YestK̒ Q&a
3. Is there anything Westie handlers do you wish they would not? Any grooming practices you see that bother you? MB: Coat is much shorter than the standard suggests and head is overdone. WK: Handlers are becoming masters in hiding faults with lots of grooming, especially around the head and neck. DM: Excessive over grooming. The Westie is a hand-stripped breed and I am dismayed by the over use of scissors on the bodies, heads and furnishings. MU: Generally throughout the country the coats are in better in quality and condition. We realize in today’s world we look for the easy method of whatever we do. However, the Westie coat is a plucked and stripped coat. This does require more time but the results are worth it. Please do no use the clippers under the neck down the chest and around the shoulders. Shortcut methods do detract from the presentation of this beautiful breed. LW: Handlers are doing a good job for the most part. Please move Westies at a proper gait, not too fast. Grooming and presentation are really nice. It takes a lot of time and dedication to prepare and present a Westie in that glori- ous hard, straight, white coat. 4. How important is sparring? MB: If done properly, it really showcases a personality and attitude. It is not fighting. Young dogs do not spar! WK: Sparring is moderately important, as long as it’s done properly (don’t get the dogs too close together and don’t mix the sexes; we don’t want to have a bitch in season and a couple of dogs sparring). Much more important is the Westie temperament: alert, gay, courageous and friendly, with no small amount of self-esteem. ML: Sparring is a useful tool when evaluating Westies, when done properly. It is important to note that Westies are pack animals and worked together so they shouldn’t want to kill each other when in the ring. I will bring out two or no more than three, and have the exhibitors go to opposite corners and then walk back toward the center of the ring with clear instructions not to let them get to close. I just want them to look at each other, which will make them stand at attention, up on their toes, alert and ready for whatever. This attitude of curious intensity— without initiating a confrontation, but ready to take it on and finish it if the other dog starts it—is what I’m looking for. That confident Westie attitude and outline is a beauti- ful sight to behold. DM: A properly done spar is a beautiful site to behold. MU: When sparring is guided properly it is awesome to observe these Westies pull themselves together, exhibit- ing their attitude, just daring their competitor to make the first move. This is not the time for growls, grinding of teeth and leaping at each other. Again, when done correctly it becomes another very useful tool for the final evaluation and decision. LW: In order to show true temperament, sparring is a must! 6. And, for a bit of humor: What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever experienced at a dog show? MB: This is more an endearing story than a funny one. At a small show in Ohio, we were waiting for our turn in
the ring, and began talking to a 10-year-old boy sitting in the bleachers. He described his beloved dog with great detail and told up that bringing him to a dog show would be so unfair for all the others because he would always win. His dog was unique and the best of his kind. His breed: “Brown Beagle.” Overtime whenever I think of the reason for breeding dogs—the joy in his eyes is the reason! WK: Many, many moons ago (back in the 1980s) when I was still showing the Westies we had bred, I was in the ring at our national specialty at Montgomery with “Tag”, Ch BIS Kilkerran D’Artagnan. After gaiting Tag, I was on the side watching some of the other Westies being gaited, not focusing entirely on Tag. While watching some of the other Westies moving, I happened to notice several people sitting across the way at ringside, laughing and pointing in my direction. I wondered what was so inter- esting and amusing in my general area, until I happened to look down and saw Tag using my leg as a fire hydrant to relieve himself. Just goes to prove the point— focus, focus, focus on the dog you are showing. ML: I’ve had the privilege of judging Westies at Montgomery Co. three times, and needless to say, I have many fond memories of Montgomery weekends over the years. However, one of the funniest and my most embarrass- ing moments was one when I was ring stewarding and calling the American Bred Class into the ring. No one has ever accused me of being soft spoken, so in my strongest voice I yelled, “American Bred Britches to the ring.” Need- less to say, that brought a laugh, relieved any tension that might have been and made for a very red-faced Melinda. It was not the first time I’ve put my foot in my mouth nor will it be the last, I’m sure. DM: Once a friend of mine was showing a fast-moving dog. On the go around her shoe came flying off and landed in the adjoining ring. She never missed a beat and contin- ued around the ring. After all, the show must go on! MU: Many years ago when I was exhibiting at an outdoor show, the judge requested the exhibitor to take her Wes- tie down and back. She did, but she had a death grip on the lead. It was impossible for the dog to use his four legs on the ground. Again approaching the judge, the judge said to her take the dog down, turn around, drop the lead and come back. She did exactly what she was told to do. She dropped the lead and she stared to come toward the judge. That Westie shot out of the ring and headed for the nearby lake. Dozens of exhibitors took out after the dog that was having way too much fun. The story ended well, but it was certainly exciting. LW: The funniest thing I experienced at a dog show was a long time ago when I was showing at the Cow Palace in California. I was in the Terrier Group with a number of top handlers from California. One of them was a man who was known for his top Irish Terriers. Our judge was Maxine Beam. At the time I was showing the number one Cairn. The judge asked the Irish and the Cairn to come out to spar. I stepped forward and in the blink of an eye the Cairn jumped up and tore out half of the Irish’s beard! The judge thought this was terribly funny and put her arm around me and placed the Cairn third. I could not look that handler in the eye for months!
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