˃eaTFeF EQllK̒ Q&A
to make the sharp turns and sudden stops required of the sheepdog.” PH: I try very hard to always observe every breed I judge, do the job for which they were bred. I have been going to herding trials since the 80s, but I also try to watch the breeds work in real life so I love to watch them actual work on a farm or ranch. Their ability to do their job, to me, if the most important part of breed type. CW: A herding dog needs to be confident and have stamina. 7. Anything else you’d like to add? CA: Though low on the totem pole of popularity, they are becoming more recognized for their congeniality, gregar- iousness and clownish demeanor. They are also smarter than one thinks and will train their owners whilst the owner thinks they are training their dog. IC: Having recently judged over 100 Beardies in Seattle, WA, I was thrilled with the quality overall. I believe our younger generation of breeders is doing a good job, and this will hopefully ensure for some time to come, that the Bearded Collie remains a wonderful, free-spirited canine that is a devoted family member. RH: Their wonderful, outgoing personalities are a delight. MME: Loving or judging Beardies can give you a smile on the most trying of days if you only remember they love life and have a zest for sharing it with us lowly mortals. LS: A recent trend that is disturbing is seeing square dogs in the ring, which should never happen—nowhere does the breed standard describe the Bearded Collie as square. These dogs tend be have steep upright shoulders along with a short rib cage and a steep croup causing them to have a restricted gait! CW: The “Beardie bounce”, not seen so often any more, still gives me goose bumps as it shows true character and joy of life. It’s not to be penalized unless it’s overdone or disrupts others. If I’m seriously considering a dog, I often give them another try. PH: I dearly love this breed and I beg the breeders and han- dlers to please stick to the standard and do not let this wonderful breed just become another show dog. 8. And, for a bit of humor: What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever experienced at a dog show? CA: I was once part of a carousel in the ring. As the dogs/ bitches moved around for BOB (and there were about 12 in the ring) the first in line jumped in the air, which was quickly followed by the second dog in line. It became contagious and at one point, there was at least one dog with all four in the air (in a straight up front legs highest and rear legs lowest). The judge could not stop laughing and asked the audi- ence if they wanted to see that again. Of course, to the dismay of those of us running around, out of breath, the audience yelled out, “More!” So the judge complied and made us do it twice again. My dog was literally in the air when the judge pointed to him for WD. It really did
look like a carousel at the fair, except it was dogs and not horses moving up and down. NB: Beardies attracted the eye of several Sheltie friends of mine who added them as a second breed. I briefly considered one myself until I visited a friend who had a couple. She warned me of their high energy and to prove it, the next morning we couldn’t find one of them—until we looked up. She was standing on the garage roof! Liv- ing next to a busy road at that time, I decided against it. Although in retrospect, I’m not sure choosing the Saluki instead was much of a compromise! IC: Many years ago, I was travelling overnight with friends to a show in Manchester, England and had a young male puppy sleeping on the seat beside me. In the early hours I awoke to a very damp seat and pants. (The puppy gave no indication he needed to go.) Needless to say, I was wearing my show clothes. We stopped at a service station where my female friend offered me the only available change of clothing she possessed—bright pink jogging pants! I went to the washroom to change and the look on the faces of the truck drivers, as I stood and washed out my show pants, was a sight to behold. The worst part was that we arrived at the show late and I had to show this male puppy in the first class of the day, thus I had to show in the pink pants! To my horror the dog won its class and the judge, on handing me the red first prize card said, “Sorry, the card doesn’t quite match your pants sir!” RH: The funniest thing I ever experienced at a dog show was many years ago at the Beard National in Rohnert Park. We had our eleven-month-old male Shepherd with us—a dog that was great with other animals. There wasn’t a Beardie we passed for the five days we were there that didn’t bounce all over this very tolerant dog. MME: I have a young male in his first or second show, Dolly Ward was the judge and as usual she was wonderfully turned out with clothes and make-up. Since I am pretty casual, this was a curious sight and smell to Max. After sniffing her as she checked his shoulder layback he licked her from her chin to her ear. My heart went to my toes thinking, ‘Oh no, that wasn’t good.’ However, she laughed and patted his head enjoying the moment. As judges, one of the first things we need to pack is our sense of humor! CN: There have been a few funny moments at shows, but the funniest (and possibly the most embarrassing) for me was the day that l turned up at a show with my freshly- bathed Beardie bitch to find l had prepared and taken the wrong dog! It was a great social get together with friends and we had a good laugh at my expense. LS: I was at an International Rare Breed show judging. It was very hot weather and I was marking my book, I looked up to the next ring and saw a Swedish judge (who shall remain nameless) lifted her top and removed her bra! I quickly turned around to find that she certainly stopped the judging!
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