NON-SPORTING BREEDER Q&A A correctly conditioned Tibetan should be a durable, versatile dog. As with any coated breed, they require enough brushing to keep the dog free from mats and foreign substances that they can pick up outside. For a coated breed, the Tibetan’s coat maintenance is relatively easy; brushing, bathing, and removing the occasional mat. The Breed Standard states that these dogs are not to be trimmed, though there are some handlers who trim on their dogs. In my opinion, is my breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern? Yes, I think the breed is in good condition, though I see too many dogs in the show ring that are too long or have weak rears. Within my circle of dog show friends who have a variety of breeds, there is a continuous discussion of whether breeders are breeding for wins or breeding to preserve and improve the breed. Breeding for success in the show ring is a tricky endeavor, where breeding for phenotype alone, without assessment of structure or genetics, makes our breed weaker in both areas. Acknowledging that the genome is fairly small, genetic testing is imperative and we must be able to have an open dialogue with other people in the breed. Kennel blindness only leads us to negative outcomes. I was in Orlando exhibiting two of my “specials” dogs but spent my time looking to see if there were dogs there that I would like to integrate into my breeding program, and I am excited that I found a few that I like that are nice outcrosses which will help to keep me from becoming bottle-necked in my own line. Is my breed well suited to be a family dog? Who are the best candidates to own my breed? Tibbies really make wonderful pets, whether you live in an apartment or on a farm. They are versatile, easy to care for, durable, weather-resistant small dogs. They are smart, but they can be willful and more independent than many breeds; they are curious and like to think for themselves. Like any dog, they require training. I have trained dogs for Obedience and I have dogs competing in Agility and Fast CAT. Temperament within the breed varies as well. The breed is supposed to be aloof with strangers, and some of mine would prefer to only interact and snuggle periodically for short periods of time, while others didn’t read the Standard or they missed the word “aloof” and like being lapdogs. Either way, they do love their people. What is the biggest misconception about my breed? What is my breed’s best-kept secret? The breed itself is a best-kept secret, but with that being said, I don’t want them to become super-popular because it lures the wrong type of people who just want to breed for money. Tibbies can be barky, but they are bright and can be taught to only bark at appropriate stimuli. Some people believe that coat care is hard or that they shed excessively. They are a low-shed breed that only sheds more during coat changes—and coat care is very easy. As a Preservation Breeder, can I share my thoughts on the sport today? How’s the judging these days? What do I think about the number of shows? In my opinion, dog shows and the quality of exhibitors went downhill when the handlers tent went away and they moved from the tents to RVs and box trucks. Since handlers, breeders, and owner-handlers spent large amounts of time in close proximity to one another, there was more opportunity to connect with people and learn from the community around you. I learned “dogmanship” from the handlers who handled for my parents or who had their set-ups nearby. I was fortunate to learn from Bobby Clyde, Peter and Andrew Green, Joan Huber, Howard Huber, (no relation to Joan), and many others. As for judging, I am just going to put this out there… we can all see that politics has usurped the judging of dogs. I like showing my own dogs, and I hate the fact that I feel like, sometimes, I need to put a handler on a dog that should win on its own. If you want to pick faces, maybe you shouldn’t judge dogs! The painstaking effort we put into breeding, raising, preparing, and showing dogs is truly taken for granted, and we are the only reason you have dogs to judge! The number of shows today can be connected to my above statement about judging dogs. With the number of four- and five-day strings, a breeder or exhibitor who works for a living has a very hard time competing, especially if they are interested in competing for top Breed ranking. It only benefits those who have chosen to handle dogs professionally. In my opinion, is social media good for sport? Is it harmful? It’s not going away. I worry that, too often, judges will pick dogs that they see being touted on social media or in maga- zines, while discounting dogs they are less familiar with. What are the biggest challenges facing the dog show community as a whole today and how can these be addressed? I touched on this above; we need to be a community again. BRING BACK THE HANDLERS TENT. Yeah, I know, impossible, but if we could get more handlers inside at indoor shows… So “SNAP,” AKC doesn’t want OWNER HANDERS
190 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2024
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