Q&A on Soft CoAted WheAten terrierS
JULIE FELTEN I reside in Wauconda, Illinois, a north- west suburb of Chicago. I am employed as an insurance agent specializing in home and auto products. Outside of dogs I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, music, bird watching and shopping. I’ve had dogs since my early childhood, showing for about thirty years and judging since 2000. KATHY FERRIS
KF: Proper coat color and texture, clean, never coarse head and body with balance. SG: A square, balanced outline, bang-up tail, shoe-box head, soft, silky wheaten-colored coat, moderation in all aspects, including structure and presentation, an easy gait and a confident, happy, outgoing personality. 3. Are there any traits in this breed you fear are becoming exaggerated? JF: Heads too coarse and small for the body. If the proportions are correct, then the head should be approximately the same length as the neck. KF: Length of body causing the look of an Irish Terrier when moving and overdone heavy heads. SG: A few years back, extremes and exaggerations were a concern. That is, too short backed, too long necked and too big. Size has always been a concern and still is, though it seems to be improving. 4. Do you think the dogs you see in this breed are better now than they were when you first started judging? Why or why not? JF: As one of the largest Terrier entries at all breed shows, the breed is alive and well. Overall the quality is about the same as when I first started judging. I feel the breeders are doing a fine job keeping the SCWT on track. Kudos to them for keeping their breeding programs active and attracting new breed people. KF: I do think this breed has improved. There is much greater consistency of type and you can find depth of quality in the classes when there is a large entry. Perhaps more attention was paid to structure with stabilizing type. I also think a greater education of coat quality has helped especially judges understand that nuance of the breed, allowing them to award correct specimens. SG: I started judging soon after a flux of imports was brought into this country in a well-intended, but misguided, attempt to expand the gene pool. With them “AS one of the lArgeSt terrier entrieS At All breed ShoWS, THE BREED IS ALIVE AND WELL.”
I live in Holland, Pennsylvania and grew up in Connecticut. I run our family’s large boarding/grooming kennel. I am a second-generation dog person and I have been involved for 45 years. I have been a breeder/owner/ exhibitor, a professional handler and I am currently an AKC licensed judge.
SUE GOLDBERG We live in northern New Jersey, when it’s not snowing, and in southwest Florida when the weather starts to get chilly. Outside of dogs, I am an executive recruiter, retained by corporate clients to fill their senior level positions. We’ve been involved with Wheatens since 1968 when they were still in the Miscellaneous class. I started showing in 1971 and started judging in 1995. We have produced 70 Champions, mostly breeder/owner handled by me, multiple Specialty winners, multiple Group Winners, a Best in Show bitch and three of the Top Producers in the breed. 1. Describe the breed in three words. JF: Good tempered, happy and spirited. KF: Joyful, moderate and square. SG: Square outline, silky coat and exuberant personality. 2. What are your “must have” traits in this breed? JF: A soft, wavy flowing coat, square and medium in size and a rectangular head that is moderately long and in balance with his silhouette. Correctly positioned small to medium ears and a medium length of neck, transitioning smoothly into his well laid back shoulders. Steady attitude. Must be able to cover ground in efficient and graceful sporting Terrier fashion.
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