SPANNING
BORDER
THE
TERRIER
SUBMITTED BY BTCA & D’ARCY DOWNS-VOLLBRACHT
the ribcage, and the actual physical capacity for going- to-ground. Just as the wicket or scales require proper procedure and use, so does this all-important evalua- tion of the Border Terrier. Spanning is less specific or finite than a strict height or weight assessment, but it affords the opportunity to determine overall size in combination with the flexibility of rib needed to work underground quarry. The official Parson Russell Terrier breed standard provides an excellent description of how to span a working Terrier: “To measure a terrier’s chest, span from behind, raising only the front feet from the ground, and compress gently. Directly behind the elbows is the smaller, firm part of the chest. The central part is usually larger but should feel rather elastic. Span with hands tightly behind the elbows on the forward portion of the chest. The chest must be easily spanned by average size hands. Thumbs should meet at the spine and fingers should meet under the chest. This is a significant factor and a critical part of the judging process. The dog cannot be correctly judged without this procedure.” The Border Terrier Club of America strongly endorses this method of spanning as it is both well- described and correct. Not only is it effective, it avoids many of the glaring errors seen when spanning is done improperly; leaning over the dog, approaching the dog from the front, not lifting the dog at all (but merely placing the hands around the general area), lifting the whole dog with all four feet off the table, and the worst possible scenario, which is not bother- ing to make any effort to span the dog at all. Each of these examples will make true Terrier-men, Terrier- women, and breeders cringe. TIPS FOR SPANNING When judging at an event, the dog must be stand- ing on the table. Breeders will often span their dogs on the ground, but at an AKC event you should conduct your exam on the table and in the same manner with each and every dog.
T he Border Terrier is a working Terrier. One of the primary means of evaluat- ing whether the individual is capable of working as intended is by span- ning. Spanning is the traditional method used by huntsman to see if the Terrier is capable of going- to-ground, and it is how you evaluate the shape, size, and elasticity of the ribcage. In truth, the dog cannot be judged without benefit of having been spanned. If there is one thing that we could convey to judges about spanning, it would be that it must be done as part of your exam. Please don’t leave it out because, when you initially look at the dogs, you “think” they look like they could fit in a fox den. Spanning is a tactile exam that will provide you with a range of information about each dog in your ring. Every dog must be spanned for you to properly evaluate the shape, size, and elasticity of
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SPRING EDITION | 225
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