WORKING GROUP Q&A
has managed to carry around in the back of their station wagon or van, somehow finish, and breed. Then, they show the offspring, and a handler or another discerning exhibitor with means “discovers” one of them; a star. In my opinion, most of the dogs and bitches that have had the greatest influence on the sport have grown up, fin- ished, and enjoyed the rest of their lives between somebody’s back yard and sofa. What can judges of the other Groups learn from the Working breeds? Working dogs are generally larger than breeds in other Groups, so their faults are correspondingly more obvious. I bred and handled many Miniature Pinschers early in my career, so I know whereof I speak. Min Pins have the same structural faults that Great Danes do. They are just a little less conspicuous. So, rather than note that the giant dog is “crippled,” figure out why it is moving “that way” and apply what you learn to how you see smaller breeds. Is there a funny story I can share about experiences judging the Working breeds? This is way off the subject, but it is my all-time favorite dog show story and involves showing Weimaraners. Thirty or forty years ago, Gerry Schwartz was judging Weima- raners at Silver Bay Kennel Club in Del Mar, California. (They were his first breed at eight in the morning.) It was a February show and a little chilly in the exhibition hall. Ric Plaut and I had young dogs in the first class. It was a class of two. The steward called the class, and I went into the ring first. Ric and I stacked our dogs, and Gerry came straight to me and gave me directions on how to use the ring and where to stop. Then he went to Ric and said, “You do what he does,” and pointed at me. Gerry went to the center of the ring and signaled that he was ready. I looked at Ric, and asked if he was ready. He said, “Yes.” So, I jumped up in the air, clicked my heels together and started around the ring. Ric jumped up in the air, clicked his heels together and followed me around. Gerry nearly fell down laughing at the two fat guys running around the ring. Gerry Schwartz was always a joy to show to. RONALD V. HORN
fascination with the breed and he became one of my best college friends. In fact, he often attended classes with me. A few years later, our first Newfoundland became a member of our household. Have I bred any influential Working dogs or shown any notable dogs? One of my bitches was owner-handled to the Newfoundland Club of America Top Twenty four years in a row. She is also the only Newfoundland to have been awarded in Best of Breed com- petition at the National Specialty, Registry of Merit, is a Versatile Newfoundland, and a Working Achievement Award winner. How important is the handler to the Working dog’s perfor- mance? Great handling, either owner or professional, plays a major role in the success of any dog in the show ring. Sadly, incompe- tent handling can really decrease the likelihood of a good specimen being awarded. Can I speak a bit about breed-specific presentation? Some Work- ing breeds have breed-specific grooming standards. For example, Leonbergers are to be presented with no sculpting, scissoring, trim- ming of whiskers or any other alterations whatsoever, except for neatening of the feet. Black Russian Terriers should be trimmed so that the dog’s outline is clearly defined. The trimmed length of coat and leg furnishings may vary from 0.2 to 6 inches depending upon the location on the body. What about breed character? How do you assess this in the Working breeds? Of course, breed character are those qualities in a particular dog that define those characteristics that allow it to be categorized as a specific breed. For example, the Siberian Husky Standard calls for the length of the leg, from elbow to ground, to be slightly more than the distance from the elbow to the top of with- ers. In the case of the Dogue de Bordeaux, as the trot quickens, the head tends to drop, the topline inclines towards the front, and the front feet get closer to the median plane while striding out with a long-reaching movement. Does size really matter? Size is defined in all the Standards and, in many Standards, size can be a disqualification. For example, a Great Dane dog measuring less than thirty inches, and a bitch mea- suring less than twenty-eight inches, would be disqualified. Do I have any advice to offer newer judges of the Working Group? Take the time to learn structure and movement. After type, these two areas of the assessment of an exhibit will help you deter- mine if the dog could do the work for which it was created. Which Working dogs from the past have had the greatest influ- ence on the sport? I believe part of judging is developing an interest in breed pedigrees. When I’m studying a new breed, I always like to have a conversation with my mentors regarding dogs from the past that have had great influence on the quality of the breed. In addi- tion, I like to be aware of dogs that have proven to have the ability to do the tasks for which they were created. If I were considering Bernese Mountain Dogs, I would look at dogs that qualified for the club’s Versatility Dog Award. What can judges of the other Groups learn from the Working breeds? Working breeds provide excellent examples of dog struc- ture and movement. If you have learned to correctly evaluate these two areas, there is great application to many other breeds. As an example, Pomeranians have the same skeletal structure as a New- foundland—and actually move with the same footfall. Is there a funny story I can share about experiences judging the Working breeds? Actually, this is about a judge to whom I always enjoyed showing my dogs. I had shown my Newfoundland bitch to this judge many times, and he had always awarded her. On this day, I decided to show the bitch’s son to him, and my wife showed the bitch. When it was time for him to make his awards, he said to me, “This is the best Newfoundland you have ever shown to me, but you know how much I like your bitch. So, today, she will be Best of Breed and your dog will be Best of Opposite.” He will always be one of my favorite judges.
I live in Greenwood Village, Col- orado. I’ve had dogs all my life. I’ve been judging for fourteen years. As a result of living with my New- foundlands, I participate in a vari- ety of dog-related activities, such as serving on the boards of Dog Judges Association of America, the High Country Newfoundland Club, the Evergreen Kennel Club, the Rocky Mountain Non-Sporting Club, and the Denver Foothills Tracking Asso-
ciation. I judge Water (Mentor) and Draft (Mentor) Tests for the Newfoundland Club of America, and do CGC tests for the AKC. I also teach seminars on Newfoundland Water and Draft activities, regularly serve as a tracklayer for AKC Tracking Tests, and am a Tester/Observer for The Alliance of Therapy Dogs Incorporated. In addition, I serve as an occasional instructor at Blue Springs ‘n Katy- did Dog Training Center where I teach puppy kindergarten. I judge the Working and Non-Sporting Groups as well as Rally and a few Hounds. I’m currently working towards finishing the Toy Group. Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? I’m a serious photographer. My wife and I enjoy international travel. We have both traveled in more than one hundred countries and been on all seven continents. I also enjoy writing dog-related articles. Can I talk about my introduction to the Working breeds? Though I grew up with Dalmatians, my fascination with New- foundlands began in the early 1950s. When I went to college, my fraternity had a Newfoundland mascot. Somehow, he knew my
192 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, APRIL 2021
Powered by FlippingBook