NON-SPORTING JUDGES Q&A
bitch. I had taken her to Kyle Robinson to finish her American title and, lo and behold, I got an entry for the summer national in Cin- cinnati where she was one of 40 Open Black bitches. Largest entry ever. Those were the days of huge entries. All I wanted was to make the first cut, but she made the cut and won the class. Long story short, she went on to be BOW that year. That had to be my thrill of a lifetime. Kyle did an amazing job with her. In Affens, I will never overpopulate the world, trust me. But with my limited breeding, I’ve won BOS at the National twice, Winners Bitch & BOW twice, Winners Dog & BOW once, Reserve Win- ners Dog once, and two Awards of Merit. I will be forever grateful to Jerome Cushman for giving me my start in the breed. I really do breed for myself. What are some of the qualities I most admire in the Non-Sport- ing Breeds? I love the diversity of the breeds, their functions, their silhouettes, and not one commonality fits all. This Group tests you, from American Eskimos to Xolos. Have I judged any Non-Sporting Breed/Group Specialties? I’ve judged a number of Frenchie Specialties and Supported Entries; also, Poodle, Shar-Pei, Tibetan Terriers, Tibetan Spaniel, Kees- hond, Boston Terrier, and Löwchen Specialties. Can I speak to the overall quality of the more popular Non- Sporting Breeds/Varieties; Bulldog, French Bulldog, and Standard & Miniature Poodles? Bulldogs are certainly a specialized breed and one that will test you. I believe this breed is in really good shape; beautiful specimens that make you sigh. A Bulldog win- ning the Group is not the exception anymore, nor should it be; a breed that the exhibitors all clap for, no matter who wins. They are very supportive of each other. The French Bulldog is a breed that I’ve judged more than a few times. Recently, I did a regional specialty and the quality was high. There were certainly choices. For a breed that is fighting the designer colors and popularity issue, the breeders have done an exemplary job in maintaining the qual- ity. Poodles have dominated this Group for years; the panache, the attitude, their personality have all contributed to making it diffi- cult to beat. Nothing makes me happier than watching all three varieties at Poodle Club of America (PCA). However, going back to function, these were retrieving dogs among other things. Their conformation today, however, lends itself to straight shoulders, no prosternum, and ewe necks. When you find one that possesses the correct front, you say to yourself, “It can happen.” Of course, this is one component of the overall dog, but it would sure be nice to have this happen more often. What about the overall quality of the more “vulnerable” breeds; Coton de Tulear, Finnish Spitz, Löwchen? These vulnerable breeds are, yes, few and far between, but they have maintained their hall- marks very well. When Cotons came on the scene, I had attended the World Show in Helsinki where there was a large entry, so I was able to get a good feel for the breed. It has held to its origins! I’ve placed more than a few in the Group. Finnish Spitz is a breed that I feel should be in the Hound Group because of its function. It is definitely in the wrong Group, at least for me. By and large, this breed is very localized but it has maintained its silhouette, its hall- mark gait, and its head. Entries may be small, but what is shown is, by and large, fitting the standard. The Löwchen is my sweetheart breed. I love this breed and it should be recognized far more often than it is. This breed is part of the Bichon family and the one endearing component common to all is that lovely, soft, and beguiling expression. This is the breed. Again, it is a breed that is high in quality. My only concern is size. They were carried around by the ladies of the court, though some today would wear the arm out very quickly. I judged them in Aus- tralia before COVID and I could have stolen my Group winner in a nanosecond. All of these low-entry breeds should be given equal consideration for placing in the Group. Are they?
gives everyone an opportunity to view all the breeds, not only the Group Winners. If I could share my life with only one Non-Sporting Breed, which would it be and why? While I love Shelties and the Shiba Inu, I’d probably take an American Eskimo… I’m used to the double coat. They also smile at you and are just smaller than the Samoyed! I love the Bostons and the Tibetan Terrier too, but don’t tell anyone. Just for laughs, do I have a funny story that I can share about my experiences judging the Non-Sporting Group? Certainly. I don’t know where to begin with this; however, I did have a Dalmatian get away from the handler and run around the ring a bit… it was a fun event and we all laughed, including the handler. The show ring has to be fun for everyone, as most lose more than they win! Thank you… these are not easy questions for someone not coming from the Group originally! SANDRA LEX
Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge? I live in Metropolitan Toronto, in the same house since childhood. I could be a historian for the neighborhood. I’ve only worked for three companies in my lifetime, with my last association being with The Aluminum Company of Can- ada for 39 years, serving in administra-
tion, sales, and finally, accounting, a job given to me to develop, and I did, being responsible for receivables, deductions, and maintain- ing pricing in the system. (Invoice price was never the final price, trust me.) I was fortunate in having my “other” life on the weekend and that, of course, was the dog world. A true “360” when you think about it. I called it “fantasyland” because reality hit the road on Monday morning. The downturn in the 2008/09 economy made me the perfect candidate for retirement. I’ve been asked, “How long did it take you to get used to retirement?” My response? “Twenty- four hours and I’ve never looked back.” Today, I have a very active life. I still have more than a few dogs. Gardening is a huge passion and I’ve re-landscaped the property into a design garden. I entered the world of ikebana , Japanese flower arranging, 10 years ago and, of course, there’s my judging. All in all, a very full life. How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge? I have been involved for more years than I can count. My mother bred dogs, ever since I was 10, so it could be said that I kinda’ fell into it. Even now, I still breed, though not much, and I exhibit. I’m an all-breed judge here in Canada, judging for 28 years; however, 23 years ago, I decided to apply under the AKC system and I currently have the Sporting, Toy, and Non-Sporting Groups, and my new venture into Terriers with eight breeds. During those 23 years, I took an 11-year hiatus from applying for various reasons; however, I was still judging. What is my original breed? What is/was my kennel name? My original breed was the American Cocker Spaniel for 25-plus years, with showing only Blacks and Black & Tans. I still have an infinity for those colors, no matter the breed. Then, 21 years ago, the Affen- pinscher came into my life and my only regret is that I never started earlier. This is a heartbreak breed and there is a reason why we are 159 or so out of 200-plus in AKC listing. In Cockers, my kennel name was Lesan’s, and in Affens it is Hilanne’s. Can I list a few of the notable dogs I’ve bred? Any performance or parent club titles? The one Cocker I bred and loved to bits was Am. Cn. Bd. CH Lesan’s Just One Kiss, a Group and BIS-winning
180 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2022
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