I'm Back!

I’m Back!

It’s been a long time since my last blog, so I thought I’d better surface or be considered extinct.  We got an early dose of the Michigan winter, but the snow melted and it’s been balmily above freezing lately.  We know there’s plenty of winter left, but any respite is welcome.

As mentioned earlier the judging assignment in Omaha, Nebraska was great.  It was my first assignment in several years due to some health and accident issues.  I’ve had to cancel some assignments and refused some others because of the fear I might have to cancel.   Getting older is not so great, but judging is a joy even to this old dinosaur.  Since I’m feeling great there are a couple of additional assignments I’ve accepted and we hope the weather and my old body allow them to happen.

The Collie Standard has come up often in these blogs.  There

is a really good reason for that.  The standard is the blueprint for all we do in breeding or judging the Collie.  Though some folks think just being able to read it or recite it from memory is all that’s important,  that’s not the case.  Do you really understand what it says and can you form the actual picture that The Standard’s words direct.

When Doris Werdermann was president of the CC of A I chaired the education committee.  Doris asked us to create something to benefit those wishing to judge Collies and that could also help clarify the standard to all Collie fanciers.  The Judge’s Guide to the Collie Standard was born from that request.  The guide had a cover beautifully illustrated by Mary Kummer and went thru each section of The Standard with thoughts on what it really suggests.  The summation at the end of this guide points out the importance of things above and beyond being able to read the standard.

This old dinosaur had been involved with Collies as an avid reader, breeder, exhibitor and judge for many years.  It might be easy to say I know the Collie standard – case closed!  In truth I do think I know the standard and even more important understand it.  In spite of that it’s an old habit to review it periodically and always before each judging assignment review the standard, the Judge’s Guide, and Lorraine Still’s Illustrated Standard.  The perfect Collie has never been whelped and the perfect description of the perfect collie may never have been written, but dedication to acquiring better understanding is seldom a waste of time.

Years ago when I belonged to the South Jersey CC we set aside at least one meeting each year for discussing the Collie standard.  It was a great time to go thru one paragraph at a time and state opinions or ask questions.  You can gain some important food for thought by listening to others.  Understanding the meaning of the written word can be clarified when you see how others differ in their interpretation and sometimes you realize some tweaking of the language is in order.  Don’t ever consider yourself above such review and if you can use some live dogs as in a judges education program, please do so.

Let’s change direction for a moment and talk about dog show attire.  To be honest I find some of the clothing in show pictures a bit bizarre.  Whether it’s the judges or the exhibitors we seem to have lost track of what the focus should be on – the dogs!  We have judges wearing tuxedos or evening gowns depending on the gender as though it’s a people show not a dog show.  There are photos of Jr. handlers dressed as though for a high school prom not a handling competition.  Pardon me, but I was always taught that the really talented handler blends into the background letting the dog take center stage.

Many years ago at a National where I judged bitches, there was a talented young lady getting ready to show an exquisite male special.  She was well groomed as was the dog and he obviously liked his handler and showed well for her.  The problem with the picture was her shoes, which while stylish, were not made to show a free moving sound young special.  I remarked on the potential problem and she changed shoes.  The dog went BOB and might have anyhow, but why make things harder than they should be?

There is a talented couple in Collies who I’ve known for years and I’ve judged their dogs often.  Sometimes they go up and sometimes they lose, but they never beat themselves.  The dogs are always groomed and trained to perfection and the people likewise dressed appropriately and handle in a professional manner.  If they lose it’s because they encountered a Collie I believe better fits our standard.  Groom well, train well and dress appropriately so the dog is the focus.  Oh yes, one more important factor – have a good Collie!

Think about it!!

So Many Ideas - So Little Time

So Many Ideas – So  Little Time

As we grow older some of us get concerned about having the time to accomplish all our goals.  Some, of course, just look for a rocking chair and let the world go by, but not this dinosaur.  Setting goals has always been part of my make up whether at work, breeding and showing dogs, or way back to school days.  I won’t lie and say all my goals were attained, but having them shaped my life.  Many of my goals have been things that involved sharing with others, hence the blogs.  Since I’m not the only one with good ideas, I enjoy giving credit where credit is due.

The current issue of Dogs In Review has an article on page forty two entitled “Camelot is Crumbling.”  It deals with the current status of dog shows with declining entries and the desperate attempt to entice people to show by having something for everyone.  It makes one think of sports like children’s T-Ball where you supposedly don’t keep score so everyone wins.  What incentive that gives you to improve is beyond me.  It was competing with people like Trudy Mangels, Pat Starkweather, and Bobbee Roos that drove me to breed better dogs and show, groom, and be a realistic judge of quality without kennel blindness.

You must start off the learning experience at a reasonable level which used to be match shows.  The same is true of developing as a judge, but match shows seem to be going the way of the Dodo Bird.  As you hone your skills whether as a breeder or judge you can move up the food chain, but if we reward even insignificant efforts what’s the point?  Van Dyck used to say Reserve was the best of the losers.  Perhaps reserve Best in Show, Award of Merit, and Selects are too.

In the Oct. 25, 2014 issue of blood horse on page nine is an article called “What’s Going on Here?”  It’s a weekly article which in this issue discussed rules of life as outlined by champion golfer and horse breeder, Gary Player, of South Africa.  He gave his ten rules and while all are relevant, a couple really speak to me loudly.  Number six is “work.”  Explanation is “the fox fears not the man who boasts at night in the bar, but the man who rises early in the morning.”  Number nine is similar and quotes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.”

