HERDING GROUP JUDGES THE
1. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge? 2. What is your original breed? What is/was your kennel name? 3. Can you list a few of the notable dogs you’ve bred? Any perfor- mance or parent club titles? 4. What are the qualities you most admire in the Herding breeds? 5. Have you judged any Herding Group Specialties? 6. Do you find that size, proportion, and substance are correct in most Herding breeds? 7. Is breed-specific presentation important to you as a judge? Can you offer some examples? 8. What about breed-specific movement? Do you demand this from Herding Dogs? 9. Are the Herding breeds in good shape overall? Any concerns? 10. In your opinion, how do today’s exhibits compare with the Herding Dogs of the past? 11. Why do you think Herding Dogs can often become outstanding Show Dogs? 12. Just for laughs, do you have a funny story that you can share about your experiences judging the Herding Group? DAVID ANTHONY No one enjoys the world of pure-
US CH Copperleaf Burnt Spice (Simon) was imported from Europe after doing so well in New Zealand. “Simon” was instrumental in producing Cardigans of proper bone for our breeding program. What are the qualities I most admire in the Herding breeds? I admire that sparkle in their eye as they work with their families in various capacities. Whether rounding up stock, watching the children, or keeping an eye out for the UPS man, they have a cer- tain quality that only Herding Dogs have. Then, to see a quality example gait around the show ring in proper style is certainly an admirable quality. Have I judged any Herding Group Specialties? I have been hon- ored to adjudicate regional specialties for Old English Sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, Shelties, Bouviers, and several others. I have judged national specialties for Pyrenean Shep- herds, and my biggest honor, Cardigan Welsh Corgis in Portland, Oregon, a few years ago. Do I find that size, proportion, and substance are correct in most Herding breeds? Overall, I would say, “Yes.” I do believe that Shelties are getting far larger than in the past, with tails that are far too short. This appears to be a problem in the breed, while Bouviers and Briards seem to be getting smaller in stature. I would hope that breeders will address these concerns. Is breed-specific presentation important to me as a judge? Can I offer some examples? I can’t imagine a judge who wouldn’t feel that breed-specific presentation is important. A prime example is the Border Collie. As it gaits around the ring, the head should be somewhat down. Many handlers are hung up on trying to show a dog with its head strung up, and flying around the ring. Needless to say, in my ring, the example of showing the correct presentation will certainly have my attention. What about breed-specific movement? Do I demand this from Herding Dogs? The correct movement of a “square” dog, as des- ignated in their individual breed standards, will move in a differ- ent manner than the others. The reach and drive should not be exaggerated like that of the German Shepherd or Australian Shep- herd. These dogs reach out farther in the front and extend more in the rear. Although a Belgian breed that goes around the ring with extended reach and drive may look pretty and eye-catching to a novice judge, it is not correct for the breed and should not be rewarded on that merit. Any good Herding judge should be well- attuned to the breed-specific movement and use it as a determining factor in their overall placements. I always say that if you want to be competitive in the Herding Group ring, you have to be able to move well. Those who are just taking their dog for a walk around the ring will never succeed. Are the Herding breeds in good shape overall? Any concerns? I would say that, overall, the Herding breeds are doing well. The biggest problem I see is the loss of dedicated breeders and exhibi- tors of the more difficult breeds to maintain. The OES and Bouvier entries have dropped off significantly. No one wants to put the time and effort in to grooming some of these breeds that are in danger of becoming relatively unknown in the breed ring. Many of the newer breeds in the Group are wash-and-wear show dogs and are easy for handlers to add to their clientele base. It is a rare occasion to have a complete entry of Herding Dogs in the Group ring, even at some of the larger events. In my opinion, how do today’s exhibits compare with the Herd- ing Dogs of the past? I feel that show dogs, in general, are doing well, and fine examples are out there representing their breed. My breed, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, has made huge advancements in
bred dogs more than I do. Since the early 1980s, I have traveled across the country to attend dog shows. (Remember when you drove for two days to national specialties to learn about a breed?) I have served as the Chairman of the Judges Education Committee for the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and wrote the quarterly AKC Gazette breed column for a number
of years. When I stand in the center of the ring, I know that I am in a good place and I have a smile on my face (pre-pandemic, obvious- ly). And I love judging a great deal. I have added the Non-Sporting Group to my duties and I continue to add various breeds in other Groups that I find interesting. No one enjoys judging Juniors more than I do. The dog show world is my fun—and I want to keep it that way. Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge? I live in Girard, Pennsylvania, just south of Lake Erie. (Yes, we get a lot of snow.) Our first show dog was in 1983 and I have been judging since 2001. What is my original breed? What is/was my kennel name? Still my favorite breed; the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Our kennel name is Dragonpatch. This comes from my childhood. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would respond, ”A Dragon Patch.” The symbol of Wales is a dragon and a patch is something that grows, so it made perfect sense to use that name when we were deciding on various choices. Can I list a few of the notable dogs I’ve bred? Any performance or parent club titles? Our first Group One winner was CH Dragon- patch Mystic Minstrel (Emmie). She won multiple Group Ones and was listed among the top five Cardigans for several years. Disillusioned with the then-current breeding stock in the US, we decided to seek out what we liked overseas. NL BISS/NZ/NL/
158 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2022
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