a question. I continue to use my mentors in each breed I judge and while I was a breeder I was always amazed by the knowledge that the other breeders had. Use that knowledge, learn from that knowledge and pass your knowledge to the new breeders and exhibitors. Please always find time to speak to some new person in your breed. It is a different world to them so let them drain you with their questions and give them your knowledge- able answers. Help them at dog shows and become their mentor, as we all started that way and never forget that. As a judge, always listen to constructive conversations you have with your mentors and other breeders and judg- es and work with each other to make that breed better. MZ: Stay with the written standard, ask questions of those with active and successful longevity in a breed and trust your own opinions. 11) And for a bit of humor, what’s the funniest thing that you ever experienced at a dog show? LM: Exhibitor put dog on the table; her cell phone (in her bra) rang. She was mortified, I just told her to let it go to voicemail. A good laugh for both of us. DR: As a handler many years ago, I was showing a brace of Basenjis at the Golden Gate Kennel Club show and one of them dumped in the ring and the owner could not tell which one was doing it. I was humiliated and we all had a good laugh for years later. JS: As an early exhibitor, I tried to handle my own Poodles. As a young, gay early exhibitor, I thought I had to have more turns and dance moves and arm movements and with the hands pointed in the direction of my Poodle than any other exhibitor in the ring. I wanted to make sure the judge saw me and I stood out and to make the point my Poodle was much better than the others in the ring. Most of the times it never worked and I went fourth in a class of four or five in a class of five. It was not pretty but as everyone knows today I am the pretty one and it is hard to hide beauty and I have no show dogs to exhibit which is a blessing to the Sport of Dogs. DT: The funniest thing at a dog show? One of the funniest in my own breed was at a National that Mr. Bivin was judging, the class walked in and at the end of the class was a Pomeranian colored like a Keeshond. I think we all need to remember that most of us breed and show dogs because we love our breed and the sport, but the friend- ships that develop are by far the most important as some will last a lifetime MZ: One of the times that I judged the KCA National, a friend brought a stuffed dog into the ring. After “gaiting” her, I told her I’d have to excuse her for limping. She said, “Don’t you mean linting?”
“LIFE IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE; ENJOY IT WHILE YOU ARE HERE.”
stud owners or bitch owners about what tests that they perform on their breeding stock. As I stated above, look at the pedigrees for up to five or six or more generations. New judges should study, study, study the breed stan- dards! Learn from more than one person and remember to ask questions. MZ: My advice to new exhibitors is to listen to as many people as you can, not just one or two. Once you’ve done that, decide for yourself what you’d like to do and try that. You can always change course, adding or subtracting something. Every dog even in a given breed is not presented the same way, or with the same equipment. Absolutely important—go to shows or trials just to watch and learn before jumping into the ring. In any of the dog sports, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you will not be able to present your dog correctly and to its best advantage. For the new judge, stay as close to the breed standard as possible. Never be afraid to ask questions of those who are well-respected in a breed. 10) Anything else you’d like to share—something you’ve learned as a breeder, exhibitor or judge of Group Six or a particular point you’d like to make? LM: Life is a learning experience; enjoy it while you are here. You won’t get out alive. JS: As a breeder, exhibitor and judge I have learned to listen to those much more wiser than I. Respect people with longevity in this Sport and take notes, ask questions and never interrupt a response. Remember to ask questions and never be afraid to say you do not know the answer to
230 • S how S ight M agazine , J une 2017
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