Sealyham Terrier Breed Magazine - Showsight

SEALYHAM TERRIER Q&A

serve him or her well. Sealys were bred to go-to-ground which is why the size was set at 10 ½ inches at the shoulder as the ideal. Unfortunately, as happens from time to time, we see dogs that are significantly larger winning. This should not be as they would be too large to do the job the Sealy was meant to do. Scissors or lev- el bites are okay, but anything else is not. Movement is parallel. Toplines are level, not sloping. One seldom sees this anymore, but judges years ago always placed their fists under the chest to deter- mine if there was sufficient depth. What is my ultimate goal for my breed? For the Sealy to be the healthiest breed with the best temperaments. Those are the funda- mentals of good breeding. What is my favorite dog show memory? A lifetime in dogs means a whole lot of memories, from winning the first major, first cham- pion, first Best-in-Show, to winning Best of Breed from the classes at Westminster, etc. However, I would guess my two most favor- ite memories involve Wales. In 1989 I judged the Open Show in Chepstow Castle for the Sealyham Terrier Club, parent club of our breed. I still hold the honor as the first and still only foreigner from any country to judge Sealys in Wales. In 2008, the same club held their Centenary Show at Sealyham Mansion. There were over 100 people at this event from 16 countries. I was one of eight people to be served luncheon in the Edwardes Family Dining Room at the Mansion. That is something you never forget. Is there anything else I’d like to share about my breed? Per- haps the story of how my mom first came to know Sealys. Back in 1938, there was a divorce in the Howard Family (the father, Charles Howard, owned Seabiscuit the famed racehorse) in Hillsborough, California, which led to the two Sealys being placed at the kennel of handler-judge Dan Shuttleworth. The bitch was picked up, but the dog was not. My grandfather was Secretary of the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce and when the family Terrier-mix was killed by a car, Dan suggested they take “Champ” as a replacement. He lived well past 15 and delighted the family always, and he gave my mother her commitment from childhood to Sealys. DAVID WINSLEY (DAVMAR) I have owned the breed for

tion numbers over the past 10 years. Unfortunately, the increase in numbers is partly due to what we term as “puppy farmers” (puppy mills) who are breeding Sealyhams to make money from a vulnerable breed. What are the characteristics that make my breed an ideal companion? The Sealyham is a happy and confident companion, besides being good looking and loyal, they are funny, clever and quite trainable. Can I describe the breed’s weather-resistant coat? The top coat should be of a harsh texture making it waterproof with a soft insu- lating undercoat. Unfortunately, the modern coat has become excessive and in many dogs it is now rather soft, hence losing its waterproofing quality. What is the biggest misconception about my breed? The biggest misconception about a Sealyham is that because they look quite glamorous they are a “soft” breed. Quite the opposite, they love nothing more than going on long walks over different terrains and love to get dirty. But after a quick rinse at home and toweling dry they are back to being fairly clean again. Does the average person recognize my breed? Unfortunately, it’s quite unusual for a member of the public to recognize the breed. Those who do have usually had dealings with the breed due to fam- ily ownership at some time in the past. What special challenges do breeders face? These days it’s never easy to breed a litter. People want an easy and fashionable breed such as these excessively priced cross-breeds. Breeding and rearing a litter takes money and time if done correctly; most people will be lucky if they break even. At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? Personally I watch the litter all the time, but at six to eight weeks I usually have a good idea which puppy looks promising. I let the others of less appeal to me go to their pet homes. Then I continually evaluate the promising puppy/puppies. Hopefully at the end of the elimination process I have one or more “promising” puppies. The aim is always to improve on what you have, don’t keep the second best in quality otherwise you will end up with a mediocre kennel. What is the most important thing about my breed for a new judge to keep in mind? Being a judge myself and remembering what my mentors taught me, the number one point is type! Then soundness in construction and in temperament. Remember what the breed was bred for originally. A poor Sealyham will not be able to do the work it was bred for! What’s the best way to attract newcomers to my breed and to the sport? It’s very important to be open, honest and helpful towards newcomers. Remember, even “pet” owners might soon become exhibitors and breeders of the future. Pass on your knowledge, teach, support and encourage them. What is my ultimate goal for my breed? The ultimate goal for the breed is to improve its popularity, but not to the point of being excessive. To maintain its correct breed type and quality. My favorite dog show memory? Personally, I have many great show memories that stick out in my mind, but the best is when my homebred Ch Davmar Northern Dancer took BIS in 2001 at the South Wales Kennel Association all-breed show with an entry of more than 10,000 dogs over the four days. It was the first BIS won by a Sealyham in 21 years. Second great memory was when I judged the ASTC Spe- cialty show at Montgomery in 2000; such a great entry of quality Sealyhams. Is there anything else? Every breed has its problems. My plea is for breeders to be honest and open about them, and to work to eradicate them, and for others not to conduct “witch hunts.” These people usually have something to hide and are not helping the breed. No one or no breed is perfect!

some 30+ years and currently have four at home. I have more or less retired from showing and breed just the occasional litter. I had held the position of a club Secretary for twelve years. I have been the breed’s KC representa- tive and a KC delegate until I retired this year. I am still a breed judge evaluator. I used to run

breed seminars for the clubs and the KC. I am passed to judge the Terrier Group in the United Kingdom and have judged Terriers in many countries worldwide. I live in the United Kingdom on the edge of the New Forest. I am now retired, but I was a Nurse Practitioner in care of the elderly. Currently, I spend a lot of time in our garden and also by research- ing/posting Sealyham pictures on the Internet. How do I feel about the current ranking of my breed? With regards to the AKC ratings, it’s a pity that the breed is in its current position. In the United Kingdom the breed fares a little better. I think the AKC needs to support breeds like Sealyhams which are currently “vulnerable” and on the verge of becoming rare. Do these numbers help or hurt my breed? These figures cer- tainly hurt the breed as anyone researching the breed for a pet will wonder what makes the breed so unpopular! In the United Kingdom we have seen an improvement in the breed’s registra-

196 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2020

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