I got good grades at school, but probably didn’t work as hard as I should have.  Junior and Senior Class President were honors probably due to personality more than hard work.  When I started into the world of dog breeding and exhibiting and later in my career with Owens-Illinois, Inc. a light bulb went off.  I wanted badly to succeed in both areas and drove myself relentlessly to be the best I could be.  As goals were attained the bar was constantly raised and it worked.  I’ve always felt that we all have different talents that are born in us.  Just having the talents, however, is not enough.  If you really wish to excel at something, you must work hard to polish and refine that God given talent.  Some have an eye for a dog and can visualize what the Standard means quite clearly.  Others can be involved in dogs for twenty five years and not have a clue.  We must be honest in evaluating our talents and use what we’ve been given wisely.  I always wanted to play the piano, but can’t play a note.  Perhaps a knack with animals (not just dogs) was my special talent and the world had enough piano players.

Finally my thanks to Larry Willeford for his kind words and giving me credit as a mentor.  He continues to breed good dogs, but more important has been a friend for years and is a great ring steward.  The picture he used on line of me and Ch. Jadene’s Breezalong has fooled some people into thinking I’m still a slender, dark haired heartthrob.  Boy are they in for a shock!

Finally, just a word of praise for the folks at Houston Collie Rescue.  The job they did with over one hundred rescued Collies many of whom had terrible skin issues was outstanding.  The before and after pictures bring tears of happiness to the eyes.  Please don’t think they don’t need any more financial help.  The work they did and continue to do, costs lots of money and is helping the breed we love.  Keep up the support so they can continue their good work.

Think about it!

WOW!!!

WOW!!!

Just returned home from a trip to Lincoln, Nebraska to judge the Collie Club of Nebraska’s 100^th Specialty.  What a delightful weekend!  Due to a couple of injuries and health issues I haven’t judged recently and had seriously considered calling it a career.  This weekend reminded me how much I’ve missed judging and that even though flying can be a pain, it’s not impossible.  Though I have no interest in judging a lot at this stage of the game, if I stay healthy we’ll play it by ear.

The show was held in the Lancaster Event Center on Saturday Oct. 4, 2014 and the ring was spacious with good footing.  The entry was great with 4 points in dogs and five points in bitches.  Since there was a move up in each sex the final points may have been affected, but the quality certainly wasn’t.  The entries came from a wide cross-section of the country and after the judging I enjoyed checking out the breeding and locations represented.  The exhibitors showed good sportsmanship and were a real pleasure.  What a day!

There are some special thank you’s to people who helped make this show so special.  First to Greg McCary and his wife, Ruth Ann who took us to dinner and got us to the show.  Greg is the club’s designated “gopher” and I’ve known he and Ruth Ann for years.  Carolyn Foreman, club president, and another old friend who seemed to be everywhere and worked tirelessly to make things happen.  To Janet Hitt who judged the Friday show, thanks for getting me such a good entry.  Last, but certainly not least my friend, Larry Willeford, who was my steward and kept the old dinosaur moving along.

Since it’s not possible to mention all the good Collies present, I’ll just dwell on the top two.  As I mentioned during the finals, it was a shame either one had to lose.  BV Smooth was the striking blue bitch Ch. C and J Silver Charm of Chrysalis.  She came from a small, but quality specials class and was owner handled.  BV Rough was the Glorious tricolor Ch. Colebrae After Midnight who was also owner handled by her breeder, Jennifer Laik.  Both these bitches made the whole picture with soundness, showmanship, and lovely head and expression.  The Rough tri went on to BB and either one can come live with me if their owners think they’re too expensive to feed.  Dinosaurs aren’t noted for their memories, but I doubt I’ve had two better bitches competing in a long, long time.

The after show dinner was held at our hotel, Country Inns and Suites, where we also enjoyed a delightful complimentary breakfast and had a first rate room.  Since the specialty didn’t start until Saturday afternoon, Phyllis and I were relaxing after breakfast when a knock came at the door.  The dinosaur almost had a heart attack to find our daughter, Alexandra, standing there.  My dear wife, Phyllis, who is full of surprises had her drive out from Des Moines, Iowa to watch Dad judge.  Just one more special moment in a memorable weekend.

The auction to benefit Houston Collie Rescue did very well and I heard they were up to $1400 and still counting.  Larry Willeford took home the book I donated, Dr. O.P. Bennett’s The Collie, which originally had come from Steve Field.

At the after show dinner, which was very well attended, Carolyn Foreman asked all present to speak of a memorable moment in their Collie careers.  Steve Field of Parader fame affected so many people in so many ways and was noted as a student of the breed as well as a teacher for many who were present.  Phyllis had apparently bribed a few people to say nice things about me and our daughter was suitable impressed.  It was a memorable weekend in so many ways and some of the experiences brought tears to the eyes.

This dinosaur thanks the members of the Nebraska Collie Club, the exhibitors, and all involved with this glorious weekend.  You reminded me of all I’ve been missing.  I’ve often wondered why God has kept me around for so long.  This show made me think about a possible answer to that question.  Over the years the many times I judged in this area and enjoyed visits with Steve and Lena Field made me feel as though this was a “homecoming.”  Perhaps if I had driven out to the old home of Parader Collies I could have heard the barks of Parader, Image, and Bold venture and other caning ghosts who will never die or be erased from pedigrees.  We’ll see where the road leads.

Think about it and thanks for the memories!

