I wonder how often we – as breeders, exhibitors or judges – stop to consider

how easily we become accustomed to changes within a breed? In some cases these

changes can actually become so engrained in a breed that they are elevated to the

level of desired characteristics, even though they might be quite alien to typical and

necessary and actually at odds to the relevant Breed Standard. It is generally the

case that such changes begin with dogs shown by well-known exhibitors or handlers,

as these so often set the benchmark that others gladly follow.

How do changes come about? They begin with the breeder who produces a

litter that gets to an age where the puppies need to be evaluated. The breeder who

fully understands his breed is looking at every puppy in terms of the Breed Standard

and what is correct for the breed. In most breeds “moderation” is a requirement that

is desirable in many aspects, and it is the consistency of moderation throughout any

animal that will contribute significantly to its balance, and the impression that

everything fits and flows. However, occasionally there will be a puppy who has

something about it that always catches the eye, and invariably that “something”

tends to be an exaggeration of some kind or another … too long a neck, too short a

back, too refined or overtyped a head, excessive rear angulation … and here is

where the danger lies. The totally steeped-in-the-breed breeder will see this

exaggeration for what it is and will discard the guilty puppy as being alien to correct

type. Many others, possibly less experienced and less committed to THE BREED,

however, will be realistic enough to acknowledge that the exaggeration, which is

constantly catching his eye, will also catch the eye of the judge when the dog hits the

show ring. And so the puppy is kept, nurtured, schooled and groomed.

As soon as a dog whose type deviates from correct starts winning, the ball is

set rolling. That dog appears in the big ring and other judges comment on its great

bone, long neck, fabulous angulation, ultra-short back, high tailset, fantastic profile,

great open side-gait or whatever, even when these may not be breed-specific

attributes.

They reward it when they get it, and others follow suit. In due course breeders

see this dog and all the winning it is doing, and they think that they had better start

breeding something like it. They rush off to use said dog, and within a matter of

years the rather deviant type has got a foothold in the breed.

It takes a little time, but soon judges arrive at a situation where they get a

class of six dogs – five of them are of the “new” rather off-beat type; one is

completely correct. The knowledgeable and constructive judge will know enough

about the breed to be able to say with conviction “This one is right – the others are

wrong” and judge accordingly. Many other judges, however, perhaps lacking depth

of knowledge of that breed, will take the easy option, assume that the five must be

right as they form the majority, and the sixth dogs gets left out of the awards.

This particularly applies to size in a breed. So many of our breeds have, over

the years, got bigger, maybe because of improved nutrition, and very gradually size

has crept up. As we only routinely measure or weigh a handful of breeds that have

more than one variety determined by size this increase is barely noticed.

However, when some dedicated breeder puts in the ring a dog that is of

absolutely correct size in terms of its Breed Standard it is criticised by other

exhibitors as being small. In truth, this is the correct sized dog, it's just that the others

are noticeably over size.

At this juncture the dedicated breeder who has always been intent on

maintaining type and simply intensifying quality begins to get, with good reason,

frustrated. He knows what he is breeding is correct, but the numbers of those who

are drifting away from type are such that other breeders, exhibitors and judges seem

to be going with the flow, and he is left swimming upstream.

This has happened in several breeds in Britain and beyond, and I have seen

many “old time” breeders reduce their exhibiting activities dramatically, simply

because they feel it is pointless showing dogs under judges who just don’t

understand breed priorities. Yet these are the very breeders who SHOULD have

stock in the ring, so that those who do have independent minds can see and

appreciate it.

When dogs with major faults – usually of the “attractive” kind – continue to

win and be bred from, newer breeders will see no reason to correct and improve.

Why should they? These dogs are winning. Those who own the “modern” dogs can

usually talk the talk, and provide convincing arguments as to natural evolution and

obvious improvement. In some cases strong-minded individuals can actually be

instrumental in persuading breed clubs to change the breed standard to fit these new

dogs … a heinous crime in anyone’s book. And then of course there is the power of

advertising!

Sadly many of the breed changes we have witnessed are pleasing to the

average eye – so what if a dog is too necky, too hairy, too upright, too short, too

long? It looks pretty and the judges like the look!

With the overwhelming influence of social media, it becomes all too easy for a

dog that is fundamentally untypical, lacking in several essential breed points, to be

elevated to the status of “stunning”. Beautifully photographed, impeccably groomed,

the “flat catcher” attracts countless “Likes” and before you know what’s happened it

becomes a celebrity. As such dogs are invariably photographed with their handler,

those judges who base their decisions on Facebook research (yes, it happens!)

contribute to its winning record and breeders whose main goal is simply to win

consider using this dog at stud, thus the downward spiral continues.

There is a further area of concern where temperament and character is

concerned and this applies particularly to the strong-willed working breeds that may

be basically “hard” in temperament. Whilst the show ring is no place for vicious or

aggressive dogs there are certain breeds that, if they are to remain true to type, need

to maintain their guarding instincts and these can still be shown effectively if they are

properly under control. What is not desirable is to have the basic character bred out

of these breeds so that they just become another companion dog.

Although showing dogs is today, in truth, more about chasing Challenge

Certificates, ribbons and points than it is about preserving breeds, the show ring

should remain the breeders’ shop window. It would be sad to think that genuine

breeders who are keen to maintain true breed type could not find the dogs necessary

to perpetuate correctness in the next generation.

© ANDREW H. BRACE

(This article may not be reproduced in any form without the author’s permission)