ALL HYPE BUT WHERE’S THE TYPE?
by LEE GORGAN
I n my 13 short years or so of show- ing dogs I have been very lucky to have travelled all over the world thanks to this wonderful hobby of mine. Along with seeing parts of the world I have also seen many dogs. No matter the show I’m attending, no mat- ter the country I am in you will always find me at the Japanese Chin ring. Whether I am showing, judging or just sitting, analyzing and taking everything in—that’s where I’ll be. Seeing my beloved breed in other countries has really helped to educate and train my eye both as a Japanese Chin aficionado and as a judge. I believe there is no better way to educate oneself than to travel to other countries and learn from others. While watching your breed and speaking with other Japanese Chin breeders, owners and handlers, one can learn a great deal of valuable knowledge and let’s face it, no one can—or will—know it all. We never stop learning, it is part of what makes life so exciting and interesting after all. The greatest difference I notice while on my travels is the great variance in type among the Japanese Chin in each country. Having had the great honor of judging the breed in three countries thus far, I have experi- enced this hands on and not just from ringside observation. Type, like people, differs from coun- try to country, not that this is a bad thing. How bored would we be to see the same type over and over again? The excitement of coming across a dog that oozes the type you believe in, the type of dog you hope to breed, own, show or incorporate into your breeding pro- gram, is what keeps us going, pushing us foreword striving for “perfection” in our minds. That excitement for me is what keeps me interested and my passion for this enchanting breed burn- ing bright. Wherever I am in the world, I always find at least one dog that gives me goosebumps.
WHY SO DIFFERENT? I feel the various different types I see are a result of the different standards used by each kennel club/organization around the world. Personally I find some standards describe the “perfect/ ideal” Japanese Chin specimen more clearly than others; although, I feel no standard has it perfected. Some stan- dards provide more detail than others when it comes to anatomy and breed characteristics. You judge to the stan- dard of the country you are judging in—that goes without question, but I ask you do you breed to the standard of the country in which you live?
SOME WORDS THAT ARE SYNONYMOUS IN ALL STANDARDS WHEN DESCRIBING THE “IDEAL” JAPANESE CHIN ARE:
• Dainty • Square • V-shaped ears • Feathered/feathering • Rounded skull • Profuse coat
68 • T op N otch T oys , A pril 2017
Powered by FlippingBook