Things Are Looking Up

Things Are Looking Up

The horrible mess being efficiently handled by Houston Collie Rescue didn’t happen over night.  I came across a two page ad in the August 1988 CC of A Bulletin showing this lady’s bitch winning two all breed Best In Shows.  How it deteriorated into what was found recently we may never completely understand.  Since similar things have happened before in other places, it’s obvious it can happen and will again if steps aren’t taken to prevent it.

When we breed a litter, it carries with it some responsibilities for this breed of ours.  Carefully selecting the sire and dam and being sure they deserve the right to reproduce is only the start.  Proper care of the bitch and providing the right environment for her and her offspring as well as their diet follows suit.  All the needs of the puppies such as shots, worming (if needed), and socialization including leash training should be followed as the age of the puppies dictate.

The other part of breeding dogs and selling them is the thing that can cause big problems.  That is deciding who should be approved as a buyer.  Do you screen prospective buyers, ask for their vet’s name, or some other references, or is just having the money to buy good enough?  I know in our busy lives it may seem preposterous to suggest such steps, but there should be more to being a breeder than counting ribbons, points, and taking the money!

Since people can do things like have others buy dogs for them, it can be difficult to identify potential problems.  The AKC used to have people that inspected kennels particularly ones who housed and sold large numbers.  If that only happens after a legal action, then it’s probably too late.  With all our computer programs there certainly should be one to highlight potential hoarding cases.

All this concern and gloom does have some silver linings, however.  The people at Houston Collie Rescue are doing a tremendous job.  They have removed these Collies from an unspeakable hell and have them headed to a decent existence through fostering and, as their condition allows, new forever homes.  With the help of a group of volunteers, including vets, Houston Collie Rescue is showing us an example of what can be done to bring a terrible situation to a decent ending.  Some of the most severe health and socialization cases will be difficult, but hopefully not insurmountable.

The other silver lining is the response of the dog community to this problem.  Collie people and Collie clubs are donating to the effort, but it doesn’t stop there.  A German Shepherd club has pitched in, too, and there may be others I’m not aware of as well.

Recently I found out two bits of news that made this old dinosaur brighten up considerably.  First I heard that my ring steward for the Nebraska CC will be my old friend, Larry Willeford.  It’s good to know you have someone first rate sharing your ring.  Many thanks, Larry.

The second is that the Nebraska CC is holding an auction in conjunction with the show with the proceeds going toward Houston Collie Rescue.  After that sank in it seemed appropriate for the old dinosaur to hop on the bandwagon of such a good cause.

Over the years I’ve accumulated a substantial library of Collie publications.  Considering where the show is, I knew rather quickly which one would be most appropriate to donate for this auction.  Years ago when visiting Steve Field in Omaha I mentioned that I’d always wanted a copy of Dr. O.P. Bennett’s classic old book “The Collie.”  As I was preparing to leave he went to the bookshelf and took down his copy and gave it to me as a gift.  I’m not sure where Steve got it, but I know he enjoyed it, as have I, and now it’s time for someone else to do so.  Whoever gets this book should treat it carefully and with respect just as we might hope for the Collies we’re trying to help.

There can be silver linings in the darkest clouds.

Think about it!

HELP!! Collies in Trouble!!

HELP!!  Collies in Trouble!!

Many of you may be aware of the horrific situation recently uncovered in Houston, Texas.  Over 100 Collies were removed from the premises of a despicable individual who claims to be a Collie “breeder.”  The conditions under which the dogs and puppies were being kept were awful and many have skin problems and other health issues.  Apparently this is not the first time this woman has been in trouble for hoarding and having too many Collies.  We must wonder why so many cases of this sort seem to involve Collies.

Though we may not be able to say for sure it may have to do with the fact that Collies are sweet and aim to please which makes them a target for such abuse.  The very qualities which we prize in our breed may make them easy targets for people who have no concept of ethical treatment of animals.  Any reputable breeder who sells to someone with unknown reputation, references, and proper facilities is only taking a chance.  It surely is easy to just get your money and ship a dog or puppy to someone, but we owe our dogs more.

I do not know if this person has any club affiliations, but it seems doubtful.  The CC of A needs to follow up on this matter thru AKC and see that this woman never owns another dog let alone register one.  Since this is not her first run in with the law on such matters, one might hope the local authorities will see fit to bar her from keeping any animals.

The CC of A is making a generous donation to help with the cost of feeding, housing, and treating the problems these dogs exhibit.  The Houston Collie Rescue Group can use help from all of us.  This is a monumental undertaking and takes time, volunteers, and donations to do the job.  If every CC of A member sent a donation equal to one dog show entry it would go a long way toward solving the problem.

 Send your checks to:

                                    Houston Collie Rescue

                                    P.O. Box 526

                                    Stafford, TX 77497

I recently wrote that some rescue groups have unreasonable expectations of people who want to adopt a dog.  Though we have no idea of where Houston Collie Rescue stands in that regard, we do know they need our help and these dogs need our help, too.  If you really love the Collie, let’s step up and be counted.  My check is in the mail.  How about yours?  Let’s show the people at Houston Collie Rescue that Collie people have hearts as big as their dogs.

Interesting note on another matter.  Some time back the CC of A asked me to look into creating a book featuring the writings of Steve Field of Parader fame.  Gayle Kaye was brought on as co-editor because of her many talents and deep respect for Steve which matched my own.  The first thing we found was that Steve hadn’t written as much as some of us thought.  The second thing was that his writings done years ago make as much sense today as when written.  Looking at those articles I find it amazing how accurate Steve’s insight into the direction Collies were going would be.

