Page 47 - Aussie Magazine no1, 2023

JUDGING TIPS

• Get your hands on each dog. Between the double coat and unique colour patterns
of the merles and a variety of markings and points, many optical illusions can be
created.

• Current grooming practices favour a completely level topline which hides the
angle of the croup. Get your hands on the croup to feel the angle.

• The angle of a white collar may give the perception of a straight shoulder.
Conversely, the edge of a white collar may give a straight-shouldered
dog the appearance of great shoulder layback. One white foreleg and
one solidly coloured foreleg may give an impression of incorrect
movement coming toward you. From the rear, dogs with different
coloured hocks can be deceiving when judging rear movement.
Be particularly
• Each side of every dog can be marked differently. Be sure to
look at both sides of each animal. aware of how
you approach
• While your initial view of the dog should focus on our an animal for
silhouette, we would encourage you to make your final
selections based on our movement; correct, balanced, examination. Coming
free and easy, lithe and agile, and able to work all up from behind or
day long. looming over them is

not desired. Squeaky toys,
keys in the pocket or loose

If you cannot examine a dog, excuse it. Oftentimes change jangled to get the
pushing a sensitive or unsettled animal will result dog to show you expression
in permanent damage to the dog.
are not called for.

Ears: Another unique aspect of the breed is the
variety of ear carriages we allow. We accept a rose
ear, a triangle ear and one dog can have both. I others stockier with ranges in between. Our
personally showed a dog that could freely change standard does not address these variations (often
her ear carriage while in the ring. At any one time, these are personal preferences within breeding
the left ear could be rose and the right ear could programs). As such we allow for the variation.
be a triangle. She easily would switch the triangle Breed type however remains clearly defined.
and rose ears during judging and could even end
up with two rose ears or two triangle ears. This Eyes: ANY colour is acceptable. ANY marbling or
variety of ear carriage is not to be faulted. We call flecks are fine. There are no faults associated with
for an “ear set high on the head.” Typically, the eye colour. There are no health issues related to
ears are set high at the side of the head. eye colour. There are optical illusions that can be
created by the flecks and marbling of colour in
Styles: We do have style differences within the eyes. Do not be distracted by a look that is
the breed. I often compare our breed styles to created by marbling or flecks. What is important
the differences between a Quarter horse and a about the eye is the almond shape and that the
Thoroughbred horse. Some dogs are elegant, eyes do not protrude or are not sunken.

A Worldwide Magazine for the Aussie • Issue 1/2023 | 47