TOY GROUP JUDGES Q&A
“They love to please... love the attention… and they love being special, away from home.”
TAMMY JACKSON
Capezio, Ch. Daktari Apogee Macho, Ch. Daktari Apogee Sabrina, Ch. Apogee Daktari Lyca Cornflake, Ch. Apogee Daktari Arina, Ch. Apogee Daktari Arinna, Ch. Daktari Apogee Dakota, Ch. Daktari Apogee Allura, and Ch. Daktari Apogee Arabica. For me, in this time period, I was credited with 77 Miniature champions. In those 20 years, we always had one or two among the Top Ten winning Miniature Poodles, with Top Producing Sires and Dams yearly. In Toy Poodles: My first All-Breed and Specialty Winner was Ch. Apogee Daktari Conspiracy, a black bitch, along with her litter sister, Ch. Apogee Daktari Coppatina. These were from an acciden- tal breeding to a black Baliwick dog that climbed a six foot chain- link fence and bred a small brown Miniature bitch of all Minia- ture breeding! These were my true beginning foundation bitches in Toy Poodles. (As Maxine Bearn once told me, the BEST Toys she showed came down from Miniature breeding!) No performance titles for me. I went to my first training classes in Obedience in 1970... we graduated in the class, but that just wasn’t for me! However, many Poodles we’d sold went to perfor- mance homes. It’s always about anything a Poodle can do—and does—that makes it is a great representative of our breed. What are some of the qualities I most admire in the Toy breeds? I admire their type and soundness... many breeds are head breeds. Have I judged any Toy Breed Specialties? Yes, several, and it’s always an honor to be invited. Can I offer any advice to exhibitors regarding the presentation of these “table” breeds? Training! Get them out while young, and practice... and feed them outside the ring! Some longtime exhibitors have “downsized” to Toys. In my opinion, has this had an impact on quality? No, a quality Poodle of any variety is always type and soundness. Condition and showman- ship doesn’t change! Just takes less time to groom! Toy Breeds can require special care. Do I have any advice to offer breeders, exhibitors, and judges? Toy breeds are not for the weak at heart! We have smaller litters, broken legs, C-sections, mothers without milk for two days or more... one must know how to tube feed or bottle feed... and we have ONLY ONE INCH to choose from, 9 to 10 inches; one or two pups and, if you are lucky, one might get three pups. Each color in Poodles needs six to eight bitches for breeding. Breed before two and they are over by five to six years of age. They live to be 14 to 17 years of age. So, lots to take care of in any Toy breed’s lifespan. I have bred, more or less, one hundred champions and fin- ished many more for Ianthe Bloomquist of Baliwick Toy Poodles. I showed her first Toy Dog, Ch. Baliwick Mystic Warrior, in 1985. In 2019, I finished four champions for her that year. Our friendship has been a lifetime, since 1985 thru today. In my opinion, how do today’s exhibits compare with the Toy Dogs of the past? I think, today, we have more in type than in the 1970s. Why do I think Toy Dogs can become outstanding Show Dogs? They love to please... love the attention… and they love being spe- cial, away from home. If I could share my life with only one Toy Breed, which would it be and why? I am a Poodle breeder for nearing fifty years... Poodles make one laugh every day! They are great entertainers. But serious- ly, they can also be your best friend; great guard dogs... they bark!
Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge? I am originally from Philly, but I have been in New England for over 20 years and I cur- rently live in Bristol, Connecticut. I have been in the dog show world for over 36 years. I started judging in 2002, so 20 years, roughly. What is my original breed? What is/was my kennel name? My original breed is the Shih Tzu. I predominantly handled, and
only bred a few litters of Shih Tzu, (Delago), Pekingese, Chinese Crested, etc. I have lived and worked in Poodle, Min Pin, Chi- huahua, Bichon, Lhasa, and Mini Schnauzer kennels, to mention a few, lol. Can I list a few of the notable dogs I’ve bred? Any performance or parent club titles? I bred several Shih Tzu champions, and showed at many National Specialties. What are some of the qualities I most admire in the Toy Breeds? For me, personally, I am in awe by the versatility of Toy Breeds! Regardless of the original function of each Toy Breed (some used as ratters, some as “ merry monarchs” or royal members of dynas- ties, even working functions, etc.), when it comes to the ultimate companion dog and the ability to “read” human emotion, the Toy Breeds are uncontested! (Okay, I may be a little biased, lol.) For me, personally, I have been blessed to watch Shih Tzu work with me as part of therapy teams for children with autism, veterans, outpa- tient mental health clinics, hospitals, schools, etc. These animals have made unprecedented changes in so many people’s lives, and the convenience of size allows for therapy work with very physically fragile individuals who may be confined to hospital beds and adap- tive equipment. Have I judged any Toy Breed Specialties? Yes, I have been hon- ored to judge many Toy Breed Specialties, and in June, I am excep- tionally honored to judge one of the ASTC (American Shih Tzu Club) Regional Specialties. Can I offer any advice to exhibitors regarding the presentation of these “table” breeds? First and foremost, you don’t need to have, nor should you ever have, heavy hands on a Toy Breed—whether a judge or exhibitor. With the exception of certain heavily coat- ed breeds (Shih Tzu, Peke, Maltese, Yorkies, etc.), a judge can see structure on the move! But even with the above-mentioned coated breeds, examinations for structure and headpieces that may be “groomed on” should always be gentle and without resistance. As far as the exhibitors, as with any dog, your nerves travel down the lead! So, if you aren’t enjoying showing, neither will your dog! Do not pick up a Toy Breed by the neck and tail! I see this all the time and I will counsel exhibitors on not placing their hands on the dog’s throat or the tail, which is part of the dog’s spine! Our dogs’ happi- ness, health, joy, and companionship come before any competition or win. I was once asked what the most important characteristic is for a judge; I answered, “You must LOVE DOGS!” Some longtime exhibitors have “downsized” to Toys. In my opinion, has this had an impact on quality? This is a difficult ques- tion, as it is so subjective to the handler, the breeding programs, etc. I think the better question is, “What is the intent of ‘downsizing?’” If a handler chooses to incorporate Toy Breeds into their string of
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, APRIL 2022 | 147
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