In answer to a question asked in 1962 CC of A yearbook  “What changes in the Collie should be worked for in the next 5 to 10 years” Steve’s reply was simple, but timely and still is today.  He advocated medium size dogs and warned against judges being impressed by “bigger Collies.”  He did not speak out against bold, outgoing dogs, but warned against terrier type aggressive dogs.  He mentioned the problems of breeding for ever-showing Collies with high set, trained over prick ears.  He advocated a desire for correct type and berated those dogs which showed so constantly that they looked like a “cobra ready to strike.”

Beauty was another word that Steve used.  He further wrote that “if the public wants a medium sized Collie of stable, friendly disposition and greater beauty, I believe we can take steps to improve our breed in these general directions.”

At a seminar in Omaha, Nebraska, where Steve and I sat on the panel, Bobbee Roos was also a speaker.  She warned against trying to save pups that weren’t vigorous and also about too much faking of color with makeup.  She said some of the problem was an increase of ladies in the dog game and that both these issues could be related to that increase.  Steve said Bobbee could get away with saying that since she was also of the fairer sex.  It’s one thing to try to save puppies, but another to use those weaklings for breeding.  It’s also a fact that few puppies are whelped with a makeup kit.  Being skilled enough to breed correctness is much more difficult, but also much more satisfying than having to fake.  Each generation that you apply faking to gets you further away for contributing anything meaningful to our breed.

Think about it!!

Judge Not - Lest Ye Look Stupid

Judge Not – Lest Ye Look Stupid

That quote is not exactly from the Bible, but it may come from the Dinosaur’s journal.  We all have been guilty at times of coming to conclusions without sufficient insight into why people do what they do.  In the dog game the target is most often the dog show judge and exhibitors often question the validity of the judge’s expertise particularly when they don’t fare well at a show.  It’s amazing how smart some judges are when they finally see the light and put our dogs up for a good win.

In my years as an exhibitor there were judges who put my dogs up with some regularity and some that I just couldn’t win under at all.  It was easy to question their eyesight, lack of integrity or jealousy because I beat them at another show.  Bottom line was that as my dogs became more competitive and I became more adept at training and grooming, I won more.  Some judges may have not liked my type of Collie and some may not have liked me, but you just save your money and don’t show there.

If you stay with the dog game long enough you will win some when you don’t know how it happened and lose some for the same reason.  Years ago at two specialties in Ohio there were two very different results.  The first day my bitch entry took Winners and a five point major over the Winners Bitch at the National.  My special, who was sire of the Winners Bitch, defeated the Best of Breed at the National.  Now both my exhibits were good Collies, but in my opinion, not that good.  No, I did not refuse the awards.

The second day the winners at the National (which I had judged) took Winners Bitch and the National BB took the Best of Breed.  So you ask was I happy?  The answer is that I was happy for two good deserving winners, but not so happy with some of the judging earlier.  It can get very confusing and both judges had put me up before and would put me up again, so it was a matter of you pay your money and take your chances.  When you’ve judged for a while (over forty years for me) you find that sometimes you can’t put up something you really like because it’s not in top shape, isn’t moving or showing well, or just happened to encounter a better one on that day.

In October I look forward to doing the CC of Nebraska’s 100^th Specialty.  No I was not there for the first one, but have judged there on several occasions.  It was a great favorite of mine, because  I got to visit with Steve Field who was and is a legend in the breeding of purebred Collies.  The last time I judged there Steve was in a nursing home and our visit was still rewarding.  He passed away not long after that, but the memories linger.

As mentioned in a previous blog, I hope to see some good Collies though it is early in the season for coats.  It would be nice not to have to excuse any for makeup, but my white handkerchief will be at the ready.  Illness and injury and an aversion to airline travel have had me grounded recently, but the dogs continue to beckon.

Read a recent article in Collie Expressions regarding Collie rescue.  Various groups have done great work for our breed over the years.  Many problems develop because people have too many dogs and just can’t properly care for them.  Often the problem stems from so called “breeders” who can’t select what they should keep or can’t do it at a reasonable age so they keep most of the litter.  They seem to be afraid to let a good one go elsewhere.  These folks probably shouldn’t be breeding at all in my opinion.  The fiasco from Alaska and the boondoggle in Tennessee are classic examples of too many dogs and rescue groups and just Collie people saved the day.

While I admire anyone who steps up to help Collies in distress, sometimes you encounter some weird criteria.  Over the years we have twice been found unacceptable to adopt Collies that were trying to find a home.  We have adopted several with no problem, but their reasons reminded us that being impossibly judgmental can defeat the basic purpose of finding a dog a good home.  The first case was a bitch in a foster home that would not release her because we don’t let dogs on the furniture.  The second case recently was due to our having an intact six year old male who has never and will never be bred. Since our bitches are all spayed, there was no reason to expose him to unneeded surgery.  In sixty five years in Collies I have never seen a case of testicular cancer and this dog does not run loose ever!

We need guidelines in dog shows and we need guidelines in finding suitable homes for dogs.  You don’t fake color on dogs in dog shows and you don’t adopt out a dog to an unfenced yard or someone without a vet recommendation.  Reasonable guidelines are the result of legitimate needs. Unreasonable expectations are often the result of bureaucratic muscle flexing which defeats the intended purpose.

Think about it!!

