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A
Breeder's Perspective
Judie Evans
How do we as
breeders define what makes a good Collie judge? What is
it that we would like you to focus on when you are invited
to judge our breed? Obviously we know that any good judge
can be expected to appreciate showmanship, glamor, presentation,
and grooming. We also know that basic structure and soundness
are qualities that most understand. What separates those
judges respected and sought after by longtime breeders
from the judges that we unfortunately see passing off
their generic opinions at many all-breed shows; shows
where all too frequently Collies win that have no real
merit and lack breed type? The answer is knowledge and
understanding of those virtues that the Standard emphasizes,
and the ability to recognize and reward that quality over
those superficial characteristics that are far easier
to attain. After breeding Collies for over 35 years, I
know from experience that should you breed away from the
correct expression or head type these virtues can be lost
in a single generation and getting them back is a difficult
task.
The overall
picture of our breed is its most basic haracteristic,
since without it, none of the elements that make up the
whole dog, however correct or beautiful they may be, are
sufficient to make it a true Collie. I am an “outline
person,” and the picture of a Collie posing majestically
showing me that picture of balance, elegance, and beauty
still can take my breath away. We want the Collie to be
proud and impressive; an elegant, arched neck, well laid
back shoulder, level back, gently sloping croup... a picture
of curves rather than angles. The coat is important, not
just in quantity but in that it fits the dog and is of
correct, harsh texture.
I also feel
strongly about how the Collie should be shown in the ring.
Contrary to what we sometimes observe in the show ring
today, the Collie Standard specifically states that the
breed should not be shown excessively posed. Furthermore,
he should not have to be strung up on a tight lead to
manufacture the desired overall picture of elegant balance.
He should not be expected to stare, mesmerized by a chunk
of liver or be wired up like a terrier... this is not
the Collie.
We also want
you to understand Collie movement. Contrary to the belief
that the Collie is just a “head breed,” we do value correct
movement. Despite what we see as desirable in some breed
and most group rings, faster is not better. A Collie is
meant to cover ground. His movement should be smooth,
reaching, and effortless when viewed from the side. As
his speed increases, he should single track: a desired
characteristic of the Collie. The one who runs the fastest
does not necessarily get the prize here, and although
this may be the trend in the all-breed ring at the moment,
it is not the movement of a herding dog.
These things
being said, we can talk about what makes up a really exceptional
Collie, the one who not only is worthy of winning dog
shows but also has the virtues that are essential to the
breed. The Collie Standard places great importance on
head qualities and expression, and no one aspiring to
judge this breed can do a competent job without a thorough
study of the Standard.
Longtime Collie
breeder Trudy Mangels of Brandwyne fame writes in her
book The Evolution of the Collie, “The head is the feature
which distinguishes the superior from the ordinary. In
no other breed of dogs is the head as important in evaluating
superiority as it is in the Collie.”
So what is
it that we want you to focus on here? We want a head inclined
to lightness in relation to the body in our breed... more
head is not better. The July 2003 9 Collie head should
be a lean, well-blunted wedge. It should be smooth and
well finished, with parallel planes of approximately equal
length separated by a slight but perceptible stop. It
is much easier to get these parallel planes on a shorter
head. The virtues of smoothness and finish of foreface,
flat frontal bone, and well-filled skull are more difficult
to get on a longer head. Mother Nature is constantly working
against us in these areas and longtime breeders appreciate
how difficult it is to achieve that correct profile and
the beautiful finish while maintaining a long, light head,
and these are virtues to be recognized and
rewarded.
The Collie’s
expression is a great priority and as the Standard states,
“No Collie can be properly judged until its expression
has been carefully evaluated.” It is basic to judging
our breed that you understand that the Collie eye is to
be of medium size, dark, almond-shaped, and set obliquely
into the head. The Collie’s expression is created from
the combination of the rounded muzzle, correctly placed
stop, oblique eye set, and the carriage and set of the
ear. The expression should be sweet, quizzical, and melting.
These are not simple concepts to grasp, but without the
correct head and the desired expression, we really do
not have “the Collie.” All the cuteness, showmanship,
clever grooming, and cosmetics will not make it a good
dog.
Perhaps one
of the best descriptions I have read recently of the priorities
of a breeder judge comes from George Horn, a longtime
successful breeder, now a respected judge:
“The virtues
I hold most sacred in judging are really fairly simple
to explain. Overall picture, type, balance, or whatever
you wish to call it comes first. No part can be more important
than the whole dog. After that would come the things that
make a Collie unique from other dogs.
“Just about
all of those things are part of the Collie head, such
as eyes, ears, expression, muzzle, skull, etc. No, I did
not say nothing else matters, just that it doesn’t matter
as much. I love any dog with good legs and feet that can
move well down and back and from the side. Unfortunately,
those things are not what makes a dog distinctly a Collie.
“Though
there have been minor revisions to the Standard over the
years, the basic intent has not been affected. The Collie
is to be a lithe, active dog with balance and harmonious
proportions. It should never show any problems associated
with bad temperament or be lacking in alertness (showmanship)
or responsiveness. The areas dealing with various aspects
of the head make it clear how important these are to the
people who framed the Standard. Such statements as ‘prominent
head faults are severely penalized’ or ‘eye faults are
heavily penalized’ and ‘a Collie cannot be judged properly
until its expression has been carefully evaluated’ make
it clear how important head characteristics are to the
Standard.”
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the two-page guide, A breeder's perspective (68k/PDF)
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