Top Dog Weekly by TopDogWeekly

RECENT BEST IN SHOWS (week ending June 16th, 2013) Nanaimo Kennel Club – British Columbia Thursday West Highland White Terrier Ch. Whitebriar Jaw Dropper Judge Butch MacDonald Friday Alaskan Malamute GChEx Mytuk’s Technical Knock Out Judge Michel Chaloux Saturday Collie (Rough) Ch. Tallywood Paradox Judge: Richard Paquette Sunday Afghan Hound Ch Polo’s Air Force One Judge Carol Graham Kenora Dog Club – Ontario Friday Show 1 Dalmatian Ch. Special D The Best of Broadway Judge: Jan Buchanan Friday Show 2 Alaskan Malamute GCh. Winterchill’s Cruz’n Spirit Judge Alan Bennett Saturday Show 3 Boxer Ch. Newalba N Pekeapug’s Nightmare Judge: Geraldine Taylor Saturday Show 4 Siberian Husky Ch. Davik’s Just Do It Judge Nancy Popovich Sunday Show 5 Barbet Ch. Flacon D'Paris of Neigenuveaux Judge Pamela Bruce Sunday Show 6 French Bulldog CH Foxmoor Petite Cherie Je Na Sais Quoi Judge: Janet Lobb Ontario County Kennel Club – Ontario Friday Nova Scotia Duck Tollng Retriever GCh. Roaneden’s Int’l Harvester Judge Allan Pepper Saturday Chihuahua Short Coat – TEGS Too Bad She’s Bad Judge Neil Graves Sunday Australian Cattle Dog Ch. Rick’s Smokin Thunder Judge Paula Heikkinen-Lehkonen St. Francis Kennel Club – Quebec Thursday Show 1 Australian Shepherd Ch. Hearthside Riveredge Sure is Summum Judge Joan Beech Thursday Show 2 Australian Shepherd Ch. Hearthside Riveredge Sure is Summum Judge Mel Beech Friday Doberman Pinscher GChEx Tiburon Aamira Azaria Judge Fred Heal Saturday Yorkshire Terrier Ch. NicNak’s Second To None Judge: Jack Ireland Sunday Yorkshire Terrier Ch. NicNak’s Second to None Judge: Shirley Limoges Abegweit Kennel Club – Prince Edward Island Saturday Show 1 Welsh Corgi Pembroke Ch. Curig FaerieTale Quarter Note Judge Michelle Scott Saturday Show 2 Affenpinscher Ch Champagne Charly V. Tani Kazari Judge Wayne Thompson Sunday Show 3 Affenpinscher Ch. Champagne Charly V. Tani Kazari Judge Elaine Whitney Sunday Show 4 Affenpinscher Ch. Champage Charly V Tani Kazari Judge Robert Whitney

UPCOMING SHOWS this Weekend Argus Kennel Club – Ontario Kingston & District Kennel Club – Ontario Monarch Kennel Club – Ontario

This Week's Top 10 Dogs (All Breeds)

Rank

Dog Name

Points

Ch Whitebriar Jaw Dropper - West Highland White Terrier

9972

2 3

Ch Polo's Air Force One - Afghan Hound GCh NicNak's Second To None - Yorkshire Terrier

2589 2329

4 5

Ch Champagne Charly V. Tani Kazari - Affenpinscher GCh Roaneden's Int'l Harvester - Nova Scotia Duck Toller

2222 2216

Ch Ahmahr Nahr's The Lost Angel Gabriel - Basenji

2178

7 8

GChEx Goldgrove High Intensity - Doberman Pinscher GChEx Mytuk's Technical Knock Out - Alaskan Malamute

2040 1800

Ch Valcopy Jamel Sir Crystalton - Pomeranian

1772

GCh Vetset Kate Winsit - Standard Poodle

1716

(TopDogWeekly does not verify these stats - they are supplied as a courtesy to our readers from our friends at www.canuckdogs.com)

