had them. I began breeding and show- ing in 1972 and was persuaded to go into judging in 1997. I grew up in northern Illinois and went to college and graduate school in Illinois and Indiana. My first position after gradu- ate school was teaching at The Univer- sity of British Columbia in Vancouver and playing with The Vancouver Sym- phony. After several years, I moved
JRJ: My favorite attribute of my breed is a perfectly balanced, compact dog with an outgoing attitude and a head to match its body. My least favorite attribute is a long, tube-shaped specimen with no shape. RL: I love their sense of loyalty and affection. I don’t have a least favorite attribute—I just love the whole package! CKN: I love the whole package of a Pekingese from their personality to their appearance. The only attribute that is not a favorite is when they are difficult or stubborn while learning to walk on a lead. MR: My favorite aspect of the Pekingese breed is the person- ality. My least favorite would have to be health related— the respiratory and cardiac issues. 3. Do you judge on the table or on the ground? DB: I place a tremendous amount of importance on what I find when I examine Pekes on the table. But I also judge them on the ground, because while the Pekingese is not a movement breed per se, that quintessentially effortless rolling gait is part of breed TYPE, and should be sought out! Having said that, I am going to contradict myself by saying that this is a breed where a great amount of importance has to be placed on what you find when you examine them on the table, because certain faults such as wry mouths, tongue or teeth showing, and a body that sits on top of, instead of being slung between, its bowed front legs, are unforgivable, and hence, are deal breakers for me. They may still move well on the ground but if the exhibit harbors those above-mentioned faults, I will not be using them for top awards. The fundamental purpose of the dog shows is to evaluate breeding stock, and it is my opinion that dogs that harbor such faults should ideal- istically not be bred from! JRJ: This is a loaded question. I judge both on the table and on the ground—doesn’t everyone? RL: I judge on the table and move them on the ground. It’s not fair to Pekingese or other small breeds for that mat- ter, to swoop down on them on the ground looming like a giant or a bird of prey. It may spook some but not all. Neither does asking the exhibitor to hold up the entries to scrutinize the heads; doing so changes the expression by the exhibitor hoisting up the dog creating a sense of insecurity and fearful expression. CKN: Basically I examine the dog carefully on the table, but make final judgments on the ground after seeing the movement and all the dog’s attributes in one package. MR: I judge in both places. 4. How do you feel about puppies vs. adults? DB: There is most certainly an irresistible allure about a correct and beautiful Pekingese puppy, and because I have won Specialty Best In Show’s from the classes in
to Baltimore and played with The Baltimore Symphony and eventually returned to teaching and performing at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. This is when I became more involved with breeding and exhibiting Peking- ese. I loved the dogs so much that I bred a litter only when I wanted something to show as I could never sell or part with any that I had bred. I live in the Shenandoah Valley near the Blue Ridge Mountains—thus Shenblu Pekingese. I am on The Pekingese Club of America Board of Directors and assist with Judges’ Education and am still an active flutist performer/ teacher. I’m also approved for the Toy and Non Sporting groups along with Best in Show and Juniors. DR. MARGARET REED
I live in Wilton, Connecticut. Out- side of the dog world, I am an entrepre- neur, author and sportswoman. I start- ed showing dogs in 1968 and became a judge in 1996.
1. Describe the breed in three words. DB: Without a doubt, the Pekingese should be described as “impish Chinese royalty!” JRJ: A loving companion. RL: Majestic, unique, healthy and long-lived. CKN: Lion-like, compact and fearless. MR: Head, movement and coat (in that order). 2. What is your favorite attribute of a Pekingese? Your least favorite? DB: My favorite attribute of the Pekingese has to be their loyalty to their chosen ones, while my least favorite one has to be their stubbornness! You cannot make a Peke do what it does not want to do, but most Pekingese are so loyal they will aim to please their masters and/or mistress regardless!
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