Page 272 - Showsight March 2013

would for a Doberman. A simple raising
of the lips to check the bite and to check
for pre-molars will suffice. I do not penal-
ize a missing pre-molar or two, but I do
think that any missing incisors are a much
more serious fault. The full front grouping
of teeth are an integral part of the grabbing
and holding of vermin, which is the breed’s
primary function.
Manchesters use their ears as a major
indicator of their mood; therefore, we can-
not expect to always see the true ears shape
and carriage on the table. Of course, the
judge will note that the Toys ears must
be naturally erect and set well up on the
head. Any other ear on the Toy disquali-
fies. The Standard’s ears are naturally erect,
button, or cropped, with no preference
among them.
The last check point for the head
should be done from the side. Equal length
of skull and muzzle with a slight stop and
parallel lines of both should be found.
The judge should now move to the side
and run a hand down over the neck, check-
ing for a nice arch that blends smoothly into
well laid back shoulders. Any abrupt angle
here would indicate a steep shoulder angle,
which could adversely affect the appearance
of neck length and, of course, will certainly
affect the front movement, as mentioned.
The coat should be short, dense, glossy, but
not soft. We check to see that the forelegs
are well under the brisket. Next, the length
of the shoulder blade and the upper arm
should be measured. This can be accom-
plished by placing one finger (right hand)
on the highest point of the shoulder blade
and one finger each (left hand) on the point
of shoulder and the elbow. These two bones
should be equal in length.
Next, both hands will be gently
smoothed over the ribs, checking to find
a good spring of ribs that flatten in the
lower end. At this point, elbows should
be checked for tightness to the chest. The
ribs should extend well back. A well arched
tuck up should be evident starting at the
deep brisket. Although the breed should be
slightly longer than tall, the length should
never be in the loin. The standard calls for
a topline that rises slightly over the loin.
This is a feature that, I believe, is best
judged on the floor. Tail set and length can
be checked now. The judge should check
for a sloping croup. We don’t want to see
a Fox Terrier tail set high on a level croup.
The tail, which should be well coated, is
now checked for length. The tip should not
go beyond the hocks. Tail carriage should
be judged on the floor. Stifles are now
checked for adequate angulation.
From the rear, the judge now checks
for well muscled thighs and well let down
hocks that turn neither in nor out. Thighs
should also be well coated. Rear feet should
also be cat like, but the middle toes are not
longer as are the front toes.
As there is a lengthy section on color in
our standard, correct color and markings
must be checked by the judge. This is cer-
tainly best done during the table examina-
tion. All of the tan markings should be a
rich mahogany tan. All markings should
be well defined with no bleeding of black
into tan. Any color other than black and
tan disqualifies. The judge will check for
the following markings:
• Head: A small tan spot over each
eye and on each check. The muzzle
is tanned to the nose. Tan extends
under the throat, ending in the
shape of the letter “V”.
• Chest: Tan spots, called “rosettes”
on each side of the chest, above the
front legs.
• Front Legs: Black “thumbprint”
patch on the front at the pastern. A
distinct island of black is best. Black
“pencil mark” lines run on the top
of each toe.
• Rear Legs: Black “pencil marks” as
in front. Tan running up inside to
stifle joint.
• Rear: Tan under tail and on the vent.
• The judge must know that white on
any part of the coat is a serious fault
and becomes a DQ if the white
forms a patch of ½" or more.
All of the above features are checked by
the judge during the table examination.
It must be done quickly, as the judge is
expected to complete the total judging of
each dog in no more than two and one half
minutes. We judges strive to be expedient,
while all encompassing.
After the table examination it’s back
on the ground with a final trot around the
ring to confirm what our hands and eyes
have found.
Manchesters are not a Terrier that
should be sparred. They should, however,
be alert and keenly aware of their sur-
roundings. They may be brought out into
the center of the ring to re-kindle aware-
ness, but they will not go into sparring
mode. Remember that Manchesters are
discerning. Don’t expect them to jump up
and give you a big greeting on the down
and back movement. They will instead
give you a serious visual examination upon
their return.
BIO
Rodney Herner lives
in Bechtelsville, PA.
He has been an AKC
approved judge since
1993. He currently
is approved to judge
all Toy Breeds and
Toy Group, all Ter-
rier Breeds and Terrier
Group and 11 Non-
Sporting breeds and Best in Show.
His original breed is Toy Manchester
Terriers. Rodney bred his first champion in
1958. Since then, he has finished over 60
champions under the kennel name Renreh,
including many Toy Group, Best in Show,
and National Specialty Winners. Ch. Ren-
reh Lorelei of Charmaron, bred by Rodney
and owned by Charles A.T. O’Neill and
Mari-Beth O’Neill, remains the only Toy
Manchester to have won the Toy Group at
Westminster. She was also a multi-Best in
Show winner.
Rodney served the American Manchester
Terrier Club as President and is currently the
Judges Education Chairman for the AMTC.
He served as President of the Delaware Val-
ley Toy Dog Fanciers Association and cur-
rently holds a position on the Board of Direc-
tors and serve as Show Chairman. He is also
a member of Morris and Essex Kennel Club
where he serves on the show committee and
is editor of the Morris and Essex Newsletter.
Rodney is also a member of the American
Dog Show Judges Inc. and the Dog Judges
Association of America.
After ceasing breeding and showing eight
years ago, Rodney now devotes his time to
judging and attending Nationals and breed
seminars. He lives with his wife of 43 years,
Marilyn, and kids (besides their 37-yr.-old
son, who does not live at home) including two
Toy Manchester Terriers, a Doberman Pin-
scher and a Smooth Fox Terrier. Although he
has managed to stick to short-haired breeds
at home, as a professional dog groomer of
almost 50 years, he has a long background of
working with all types of dog coats.
Rodney can be contacted via email at
renreh@comcast.net.
272 • ShowSight Magazine, March 2013