Page 222 - ShowSight, March 2020

The current overall quality of the Group? I’m not sure there is a definitive answer to this question. Breeds have ups and downs. Some breeds are stronger in one part of the country due to a con- centration of good breeders. Some of the rarer breeds in the Group have improved the quality over the past several years and the more popular breeds have suffered.
How do I think Sporting Dogs have adapted to living primarily indoor lives? I have always felt that exercise was important if you want a dog to develop correctly. My dogs have always been given adequate exercise and that is in large paddocks—not on treadmills. I also do not have my dogs living in air conditioning as I feel that they deal with the heat and humidity better if they are accustomed to it. I use fans and my runs have plenty of shade. My Pointers and English Cockers adapt well to this. When I judge, I put a lot of emphasis on the condition of the dog. That includes proper coat condition as well as muscle tone.
Any particular challenges Sporting Dog breeders face in our cur- rent economic/social climate? Sporting dog breeders and exhibitors need to keep abreast of legislation that may try to limit or impede your ability to hunt with your dogs. AKC sends out legislative alerts and many of them are from locales trying to restrict our rights.
What makes a Sporting Dog the ideal companion in these 21st- century times? Sporting breeds have good temperaments and make great family companions. They are not only well suited for the con- formation ring and hunting but for many of the companion and performance events that are now offered. Many Sporting breeds have received titles in not only obedience and agility, but scent work, barn hunts, CAT, Fast Cat and dock diving.
What advice would I give a newcomer to the sport? Do research before buying a dog. Make sure you have the time and space to properly raise and care for the breed. Get the dog from a well estab- lished breeder and keep in touch with the breeder for guidance.
The largest health concern facing my breed today? Pointers are relatively free of many of the health issues facing other breeds. Most Pointer breeders do hip x-rays. Some check for thyroid problems.
Any trends I see that you believe need to continue or I’d like to see stopped? Many of the Sporting breeds have become too exagger- ated. Some of the most obvious trends are over angulation, sloping toplines, overdone grooming or, as I put it, sculpturing.
I want to see a dog that can do what it was bred to do—not a caricature of the breed.
When I first got into Pointers, I would visit Jack Rementer at least once a month and soak up as much as I could about the breed. He was a Pointer breeder and a Sporting Group judge. Wayne Cava- naugh and I would talk for hours on end about the breed. My foun- dation bitch came from Bob Parker, Truewithem, and he also had an impact in my developing knowledge of the breed.
The biggest pitfall awaiting new and novice judges? Learn as much as you can about the breed and it’s purpose. Don’t be influ- enced by records or advertising. If you have a question after judging, feel free to discuss it with whomever was your mentor in the breed or with the Judges Education Chair for the breed.
BARBARA MCNEILL
My Granddad was the top field dog trialer in the 1960s in Okla- homa. That’s where I first loved the Sporting dog. Between my Granddad and Dad, I grew up with Pointers and Brittanys, but I wanted a dog of my own, a Sheltie. I was 12 when my dad said, “You can’t have a dog of your own, you can’t whistle.” That set a fire in me. In one week, I could bust eardrums. I had my first Sheltie in no time at all. I have come full circle, back to the Sporting dogs I grew up with and have loved all my life.
We reside in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where I own and oper- ate Three Graces European Day Spa and my husband has been in veterinarian practice for 40 years. I started in the dog show world in the late 80s with Shelties, then Collies and now German Short- haired Pointers, however, I have always had dogs in my life.
The current overall quality of the Group? While the overall quality at a glance is lovely, we have to look deeper. The condition of these “Sporting Dogs” should be that of athlete, solid muscle tone, stamina, temperament and willing to go the distance. I’m see- ing more and more Sporting dogs in “treadmill” condition, or none at all, than natural working condition; lack of inner thigh muscles being one of my pet peeves.
How do I think Sporting Dogs have adapted to living indoors? Sporting dogs, as with all dogs, are highly adaptable to their envi- ronment they are raised in. Like any athlete, if they go to a region that is out of their “normal” they need time to adjust. You can’t take a dog out of an air-conditioned rig directly into an outdoor hot ring, they need time to gradually adjust to the temperature, and visa versa from warm to cold. The drawback from total air-conditioned envi- ronment is that it causes the dogs coat lack of proper hydration and puts undue stress on their system if not managed properly.
Any particular challenges Sporting Dog breeders face in our current economic/social climate? Placing a dog in a show and per- formance home is challenging, but moreso is the companion home. The companion home is sometimes not aware of the commitment of raising a puppy. They want a puppy who is as well-adjusted, just like the one they have now or perhaps recently lost. It takes time to develop the relationship, good habits, rules of the household and, most importantly, healthcare. We train with positive reinforcement to instill confidence while marking the desirable behaviors and ignoring or redirecting undesirable behaviors.
The strongest relations between dogs and humans are based on cooperation and kindness rather than on human dominance and animal submission.
What makes a Sporting Dog the ideal companion in these 21st- century times? It seems that most people are on the go constantly and want a dog who can adapt to a fast-paced lifestyle. Sporting dogs are usually willing to do anything to be with their human companion. Most importantly, they need a job, a purpose. If not, that’s when bad attention seeking behaviors kick in.
What advice would I give a newcomer to the sport? Do your homework, ask questions, seek advice, and practice, practice, prac- tice. Be patience with your first show dog. It takes time to learn the
220 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2020
SPORTING GROUP Q&A
“While the overall quality at a glance is lovely, we have to look deeper. The condition of these ‘Sporting Dogs’ should be that of athlete, solid muscle tone, stamina, temperament and willing to go the distance.”