Of This and That

Of This and That

What has caused our Collies to slip from the public graces will no doubt, be discussed for years.  It’s a lot of reasons, some of which breeders can control, and some not so easy.  When the public thinks Collie they think sable and white attractively marked Rough Collie.  That doesn’t mean no one thinks otherwise, but that’s what the average “Joe” thinks of about Collies.  Many Roughs have more coat than “Joe” can handle and we’ve sensitized him and all the veterinarians about eye problems.  We also have a fascination with the blue color which is ok for breeders, but not what “Joe” wants.

This fascination with blues has people doing strange things, in  my opinion.  They’re breeding blue to blue and sable-merle to blue or sable-merle with no concern for blind or deaf double dilutes.  Heck if you’re lucky you may even make an ROM out of one of the blind little devils.  Some breeders may excuse this, but poor old “Joe” probably won’t like such things.  We can breed almost anything we, as breeders want, but please don’t expect “Joe” to like it.

While I don’t advocate breeding just for the public pet market, I do think we must expect to “reap what we sow!”  If we insist on doing exotic things don’t expect everyone to like it.

The ROM designation has its opponents as well as its advocates and that’s understandable.  Some feel it encourages too much breeding and showing inferior specimens.  At very least in this day of many shows and many champions each year, it might be appropriate to move the bar higher to qualify.  Whether anything can be done to eliminate dogs with disqualifying faults is another matter.

It would be wildly speculatory to guess at which dogs or bitches designated ROM have been guilty of passing on genetic problems.  We have eye problems (CEA and PRA), Lethal Gray Factor, subluxation, and a wild litany of skin and coat disorders.  The real line is drawn not by some committee or individual who tells you who to breed to, but by each breeder’s knowledge.

We know for instance that years ago Terhune wrote about breeding a blind bitch.  Years later a breeder offered me a beautiful bitch who was blind on a puppy deal bred to his champion stud.  I declined, not because I knew it was genetic, but because I questioned if she could care for her puppies.  This was before Richard Donovan and others started to do eye clinics.  The clinics were to check for CEA (Collie Eye Anomoly) and all my dogs went to the first one nearby.  My stud dog’s pedigrees all had a copy of their eye checks.

Some years later we became aware of an even more insidious nightmare in or breed.  PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) did not show up in routine puppy eye checks for CEA which did not change as the dog aged.  PRA often took several years to be apparent based on what we knew then.  Breeding stock (particularly studs) could produce a number of puppies before PRA reared its ugly head.  The solution that many suggested was to breed your studs to a blind bitch, assuming that if he was clear the pups would be carriers, but not blind.  Blind puppies would mean your dog was a carrier.

All this was going on about when I was getting ready to move to Michigan.  One of my studs was “rumored” to be a carrier.  He was withdrawn from public stud even though I had some doubts.  I know the timing made a lot of test breeding impossible and my stomach turned at purposely acquiring and breeding blind dogs.  Consulting with Dr. Lionel Rubin at the University of PA School of Veterinary Medicine, he told me an interesting theory.  He had seen a bitch and stud with normal eyes produce puppies that resembled PRA blindness when the bitch carried a fever while in whelp.  Of course, today we have much more reliable methods of checking without producing blind puppies.

The time when I bred Collies had to end with the move to Michigan.  The one litter whelped in Michigan was from an accidental breeding.  Whether there really was a problem I don’t know.  There was considerable “witch hunting” going on and since I was a well known breeder and winner, I made a good target.  What I did not do was blame Steve Field, Gus Sigritz, Brian Carabine, John and Ada Guiliano or Bill Van Dyck for what I had.  My breeding decisions were mine and you pay your money and take your chances. 

My views on breeding, by the way, have nothing to do with my outlook as a judge.  When judging we observe animals presented to us to judge according to a standard.  Their genetic makeup and any problems therein are not on trial.  If it were otherwise you might need to show me an eye check and health certificate rather than train, groom and show your dog.  We all know that’s not how it works.

Whether we’re breeding for the “perfect Collie” or for a healthy happy, attractive dog (which can be the same animal) we should always keep the good of this grand breed as our foremost goal.  Ribbons, rosettes, titles and ego should take a back seat in our plans.  Guard the title of breeder jealously.  Terhune wrote that we’re gods to our dogs.  Don’t ever let that feeling extend to your opinion of yourself.

Think about it!!

Back to "Normal" or Whatever

Back to “Normal” or Whatever

Since our pole barn is done except for the wiring and some cement work, we are breathing a sigh of relief.  Our equipment is back under cover that’s not tarps and the shelves are going back up, so we’re heading in the right direction.  Phyllis and I are still trying to figure out what “normal” is for us.  Assuredly it’s different than what most people might attribute to the word, but that’s our choice.

Just looking thru the latest CC of A Bulletin which is full of photos from the National.  Some nice looking dogs and some not quite as you might wish, but we all know pictures may be a bit deceiving.  I learned years ago not to form opinions of Collies I haven’t actually seen and/or judged.  If you don’t have a really flattering picture, it’s better not to use one at all.  It would be nice to see more shots of Collies showing on a loose lead without being stacked up and held in place.

