Page 173 - ShowSight - May 2020

are racing around the ring, so do allow enough time for the dog to gait correctly in your ring, especially the Group ring. The cor- rect rolling action is created by combining the correct pear-shaped body with heavy, slightly bowed front legs and straighter, lighter hindquarters. The bow of the foreleg results in a subtle side-to-side movement that is the roll. This should not be confused with the incorrect, disjointed, over-exaggerated movement that results from a dog being loose in shoulder and elbow. Please do not mistake the bounce (think north-south) movement for our beautiful roll (think east-west movement).
What are the most challenging colors to breed and show? The standard says all colors are equal. However, all colors must have black pigment. That said the blacks, whites and partis seem to have a harder time finishing.
The biggest misconception about the Pekingese? Everyone I know had an Aunt or a Grandmother with a Pekingese of the biting variety. My Grandmother did and I adored him. Pekingese temperament has come a long way in the past 50 years. The funny thing is that most people, after having a Peke, won’t have any other breed of dog.
Does the average person on the street recognize the breed? Not really.
What special challenges do breeders face in our current econom- ic and social climate? The Animal Rights (AR) movement has put all purebred dog fanciers at risk, but especially the brachycephalic breeds. The best thing breeders can do for our breed is to be honest. Be honest about your breeding programs and your dogs and then breed the healthiest dogs you can. Currently, there is no genetic marker for BAS or IVDD and the only way we have to eliminate it is to cull those dogs from your breeding program. I see significantly fewer dogs that have breathing difficulties than I did 15 years ago, so breeders are working on it. If we don’t give the AR people ammu- nition, at some point they will have to fold their tent and move on to bigger and better things.
At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? Personally, I take a hard look at eight weeks old. Then I don’t look hard again until four to five months.
The most important thing about the breed for a new judge to keep in mind? Breathe. Don’t be in a hurry to judge the breed until you feel you understand it. If you have taken the Pekingese Club of America Judges seminar and are still a bit befuddled, reach out for help. We have mentors all over the country who will be more than happy to help you. Once you are in the ring, just remember your training and do the right thing. Remember, it’s your choices that will guide many breeders, so you now have a responsibility to the breed. Put the best dogs up regardless.
The best way to attract newcomers to my breed and to the sport? Be welcoming, show people through actions that this is a fabulous community to belong to. Be kind to newcomers, help them with honesty and integrity. Be a mentor. Be the person you wish you’d met when you first started.
My ultimate goal for the breed? Personally, I want to leave it in a better place than I found it. I want to contribute healthy, sound, typey dogs to the gene pool. I’d like people to know that a Peking- ese is a first-rate family companion.
My favorite dog show memory? I went to the Pekingese Club of America’s National Specialty last year, after weeks of trying to decide which dog to take; a Champion bitch or this super cute pup- py. I finally decided to take the bitch as she was always reliable in the ring and, I felt, a good example of the breed and my breeding program. So, the day of the show I am there early, grooming away and in the ring working hard and getting my girl to show every minute, hoping and praying I can pull off Best of Opposite as there
were several very striking bitches in the ring. After what seemed like hours, Breeder Judge Mr. Hiram Stewart walked over and asked me to go to the front of the line. I was thrilled to be awarded Best of Breed with MBISS GCHB Deja vu Kiss Me Like You Mean It. A very good day.
I’d also like to share that if you don’t know anything about the breed and want to, go get a mentor. Explore this breed, you will fall in love just like all of us did.
HIRAM STEWART
I live in Kenner, Louisi- ana, which is about 12 miles outside of New Orleans, Lou- isiana. Showing dogs is my main profession, but on occa- sion I have done some person- al training with beginners at a local health club.
I’m personally fine with the ranking of Pekingese. It is a breed that chooses you, not you choosing them, so I don’t think these numbers affect the popularity of the breed. Pekes
are not the first breed that pops into someone’s head when you start considering getting a dog.
The rolling gait of Pekingese is like watching fancy tail goldfish swimming, it’s the motion they make moving through the water. When you see a Peke with the correct gait, you will instantly under- stand the concept of the roll.
The most challenging colors to show are probably whites, parti- color and blacks. These are usually not the most popular or com- mon colors you would see at show, so judges tend to take a step back when they have one of these colors in the ring amongst the more popular colors: fawn, red sable, blonde and cream.
I think one of the biggest misconception about Pekes with the general public is that they usually associate a Peke as being a biter.
I think on a whole, most people tend to recognize Pekingese when they see one.
Peke puppies will go through considerable changes as they devel- op because of their flat faces and distorted bodies. It usually takes them from around eight months and up for you to start thinking that they have a definite show potential possibility. Some breeders may have the good fortune of evaluating this potential at an earlier age because some puppies on occasion will have “it” from the start.
What is the most important thing about the breed for a new judge to keep in mind? I would hope that new judges would strong- ly keep in mind that Pekingese have the appearance of being a small dog, but can be surprisingly heavy, and also finding correct type with true Pekingese gait.
What’s the best way to attract newcomers to my breed and to the sport? I believe newcomers would have an attraction to the breed if they have some exposure to Pekes as a kid; or maybe there was a family member who had one, or possibly they are just naturally interested in the breed.
My goal is to keep true to myself and see my dogs for what they are to me as a breeder. I had wonderful mentors when I started in this breed and I want keep the knowledge they gave me and use it with thoughtful, planned matings.
I truly have many favorite memories from dog shows, but pos- sibly the one that really was tearful was winning BIS under my
PEKINGESE Q&A
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2020 | 171