbon in a class of three and considered not ever showing again. We chose Jabberwok from the poem “Jabberwocky”, as our kennel name. In a limited breeding program, we were fortunate to have bred specialty and group winners including a national specialty and best in show winner. I became an AKC Licensed Handler in the mid-70s, continued until 2000, when we began to judge—having judged numerous Regional, National (including Montgomery) Specialties,
The reason that sparring is not seen much any more is because a lot of the new judges of the breed are not whol- ly familiar with the why and wherefore. The standard is very specific, “…no dog shall be put to winners that does not show good Terrier spirit.” This does not mean constantly snarling, growling and attacking everything in the ring. The temperament of the Scottie is that while he may not start a fight, he will not back down either. I use sparing when the competition is so close that I need to see proper temperament. 6. Why do fewer wheatens and brindles win at higher levels? A number of years ago, there were some very good wheaten breeders. In recent years the emphasis is on black. But we have and I have seen some really good brindle dogs around the country. 7. Explain the importance of grooming. It helps a lot! 8. What do handlers do that you wish they would not? What are your thoughts on lifting a dog by its tail and chin? The handler gets paid to groom and pose a dog. That is part of the reason that I am starting to ask for them to stand up for a second before going around the ring so I can see what the dog is rather than what is being sold to me. Lifting a dog by its tail and chin has been discussed for years. CAROLYN TAYLOR 1. Please tell us about your background with Scottish Terriers. Winning the breed at Montgomery and a BIS with one of our early homebreds was a wonderful experience. I cur- rently judge all Terriers and Toys. 2. In order, name the five most important traits you look for in the ring. I want the proper outline with the tail carried in an upright position. The dog needs to move in an efficient manner with good reach and drive and without sickle hocks. I want to see the requisite deep-set, almond- shaped dark eye. Without the proper eye, the entire expression is incorrect. 3. What shortcomings are you most willing to forgive? What faults do you find hard to overlook? I can forgive a softer coat as some newer exhibitors may not be used to working with harsh coats and can cause the coat to be softer through their grooming methods. Eyes that are not the correct shape cause the entire expression to be incorrect, so I find that hard to overlook.
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