TOY GROUP JUDGES Q&A
mouth with horrible teeth will eventually be a dog in pain and on medication. This does not a happy Toy companion make! The temperament on a dog that is in pain all the time will obviously deteriorate the more pain that he is in. Even- tually, the lifespan of dogs with structure problems can be much less than those put together correctly. Toy breeds are the long-livers of the dog world; these little guys can act like puppies for years and live to the ripe-old ages of 15-17 years. Much progress has been made in presentation by owner- handlers and professionals alike, especially in the area of coat presentation, as there are many different coat types in this Group. Coming from a drop-coated breed like Mal- tese and having shown and groomed many others as well, I know the dedication it takes to not only breed a good dog, but to learn how to present it in good condition. So, when someone puts a very nicely groomed Toy Dog on the table in my ring, no matter what the coat type, I can appreciate the time and effort that went into that! Newcomers are so welcome to this Group, and the two best things to do to learn how to best present your dog are to ask for assistance by a good mentor in your breed, as far as the grooming, and to watch how your Toy breed is presented on the table by experienced exhibitors at a show. The thing that I, as a Toy Breed judge, find quite frequently is Toy Breeds that are not trained to stand for examination or have their mouths shown by the owner or handler. Toy judges should always take care that if a puppy has a problem, not to give them a bad experience in the ring. Being heavy-handed, or try- ing to pry into small mouths, is not a good idea. I make it a practice to judge the mouth/bite at the very end of the ex- amination, which seems to help with the occasional wiggly “happy to see you” puppy or sensitive adult. Exhibitors can assist by having their dogs trained to stand and have their mouths examined, whether it is a thumb exam by the judge or where the lips are opened to check the bite by either the judge or exhibitor. Again, mouth exams on a Toy Dog should be done quickly. Having your Toy Dog prepared for this ahead of time will be a great asset in the ring for both the exhibitor and the judge. Some longtime exhibitors have “downsized” to Toys. In my opinion, has this had an impact on quality? Posi- tive changes! While we once had certain less popular breeds like Affenpinschers, Brussels Griffons, and Eng- lish Toy Spaniels, just to name a few, that were not well- represented with a lot of quality, that has now changed for the better, thanks to dedicated breeders who have spent so much of their lives improving these breeds. That, in addition to the continued dedication of breed- ers of the other Toys in the Group, is what has made this Group so competitive. We welcome experienced breed- ers from other Groups who are interested in putting in the time, experience, and effort needed to breed good Toy Dogs. Toy Breeds can require special care. Do I have any advice to offer breeders, exhibitors, and judges? One thing that I
think all Toy breeders and exhibitors would like for Toy judges to understand is that you have to be considerate of the smaller breeds during examination. It is not necessary to apply undue pressure on the dogs, squeeze parts of their bodies, or mess up the hair that took the exhibitor hours to prepare for you to look at! There are ways to go over these little ones, and it behooves every potential Toy judge to learn this at seminars or frommentors. This would include how to approach the dog, go over bites, heads, tails, and coats in a way that is appropriate for the breed. You will be much appreciated for your attention to this detail. These diminutive dogs have made for loving companions since they were first bred centuries ago. There is much va- riety in this Group frombreed to breed. Some are of ancient lapdog types, and some are small versions of hunting dogs, Spitz, or Terrier types, bred down in size for a particular kind of work or to create a pet of convenient size. Because of this variety, the most important consideration when judg- ing this Group is type. My best advice to breeders and/or exhibitors is to please study your standard! You would be surprised how many times, in speaking with an exhibitor after judging, I have asked if they have read their standard—and the answer is no, or not lately! You cannot understand how to improve your breeding program or know why your dog probably did not win on the day if you don’t know what your standard requires. Good books on your breed, and breeding in gen- eral, are a good idea to have and keep as references. Also, find someone whose breeding program you respect and learn everything you can from them. A good mentor is priceless and will steer you in the right direction, even if it is not with them. In my opinion, how do today’s exhibits compare with the Toy Dogs of the past? Well, I’m a little biased, having competed in this Group for so many years, but my opinion is that the Toy Group is, and has been for a very long time, one of the strongest Groups, with great overall quality. Toy Groups are most always deep, and it is such a joy to judge any National Toy Dog Specialty where you can actually see the quality of the breeding programs. Why do I think Toy Dogs can become outstanding Show Dogs? Toy Dogs were bred to be companion animals, and therefore, are very excited about being near, and pleasing, their owners. Toy Dogs will do just about anything you ask of them, just as long as they can be by your side. Their at- tentiveness and eagerness to please are what make them not only good show dogs, but sometimes clowns in the ring. They are very entertaining and creative. It is always a fun day to judge the Toy Breeds! If I could share my life with only one Toy Breed, which would it be and why? Obviously, this would be a Maltese. I enjoyed handling many of the Toy breeds and have owned quite a few, but there is nothing like the little silky white dog with the black eyes and nose! Just for laughs, do I have a funny story that I can share T op N otch T oys , M ay 2022 • 25
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