Edd E. Bivin TERRIER GROUP Placements: Group One: GCHS Hampton Ct Broxden Dropthe Mic (Smooth Fox Terrier) Group Two: GCHS Irvonhill Voignier (Wire Fox Terrier) Group Three: CH Monaline Unit (Welsh Terrier) Group Four: GCHS King’s Mtn. Henry Higgins (Dandie Dinmont Terrier) 1. Can you describe your reaction to receiving an invitation to judge the Terrier Group at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin? I’ve been doing this for 60 years, and judging a Group at the AKCNational Championship is always an exciting and exhilarating experience—especially after three years of not participating due to COVID and all those things. 2. What does it mean to judge a Group at the only all-breed show organized directly by the American Kennel Club? I remember when it started, there were those who were not in favor of the AKC having a dog show. But I think that at- titude has changed. The show is now recognized by some as being an excellent branding opportunity for the AKC, and I think the show speaks well for the quality of the brand. 3. In your opinion, how does this show differ from other AKC events? This was the first time I’d judged in three years, and I was conserving my energy for the ring as a judge. So, I did not get a chance to explore the show. However, I do consider this show to be an opportunity for (conformation and per- formance) people to exhibit, be competitive, and have fun. That’s what we want the dog show to be. The sport should be fun for people. 4. What were you thinking or feeling moments before you stepped into the center of the Terrier Group ring? You get excited about it… you have to keep in mind that this is the evaluation of animals. The value of judging and the value of the process of evaluating animals for breed- ing stock was driven home when the first dog walked in the ring. 5. Was there a heightened energy coming from the dog and handler teams? Did you feel the energy of the spectators? Terriers are exciting. They’re exuberant with a lot of energy and a competitive nature. That energy sometimes goes up the lead instead of down the lead, making some of that competitiveness hard to control on the part of the exhibi- tors as well.
6. How challenging was this assignment? Can you share your selection process? Judging is always a challenge. You stand out there and look at a group of dogs, and… I try my best to elevate that about which I feel positive. (People told me that I judged just like I always have.) Judg- ing is an opportunity to learn, and I try to learn something every time I judge. 7. Do you have a word or two about your Group winner? About the dogs that placed? I think a lot of people don’t understand that Terriers require a tre- mendous amount of work to get them in condition (coat and other- wise) and their preparation is a little different than in some of the other Groups. There were several animals in the Group that I would like to have had an award of recognition possibility for that I didn’t have. The four placements, however, were all quality, though none were perfect—because dogs aren’t perfect any more than humans are perfect. In my humble opinion, I thought the Smooth dog “had a moment” and had a time when he was really “turned-on”—it was beautifully presented. He’s an interesting dog. He fits together at both ends beautifully, with a good, short back and a good tail. He has a lovely outline when you stand and look at him that fits your image… I could go on forever about the image factor, but he fits my image as being a complete dog in a complete package. The Wire dog was not quite as exhilarating for me at that time, but he is a recognized qual- ity dog of breeding stock. TheWelsh bitch is young and really pretty. I think she needs a little more time. She has good quality… meeting the conditions in the standard for her breed—type. The Dandie dog was really pleasing for me. Dandie Dinmonts are a breed of exagger- ations; they have an exaggerated topline and an exaggerated head. That dog has a tremendous quality that is missing in so many; that is the strength of the head, the fill under the eyes, the size of the head, and the length of the muzzle—the whole thing.
174 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2022
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