Page 74 - SHOWSIGHT - JULY 2020
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                Form Follows
FUNCTION
STYLE
Style comes nearer than any other breed characteristic to “type,” and is of great importance to the show dog. Unfor- tunately, like most great qualities, it is a gift from heaven–your Poodle is born with or without it! You cannot make a dog acquire it; at best, you or your han- dler can present the dog with style as if he, not you, possessed it. This in itself is easier with a showy type of dog like the Poodle, rather than with some of the plainer breeds or heavily built dogs.
The dictionary defines style as a “manner of conduct or action;” it further uses the word “elegant” and defines it else- where as, “choice, superior, tasteful.” In a dog, “style” might be called conduct or action that emphasizes in a superior man- ner certain “qualities of type.”
For instance, our breed is supposed to move with a “light, springy gait, carrying himself proudly.” Therefore, the gait of the stylish Poodle is unusually light and springy, and his carriage is the very essence of pride. Furthermore, he appears to act this way with intent as well as pleasure, as if his purpose was completely enjoyable. Yet the same dog can be shelly, or not move soundly; or he may have a wide head and heavy muzzle. He may
Figure 1. Brittany
present himself and act as a Poodle should, emphasizing this presentation with happy assurance. Such a dog has “style,” and because of this will be quite hard to defeat in the show ring. He is noticeable, he has distinction, he will impress spectators who exclaim, “What flash, high class!” Even a judge will be forced to give him added attention.
This quality pertains to all breeds: A Bulldog or a Chow can be equally styl- ish–but not in the manner of a Poodle. >
Figure 2. Toy Poodle
BY STEPHANIE HEDGEPATH
In this issue, I will conclude the article in which Hayes Blake Hoyt defined type, soundness, style and quality, which appeared in Frank Sabella’s book, The Art of Handling Show Dogs and is repeated here with his kind permission. As a breeder of top–winning Poodles in the
1930s-1950s, Mrs. Hoyt was also a top–winning owner–handler, capturing the top award at both Westminster and Morris and Essex. All material from the book is in italics. My comments are in regular type except for those words she emphasized which are in regular bold type.
      “Style comes nearer than any other breed characteristic to ‘type,’ and is of great importance to the show dog. Unfortunately, like most great qualities, it is a gift from heaven–
your Poodle is born with or without it!”
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