Page 152 - ShowSight - September 2020

Have I attended Earthdog Tests or Barn Hunts? I compete in Barn Hunt with several of my Airedales. It is nice to see dogs with instincts intact!
Would I advocate dividing the Terrier Group? No.
Can I name one or two of my all-time favorite Terriers? I loved the Kerry Blue, Mick, and the lovely Airedale bitch, Splenda.
What can be done to promote Terriers as family companions? They aren’t for everyone. Careful screening of prospective buyers is a must.
PEGGY BEISEL-MCILWAINE
I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I bought my first show dog in 1974, so 46 years in dogs. Oh my, how can that be? I applied for my judging license in 1996.
Do I have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? Yes, my family, sports (Packer football, to be specific), gardening.
Can I talk about my introduction to Terriers? While showing my OES, I became friends with a gal who had Welsh Terriers. That was my first intro into Terriers. In 1977, I began an apprenticeship with George Ward. I became a convert, a Terrier snob.
What makes a Terrier a Terrier? So many things (and too many to get into here), but two things are attitude and coat presentation. We are a clique unto ourselves, a very specialized group, for sure. Maybe that is the Terrier snob in me talking.
Are there breed characteristics that are difficult for non-Terrier judges to understand? Probably. Living with any breed gives you a much better understanding of breed-specific characteristics. Seeing any breed do its job also helps develop one’s understand- ing of the differences in certain breeds, along with the terrain they originally worked.
How important is presentation, conditioning, and expression in the Terrier ring? Extremely, both are a big part of the Terriers’ type. What are my thoughts re: bites among the Terrier breeds? Bite is important as it is functional for their jobs. Scissors is the ideal, but
many standards accept level.
How important is a natural ear carriage in the Terrier breeds?
Do you mean natural as opposed to cropped? Don’t think it has any influence.
How do I evaluate undocked tails in traditionally docked breeds? While I prefer a docked tail, I don’t think an undocked tail is a deal breaker as it doesn’t affect what happens in the whelping box. Tail set and tail carriage are two separate, but related, issues. I check the set first. As Annie Clark said, “There are functional faults and aesthetic faults.”
Can I offer advice to novice judges re: sparring in the ring? Yes, please check out the presentation the Terrier Club of Michigan did on sparring. It is available on YouTube as well as through the TCM: “The Art of Sparring Terriers.”
Are there specific challenges presented when judging the low entry breeds? Not really.
Have I attended Earthdog Tests or Barn Hunts? Yes, we used to host earthdog tests on our property. I think it is extremely impor- tant to see a dog doing its original job. I’ve attended herding tri- als and field trials as well. We’ve done some barn hunt training with our Bull Terriers, but didn’t pursue it further. We often saw our Cairns at work with a couple cats we had, catching mice in the house.
Would I advocate dividing the Terrier Group? No. With so many shows, the Terrier entry is often pretty small, so I see no rea- son to divide it.
Can I name one or two of my all-time favorite Terriers? I’ve had the pleasure of seeing some truly great ones. The Sealyham,
Ch. Roderick of Jenmist, the Kerry, Mick, and the Colored Bull, Rufus, are three that I had no relationship with that jump to my mind immediately. What makes these dogs so memorable? I really feel they were as close to the perfect example of their standards as possible.
What can be done to promote Terriers as family companions? They make wonderful family dogs; minimal shedding with many of the breeds, smart, clever, entertaining, and good with children as long as the children are good with them. How to promote them is a tough one. I think education through the televised shows can help. At this point, we need to start promoting purebred dogs, period. I think we are losing that fight with the AR, Poodle mixes, and for- profit rescue groups.
Is there a funny story I’d like to share about my experiences judging Terriers? I’m sure there are many, but nothing is coming to my mind at the moment.
ANDREA BRADFORD
I live near a small town in North- western Georgia called Ball Ground. I started in purebred dogs in 1968 and have been active in showing and breeding since about 1978. I began judging in 2006, so have been judg- ing for about 14 years.
Do I have any hobbies or inter- ests apart from purebred dogs? I col- lect both vintage and contemporary dishes, mostly Fiesta and other USA ware made by Homer Laughlin Chi-
na Company (now Fiesta Tableware Company).
Can I talk about my introduction to Terriers? My first Terri-
er was a young Smooth Fox Terrier bitch I fell in love with back around 1989 or so, followed by a Staffy Bull in 1991. I had both breeds for a number of years, and was a breeder for a few litters of SFTs. As I began doing judge’s education on Terriers, I fell in love with the character of the Irish Terrier, and now have three adults and a litter of two puppies.
What makes a Terrier a Terrier? That is a loaded question! For the Group overall, it tends to be attitude. Terriers are interested in most everything, and not afraid to investigate the world. They work pretty independently for the most part, though there are some, like the Cesky, that are bred to work in a pack. They are active, tena- cious, and are thinkers.
Are there breed characteristics that are difficult for non-Terrier judges to understand? I think most of the breed characteristics of Terriers are present in some of the breeds in other Groups; and this includes the hard coats and grooming for those coats, as you see this in many breeds in other Groups. So, no, I do not think they are truly difficult to understand if one is willing to do the work to learn about the different breeds. The hardest thing is getting to see and examine enough of the low entry breeds to be comfortable with the level of knowledge.
How important is presentation, conditioning, and expres- sion in the Terrier ring? Training and conditioning are essential. Once trained appropriately, the dog will show itself in the ring. The handler MUST know the dog and know any eccentricities to prevent incidents. Expression varies by breed, but many should have that “keen Terrier expression.” Any grown Terrier that looks fearful or is aggressive toward humans does not have appropriate Terrier temperament.
What are my thoughts re: bites among the Terrier breeds? Each breed standard describes which bite is appropriate for that breed. Terriers have different jobs, but most need to be able to bite and/or
TERRIER GROUP Q&A
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