MEET OUR 1st JUDGE of the WEEK! – MR. DAVID SWARTWOOD, CANADA

1) Home city? Erie, Pennsylvania. 2) Breed or Breed’s you have bred? English Springer Spaniels, American Cocker Spaniels, Lhasa Apsos, Miniature Wire and Smooth Dachshunds. We have owned an English Bulldog and currently own a Pug. 3) Years you have been Judging? I was granted my first permit from CKC in 2006. I began the process to judge Obedience with AKC in the early 90’s but that was interrupted by my move to Canada. I hope to add that back in someday. 4) Licensed for or, on Permit for? Licensed for All Sporting, Hound and Toy breeds and currently on Permit for half of Terriers (Irish – Westie). 5) Judged in what Countries? Canada, USA, Mexico, Colombia, New Zealand, Australia, Bermuda, South Africa, Indonesia and Chile. I love judging Junior Handling as well and have done that in most of those countries as well. I hope someday we can have develop a Canadian program with a reciprocal license to judge juniors in the US.

6) All time favourite assignment? Very tough question as I LOVE judging and once you are in the right mind set to evaluate dogs you shut out everything else and get to work processing what you see in front of you. It’s hard to wipe the smile off my face most of the time but when I am really thinking I get a more serious look (or if I see bad sportsmanship or harsh corrections on a dog). It’s the people you meet along the way and the opportunities you get to see places around the world that make this hobby so special. 7) Favourite dog or dogs Judged from the past? On my most recent trip to the Wine Country circuit in New York I had the most spectacular line up in the sporting group to officiate over. It included the top two dogs All Breed in the US for 2012, the English Springer Spaniel Ch. Wynmoor Champagne Supernova (Peyton) and the GWP Ch. Mt. View’s Ripsnorters Silver Charm along with the stunning Irish Water Spaniel bitch Ch. Whistlestop’s Riley On Fire. This is circuit of shows I have attended as an exhibitor for 30 years and this was an honour to judge. I also had the pleasure of judging the lovely Irish Setter bitch Ch. Shadagee Caught Red Handed at SD&G as a class bitch and awarded her the winner of my very first Sporting group (then onto BIS under Mr. White). 8) Pet Peeve’s in your ring? Exhibitors taking things too serious and overhandling. I enjoy seeing puppies act like puppies so forcing them to behave and making them dislike being there is one of the things that I hate to see. The other is over-grooming. Certain breeds whose standard calls for an unkempt or natural look should be exhibited as such. I will often muss a Havenese or PBGV coat and ask the handler to leave it natural. I also dislike poor sportsmanship of any kind, we all want to win but tomorrow is another day and we all get to go home with the best dog anyway. Snatching ribbons and muttering your displeasure just loud enough for the judge to hear is not very professional. If you think it will help you next time you are in the ring…think again.

9) Favourite way to relax? I really enjoy the day to day activities of our farm. It’s work but work that I love and to see what we accomplish in our breeding programs of the livestock and of our dogs is a daily pleasure. 10) How do you occupy your time in travel? I normally carry a good book or now a Kobo e-reader. People watching is also interesting for long layovers in airports. Thom and I always try to find interesting things to do while we are away and I don’t have many things left on the bucket list. The assignment in South Africa helped accomplish the safari dream. Someday I hope to visit Machu Pichu in Peru. 11) What do you think is the biggest problem facing our Sport? I think we keep lowering the bar as what constitutes a good dog worthy of a championship and being worthy of being used in a breeding program. The Canadian requirement of a 2 point win being a “major” win does not help raise the bar in any way. We also keep reducing the requirements in the US to obtain majors, which used to help maintain the fact a dog had to win two rather large wins at breed level to become a champion. The numbers now are less than half of when I started in my breeds. Judges should also not be afraid to withhold on awards and points when they feel the dog is not “deserving on the day”. 12) Your thoughts on Limited Shows? I think the concept of limited shows in remote areas has merit. The use of them in populated areas “just to have more shows” is doing a great injustice to the sport. I would like to see the possibility of “critique shows” where exhibitors come away with a written critique on their dog. One per weekend along with two “regular” shows instead of loading six shows over 3 days. This also holds judges accountable for their decisions rather than simply handing out ribbons. Livestock shows have the judge place the entire class in order and then publically assess every

entry to the audience. This process brings such accountability and the spread of the judge's knowledge to everyone. How could that not be good for the sport?

