Showsight - May 2022

NON-SPORTING 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 some of the qualities you most admire in the Non- Sporting Breeds? 5. Have you judged any Non-Sporting Breed/Group Specialties? 6. Can you speak to the overall quality of the more popular Non- Sporting Breeds/Varieties; Bulldog, French Bulldog, Standard & Miniature Poodles? 7. What about the overall quality of the more “vulnerable” breeds; Coton de Tulear, Finnish Spitz, Löwchen? 8. Would you have any advice to impart to newer judges of the Non-Sporting Breeds who come from other Groups? 9. In your opinion, how do today’s exhibits compare with the Non-Sporting Dogs of the past? 10. Why do you think Non-Sporting Dogs can become such out- standing Show Dogs? 11. If you could share your life with only one Non-Sporting Breed, which would it be and why? 12. Just for laughs, do you have a funny story that you can share about your experiences judging the Non-Sporting Group? DEBORAH BARRETT

Can I list a few of the notable dogs I’ve bred? Any performance or parent club titles? I co-bred and handled some Chows that did well at our National and its associated shows, and at Regional Spe- cialties, but I was never a hugely successful breeder. My co-breeder buddy and I have had to be very selective since our circumstances have dictated that we could only have a few litters. What are some of the qualities I most admire in the Non-Sport- ing Breeds? I love the immense diversity of the Group as a whole, where you can get everything from Bulldogs to Xoloitzcuintli! I believe there is something for everybody. Have I judged any Non-Sporting Breed/Group Specialties? I’ve actually judged more Toy Specialties! I have judged a Chinese Shar- Pei Specialty, a Poodle Specialty recently, and probably every Chow Regional Club Specialty there is, including those associated with our National. Can I speak to the overall quality of the more popular Non- Sporting Breeds/Varieties; Bulldog, French Bulldog, Standard & Miniature Poodles? I don’t often get so many Miniature Poodles, actually, but many of the Standard Poodles in my area of the coun- try are really excellent. I nowadays look for the Frenchie numbers to be some of the highest at the show. They are deservedly such a popular breed, and lately, the quality is coming back for them. Bulldog types for me are “all over,” but I always enjoy seeing what the Bulldog folks bring me. The Bulldog people are generally so supportive of each other and often exemplify a great attitude at the shows. What about the overall quality of the more “vulnerable” breeds; Coton de Tulear, Finnish Spitz, Löwchen? I just attended the 2022 Löwchen National wherein they had more dogs entered than my Chow National had! There were some super dogs there that any- body would be proud to exhibit. People often show me a good Coton because I’ve been known to really look at them in the Group. (Everybody has paid the same entry fees and deserve to be under consideration. I don’t care if you happened to be the only represen- tative at the show.) Sadly, I rarely see a Finnish Spitz or a Norwegian Lundehund—and I worry for them. So many breeds are going low- entry. Of course, there’s less genetic diversity available with low- entry breeds, but I know that their breeders are going all over the world to try to alleviate this problem. Would I have any advice to impart to newer judges of the Non- Sporting Breeds who come from other Groups? Keep in mind that different breeds need a different approach. Several of the Breed Standards in this Group mention their delightful temperament as a hallmark of the breed, but about half of the breeds in this Group are, naturally, perhaps, not going to be effusively reveling in your exam and may not even deign to glance your way. Their Standards might allude to it with words like “aloof/discerning” with Chows, or “reserved/independent” like the Shibas, “stand-offish/snobbish” with Shar-Pei, “cautious” with the Finnish Spitz, “chary/aloof” with Lhasas, and even the charming little Tibetan Spaniel is “aloof with strangers”—along with several others whose Standards mention some flavor of “wary of strangers” or “cautious” or even “slightly conservative.” I’m not trying to point out all of them, but clear- ly there are plenty, and I hope you can enjoy them for what they are. Naturally, you aren’t rewarding aggressiveness or failure-to- examine shyness, but I have met sparkling show dogs in all of these breeds. So, do try to recall what a typical attitude for each breed might be, and give them grace accordingly. Savor the opportunity to witness these living works of art that many people have labored to prepare for you!

I’ve been showing Chow Chows, my “home breed,” since 1982. After 25 years, I decided to start judging in ear- nest; I judge the Non-Sporting and Toy Groups, and I love the Juniors. I have worked in various capacities, including as President of my local Birmingham Kennel Club, which has been in exis- tence for over 100 years, and I still help

on the Board, teaching handling classes or however I can make myself useful. Additionally, I have served my parent club, the Chow Chow Club, Inc., for many years, ring stewarding or in various other “official” capacities. Back in the day, I was a voice major, and every so often people hear me sing the national anthem to start off the shows. I am retired now, but to support my dog habit I was a computer systems analyst. I utilize my understanding of structure based on my interest in horses at an early age. I love judging because it’s the chance for me to interact with beautiful dogs of all breeds—these living works of art from all over the world. And I try to never give a dog a bad experience in my ring. Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge? I am a “military brat,” now living in Hoover, Alabama, which is near Birmingham. I have been in some aspect of dogs all my life, but after we married, my husband and I did our research to choose a breed suitable for us and he preferred Chow Chows—a fabulous breed! I became a permit judge for them 16 years ago. What is my original breed? What is/was my kennel name? Oh, I had a Dachshund and some Basset Hounds, but we got serious about conformation with the Chows back in the early 1980s. Many Chow kennel names are Lion-something, or Bear-something, and I figured I already had a built-in kennel name: Bear-ett (Barrett).

SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2022 | 173

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