Page 121 - JRT Magazine - 2023 Issue 2

shown through the classes, taking advantage of
the age classes, then those classes restricted by
wins until they are ready for the Open class. That
said, seasoned exhibitors who understand their
dogs and their breed may well decide that they
have a puppy who is unusually forward and more
advanced in development than the norm, which
would look less out of place in a class of more
mature competitors. That is entirely reasonable. In about
our country, it is also traditional for judges to ask Andrew Brace
the age of all dogs they judge, the reason being
that if they fully understand the breed, they should
know how dogs should look at any particular age.
For example, a 6-month-old Jack Russell Terrier Andrew Brace has been approved by the
of high quality and great promise may well bear Kennel Club (UK) to award CCs in more
little resemblance to the description of perfection than 90 breeds across all the groups, and
in the Breed Standard as regards balance and judges all seven Groups as well as Best
outline. It may well stand at ten-to-two in front, be in Show. Andrew has presently put his
bum-high, and generally soft in condition. It takes judging activities and travelling on hold
someone with a deep understanding of the breed as he is now full-time career for his93year
to make allowances for age and immaturity and old mother but he hopes at some time in
judge accordingly, bearing in mind the age of the the future to return to the centre of the
dog being judged. ring doing what he enjoys most. Andrew
I have never fully understood the rationale behind is the author of several specialist books.
For many years he was Consultant Editor
of DOG WORLD for whom he wrote the
popular “Going Around” column.

the American disapproval of judges asking the age
of a dog in the ring. Surely, the information helps
to make an informed decision? I do appreciate that
there are two schools of thought when it comes to
“judging on the day”. Some will maintain that all
dogs (regardless of age) should simply be judged
against the Breed Standard which, by definition
is a description of the perfect adult in a breed.
Others, however, will prescribe to the belief that
dogs should be judged as specimens of a certain
age and as such should be at the ideal stage of
development for that age.

We all know that breeds develop differently,
depending on their size, shape, and substance.
We also learn in time as breeders that even within
the same breed different lines and strains may
develop differently. I always like to look at puppies
regardless of the breed at around 8 weeks of age

A Worldwide Magazine for the Jack Russell Terrier / Russell Terrier • Issue 2/2023 | 121