WITH MARLEEN BURFORD, KEKE KAHN, WAYNE KOMPARE, MELINDA LYON, DAWN MARTIN, GERRY MEISELS, JAY RICHARDSON, JACQUELINE STACY, MARJORIE UNDERWOOD, RANDY WECKMAN & LINDA WELLS
Also, Westies were bred to work in packs and dog aggres- sion is a fault. Too often judges seem to be drawn to a dog that goes into the ring growling and acting aggres- sive. These judges are rewarding the high-strung, hyper dog and I am concerned we are going to lose the fine temperament that makes Westies so unique. JR: Size, this is supposed to be a hardy Terrier breed, not a Toy breed with little heads and teeth. MU: A trend which seems to becoming a major problem is the front assembly is moving more and more forward. Thus, the neck is becoming shorter and shorter and the backline is becoming longer and somewhat weak. This results in adversely affecting the movement. Unfortunately and too frequently, the upper arm is no longer moderate but it appears to becoming too short and the angle is incorrect. This creates a front movement which is mincing, taking tiny steps, the back is too long and the hindquarters are attempting to adjust. Hocks are becoming too high which in turn is preventing a powerful push from the rear. There are exhibits which come into the ring with evidence that scissors and or clippers have been used as well as too much product has been applied. Let’s remember this is a plucked or stripped coat. This does require more time but the results are so worth it. In my opinion, in today’s world I would enjoy seeing the Westies with much improved balance and proportion which would create a more compact dog, including better bone and substance and improved heads which would not need excessive amount of product. RW: I am not sure that any traits have become exaggerated. We do have some variability (some short on leg, longer in body than ideal, but they don’t predominate in the breed). 4. What five traits do you look for, in order, when judging West Highland Whites? What do you con- sider the ultimate hallmark of the breed? MB: The joyful attitude. Balanced outline with perfect tail, proportions and smooth gait. WK: Five traits I look for when judging Westies: Front angulation, Rear angulation, Movement, Coat, Temperament (attitude). ML: I look for type, movement, substance, structure and coat. 1) When Westies enter my ring, the first impres- sion I look for is type. Type is comprised of a multitude of qualities that make up the whole picture. They should have a balanced structural appearance, plus an attitude displaying confidence and “no small amount of self-esteem”. Westies are frequently described as a big dog in a small package. 2) Movement is the next vitally important quality I look for because that is one of the best indicators of sound structure. In my opin- ion, the front assembly is an area of concern for our breed today. While we don’t see the fiddle fronts of
old, we have, never the less, lost the pro-sternum and depth of chest that is called for in the standard. While we have better layback than we use to have, I find the upper arm in a majority of specimens is so shortened that it greatly restricts their movement. The upper arm should approximate the length of the scapula or shoulder blade. When you have the required laid back of shoulder and desired length of upper arm then you will have a Westie with the ability to properly reach out with strong forward movement. Some Westie exhibitors will run around the ring giving the impression that they have the required reach, but I’m not fooled or impressed by that. There is a big difference between one that is moved at an unnaturally fast pace and one that demon- strates true reach and drive. Sadly, I see more Westies in the ring today that take short, mincing steps which means they take twice as many steps to get to their des- tination. 3) Once on the table, the bone (or substance) can be evaluated. First impressions are not always what they seem. I want to put my hand on the head and feel a skull of substantial bone or is the perceived substance just an illusion created by masterful grooming. I am not the least bit intimidated by the beautifully groomed and teased up head. I tell all judges in my seminars to prop- erly determine if that dog actually has good substance, you must get in there to feel the actually skull. I also have found that if the base of the tail is nice and thick it usually is another indication of adequate bone. 4) From there I move on to the overall structure of the dog. I have already commented on the importance of the front assembly and my concerns regarding the shortened upper arm as it applies to impacting proper movement. Now moving on to the rest of the dog, the standard states that the body between the withers and root of tail is slightly shorter that the height at the withers. I think there is a tendency to think a Westie is supposed to be a square dog or that shorter is better but this is incorrect and to me, throws off the balanced appearance. Remem- bering the job Westies were originally meant to per- form, they had to have the flexibility to turn around in a hole or tight spaces of the Scottish landscape, which means they cannot be too short coupled. I also want to see a level topline, one that is rock solid when moving. 5) The Westie coat is next on my list for consideration. Here again, the coat is designed for the weather of Scot- land, requiring a harsh outer coat to repel the rain, thus keeping the dog dry, and then with a soft undercoat designed for warmth. Ideally you want a hard, straight, white coat, with no tendency to curl, which is a serious fault as is a soft coat. I’m forgiving of a coat with some wheaten tipping down the back. That is usually an indication of a very hard coat plus, quoting John Marvin who was one of the authorities in our breed, it is better to have a hard coat with wheaten tipping that a soft, pure white coat.
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