Page 36 - ShowSight Presents The Miniature Schnauzer

I think quality is about the same; maybe a little better. Proper size is more consistent, both height and sub- stance; but as said above, furnishings are in my opinion, a bit out of line.
9. Are there aspects of the breed not in the standard that you nonetheless take into consideration because breeders consider them important?
I don’t think so.
10. Can Judges Education on this breed be improved?
Our current Judges Education process is good.
MARGO KLINGLER
BIO
I have been an American Kennel Club judge and have been judging dogs since 1998. I applied to judge in order to round out the total dog experience and to choose the best dog in each breed according to the breed standard.
My experience started in 1976 and under the kennel name of Dimen- sion-Dow. My co-owner and I have
now finished over 117 Miniature Schnauzers including
4 Best in Show dogs and many Specialty winners. We have had many top producers under the Dimension-Dow kennel name. My interest continues with the Schnauzers and presently have 5 of them in the ring in 2013/14. I also finished many other breeds. These breeds included Smooth Fox Terriers, Bedlington Terriers and Kerry Blue Terriers. I have also shown Brussels Griffons, Poodles, Smooth and Wire Fox Terriers and many other Terriers, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas and Manchester Terriers, Papil- lons and Cavaliers.
I judge all the Toy breeds, the Toy Group and Best in Show. I judge Giant Schnauzers, Standard Schnauzers, Bulldogs, Shar Peis and two Poodle varieties in the Non- Sporting Group. I presently have 24 of the breeds in the Terrier Group and will apply for the balance within the month. I am having fun showing my second Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
I had the distinct pleasure of judging in 2008 at Hatboro Kennel Club in Pennsylvania during the prestigious Montgomery County Kennel Club weekend. I did judge Miniature Schnauzers at Montgomery in 2014. I have judged at many other large Specialty weekends in the US. This is truly a highlight of my judging experience.
1. Where do you live? What do you do outside of dogs?
I live in a small town in north central Texas, Burkburnett, Texas—pretty different from my ‘roots’ outside Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania. I am a retired Practice Manager for a large Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Practice in Wichita Falls. I like to travel and am going on African Safari in the fall of 2015. I retired because I was too busy with ancil- lary activities to work. It is all good!
2. Number of years owning, showing and/or judging dogs?
I started in Miniature Schnauzers in 1974 and partnered with David O. Williams (DOW) to form Dimensions Dow Miniature Schnauzers. This partnership finished close to 80 Champions. We are still breeding, with most of the lit- ters being planned and whelped in New York. To re-cap, 40 years breeding and judging since 1998.
3. Describe your breed in three words:
Breed description: tenacious, beautiful, smart!
4. What traits, if any, are becoming exaggerated?
The breed has become too exaggerated and its descrip- tion as a small working dog has been lost to a more “terri- er type” of dog. It is sad, but good fronts are hard to find now and straight shoulders are too prevalent. It seems exhibitors are so caught up in the outline (and they are very clever with hair) that nothing else is important.
5. What are your “must have” traits in this breed? What shortcomings are you willing to forgive? Must haves are good type, good top line and tail set and good movement as outlined in the standard.
I can forgive the coat because as hard as we try, this breed cannot be in perfect length and texture at every show. Sloppy, ungroomed coats are unforgivable. Condi- tioning is of the upmost importance.
6. While judging, do you see any trends you’d like to see continued or stopped?
The exhibitors of this breed can be notoriously bad sports! I get it—we are all fighting to finish these dogs due to the narrow window of the coat. I hear judges say to me, “Your breed has some of the rudest exhibitors I have ever seen.” I would hope we could change that. I guess you could say, “What does not kill you makes
you stronger.”
7. What, if any, are the traits breeders should
focus on preserving?
I would like to keep all those who have helped others get started and then turn around and praised their success!
I got to see that in California at Great Western, 2015 with the local breeders old and new helping each other and then cheering them on! Kudos!
8. Has the breed improved from when you
started judging?
I think Miniature Schnauzers have forsaken good movement for that almighty “side movement”! Our fronts are getting worse with the straight shoulders and
no layback.
I think there are some lovely specimens of the breed out there. There are pockets of exhibitors who clearly still do not get it. I think the heads are much better and the square outline is improved. I have long thought that a Meeting of old breeders and newer breeders is necessary for preservation of the Miniature Schnauzer.
9. Are there aspects of the breed not in the standard that you nonetheless take into consideration because breeders consider them important?
Our standard is pretty complete. I try to judge by the current standard.
10. Can Judges Education on this breed be improved?
I would like to see “the in ring observation” reinstated.
I think we lost a very valuable tool when that was changed. It is the only way we can objectively and dis- creetly make comparisons of exhibits on a day of judging.
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2015 • 265