Thank you Mr. Swartwood! Welcome to the TopDogWeekly family! !

MEET OUR 2nd JUDGE of the WEEK...

7) Favourite dog or dogs Judged from the past? I love bull mastiffs

MR.THOMAS NESBITT, CANADA 8) Pet Peeve’s in your ring? Poor bred by classes 9) Favourite way to relax? On a beach with a margherita in hand!! 10) How do you occupy your time in travel? Meeting new friends 11) What do you think is the biggest problem facing our Sport? Lack of passion for breeds and expectation of winning with lesser specimens 12) Your thoughts on Limited shows? Don’t particularly like them – I 1) Home city? Gananoque, Ontario

know they are keeping clubs alive but we have to find other ways to keep the sport

2) Breed or Breed’s you have

going and growing

bred? American Cockers, Springers, Miniature Dachsunds, 3) Years you have been Judging? Since 1994 4) Licensed for or, on Permit for? All Breed 5) Judged in what Countries? Australia, USA, Bahamas, Bermuda, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Ireland, Mexico, Costa Rica 6) All time favourite assignment? Judging GSP’s at the Garden Specialties in New York

Thank you Mr. Nesbitt! Welcome to the TopDogWeekly family!

Breeder Profile Julie Kempster & Bea & Kevin Sawka Classical Bearded Collies http://www.worldofclassical.com/ Email: bsawka@interhop.net

In as few words as possible describe the essence of your Breed? The Beardie is affectionate, devoted, good natured, active, and very intelligent with great memories.

This week the TDW team 'sat down' with Julie Kempster & Bea & Kevin Sawka of Classical Bearded Collies. Here is what they had to share with us..

What attracted you to your breed? We were looking for a medium sized breed that was fun to live with and had a friendly outgoing temperament. How many years have you been breeding and exhibiting? We have been breeding and showing Beardies since 1976, we met shortly after we obtained our first Beardies. What are your accomplishments in your breed? We owned, bred and handled Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Dog All Breeds, Can GCh. And Am Ch. Classicalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Image of a Legend. Classical has produced almost 150 Champions, we have won over 35 specialties including the Canadian and American Nationals and our dogs have won more than 95 Best in Shows. Our newest addition, Ch. Sengalas Frankly Classical is the only Bearded Collie to win the Specialty and the Puppy Sweepstakes at the same National. Did you have a mentor in your Breed? There have been many breeders over the years that have helped us learn about the breed. Do you believe Judges have a good understanding of your breed? There are certainly judges who know and have a great understanding of the breed, but generally no. We find most judges tend to choose dogs that have lots of coat and move quickly around the ring rather than looking at what is underneath the hair and choosing correct shape and conformation.

What are the medical problems in your breed? Beardies are generally a healthy breed and long lived but there are Auto Immune diseases such as SLO and Addisons in the breed. Fault wise, currently what needs the most improvement in your breed? Length of body and shoulders. The outline of a Beardie is very important, he should be longer than he is tall (5 to 4) with a fair length of neck blending into well laid back shoulders that fit well into a level top line that blends into a nicely curved rump with a low tail set and low hocks. There are too many straight or high shoulders, which can give the illusion of a longer neck, though that is not true. Incorrect shoulders compromise the topline, usually with a dip behind the shoulders and also produce wasted incorrect movement. The topline should be level

at all times. What do you believe to be the best dog you have bred? Ch. Classical’s American Woman and her son Ch. Classical’s Image of a Legend What dog of your breed would you have loved to own? Eng. Ch. Pepperland Lyric John at Potterdale, a dog of outstanding breed type and temperament. How many dogs do you normally have in your kennel? Just 4 or 5. We do place some in homes where we can co-own them, show and possibly breed from them if we wish to. How many litters do you have in a year and what is the average size of your litters?

