WORKING GROUP JUDGES Q&A
“With all of the COVID cancellations, exhibitors became complacent with the socialization of their Working Dogs. I hear it over and over, ‘Ugh! he’s a COVID puppy.’ It is NOT OKAY to expect that their dog’s bad behavior and lack of training is acceptable.”
TERRY TEMPLE
St. Bernard, Siberian Husky, Samoyed, Great Dane, Leonberger, and Neapolitan Mastiff Specialties, just to name a few. Do I find that size, proportion and substance are correct in most Working breeds? Overall, I am satisfied. I think that the stan- dards are specific enough in regard to size/height. There are obvi- ous standouts, with correct proportion and substance. I think that proportion seems to be the hardest for the breeders to breed to. I am a carpenter/contractor by trade. I measure things every day. Proportion is one of my “things.” I also played sports all my life. You probably don’t want to bring me a fat, or snipey, unathletic Working Dog. They MUST be able to do their job! Is breed-specific presentation important to me as a judge? Can I offer some examples? Yes. You cannot run a Neapolitan Mastiff like you should be able to do with the Alaskan Malamutes, Sibe- rians, and Samoyeds. Akitas have more moderate angulation than the Alaskan Malamutes, so they shouldn’t move as fast around the ring. However, none of the dogs should be moved at a high speed in the ring. What are my thoughts on cropping/docking the Working breeds? I respect the parent clubs’ reasoning on whether to crop/ dock. I understand why they wish it. I also respect the various coun- tries that have decided to ban the practice. I was lucky to own and show breeds where it is not an issue; Akitas and Alaskan Malamutes. Are the Working breeds in good shape overall? Any concerns? I am always concerned with the quality and state of the breeds. It concerns me that we don’t seem to have as may breeders/exhibitors as in the past and that those who do show are in it for the competi- tion as opposed to the betterment of their breeds. One of my major concerns is the overall structure of the breeds. Working Dogs were made to do just that—Work! If the dog cannot move athletically from point A to B, how in the world can they work? If my back was bothering me on the job, I couldn’t put in a full day’s work. If a Working Dog has a sagging topline/weak back, it cannot work! In my opinion, how do today’s exhibits compare with the Work- ing Dogs of the past? I will get very breed-specific on this subject. When we first started in Akitas, they were terribly cow-hocked, with straight stifles and the horrible hyper-extension of hocks. Ugh! (Gives me chills.) We seldom see this in the ring today. This is a huge testament to the continued education and breeding practices of our breeders. Why do I think the Working breeds are so admired as family companions? Working Dogs are smart, albeit stubborn. They can be extremely loyal. Just for laughs, do I have a funny story I can share about my experiences judging the Working Group? I judged the Alaskan Mal- amute Top Twenty. Everybody was all dressed up, and all around the ring there were linen-covered, round dinner tables with beauti- ful centerpieces and china. Since the show was in Indianapolis, the theme was the Indy 500 race. So, they decided it would be so cool to have an entire team of Alaskan Malamutes pull me in a golf cart into and around the ring. Fun! Hee Haw! The dogs took off—but they couldn’t stop them! MUSH!!! People were jumping out of the way while others were jumping over the gait to try to stop the run- away team. The dogs had a blast, and so did I! Needless to say, the other judges didn’t get a ride. LOL!
Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge? I live in the town of Ellington in North Cen- tral Connecticut. Previously, we lived in Vandalia, Ohio, and Stillman Valley, Illinois. I have been enjoying the sport; exhibiting, breeding, and judging, for a total of nearly 58 years. I have served as a judge for 52 years, beginning as a pro- visional judge in 1969.
What is my original breed? What is/was my kennel name? My first breed was the Saint Bernard. My kennel name was Forever Saints. Can I list a few of the notable dogs I’ve bred? Any performance or parent club titles? Notable Saint Bernards we have bred include Ch. Forever Moxie, Ch. Forever Tsk Tsk Tsk, and Ch. Forever Trea- sure, each of which attained Saint Bernard Club of America Hall of Fame status. Ch. Forever Moxie was the first white-face (no mask) Saint Bernard to finish at the SBCA National Specialty, going Best of Opposite Sex from the Bred-by-Exhibitor Class. Her impact on the breed was enormous because she proved that an exceptionally good Saint Bernard was good enough to breed successfully (and exhibit) without the traditional dark mask that is favored, but not required, by the breed standard. We exhibited mainly bitches and we won many specialty shows. What are the qualities I most admire in the Working breeds? Qualities I most admire are the physical strength and power that enables them to perform their ascribed functions; personality and attitude that enables them to be excellent companions; and atten- tiveness and focus that makes them excellent protectors. Have I judged any Working Group Specialties? I have judged numerous Working Group specialties, both domestically and in several foreign countries, including Switzerland, Denmark, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. I have judged National Specialties in Saint Bernards and New- foundlands. I have judged the Newfoundland Club of America National Specialty a total of five times. Do I find that size, proportion, and substance are correct in most Working breeds? For the most part, I would say, “Yes,” but often, proper balance is off. Size and substance are generally good, overall. Is breed-specific presentation important to me as a judge? Can I offer some examples? Generally, not a pressing issue, in my opinion. What are my thoughts on cropping/docking the Working breeds? My position on cropping and docking is to adhere to the standard and to follow parent club guidance in the breeds affected. Are the Working breeds in good shape overall? Any concerns? I feel that most of the Working breeds are in good shape. In my opinion, how do today’s exhibits compare with the Work- ing Dogs of the past? In my opinion, today’s exhibits are a little better than Working Dogs of the past, particularly in the area of soundness.
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2022 | 175
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