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!!