Interesting article in the Bulletin from Kathy Moll relating to our breed’s fall from popularity with the public.  The reasons are many and complex as I’ve noted before.  Collies were once one of the breeds of choice as a family dog and many of us can remember that.  The slow, but sure sliding down the list has largely been aided by not thinking what the public wants and consequently shooting ourselves in the foot.  We can’t bring Albert Payson Terhune back and Lassie has likewise faded into history.  If we want our breed to only fit into the niche of show dogs with glued up ears, coat to the ground, and make up kits that go with each puppy, then continue to watch the slide.  Perhaps in today’s world we’ll see Pit Bulls as the breed of choice.

The Bulletin also highlighted the many different activities that are offered for our Collies.  The days of a National that focused on conformation seem to be over.  In perfect honesty there are competitions that are offered that I have no idea of what the requirements or guidelines might be.  Some of these activities surely highlight the versatility of our breed, but the show keeps growing and growing.  Years ago we had national symposiums which were held in the summer when dogs were basically out of coat.  Having some of the performance events at that time made sense and cold weather problems were no longer an obstacle.  The allure of having a “big” National that lasts for a week or more seems to have prevailed and I suppose you only have to show up for what interests you.

The cost of putting on the National and the difficulty of finding a suitable and affordable venue continue to be an issue.  Most clubs find such an undertaking beyond their capabilities.  Many clubs that used to be considered “powerhouse” groups have seen memberships decline and age to the point that they struggle just to put on an annual specialty let alone tackle the National.  This trend would seem to parallel the declining interest in our breed.  The yardstick used to be that most new people would just last a few years, but today we see less new people and many other activities competing for their time.

Given the enormous effort required by host clubs for the National it’s always amazed me that they really have so little say in things like picking judges.  The host club selects a panel and then it’s off to the races.  The final choices seldom resemble the host club preferences.  With all due respect to the Executive Committee, I’ve never understood why they are more fit to select the judges for the National.  In many cases most of them don’t even compete in conformation.  Years ago Jim Mangels wrote an article about criteria for picking judges for the National.  It included things like champions bred, shows judged, and success competing at high level events.  Interesting idea.

If the stars align themselves and I stay healthy the old dinosaur will judge his last show for the Nebraska CC in October.  A few nagging health issues and a distaste for the way airlines treat travelers nowadays have had me declining assignments for several years.  This will be their 100^th specialty and it’s the club that Steve Field was connected with for years.  I’ve judged this show often and used to think Steve put my name up so we could visit after the show.  Steve will not be there this time, but I hope to see his daughter, Karen, and a few other old friends.  The date in early October is surely early for Collie coats, but the Keystone CC used to hold a show with Devon each fall at the same time and it was great.  I’m long past worrying about the size of my entries, but did get 100 dogs a few assignments back which is pretty good nowadays.

My hope for Nebraska has little to do with numbers and more to do with content.  If I have some quality Collies, well groomed, properly shown on loose leads standing on their own God-given four legs, I’ll be a happy camper.  Bigger isn’t always better, but better always is. 

Think about it!

Wake Up - It's Spring!

Wake Up – It’s Spring!

The old dinosaur has been pretty quiet lately.  The pole barn came down in February of the worst winter in years and literally turned our lives upside down.  It’s all been stripped down to a skeleton and rebuilding should start soon, but we have things stored all around awaiting a new building.  Phyllis lost her mother on Mother’s Day which was not unexpected, but still such things are never easy.  Our daughter, Alexandra, has been going thru some issues with her eyes, which go on and on, so we’re ready for some good news.

The old story that I’ve always believed is that when things look grim, look around – there’s always someone with much worse problems than you.  They say when you’re handed a lemon – make lemonade.  One of the best men I ever worked for said his secret to success was being able to take something bad and make it into something good.  All of that sounds pretty phony, right?  Well, let’s see about that.

Our pole barn came down at 9pm on Feb. 19^th when I would normally have been in it.  I wasn’t there because of talking to Phyllis about a TV show we’d been watching.  We had insurance and will get a new pole barn, so we’ve certainly suffered some inconvenience, but nothing we can’t handle.

Phyllis’ mother had been ill for some time and caring for her in Virginia fell to Phyllis’ younger sister, Diane who lived nearby.  She took a sudden turn for the worse and passed away a few days later after being in a coma.  She did not suffer a lot of debilitating pain.  When Phyllis flew down for the funeral, she and Diane, rekindled a friendship that had languished thru time and distance.

Alexandra in a desperate move to change her environment to help her sensitive eyes has moved from New York where she had a good job and loved living to Des Moines, Iowa.  She is living with her husband’s family while he continues working for Apple Computer in NY City.  She has a new job in Des Moines and things are moving along for she and her husband, CJ, and we pray they can soon settle in one place with their problems solved.

What’s all this got to do with dogs and that is what dinosaurs are supposed to talk about, isn’t it?  Well if you’ve been in dogs for a while, you know about disappointment and if you stay in dogs you’d better know how to pick yourself up again.  The litters that don’t turn out, the accidents that cause a good puppy to be lost, the shows that don’t go your way.  They’re all part of the game.

Every breeding you make is a calculated gamble that you hope will turn out well.  If it doesn’t turn out you sit down and try to figure out why.  It may be that you need a different stud or it may be that your bitch wasn’t meant to produce the next link in your chain.  Whatever the reason, I suggest you don’t look for someone else to blame  Don’t blame the stud dog owner.  You decided to make the breeding.  Pick yourself up and start all over again.

When I started breeding Collies, it took three restarts before it really worked.  Each time I was learning and each time I needed to find homes for some dogs I loved, but it is all about culling as you learn.  Van Dyck used to say breeding was like dealing cards.  You add a good one on the top and discard one off the bottom.  You must constantly seek ways to improve the dogs you’re working with to form your chain and one bad link will cause it to break.

