WITH VICKI ABBOTT, JUDY HARRINGTON, DOUG JOHNSON, WENDY MAISEY,
weiцaraneӗ Q&A
SHAROL CANDACE WAY, DR. MICHAEL WOODS & GALE YOUNG
and balance. Properly presented, but I do wish they would slow down on the go-round. MW: The Weimaraner is a beautiful breed that should exude grace, aristocracy and functionality. It is not a long, low breed, nor a square breed, nor an exaggerated breed. None of these body types can perform the functions of the breed. One last point I’d like to mention is tempera- ment. The standard emphasizes the necessity of sound temperament and lists as a very serious fault “strong fear, shyness, or extreme nervousness”. This admonition is something that breeders and judges should take very seri- ously. This is a confident, friendly, fearless, alert breed and that is the way it should remain. GY: The Weimaraner is a Sporting dog that must have speed and endurance thus, we have a size disqualification. Most of the specimens we see in the show ring are at the top of or over the breed standard. Be aware that dogs that appear small when compared to the other exhibits in the ring are most likely the correct size. Do not be afraid to wicket. An interesting story is from show we recently entered. We had several of our bitches in the ring. Naturally, we wished for one particular bitch to win. She was right in the middle of our standard, with a beautiful head, well-filled muzzle, parallel planes, level top line, good rib spring, standing well over herself—just lovely. Both days the judges kept gravitating to one of our other bitches. She was much larger and from the side she looked really nice, but she was more narrow in body than our other bitch. So narrow that it made her a little east/ west in the front. If she only had more width of chest and rib cage she would not have that problem, but the judges were not looking down the line from the front or from behind they were just taking in the side view. Sporting dogs should not be narrow—they need the lung space. She also had no fill in her muzzle and was downfaced. Fortunately, her handler was not enhancing her look so the more typey bitch won. A correct front on a Weima- raner is breed type, not overloaded, balanced, but again, there should be a good length of neck, an equal return of upper arm to match the well laid back shoulder, good fill in the chest and a prosternum that extends past the point of shoulder. The gait needs to be effortless (good timing front and rear). 7. And, for a bit of humor: what’s the funniest thing you’ve ever experienced at a dog show? VA: One time in the early 90s I was showing the Maltese “Henry” (Toy Group winner at Westminster in 1992) at a local all breed show, when the Best in Show judge asked that I take the dog on an “L” pattern on a loose lead. I headed down and then across, turned around and the dog took off by himself, putting every foot down right, all the way back to the judge on the mats, stopped and baited, then turned around and barked at me while I was
catching up to him. He was very proud of himself. As I arrived back at the judge and picked up the lead, all I could say was, “At least it was on a loose lead!” Needless to say, we ended up with the red, white and blue ribbon. JH: I guess it might be a handler loosing her skirt as she moved around the ring and an exhibitor reaching over to pull it up! CW: While not funny, it gives me great joy to see a young person showing a dog. Recently I had a young man with a Smooth Fox who had his mother proudly put the dog up on the table, I could hardly see the young man. He went in my Terrier Group and did a very good job. Juniors are our sport’s future—encourage them, support them and smile at them. MW: Judging a large class in a wet slippery ring, I sent a young lady and her dog around with a warning to be careful. The mud was so thick one of her duck boots came off. She calmly kicked off the other and, laughing, proceeded to finish the pattern to cheers and applause from ringside. She added a touch of humor and good cheer to a cold and miserable day. GY: In my younger days I also participated in obedience and field trials. This time I was at an outdoor show in Annap- olis, lovely grounds by the ocean. We were high on a hill with the beach below us, the swimming area all laid out with ropes and buoys that looked like bumpers. I was participating in the Open Class where my dog, “Kirsten” had to retrieve the dumbbell. We had also been doing a lot of water retrieving training which she loved! Well the thought of a possible water retrieve won out over the land retrieve. When I sent her out to get the dumbbell, down the hill she went, into the water, trying every buoy that was attached to the rope hoping she could retrieve one of those instead of that boring wooden dumbbell! “THIS IS A CONFIDENT, FRIENDLY, FEARLESS, ALERT BREED AND THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD REMAIN.”
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