AndrewHBrace
Why Make Breeds So Complicated?
Why is it that so many people seem to think that judging dogs is on a par with
rocket science? Is it really so complicated?
Each country has its own system for qualifying judges, and these vary
dramatically in their ease and demands. Some border on the positively flimsy whilst
others insist on huge amounts of hands-on experience, several written papers as
well as practical experience in other areas of the sport, all over many years.
My own feeling is that once an acceptable apprenticeship has been served
and a fledgling judge has proved themselves on a number of occasions in their
original breed, the understanding of other related breeds to begin with is not that
difficult, given that the subject has the desire to learn. Tackling a sub-group can then
lead to others within the same group, and when these are mastered further
branching out can occur without dire consequences, given that the judge concerned
has basic ability, a proven eye and the fundamentals of strength of character and
integrity.
I was once at dinner with a friend who has been highly successful in a
Working Breed. It is a breed that is not huge in numbers in the UK, but a breed that
regularly produces Group and BIS winners. One club whose executive consists of
mainly amateur enthusiasts who do not welcome “outside” judges, i.e. all-rounders,
governs the breed.
My friend does not share this attitude; in fact she feels quite the opposite in
that the breed is so basic that it is the all-rounder that usually makes the better job of
judging it, whilst the “specialists” can seldom see the wood for the trees, tend to get
hung up on personal prejudices and far too often allow their judgement to be clouded
by internal breed politics.
In conversation she observed “After all, if you know anything about dogs,
once someone has explained the head, the outline and the coat … that’s all there is
to this breed”.
Far from needing to attend endless seminars looking at a hundred indifferent
dogs, I am firmly of the opinion that any experienced dog person could visit my
friend’s kennel where they would be shown a handful of truly excellent dogs, have
the breed explained to them in no-nonsense terms, have any questions answered
directly, and be in a position to judge the breed at the highest level.
Most breed people seem to feel that their own breed is the most difficult to
judge. They shroud its history in mystique, try to explain the demands of the Breed
Standard in the most fanciful of terms, and insist that no-one outside the breed can
really understand them. In truth, they are perhaps protective of their dogs and the
judging thereof and fear that someone from without their own ranks might just upset
the applecart and tell it as it is. Whilst I would concede that there is no substitute for
actually owning and living with a breed, I refuse to accept that these are essential to
judging a breed well. I am sure we can all reel off countless names of “great” judges
who always judged our breed efficiently but who never owned it. Some of the best
all-rounders I have been acquainted with have made it their business to study the
breeds they judge, learn from the best breeders and apply their acquired knowledge
in an admirable fashion.
It is of course true that some breeds need more understanding than others
and are less generic. Bulldogs and Pekingese are obvious examples of breeds that
are so far removed from the norm that they do need intense study and explanation.
Head, body shape and gait are anything but generic and so it is understandable that
the guardians of the breed expect judges to study more than they perhaps would
when embarking on other breeds. I know for a fact that it took me several years to
fully understand all the intricacies of the Bulldog head. However the vast majority of
breeds are variations on a theme and once a judge has grasped head, balance, coat
and movement and prioritised in their own mind what are the “must haves” then they
should be able to evaluate a breed efficiently.
Understanding breed-specific movement is of course important as many dogs
who are similarly constructed will have subtle variations in their conformation that
dictate a gait that is slightly removed from the norm. Not all breeds should be moved
at breakneck speed and demonstrate tremendous reach and drive. Nothing improves
a judge’s understanding of a breed like experience. I well remember during an
interview with the great Frank Sabella him saying to me that one of his greatest
mentors told him “you practise on the customers”. It is meeting numbers of a breed
over a period of time that develops the overall grasp of that breed and with every
assignment a judge will hone his understanding of correct.
Gone are the days when we have access to the old-style stockman judge who
would officiate not just in the dog ring, but would also be called upon to evaluate
horses, cattle and other forms of livestock. They had an inherent eye for excellence
that could be applied to animals – and indeed birds – that enabled them to find
quality wherever it was present, and not necessarily because it was beautifully
presented. The golden judges were perfectly capable of finding that “diamond in the
rough” and could see way beyond the superficials of coat and grooming. They were
much more interested in the nuts and bolts of a dog than the icing on the cake. Sadly
these days we see far too many who get taken in by the icing.
But at the end of the day as one of my heroes said to me many years ago:
“You know what the breed should look like, you stand in the middle of the ring and
point to the one you think is best.” Why make out it is more complicated than that?
© ANDREW H. BRACE
(This article may not be reproduced in any form without the author’s
permission)
Welcome to my new website where I hope you will find lots to interest you, whether you are an exhibitor, breeder, judge or just a committed dog lover. Over the years I have had the opportunity to interview many of the icons of our sport and lots of their wisdom has been included in the Webinars. My involvement with purebred dogs has allowed me to travel the world, meet some amazing people and get my hands on countless outstanding dogs. I hope that this website will allow you to share some of the pleasure that dogs have given me.
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