WORKING GROUP THE
1. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many as a judge? 2. Do you have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? 3. Can you talk about your introduction to the Working breeds? 4. Have you bred any influential Working dogs? Have you shown any notable dogs? 5. How important is the handler to the Working dog’s performance? 6. Can you speak a bit about breed-specific presentation? Any examples? 7. What about breed character? How do you assess this in the Working breeds? 8. Many of the Working breeds are large or giant dogs. Does size really matter? 9. Do you have any advice to offer newer judges of the Working Group? 10. Which Working dogs from the past have had the greatest influence on the sport? 11. What can judges of the other Groups learn from the Working breeds? 12. Is there a funny story you can share about experiences judging the Working breeds? DR. KLAUS ANSELM & JOAN ANSELM Klaus: We live in
Do I have any advice to offer newer judges of the Working Group? Know the purpose of the breed (guard dog, sled dog, etc.) and try to assess if the dog presented can handle its job. Joan: I live near Charlottesville, Virginia, in Keswick. I’ve always had a dog! Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? My interests have included horses, painting, needlepoint, pottery, bronze sculpting, skiing, volunteer work involving pet therapy in hospitals and nursing homes, and gardening at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. Can I talk about my introduction to the Working breeds? We spent 40 years in Colorado where our lifestyle dictated the need for a reliable, trustworthy, stable, alert, and robust pet. The Giant Schnauzer fit the bill. Have I bred any influential Working dogs or shown any notable dogs? Yes and yes. How important is the handler to the Working dog’s perfor- mance? Important; particularly breeder/owner-handled, competing against professionals. Can I speak a bit about breed-specific presentation? Knowing how to present a coated breed, how to work a harsh coat, do the proper conditioning, exercise and diet, and socialization. What about breed character? How do you assess this in the Working breeds? Aggressiveness towards other dogs, guarding instincts, willingness to please, reliability. A lot can be seen in the eye of the dog; self-assurance, and tail carriage. Does size really matter? No, unless it is addressed in the breed standard. Do you have any advice to offer newer judges of the Working Group? Provide space in the ring, never crowd. Special attention to the handlers’ control. Which Working dogs from the past have had the greatest influ- ence on the sport? The Giant Schnauzer, Terry von Krayenrain. What can judges of the other Groups learn from the Working breeds? Emphasis on soundness and temperament. Is there a funny story I can share about experiences judging the Working breeds? There was a period in Colorado when four of us often competed in the Working Group with our breeder-owned exhibits: Pat Edwards with her Boxer; Jean Wilcox with her Dober- man; Joan Anselm with her Giant Schnauzer; and Nancy Liebes with her Komondor. We usually all placed, though it never came out the same way. Funny, unusual, and we all had such a good time. VINCENT P. CHIANESE
Charlottesville, Virginia, and have been “in dogs” since 1967. I grew up with Chows in Germany. Do I have any hobbies
or interests apart from purebred dogs? I am a tap- estry weaver. I have exhib- ited my work across the country and have sold tapestries in the US and in Europe ( anselmtapestries.com ). Can I talk about my introduction to the Working breeds? We started out in Giant Schnauzers in 1967. Have I shown any notable dogs? We were successful in Breed, Group and Best in Show competition, but I am not sure how influ- ential our dogs were. How important is the handler to the Working dog’s perfor- mance? It is important to have a handler/exhibitor who knows and understands his dog and gets the most out of it. Can I speak a bit about breed-specific presentation? Working dogs are bred for certain functions. The presentation needs to exhibit the soundness of the dog. What about breed character? How do you assess this in the Working breeds? Very important. Some Working breeds are bred to be guard dogs or for protection. They may be aloof and watchful. They may “talk” and need to be approached in a respectful, and not confrontational, manner. (Avoid eye contact.) Does size really matter? No. It’s proven, if it is within the breed standard.
I live in Southeast Florida, just north of West Palm Beach by about 48 miles. I was raised in Northeast- ern Ohio, USA. My family always owned a dog; from a Scottish Terrier, my first dog at 5 years old, to a Min- iature Dachshund, with several mixed breed companions in between, as we loved all dogs. When I got married, I bought a German Shepherd as a fam- ily companion and as a guard dog for
my business and home. In 1978, while living in Sarasota, Florida, I bought my next dog, a Siberian Husky. She was my entrance into the dog show world. When I moved to Texas in 1979, I became
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, APRIL 2021 | 163
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