Over the years I had the misfortune to lose three wonderful bitches, each of whom conceivably could have done much for my breeding program.  Ch. Gregshire’s Little Honeycomb (dam of Ch. Jadene’s Breezalong) and Yankee Doodle Waiting Game (Dam of Ch. Gingeor’s Waiting Choice) both were lost to pyometria before we had the tools we have today to fight it.  Gingeor’s Honey of a Choice (Breezalong’s baby sister and dam of Ch Gingeor’s Indelable Ink) was lost due to injuries she sustained in a fight with three other bitches who for some unknown reason rebelled against her unquestioned alpha status.  I never again put more than two bitches together unsupervised.

We plan and we gamble and if we deserve to be called breeders we learn.  We learn about breeding, training, showing and we learn about what’s really important.  When I was breeding and showing dogs, it was probably more important to me than it should have been, but I was out to prove something.  Van Dyck used to say you could be a dog fancier or a dog lover.  I wanted to succeed at being both.  He also said there were two ways to make your way up the ladder quickly.  You could have lots of money or hitch yourself to a successful breeder.  I did neither, but though it took longer it was satisfying.  It took years before I realized that my winning dogs were a tribute to the competition.  Their efforts made me work harder to produce dogs that could be able to win with the best they had.  You never get better by winning a contest that’s too easy.   You get better by being tested and, yes, even by losing sometimes to remind you, you’re not infallible.

Think about it!!

On a pleasant note and one that’s really an indicator of what is important, Phyllis and I had dinner with Laurie Jeff Greer recently.  The friendships acquired over the years are very enjoyable and make the dog game a matter of much more than just winning or losing.  Jeff was in town for some shows and we spent several hours recalling dogs and people we knew and agreeing that some things never change.  (I’ll let you guess what)  After winning the Herding Group on Memorial Day,  Jeff was off to Mississippi with her big rig.  Quite a schedule for an old dinosaur who never went to more than two shows (Sat. and Sun.) in a week.

I also found out that Jeff’s Facebook page gets more hits tha a summertime flyswatter.  My thanks to all the old friends who told her to say “hi” while she was here.  Hopefully as the weather warms the old dinosaur will get more active.  Last winter was like the return of the” Ice Age.”

Statistics, Statistics, Statistics

Statistics, Statistics, Statistics

Not all dog magazines, but a lot of them, seem to owe their existence to statistics.  They have pages and pages devoted to these numbers games many of which are meaningless and boring as well.  Do I care who is the tenth highest dog in breed or all-breed points?  Do I care who is the breeder who bred the tenth highest total of champions let alone the color, sex or coat type of these animals.  All this material is filler in place of good articles that might be helpful and of serious interest.  What a waste!  Those of you who are CC of A members can notice it in the yearbook as well.  Cease and desist already!!

On a more serious topic, I’d like to clarify something I’ve said, but which may have been misunderstood.  As a judge and breeder (some years ago) I’ve always thought that the whole dog and overall way the parts fit together must be more important than any one of those parts.  This includes the head properties which though extremely important should not, in my opinion, trump the overall picture.

Years ago I remember some very respected judges making comments like, “give me a good head and I can get the rest from mutts,” or “give me a good head and if the dog can get across the ring, he’s sound enough.”  Both of the statements may seem extreme, but they were opinions expressed by people who felt strongly and had a sound background in our breed.  Getting all of this sorted out and into proper focus is important to any serious breeder/exhibitor/judge of Collies.

I stick by my statement that the whole is of more value than any of the parts including head, coat, soundness or any other part.  To be a really good Collie a dog or bitch must be good in all of these areas, but the key is how they fit together to form a good specimen.  When we judge the first look at the dogs often gives an indication of who will win the class.  We must do further examination to be sure our eyes aren’t being fooled by grooming techniques or some other trick of the trade.  We must handle and move the animals so “our hands can verify what our eyes think they see.”  This along with knowing the breed, is the basis for judging.  Years ago I judged the North Jersey Specialty and most of my male classes were just average.  My last male class, Open Tricolor, had a truly spectacular looking dog who “filled the eye.”  After going over him I told his handler ”I’m going to be very disappointed if he can’t move!”  Well he could and did and was a shoo-in for Winners Dog.

Now if this dog had a magnificent head, but didn’t stand or move well, he still might have gone Winners depending on the competition, but he wouldn’t have put a real smile on my face.  To do that we need the whole package.

Based on our standard and my sixty-some years of study the Collie head is the “index of the breed.”  Though some other breeds may have heads with some similarities to the Collie’s our breed is unique in that area.  The parts of the head such as muzzle, backskull, eyes, and ears go together to create the expression which is the product of these parts.  There are other breeds which may have similar coats, movement, or other parts which resemble our Collies, but the way all the parts including the head fit together make a good specimen.

The first paragraph of our standard makes very clear to me what a Collie should be, but it only does so if you have a mental picture gleaned from years of observation.  Years of watching puppies grow, seeing dogs from various lines with the faults and virtues they’re known for, and comparing dogs in your own breeding program and others.  Being confident that you understand what our standard means based on discussions with mentors and personal observation over time is when the standard really comes to life.  Don’t be in a rush to show how much you know.  Steve Field once told me that as he got older and learned more, he stopped writing articles because he realized how much he had to learn.  Steve was obviously much smarter than I since I’m still writing.

