Page 186 - ShowSight - September 2020

movement is more pretty and proper in the sighthound ring. The sad thing here is that I see our breed is losing what makes it a very special and unique breed, which is the good strong overall balance, good substance, strong easy movement, and moderation. Remem- ber, a great “show dog” does not necessarily translate to being a great Kerry, and this goes for any breed.
Size is not to be construed as type, but is just one facet of type. Height, substance, and overall general profile can give a good idea of type. I believe that our standard does give us a bit of a leeway for size, but not for overall type. The one word that is used most often in our standard is “moderate.” While no dog will meet the standard in every point, we should strive to work toward that and not give up the very structure of our beloved dogs while trying to jump on a bandwagon of the latest trend or style.
I also see much trouble with the coats of the Kerry. Color is and can be any color of blue/grey, ranging from navy, dark gun- powder to a light grey. But the issue that I think should truly be addressed is the “soft, dense and wavy” part of the standard that describes coat.
When speaking to my friends about this, we all came to the conclusion: With the influx of unfamiliar foreign pedigrees into United States/Canadian lines, the creation of a not so tasty stew of diverse types has evolved. A fellow breeder brought up a good point with her comment to me, “Perhaps those overseas are seeing the same phenomenon.” I believe that this trend has created some confusion for many judges, and for the novice breeder. I think that we must remember that the Kerry should, first and foremost, be of Kerry type; moderate and as close to the standard as possible.
Regarding strengths, I think that one of our main strengths is the versatility of our breed. I love the fact that more and more people are diversifying and showing their Kerry Blues in obedi- ence, agility, barn hunts, etc., highlighting the many sides of the Kerry Blue Terrier to the world.
Have you seen changes in temperament? If so, what?
Carl Ashby: Kerry Blues, with a handful of exceptions, are much more stable today. Breeders in the United States have worked hard to keep the “show” in the dog while taking out as much “reactive” nature present in Terriers as possible. Bitches show much better today than in our early days. It is important to continue to emphasize reasonable temperament and understand that you can have a show dog without having an overly reactive dog.
Nancy Han: I see more attitude and Kerry spirit. When I start- ed in Kerries, the temperaments were too sweet and lacked sparkle. I love to see the attitudinal Kerry show off in the ring.
Reita Nicholson: Kerries should act like a Kerry; they should be up and interested in their surroundings. They are extremely intelligent, capable of learning many different things and, given proper training and socialization, they adapt well in many different environments. I have always believed this, and went into the breed with the idea that they would do whatever you ask of them. There are more areas where your Kerries can shine, so take advantage of having your dog learn as much as possible.
Nancy Westbrook: Regarding temperament, I do think that when the Kerry became so popular after the Westminster BIS win, we started having an issue of temperament coming back to the forefront. Whether this was because of all the unknown elements of the foreign pedigrees, or if it is more of a problem with people not understanding the breed, I do not know. I remember a breeder once saying, “Not every dog should be bred or shown, not every- body should breed or show Kerry Blues unless they understand the volatile nature of a true sporting Terrier with fire and an indepen- dent nature.” Breeders have to be more selective and careful with picking those animals to breed and also in placements of puppies. I think that it is so important for breeders to mentor their new puppy buyers, especially if these are first-time Kerry owners. Today, those dogs that proved to have questionable temperaments have either been excluded from breeding programs or have been judiciously blended with more compatible lines. The temperaments and train- ability in Kerry Blues today is, with few exceptions, quite good.
In selecting a show dog, what are the primary traits you look for?
Carl Ashby: The late Ray Perry told us once, “Remember, they are show dogs.” We evaluate conformation, first looking for a well put together dog. We strive for good reach and drive, and a dog that is good coming and going. Tail set is crucial; and a poorly set tail both inhibits a dog from carrying its tail erect and can influ- ence movement. Overall outline is critical. The judge has two min- utes to go over a dog; they spend the bulk of the time seeing the
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184 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2020