(
laying flat on the back with no daylight
under them). We have judges rewarding
dogs with snap tails who wouldn’t think
of putting up a dog with his tail down.
One is just as bad as the other. Neither is
correct. They both spoil the outline of the
dog. There should be daylight between the
back and the arch of the tail.
The Papillon is single coated. Double
coats appear to be dense and round. When
gaiting away, there will be no movement
of the pants. Double coats seldom get any
length to the pants. The whole dog just
gives you an impression of round. One of
our most famous students of dogs, well-
known judge Richard Beauchamp says, “If
it is round, it is wrong.”
To me, outline is extremely important.
The Papillon is slightly longer in body
than the height at the wither. Slightly is an
interesting word. What is slightly? “Small
in amount, not great”, says
Webster’s Dic-
tionary
.
I have a friend, Terry Miller, who
says, “Put your toes on the edge of Grand
Canyon, now step up slightly.” A Papillon
does not stand over a lot of ground. The
standard also calls for “neck of medium
length.” It is not a necky breed.
Temperament almost goes with-
out saying. They are a happy breed and
very smart. They should never be shy
or aggressive.
Looking at the Papillon in profile you
should see the beautiful, small head, large
ears on one end and the high, archy tail on
the other.
I have been fortunate enough to judge
The Papillon National in four countries,
US, UK, Sweden and Canada. My impres-
sions were that the dogs in the US and Cana-
da were very similar in breed type. The entry
in Sweden for the most part was larger dogs
and not as fine-boned as ours. I thought over-
all quality was best in the UK.
BIO
Mrs. Sharon Newcomb has about 50
years of experience with dogs. She is a
successful breeder, owner/handler, pro-
fessional handler, trainer (obedience and
one field trial lab) and an AKC conforma-
tion judge of 35 years. Mrs. Newcomb has
bred or owned: Weimaraners, Miniature
Poodles, Shetland Sheepdogs, Pomera-
nians, Pekingese, German Shepherd Dogs,
Doberman Pincers, Papillions, Anato-
lian Shepherds, Pointers, Cavalier King
Charles Spaniels and Chihuahuas.
Mrs. Newcomb is approved to judge the
Toy Group, the Herding Group and sev-
eral breeds in all the other AKC Groups.
She has earned AKC Best in Show awards
with Pomeranians, Papillons, Chihua-
huas, Pointers, Shetland Sheepdogs and
German Shepherds.
Mrs. Newcomb is a noted teacher and
lecturer. She has instructed both confir-
mation and obedience classes and has pre-
sented seminars on German Shepherds,
Papillons, Anatolian Shepherds and Chi-
huahuas. Additionally, she has presented
canine health lectures concerning diet
and vaccinations.
Mrs. Newcomb is well known across
the US and around the world. She has
judged in England, Ireland, Canada,
Mexico, China, Sweden and Korea. She
showed her first Pap in the mid 70s. She
has been breeding with her daughter, Elyse
Vandermolen, Clearlake Papillons, for the
last 20 years.
“
Looking at the Papillon in profile you should see the beautiful, small head,
LArGE EArs ON ONE END AND
THE HIGH, ArcHy TAIL ON THE OTHEr.”
S
how
S
ight
M
agazine
,
N
ovember
2012 • 257