Page 227 - ShowSight - September 2020

smooth. I’m always looking for the topline that the proverbial glass of water can sit on—without spilling—as the dog moves around the ring.
How do I prioritize key Golden breed-type elements when judging the breed? I look for profile first, which for me includes a slightly off-square body with well-developed forechest and a firm, level backline with tail following the natural line of the croup. Head is part of the profile too and should have adequate stop, depth of muzzle, and a muzzle that is slightly shorter than the skull, along with parallel planes. Well let down hocks complete the profile. Coat needs to be a firm, resilient, waterproof jacket. Balanced, symmetri- cal gait with no bouncing or rolling of the topline completes the overall appearance.
Although eyes (placement, shape and size) and ears (placement, set and length) are important to me, I am more willing to “give” on both of those, but usually don’t have to. If the other parts of the head are correct, usually the eye placement, shape and size are also correct. I love a short loin, but can’t always find it. Light col- ored noses, light eyes, and missing teeth are not as important to me—especially since some dogs can lose teeth in the field. Least important of all is color.
How would I characterize correct outline and proportion? As I described previously, outline to me includes the whole dog, from well-developed forechest to slightly sloping croup, and well let down hocks. The slightly off-square proportion seems to be very difficult to achieve—not just in Goldens, but in many breeds. I have actually measured Goldens I thought were the correct proportion and have had trouble finding a dog that is truly 12:11. I think in our effort to get “reach and drive” we started breeding longer and longer dogs. So, yes, it is still a drag on the breed. But I think as more and more judges look for the correct proportion, more and more breeders will breed for the correct proportion.
What is the state of Golden Retriever heads today? Good heads can be difficult to find and even harder to breed for. To those who say you can fix a head in one generation; my answer is always, “Then why haven’t you?” While other retriever breeds specify a “broad skull,” Goldens are the only retriever breed that calls for a broad skull “slightly arched laterally and longitudinally.” We want a broad and deep muzzle that is slightly shorter than the skull, but we don’t want heavy flews that would trap feathers; and we want the broad and deep muzzle to carry through from the stop to the tip, with very little tapering. One of the longest paragraphs in our stan- dard is on eyes and yet we don’t specify the shape of the eye—only what shape it isn’t. We want the eyes medium large and reasonably deep, but not so deep in the sockets that they get entropion. Some experts think of the Golden Retriever eye as a fat almond. I think of it as more of a peach pit. In any event, it should not be obliquely set, narrow, squinty, triangular or round. Above all, the eyes are respon- sible for the kind, friendly and intelligent expression that is such an inherent Golden Retriever breed characteristic. Add on correctly- set, short ears and it is easy to see why it is so difficult for breeders to produce the perfect Golden Retriever head, and for judges to find the perfect head.
How do I assess adequate reach and drive versus effortless/effi- cient movement when many dogs being shown today are moved at a fast pace? I guess judges are as much responsible for some of today’s trends in the ring as the exhibitors are. If we reward the easy/ effortless movement of a dog on a loose lead, perhaps breeders won’t feel they have to produce entrants for a sweeping side gait contest. The Golden is supposed to be an endurance, stamina breed, able to traverse over uneven ground. They are a gentleman’s hunting dog, not a dog that needs a GPS collar so you can retrieve him from the next county.
Over the years, it seemed we were frequently breeding for side gait at all cost. It didn’t seem to matter if the topline slapped the
floor on each side, as long as the dog had “reach and drive.” This seemed to be all that mattered. Unfortunately, when the exhibi- tor races their dog around the ring, the dog ends up overreaching (sometimes unnecessarily). Getting exhibitors to show their dogs on a loose lead—and looking for a level topline that doesn’t bounce or roll—helps assess correct gait in Goldens.
How do I prioritize correct Golden coat and color when consid- ering breed type? I must admit that having a boarding kennel really opened my eyes to what constitutes correct Golden coat. Spend- ing an entire summer combing burrs out of Golden Retriever coats before they could go home to their owners made me despise “exces- sive length, open coats, and limp, soft coats.” (And that was when I had employees to help me; fast forward to pandemic era after letting all of my employees go, which means I now get to bathe these same dogs.) Profuse, open, soft coats are not fun to bathe, shed more than they should, and take forever to dry. Correct coat is definitely one of my top five discriminators when judging Golden Retrievers, and can be a deciding factor between two dogs. Color is last priority. I have personally owned and bred every shade.
What do I think are important features of Golden Retriever type that are too often overlooked by conformation judges? Retriev- er head properties. We want muzzles broad enough with strong underjaws that are capable of carrying waterlogged ducks. We want enough stop so they can see over the bird they are carrying while swimming or on land. We don’t want long ears that are going to wick water into the ear canal. They need premolars to help “pin” the bird, contributing to their characteristic “soft mouth.”
What advice would I give to a new judge of my breed. Please do not reward the over-groomed or over-trimmed Golden. I am con- tinually amazed that exhibitors are not only changing the texture of their dog’s coat, they are actually grooming their dogs to look like they have an open coat, are sickle hocked, have splayed feet and a faulty outline.
And please don’t discount Goldens that are on the lower end of the standard. A 23 inch dog is frequently more athletic and bal- anced than his 24+ inch counterpart.
JUDY BACHOFNER
I have been involved with the Golden Retriever breed for over 47 years now. I joined the GRCA 47 years ago and was also a member of the Golden Retriever Club of Illinois. When I relocated to Ore- gon 26 years ago, I joined the Pacific Rim Golden Retriever Club of Oregon. I have served as President, officer, board member, and have chaired several committees. I am a member of the Judges Educa- tion Committee for GRCA and have judged several sweepstakes. In addition, I am a CCA Evaluator for the GRCA. I am honored to share my life with this noble breed!
Describe the breed in three words: Noble, loving, intelligent.
What are my must-have traits in this breed? Excellent tem- perament, health, and intelligence. Proper coat, proportions, and athleticism.
Are there any traits in this breed that I fear are becoming exagger- ated? Anxiety/hyperness, coat, over-angulated rears, and short legs.
Do I think the dogs you see in this breed are better now than they were when I first started judging? I believe they are better in some areas, [though] we seemed to have had better longevity years ago, overall. Dogs were also, overall, more athletic. I do see many breeders make great efforts in this regard. Front assemblies always seem to need improvement, then and now. I believe we have very good quality in our Golden Retrievers, overall. There is always room for improvement, and many are working in that direction. Purebred dogs represent generations of work and dedication and are a continuing work in progress.
GOLDEN RETRIEVER Q&A
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