Page 122 - JRT Magazine - 2023 Issue 2

Perspectives

when they tend to be in proportion and I have no with maturity. Kerry Blue and Yorkshire Terriers, for
interest in visiting breeders who have puppies of example, will not display their mature colours until
5 weeks of age that are already being stacked, well out of puppyhood. I remember the mayhem
poked, and prodded. I caused when I once awarded a CC here in the
UK to a Yorkshire Terrier puppy who I felt was
History relates that it is often the slow-to-mature outstanding, way ahead of the older competition
dogs that last longer than their precocious overly as regards to construction and movement, yet his
finished relations. In the good old days when colours were those you would expect at that age.
we had many stockman breeders, it was quite Would it have been more sensible to reward an
common for breeders to hold back their more raw older dog with more correct colours that failed in
youngsters until they were ready for the show ring, movement and topline? In my opinion, it would not.
some seldom being shown as puppies. Yet when Judging revolves around the application of the
they did come out, they made an impact as they
had been allowed to grow up and develop at home.
They often outlast the flashy and more glamorous
youngsters.
I can relate to the late great American Anne Rogers

Breed Standards, yet so much of it also depends
on personal interpretation of those Standards.
It is interesting to discover in conversation how
differently judges approach the matter of judging
puppies.
Clark who once said to me in an interview “I often
discover the great ones before they are ready to In conclusion, no one summed it up better than
be discovered”. I, myself, am often criticised for the late, great Nigel Aubrey-Jones when he wrote
awarding top honours to a raw puppy when there “The idiosyncrasies that are present in the growth
are much more mature dogs in competition. Age and maturity of all livestock are sufficient reason
in itself is not a virtue. As judges, I believe we are to ask ‘is age important when judging?’ As with
there to reward merit as regards to type and quality most opinions, there is a cop-out to answer that
and sometimes the dog that has, in my opinion, question- ‘Judge them on the day’ which I interpret
most to offer its breed just happens to be in the to mean knowing sufficient about a breed to
first flush of youth … and surely, we should always understand just what it should look like on that
be thinking of the breed and its future. particular day.”
Some breeds go through noticeable colour changes

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