NON-SPORTING JUDGES Q&A
“Knowing the purpose for which a breed was used, and how and why they developed to accommodate that, makes the overall evaluation and comparison to the standard much simpler.”
Group member. Whereas the other Groups are somewhat interre- lated breeds having many of the same physical, characteristic, and personality qualities and purposes, each of the individual Non- Sporting breeds is just that… individual! They have individual his- tories, purposes, movement, etc. They also span the spectrum of appearance from the Poodle to the Bulldog; Keeshond and Chow to the Norwegian Lundehund and the Xoloitzcuintli. Each and every one is beautiful in its individual way, having its own proud history and purpose. Have I judged any Non-Sporting Breed/Group Specialties? In the last 23 years, I have judged Specialties in about 40 percent of the Non-Sporting breeds, since I first began judging a Non-Sporting breeds in 1999. Can I speak to the overall quality of the more popular Non- Sporting Breeds/Varieties; Bulldog, French Bulldog, and Standard & Miniature Poodles? I have been happy to watch the development and improvement of all of the Non-Sporting breeds since 2000. Of those mentioned, it has been a joy to watch the quality improve, which includes the specific breed handling by owners, the precise- ness of the grooming of the Poodles as well as the overall movement and correct body types of the French and English Bulldogs. I am very happy that the French Bulldog has become one of America’s most popular breeds, and my heart smiles when I see a good quality Bulldog make its way up the ramp. What about the overall quality of the more “vulnerable” breeds; Coton de Tulear, Finnish Spitz, Löwchen? Not sure what you mean by “vulnerable” breeds other than perhaps low-entry breeds— certainly not the quality or health sustainability of the dogs. The Coton, despite its beautiful coat, came from a rugged environment where I doubt they had grooming parlors or hair dryers. I admire the several Finnish Spitz that I have seen, and I have awarded a beautiful specimen a Group One placement a short time ago. I see little question in the Löwchens as the exhibits I have seen are beau- tifully groomed, shown well, and worthy of strong consideration by the judges. If you are speaking of low-entry/popularity, that is a question that falls beyond my scope as a judge and is better directed to the parent clubs whom I know are wrestling with the issue. Would I have any advice to impart to newer judges of the Non- Sporting Breeds who come from other Groups? I would advise all new judges coming to the Non-Sporting Group to realize the individuality of each breed. Get to know their purpose, their his- tory, and their structure. Knowing the purpose for which a breed was used, and how and why they developed to accommodate that, makes the overall evaluation and comparison to the standard much simpler. Go to the seminars, watch the webinars, and buy the Canine College course where offered. Lastly, don’t forget to talk to
I belong to multiple Breed Clubs, a Group Club, several Local Clubs and All-Breed Clubs, and three Parent Clubs. My interests have always been improvement of our clubs and judging structures from the top down, and evenly and fairly accommodating the needs of all members of the AKC family. I still maintain a law practice in New Jersey and spend a lot of time in airports going to meetings or judging assignments. I hope to be seeing you and your show dog sometime in the future. Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge? At the current time, I am bi-coastal in that I still maintain official residence in New Jersey where I have a law practice and am the Delegate for Burlington County Kennel Club, Moorestown, New Jersey. One year ago, we purchased a home at 42687 Capri Drive, Bermuda Dunes, California 92203. I have been active in dogs for approximately 42 years; however, my show and breeding experience began about 40 years ago. I became a judge of my first breeds in 1995 and have enjoyed judging dogs for the last 27 years. What is my original breed? What is/was my kennel name? My original judging breeds were the Basset Hound and PBGV. Person- ally, I have owned a Rat Terrier, several Smooth Dachshunds, Chi- nese Cresteds, Irish Setters, and a Weimaraner. I became involved with PBGVs shortly after they started to arrive in this country, and was active in the recognition of the breed from almost the begin- ning. I was the first Delegate for the PBGVCA. My current dog is a PBGV rescue named “Piper.” The Basset kennel is Old York Bas- sets and the PBGV kennel is designated under L’Avocat (French for The Lawyer). Can I list a few of the notable dogs I’ve bred? Any performance or parent club titles? The Basset kennel began with Ch. Beaujan- gles Boomerang Showoff. The Bassets were shown primarily by Joy Brewster and Kitty Burke, the most notable of which was Old York’s Dallas Alice. This was followed by the finishing of about 20 Basset championships, all of which are notable to me. The PBGV line, which I started with co-owner Dottie Allen under the L’Avocat designation, began with an English import, Ch. Waklyn’s Topaze, who was the foundation bitch of a successful line that is still developing today. The most notable being Ch. L’Avocat L’Ourson Rouge (nickname Bam Bam) who showed at Westminster twice in his life, sired 14 offspring (a majority show champions), and who passed away in his sleep recently at the age of 18-½. One of my PBGVs earned a beginning hunt title; however, almost all were conformation events. I am proud to say that many of “Bam Bam’s” offspring enjoy agility and hunt titles, and are strong in scentwork activities. What are some of the qualities I most admire in the Non-Sport- ing Breeds? I like the individuality of each and every Non-Sporting
186 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2022
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