Page 114 - Aussie Magazine no1, 2023

An Interview with a judge

learning to write show descriptions – and now characteristics, moderate size, moderate bone,
I cannot remember why, it seems natural now. and correct head and expression.
I had mixed feelings about becoming a judge, I
knew I wanted to judge Australian Shepherds, but Our breed has a fairly wide range of characteristics,
thought I would have little interest in other breeds. both in anatomy and in behaviour. Sometimes this
I was wrong. Judging has not only given me a new causes heated arguments. One side says, stupid
perspective on my own breed, but I also learned show dogs. The other side says, ugly working dogs.
to love other Herding breeds – the more I knew This is a colossal waste of everyone’s time and
about them, the warmer my heart felt. I am firmly effort, not best for the Breed, and not best for us,
convinced that a truly good dog will shine in the the fanciers. We must recognise that genetic and
show ring, more often than not, regardless of who phenotypical variety, within the parameters of the
is the owner or the handler. I also learned that in Breed Standard, is a wonderful thing. All Australian
the training of new judges, the number one most Shepherds have to have breed type, they must
important thing is to see many high-quality dogs, be recognisable as Australian Shepherds, in both
to develop a feeling for the essence of a breed, their conformation and behaviour. But they do not
and to recognise quality. In judge’s training, we are have to be all the same. There is a variety of size,
often taught about faults. And recognising faults substance, head style, temperament, working traits,
surely has a role. But the utmost importance is – coat and colour. If it fits within the Breed Standard,
recognising quality and true breed character. I love it should be accepted and welcomed. The breed is
the idea – and it’s not mine, I read it somewhere – richer for it. it.
Lack of virtue is the greatest fault of all. The best
dog in the ring is not the one who is free of faults. The FCI Breed Standard for the Saluki says it
Fault-judging gives us the so-called “generic beautifully:
show dog” – a dog with no obvious faults but also
without strong breed typical qualities. As a judge, I “Salukis vary in type and the variation is desired
look for breed-typical virtue. Australian Shepherds and typical for the breed. The reason for the
are a medium-sized, moderate herding variation is the special place held by the Saluki
breed. As herding dogs, they in the Arab tradition and the immense size of
must be fit for function. the Middle East area where the Saluki has been
It is vital that we used as a hound of the chase for thousands of
maintain breed years. … those brought to Europe came from a
wide variation of terrain and climate and vary
accordingly.”

This is of course a very different breed on a
different timeline. Nevertheless, a beautiful
sentiment. Sensible.

The Breed Standard says Australian Shepherds
A good judge should can be initially reserved. Reserved does not mean
shy or fearful. Reserved means – you are a stranger
have an eye for a dog to the dog and therefore not important to the
and have a good feel dog. I did happen to buy some fearful dogs
over the years, and almost always I made it
for a dog, in the way work, trained the dog to accept the shows
that they approach and accept the judges, etc. As the years
go by, I think more and more that it’s a
and interact waste of my time. It is a burden to live
with a fearful dog, and it is incorrect

114 | A Worldwide Magazine for the Aussie • Issue 1/2023