Dogs come in many different sizes, from the towering Irish Wolfhound all the way down to the diminutive Chi- huahua. Construction, weight and natural balance all dif- fer. Most breeds are slightly longer than tall.
Briard breeder-judges and breed mentors were invited to participate in a survey to identify what characteristics are most important when evaluating individual dogs in their breed, and which might be less so.
In September 2005, the Barbado da Terceira was presented for the first time at a dog show in Portugal. The Barbado’s home, Terceira, is an island in the Azores, an archipelago of nine vol- canic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, 850 miles west of the Iberian peninsula. The archipelago is an autonomous region of Portugal. The capital is Ponto Delgada on the island of São Miguel.
Have you ever wondered why Fido is so ecstatic when you come home after a few hours absence? Or, why Rover is so quick to put his head on your lap when you are feeling down, and why Bella puts her paw on your arm when you slump, tired and discouraged, into your favorite chair?
Many readers of this column may also follow Pure Dog Talk hosted by Laura Reeves. This podcast focuses on topics of interest to the purebred dog community.
Who doesn’t love polls and surveys? Mountains of tedious data get neatly distilled into a convenient takeaway message.
The pelvis functions as the base of operations for all movement. It is responsible for transferring energy created by the hindquarters (drive) through the bridge (the topline), allowing for the dog’s natural outline and, ultimately, suspension which promotes reach of the front assembly during movement.
Throughout history there have been many patterns of change which Webster defines as a paradigm shift. Many such events have occurred in the breeding and development of dogs and breeds.
On my own path to judge breeds with knowledge and passion, I took advantage of the opportunity to be an apprentice judge several times. My learning pattern is to layer and weave as many opportunities as I can until I feel prepared to judge a breed.
In the “good old days,” and I can still remember back that far, the term “kennel-blindness” applied to the man (or woman) who believed his or her dog(s) were perfect, could not be improved upon, and took every opportunity to share their opinion with all those who would listen. Today, the definition has seemingly become a bit darker and more biting.