THANK YOU JULIE, BEA & KEVIN FOR SHARING YOUR LOVE OF BEARDED COLLIES WITH THE TOPDOGWEEKLY FAMILY! WE WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS!

We only have a litter every 3 years or so now and Beardies generally have litters of 6-10 pups Are you having trouble selling or placing your puppies? We do not have any trouble finding homes for our pups. How many Canadian Shows do you attend in a year? 35 or so How many American Shows do you attend in a year? 5-10 Do you attend your Canadian or American National Specialty Shows? Yes, we try to depending on their location.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK JUNE 19th, 2013 Do you believe Judges should withhold ribbons more often? Sandra Lex

Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor/Judge

Without question, Judges should withhold ribbons more often. Why don’t we? This is a double edged sword, one from the judges point of view and one from the exhibitors point of view. Lets tackle the Judges point of view. I’m sure I am not the only one who from time to time ask ourselves whoever gave this dog points for it to become a champion. We, as judges, in this country are required to become all breed judges to be hired by most clubs. How many of us can stand and talk to an exhibitor about their particular breed and tell them why they did not reward their dog for whatever reason. I have to guess that there are a handful or a few more who could do that. Am I comfortable in judging Border Collies for instance, and able to define the issues what makes the breed the breed probably not. I personally have only wanted to be very good at a few groups. Groups that I came from and breeds that I’ve seen day in and day out and from that be able to form opinions of why I did what I did. This is my comfort zone. Beyond that, I would hazard a guess we are winging it. Is that fair to the exhibitor’s? How many judges can even verbalize in their breeds, why they did what they did. Many people are not capable of taking the opportunity to educate an exhibitor and would rather just hand out the ribbon and be done with it. Is that making us responsible to the job that we have been given? That is, evaluating breeding stock. How many judges have made the decision to withhold an award and then reap the wrath of the exhibitor? Many would say it isn’t worth the hysterics that can occur. I once had an occasion, where I had given this young girl a 3rd, I hadn’t even withheld nor excused her for lack of merit and I tried to talk to her and advise her on what she may want to do. Well, I then had to deal with a parent and with the young lady who was a late teenager and then deal with the AKC rep. This was my breed in which I had been involved in for decades. I was merely trying to save her from spending money and getting unreal expectations when it would never happen. The AKC backed me to the hilt but did the exhibitor or parent for that matter get the point. Probably not!!!! Another issue that I would like to deal with, before I end this part of the judging issue, is how many judges today still breed and show their dogs. How many even own a dog any more. How far removed are many judges today in remembering what it was like to stay up all night, hover over newborns keeping them alive and then waiting to see if their dreams had come to fruition Now I’m going to deal with the exhibitor of today and for that matter the breeder- exhibitor. Just this week I attended a focus group on where our sport is going and its not a pretty picture.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK JUNE 19th, 2013 Do you believe Judges should withhold ribbons more often? Sandra Lex

Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor/Judge

Todays culture cries for instant gratification, where’s the ribbon, where’s my reward for showing this dog today. Has the exhibitor sat down and been honest with themselves in what they have before them? Do they know how far they have strayed from the breed standard? When was the last time they read the breed standard? Do they stand at ringside and analyze their competition? Are they capable of doing that? Can they honestly say that they did not deserve to win on the day? So often exhibitors do not even stay to see who wins the breed or even who goes Winners. These should be the questions that all exhibitors should ask themselves on the day. A good handler always analyzes their competition and knows which dog they have to beat. Yes, exhibitors probably do feel that they have been short changed by judges. They are probably right in some instances. If the end game is breeding better dogs, then who best to get advice from but someone whose seen the breed for years and know the ups and downs that they have gone through. I’ve had several instances where I’ve taken someone aside and given them advice, from my point of view, and had these individuals return to me two years later thanking me for that advice. That is my job and one, which I get great satisfaction and take seriously. However a great many people don’t care they just want the purple ribbon and move on. It would be a HUGE leap of faith on the part of the judging community and the exhibitors to really welcome critiques and where they could improve. Yes I know this is a very personal and subjective subject and many cannot and will not hear an opinion. In my opinion, if a judge can give a valid assessment and constructive critique, it should validate their opinion. There is nothing wrong with that. What is the grand scheme breeding better dogs! Nicole Casavechia

Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor

Yes I feel judges should withhold more to exhibits not adhering to the standard in type, movement, character and temperament. The purpose of the conformation show is to judge breeding stock no good comes from breeding champions of poor quality. I do realize that no one wants to discourage new comers to the sport, however withholding ribbons and the judge explaining his/her reasons in a polite way is and should be an educational tool to showing and breeding better dogs. Karen Chant

Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor/Judge

That is a tough question… People SAY they want ribbons withheld more often… until it happens to them!!! I think a judge SHOULD withhold if it is a breed where they are really confident in their understanding of the breed standard.

As a newly licensed judge, I have found myself pondering the “should I or shouldn’t I” question a couple of times. Looking back, I am also confident that at least once, I should have (but didn’t). I know I will at some point make the leap and withhold. And I know I’ll get flack for it…. Ribbons should be withheld if a dog is lacking sufficient merit for the judge to see that dog as a Champion. But the problem is, the definition of ‘sufficient merit’. What it might mean to me could be different than what it means to you. By the time a judge gets to be a judge, hopefully they have matured their “eye” and expect more from a dog than they did with their very own first show dog. Their opinion of a Champion may be greatly different than their opinion 30 years ago. But some of those dogs they are judging might very well be owned by someone who is showing their very own first show dog. That dog definitely has sufficient merit in the eyes of it’s adoring owner, and may have sufficient merit in the eyes of other exhibitors, but the judge who has been in the game for 30 years and has acquired a higher level of expectation may feel otherwise. However, the exhibitor is paying for the judge’s opinion… so perhaps that dog is withheld, the novice owner is devastated, and some of the other exhibitors are scratching their heads and running to an online site to say how stupid the judge is J. And SOME exhibitors will nod their head and think “Yep… nailed it”. I also think judges should withhold for dogs who can’t be examined and/or have extremely poor temperament. (And I HAVE a breed with a reputation for not liking to be examined – but I still think the really bad ones need to be sent home to get more training, even if it’s my own dog). I don’t mean a dog that does the big lean, or a dog that has to be repositioned a few times, even many times. It is sad when you see a dog that frantically tries to clamber over it’s handler’s shoulders when being examined, pees while being examined, eyes totally rolled back in it’s skull, goes around the ring on it’s belly, hides behind it’s handler, and yet somehow gets awarded. If it’s a wrestling match to get the judge’s hands on the dog, perhaps that dog doesn’t need a ribbon that day? A judge who has a reputation for withholding ribbons, well… we all see how the entries ‘drop off’ the day that judge is judging. It is the same as judges who are known for measuring. So while people emphatically state judges should withhold more, and judges should measure more, when it comes down to it, people rarely put their entry money where their mouth is. I had ribbons withheld on my entry once, and the judge’s reasoning actually had us all laughing as we left the ring (he withheld on the whole 4 entry Open Bitch class), It was so ‘out there’ that all we could do was laugh and remember not to show to him again. Judges who withhold don’t want to be THAT kind of judge!!!! So I guess my short answer to the question is, yes, they should withhold more often, but I understand why they don’t. David Morford

Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor

More often, NO.... the whole purpose of a dog show is to have competent judges assess each dog based on a standard. “Standards describe the mental and physical characteristics that allow each breed to perform the function for which they were originated.” This requires an understanding of

the breed and its guideline to perfection... which some judges have evidently not achieved. I recently attended a show; where the entire German Shepherd open bitch class was dismissed from the ring, (as well as the Collie class).... the entry in the Judges book stated lack of quality/soundness; despite one dog having a previous Best of Breed x 2 and six points toward her CKC champion title and a VP1 title from a regional Schutzhund competition, recently 4 excellent ratings at a local Canine Federation of Canada show... thus the dog has merit based on so many judicial opinions. What was stated to the handler in the ring not enough reach and what appeared in the judges’ book tells the real story here. It is simply not acceptable that a judge’s subjectivity or mood de jour be the deciding factor...that’s the reason for a standard in the first place. The withholding of ribbons should only occur where a serious fault, based on standard has been detected or the dog has obvious physical limitations during showing that day (limping during the gait) Presently, everything favors the judge regardless. There needs to be an appeal process where the exhibitor has some redress for illegitimate decisions. The only recourse for exhibitors is to create a DO NOT SHOW LIST that can only impact negatively on host clubs and the Canadian Kennel Club. Serious reflection is needed, or entries will simply evaporate. Laurie Campbell

Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor

Yes!!!!!! Dogs that have temperament issues, lameness and lacking merit are receiving ribbons undeservedly. I've even seen a poodle in pet trim receive a Winners ribbon!!! Poor quality Dogs are getting championships because judges don't have the balls to withhold excuse or disqualify. At a recent show in the bred by exhibitor class, which should have the best of the best in it, one dog was lovely, one dog was barely recognizable as its breed and the third screamed and threw itself to the ground desperately trying to get away from the judge. The judge gave out a first second and third ribbon. Clearly it should have been first to the lovely and no ribbons to the other two. We need judges to stand up and be accountable….. They are judging BREEDING STOCK and need to get the message across that just because a dog has papers doesn't mean it should be shown and bred.

Barbara Heal

Breeder/Owner/Exhibitor/Judge

The short answer would be "yes, absolutely" whether it be Winners or Select. But it does take courage. No matter how valid your reason or reasons might be, a Judge can count on a lot criticism. While exhibitors will often say that Judges should do this more often, what they should add is, "but just not with my dog" because in the end, that is what it really amounts to. No one enters their dog thinking there might be a possibility that this could happen.

Sometimes it might be as a result of a very inexperienced exhibitor who probably has never read their Breed standard. Just this past weekend, I made a comment to an exhibitor about the recent change within their standard. I could tell she did not know what I was talking about by the blank look she gave me. Exhibitors and especially handlers should know their standards. Unfortunately there are some handlers who will take anything into the ring just to make a quick buck off an inexperienced owner. These dogs are what we refer to in the trade as "gas dogs". As a Judge, this infuriates me! Not only is this handler taking the owner for a ride but they are insulting me as a Judge. No doubt when a ribbon is withheld the handler will tell the exhibitor that the Judge (and particularly a Permit Judge) doesn't know what they are doing and encourage them to enter again. But what happens when the next Judge awards the dog? And that is when it becomes very frustrating, as exhibitors are often quick to point out said dog's win(s) at a previous show. To that I say, "I cannot speak for another Judges actions". Not all that long ago, I witnessed a Judge award a dog with an obvious DQ. For some exhibitors and/or handlers they may get may get a chuckle out of that, thinking they may have pulled the wool over the Judge's eyes and will carry on until the dog has finished its Championship. It is not easy being a Judge as I have learned over the past eight years. However, I never was so naive to think that it would have been easy but there are times when it can be very difficult. A Judge needs to be both physically and mentally fit. So when I see someone walk into my ring with zero knowledge of their one and only Breed, why should we be criticized for missing a detail with one of the other 100+ Breeds that enter our ring? But that is the reality. Exhibitors pay their money to ask for our opinion. Our opinions may not always satisfy you but in the end, it must satisfy me! Withholding takes guts and a Judge MUST be absolutely sure as to the reason why. But to ignore or worse yet, award mediocrity can be damaging to the Breed as a whole. Added to that, I do not want to be pictured in a magazine holding a purple ribbon!