If my wife, Phyllis, hadn’t prodded me a bit, I probably would be done writing, too.  Behind every good man, there’s a better woman prodding him along.

Think about it!

Waiting For Spring

Waiting For Spring

As mentioned in my last blog, this winter has been a real trial as it has in much of the country.  The snow has just kept coming and the cold didn’t allow for much melting.  Soon after I moved to Michigan in 1976 we had an awful storm in late January of 1978 that dropped 34 inches at one shot.  Things were tough but I was a lot younger and had three teenage sons at home to help.

This year unlike last year I’ve stayed pretty healthy and Phyllis and I have blown snow and shoveled snow since December.  When you have animals to care for staying inside where it’s warm is not an option.  Besides blowing paths for the dogs and to the bird feeders, there were cats and chickens to take care of in spite of the weather.  Both had heated water bowls and the cats slept on heating pads in a dog crate.

Unfortunately the worst was yet to come.  On February 19 the weight of snow on the pole barn brought it down.  The chickens and cats survived in rooms off to the side, but the two riding mowers weren’t so lucky.  The electricity had to be turned off to prevent fire from many broken wires.  Goodbye lights, heated water bowls and cozy heating pads.  Normally at 9pm I take the dogs out for the last time and go in the pole barn to turn off the lights in the chicken coop.  That night we watched a nature show until 9pm so I was a bit late.  The barn collapsed at 9pm just as I was getting dressed to go outside as usual.

So you see blogs may be scarce for a while as we work a bit harder to take care of our creatures under tough circumstances, but this old dinosaur will give thanks to his God every day for not being in the barn when it came crashing down.  For now at least this dinosaur was not meant to be extinct.

Think about it!

How Fast Can He Go?

How Fast Can He Go?

Ye Olde Dinosaur has been rather quiet lately due to the rigors of winter.  In addition to lots of snow the weather has been so cold the snow can’t melt.  We didn’t see above freezing for about a month.  It’s almost forty today so I’m temporarily out of hibernation. 

Like many of you I watched the Westminster Show last week.  Over the years it’s undergone many changes.  When I started showing the Garden offered regular classes from puppies to specials and most often featured a specialty type judge.  The entries in Collies were always a major and the show was considered the “coming out” show for Eastern Collie puppies.

Most shows back then had all around judges doing the groups and judging many of the breeds with smaller entries.  The popular breeds such as Collies often rated a specialist judge and the entries reflected this.  Nowadays many clubs seem to let the judges be selected based on how many breeds they can handle and if they can also be used on next day’s show thus splitting expenses.

The Garden as usual had dogs I liked and some that I didn’t.  The seven finalists at least let me pick both of the top winners.  Many of the judges were dressed in a manner more appropriate to a Broadway opening or a cocktail party.  One lady was so interested in her appearance and had her nose so far in the air, I’m not sure if she saw the dogs.

One of the other things I noticed was the speed at which most dogs were moved.  They seemed to be flying as fast as their legs could go regardless of breed or function.  The crowd and some judges may like it, but I question whether it’s correct.  Dogs that are moved at top speed always make me wonder what they’re trying to hide.  Different breeds and different dogs within each breed have speeds at which their movement looks best.  Faster is not always better just as coatier is not always better.

Years ago at Hagerstown, MD I showed Jadene’s Breezalong under Phil Marsh who had already given him a major.  We went BB from the classes to finish and on to second in the group under the same judge.  The Group First went to Jane Kay with one of her lovely Dobermans.  After the group she told me that I could have won the Group if I gaited my dog at a more lively pace.  I told her that I moved him at what I considered his best speed.  She reminded me that Phil Marsh was an ex-pro handler and liked to see the dogs really move as he did when he was showing.  We next met Phil Marsh judging the Group at the big Trenton show and I put on the gas with Breezy.  We won that Group and I guess I learned a lesson.  It still would seem apropos to move a dog at his or her best speed, but if you find a judge with certain preferences, you’d better decide what makes sense.

As many of you know I deplore the practice of hand stacking a Collie.  Indeed no matter what breed I judge when they go down and back I want a “natural” stop at the end.  The Collie standard tells us excessive posing is not desirable and my dogs were trained to stand on the four good legs God gave them.

Years ago when I was exhibiting Ch. Gingeor Bellbrooke’s Choice in the classes, I showed under an old all-rounder from Washington, DC.  He was a nice man and very likable, but we lost to a dog I though we should have beaten.  After the show someone told me that sound or not he wanted the dogs to be hand stacked.  Next time I showed under him I pretended I had a Boxer and we went Winners.  When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

You need to study judges and know their special little idiosyncrasies, but never lose sight of what is correct for our breed.  You may have to give a bit if you want to win, but you shouldn’t be swayed from breeding the right kind of Collies.  Moving faster than your dog can handle is generally a bad idea and hand stacking may appeal to some all-rounders, but not to the true Collie judge.

Judging is an interesting vocation and I like it when we have some variation.  Having all judges who dress alike and handle the ring alike and like exactly the same thing can be boring.  We all want to see the best specimen win particularly when we own it.  If someone else has the winner, then obviously the judge is having a bad day, right?  Over the years I showed under many judges who were having a bad day.  Their efforts generally became more noteworthy as my placements improved.

Think About It!

p.s.  It’s been such a fun winter , the main part of our pole barn collapsed on the 19^th, the next day the refrigerator died and oh yes, we needed a new clothes dryer.  Love those Michigan winters!