We rarely see a fault such as a poor front or unleveled topline on a top breeder’s dog, but we might see a fail- ing such as less coat than desired or ears that are smaller than we’d like. While one breeder selects a fabu- lously constructed dog with a moder- ate head and longer muzzle for their breeding program, another might select a dog with a weak rear and low tail set that has an overdone head and beautiful coat. The breeder select- ing the coat and head has just made the decision to continue structural faults in their breeding program. The old saying, “A dogs doesn’t walk on its head,” is something to keep in mind. The whole package of balance, beau- ty, quality, soundness, and tempera- ment is what all top breeders strive for. When you see the “total package” in the ring, you can be sure the breed- er has done their homework andmade structure selection a top priority. Developing an eye for a good dog takes time. Every new breeder should be at the Group ring, watching each and every group of dogs so that their eyes can adjust to seeing how great dogs move. Once you have developed your “eye” for movement and balance, the selection of your breeding dogs will improve in record time. Virtues differ from person to person, but good conformation, type, sub- stance, balance, and soundness are essential. Temperament is of great concern for the Chihuahua breeder, since developing the “saucy” per- sonality isn’t the easiest task. There is nothing more beautiful to the eye than to see a gorgeous Chihuahua strutting around the show ring while enjoying every minute. Since temper- ament is an inherited trait, it should be highly considered during the selection process. SELECTION: THE FUTURE OF OUR BREED Our Parent Club, The Chihuahua Club of America, and The Ameri- can Kennel Club are guardians of the Chihuahua Breed Standard. The Breed Standard is a blueprint of specific physical qualities such as appearance, movement, and
temperament. It is our “word picture” of the appearance and behavior of an idealized Chihuahua. The basis of judging in conforma- tion dog shows is breed type, which describes the characteristics that are typical of a particular breed. The judge looks at the entered dogs that most perfectly resemble their ideal breed type. The goal of the conforma- tion show is to identify breeding stock for the future of our breed. If we are doing our job as breeders with the best intentions for the future of our breed, some very good dogs will be neutered or spayed, while those that are even better will be retained for future breeding. It behooves all breeders to work in the best interest of the breed. Selection is what it is all about and it is the key to breeding suc- cess. An inability to look at your dogs objectively can wreck your dreams for the future and derail years of hard work. Successful breeders who pro- duce quality dogs year after year are consistent with their selection pro- cess. They maintain a picture of the type they are trying to produce and know the ingredients that make up that type. Your ability to select wisely will de- pend on both your in-depth knowl- edge of dogs in general and on your breed-specific knowledge. Read your Standard until you know it forward and backward and understand what you are reading. Above all, think of the future of our breed when select- ing your next show dog. Probably one rule stands above others and that is, “Breed only the best to the best and don’t be satisfied with anything less.” To be successful, we must truly be objective as to what we choose to re- produce or put in the show ring. We must strive to improve the next gen- eration, and once a problem is discov- ered in a breeding program, we much be prepared even to the point of start- ing over with new foundation stock. What sacrifices are you ready tomake on your road to happiness? Dreams do find direction and you can make yours come true.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Virginia (Jenny) Hauber began exhib- iting Chihuahuas in the 1990s after a lifetime of owning and breeding pure- bred dogs. As the breeder/owner-han- dler of WynJyn Chihuahuas, she has produced numerous Top 20 dogs, Na- tional Specialty winners, and the 2014 Number 1 Agility Chihuahua who was also the first and only Iron Dog Chi- huahua. She has been an active mem- ber of the Chihuahua Club of America as well as a member of the Nashville, Atlanta, and Dixieland Chihuahua Clubs. She was the AKC Gazette Chi- huahua Breed Column writer for over five years and has had numerous arti- cles in other dog publications. She was the 2005 co-editor of the Chihuahua Club of AmericaHandbook and was on the editorial team of THE CHIHUA- HUA magazine during its run. She has enjoyed being a Sweepstakes judge at the Nashville Chihuahua Club’s spe- cialty and has served on many club committees throughout her time in the show dog world. Virginia began her love of the Chihua- hua when she was just a young girl and got her first little one, Susie. Later, she raised working Aussies before they were AKC approved, and when she de- cided to enter the dog show world, she chose her long love of the Chihuahua to show because they reminded her of the Australian Shepherd in a tiny package. Now, 25 years later, she is still actively showing her dogs, writing about them, and advocating for purebred dogs of top quality so that families will have four-legged family members who will be sound, healthy, and long-lived.
42 • T op N otch T oys , J anuary 2022
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