MOVEMENT IS PART OF TYPE, NOT A SEPARATE QUALITY
breed-specific characteristics, then we need to look at the differences in movement that add to the hallmarks. We can have breeds that are of the same basic shape yet have different outlines. Those outlines cre- ate different types of movement. Square breeds, for example, don’t necessarily have the same movement. Here are sev- eral square breeds and the movement that uniquely characterizes them. FAIR AND SQUARE The Poodle moves with “light springy action… effortless movement is essential.” This describes the essence of the Poodle in action, or what is commonly referred to as the “Poodley” gait. This is undoubtedly an essential component of breed type in the Poodle and is a hallmark of the breed. There are other hallmarks that are static, but movement in the Poodle is a high pri- ority among Poodle fanciers. The Official Standard of the Boxer begins to describe the gait in the first para- graph: “The gait is firm yet elastic (empha- sis mine) , the stride free and ground-cov- ering.” When we look at the Gait section of the Standard, it describes each action in detail. One phrase that I believe no other standard contains is “powerful drive emanating from a freely operating rear. ” I have personally never seen a Boxer with the proper elasticity without this quality. Other characteristics that are considered hallmarks in this breed are a muzzle where the root is lower than the tip, and a wide, straight set of incisors that are in line with the canines. Although the head is of great importance in the Boxer, the Standard states that “first consideration is given to general appearance and overall balance. Special attention is then devoted to the head…” This is a Standard that is very specific and descriptive, and temperament is no exception. Poor temperament “… should be severely penalized.” The Boxer is a family dog, and temperament is an essen- tial component of breed type. Finally, the movement of the Dober- man Pinscher is described differently, although it is a square Working breed like the Boxer. Again, in the first paragraph under General Appearance, the breed is described as being “compactly built for great endurance and speed.” Both the Boxer and the Doberman should have reach and drive. However, the Doberman Standard describes its gait with “strong rear action.” This doesn’t provide the same elasticity as in the Boxer, with the “freely operating rear.” Thus, each has its own distinctive movement.
THINK ‘HALLMARKS’ To explain this theory, let’s look at hallmarks. I’ve had several highly regarded breeders and judges say that they don’t think in terms of hallmarks when evaluat- ing dogs. I say, how can you NOT, first and foremost, think of hallmarks? Some breed standards, like the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Giant Schnauzer, specifically use the word “hallmark” in their standards. Many standards, however, do not use that word. So how do we know what a breed’s hallmarks are? We know that there are 3-5 charac- teristics that, when combined, create a totally unique breed of dog. Some of those characteristics are the same as in other breeds, but are combined with different elements to create a totally separate breed. For example, there are many breeds that only come in the color combination “black and tan/mahogany,” but only one has the hallmark of a thumbprint on the front pastern. A Manchester is not a Rottweiler. The Rottweiler has different hallmarks, one of which is arguably that he “is a trot- ter.” Though these two breeds only come in one color combination, they are sepa- rate breeds. Both of them have additional breed-specific characteristics that create that breed.
“WE, AS DOG PEOPLE, INSTANTLY RECOGNIZE A BREED BASED ON ONE WORD OR PHRASE TO DESCRIBE ITS GAIT.
IT IS A HALLMARK THAT MAKES THE STANDING DOG COME ALIVE IN MOTION. EACH BREED HAS DISTINCTIVE MOVEMENT,
DESCRIBED IN ITS STANDARD, THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED PART OF TYPE.” We could continue to work with any number of standards, such as the “loose- jointed, shuffling, sidewise motion, giv- ing the characteristic ‘roll” of the Bulldog, the “four tracking” French Bulldog, the Rottweiler that is “a trotter,” the “unhur- ried, dignified” gait of the Pekingese, the Miniature Pinscher’s “hackney-like” gait, the “lift” of the Italian Greyhound, the “rollicking” Irish Setter, the “rotary action” of the Norwegian Lundehund, and the “jaunty” Pug. There are so many breeds that describe the gait in the stan- dard uniquely. We, as dog people, instant- ly recognize a breed based on one word or phrase to describe its gait. It is a hallmark that makes the standing dog come alive in motion. Each breed has distinctive move- ment, described in its Standard, that must be considered part of type.
“IF MOVEMENT IS INCLUDED IN BREED-SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS , THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES IN MOVEMENT THAT ADD TO THE HALLMARKS.”
These 3-5 elements are what Rick called the “Essential Components of Breed Type.” I am going further here and pre- senting additional cases as to why move- ment should be acknowledged as part of breed type. If movement is included in
246 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 2021
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