MOVEMENT IS PART OF TYPE, NOT A SEPARATE QUALITY
YOU CAN’T PRESENT YOUR DOG TO ITS BEST IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW IT’S SUPPOSED TO MOVE
BY LEE WHITTIER
The position I’m presenting may not be embraced by all, and there may be some detractors. This point of view challenges some long-held beliefs that challenges you, the reader. Before you decide which side of the fence you’re sitting on, reflect on your own breed and consider applying this theory to evaluate your own dogs, standing and moving.
“HERE IT IS. BEAR NAKED: YOU CAN’T SEPARATE TYPE
F or decades, judges have been taught that they should make their first cut on type and then choose the best one moving. Type and movement have been catego- rized separately. What if (one of my favorite phras- es), what if movement was an essential element of breed type? The first whiff I had of this theory was on a car ride with the infamous Rick Beauchamp from the American Dog Show Judges’ Institute to the airport—a several hour ride. Rick was always able to speak eloquently about his passion, Type. His book, Solving the Mysteries of Breed Type , is a must-read. He didn’t say exactly what I’m about to share here, but he got the wheels turning in my mind over the past few years since I’ve been sharing long-held concepts with the members of the Dog Show Mentor program.
FROM MOVEMENT. EACH BREED MOVES IN A SPECIFIC WAY THAT CHARACTERIZES AND MARKS ITS OWN BREED FORMULA. IF A DOG DOESN’T MOVE LIKE ITS BREED, IT DOESN’T HAVE TYPE.”
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 2021 | 243
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