Page 138 - ShowSight - October 2019

Breeder Interview: Marjorie Martorella, Marjetta Pointers
BY ALLAN REZNIK continued
Ch. Hurwyn Marjetta Majestic, a UK import bred by Sue Wilkinson that had a major influence in my breeding program
Ch. Marjetta National Acclaim
of Kintyre who was a multi BIS winner as well as a National Specialty winner. Ch. Marjetta Darkside of the Moon JH is another multi-BIS winner. Two more BIS winners are Ch. Marjetta I’m No Angel and Ch. Marjetta In the Limelight who was No. 1 Pointer in 2012. I have bred nine BIS win- ners and 158 Pointer champions.
7. Please comment positively on your breed's present condition and what trends might bear watching.
The first paragraph in our standard really explains the form and function of the breed:
General Appearance
The Pointer is bred primarily for sport afield; he should unmistakably look and act the part. The ideal specimen gives the immediate impression of compact power
and agile grace; the head noble, proudly carried; the expression intelligent and alert; the muscular body bespeaking both staying power and dash. Here is an animal whose every movement shows him to be a wide- awake, hard-driving hunting dog possessing stamina, courage, and the desire to go. And in his expression are the loyalty and devo- tion of a true friend of man.
It is essential that a Pointer have a good, outgoing temperament in order to do what it was bred to do. As breeders or judges, we should not breed or reward dogs with poor temperaments. Many people in our breed are involved in Companion and Perfor- mance events. These events have had a posi- tive impact on the socialization of our dogs.
I feel that balance is of utmost impor- tance when evaluating a dog. A trend that
is starting to be seen are dogs with straight fronts and over-angulated rears causing a sloping topline. This is not correct.
Most Pointer breeders and judges will tell you that heads and tails are hallmarks of the Pointer breed. At the last two Nation- al Specialties, both judges (myself being one) commented on the tails in the breed. Breeders need to concentrate on the cor- rect shape (tapered), the correct length (not longer than the hock), and most impor- tantly, the carriage which should be straight off the back or not higher than 2 o’clock. When gaiting, the tail should lash from side to side. A Pointer with a long, curved tail carried high ruins the entire outline of the breed. It is a hound characteristic that is a fault.
136 • ShowSight Magazine, october 2019