The Rain Factor and Golden Coats

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236 – September, 2022

By Nancy Talbott
photos ©Alan Hubbard

This article (my last one on WKC, I promise) will likely only be interesting to those who show, judge, handle, and/or breed Goldens; or to those who are curious about what is happening in a dog judge’s mind (or at least this judge’s mind) as final decisions are made.

It rained during Golden judging at Westminster, as those who toughed it out at ringside and those who watched remotely can attest. It started as a misty drizzle, moisture hanging in the air for an hour or so, and then began to rain in earnest — nothing torrential, but steady. Being retrievers, the dogs were simply joyful and even goofy in some cases in that wet ring, which was fabulous. Only for the final selection time did I finally give in to the rain jacket that Kelly and Beth had brought along for me (really good rain jacket, by the way…) because the St. John knit was getting a little waterlogged.

After all those words about the weather, here is the point I want to make about Golden coats and the rain (the “what was going on in her mind” piece). There were 15 or so in the beautiful final group from which I chose my winners. After one more admiring look at these treasures of a breed that I have loved for 46 years; having prioritized the hallmarks of the standard that set Goldens apart from other breeds and the importance of considering overall appearance, balance, gait, and purpose — I walked the line one more time, checking just one thing: coat. While not the only important specific characteristic, the rain brought a crucial breed trait to the forefront.

Click here to read the complete article
236 – September, 2022

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=240054

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