Page 228 - ShowSight - September 2020

What do I think new judges misunderstand about this breed? They are not a racehorse. They need to be shown on a loose lead, not over-groomed (a huge issue for me). Pay attention to moderation; level topline and not too long—and [not] that over-angulated rear.
Do today’s Goldens have breed type? There are really a couple of different “types.” “American” style and “English” style, and many combinations thereof. This does not mean there is not correct on both sides. Moderation should be key!
How do I prioritize key Golden breed type elements when judg- ing the breed? Head and face, neck into shoulder, good front assem- bly, solid topline, well-set tail, good leg, correct coat. Grooming! So much can be fixed in the whelping box.
How would I characterize correct outline and proportion? Our standard is very specific on the 11:12 ratio. Length to height has become a real problem. It seems to be getting somewhat better, but we still need to work on this. Breeders should concentrate on front assemblies—and it is a complete assembly; not just shoulders, or prosternum, or length of upper arm—it is all three combined!
What is the state of Golden Retriever heads today? I think we need to work on some loose eye lids, low ear sets, and too round an eye. I like to look into an inquisitive, sweet, intelligent face that says, “Golden Retriever”; correct eye shape, good stop and correct ear set.
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? They are moved way too fast; it is not a race. You cannot easily assess effortless/efficient movement when they move that fast! Loose lead and let them flow.
How do I prioritize correct Golden coat and color when consid- ering breed type? Correct Golden coat is of very high importance to me! Color means very little to me.
What do I think are important features of Golden Retriever type that are too often overlooked by conformation judges? They should be moderate dogs, and not profusely coated! In addition, the short legs and over-angulated rears are a problem in too many.
Advice to a new judge of my breed? Take your time, don’t dis- miss the owner-handler who is not as proficient and may be ner- vous—these can be some of your nicest dogs with amateurs at the end of the lead. Learn to feel for a correct coat. Slow them down!
COLLETTE JAYNES
I currently live in Whitwell, Tennessee, but will be moving to White, Georgia, in a couple of months. I have been in the dog world since 1973. My first show dog was an Irish Setter. I started showing and training
Golden Retrievers in 1975. I also bred English Springer Spaniels in the late 1970s to late ‘80s. I became involved in Clumber Spaniels in 2002. I have actively competed in agility, field, obedience, and conformation with my dogs. I began judging sweeps in 2009 and regular classes in 2015. I am a retired AT&T employee. I currently have three grandchildren who are the center of my world.
Describe the breed in three words: Primarily a Hunting Dog.
What are my “must-have” traits in this breed? Proportions, movement, correct head, and coat.
Are there any traits in this breed I fear are becoming exagger- ated? Yes. The proportions are becoming long and low and the coats are over-groomed and too profuse. The GRCA sent a letter to judges
about too much coat and grooming for the breed years ago, but I do not believe it made much of a difference in the show ring.
Do I think the dogs I see in this breed are better now than they were when I first started judging? No. We are losing type, specifical- ly in balance, heads, expression, and soundness. There is too much emphasis on grooming to hide faults instead of breeding them out.
What do I think new judges misunderstand about this breed? I think that new judges can be tricked by a flashy, over-coated, over- groomed Golden presented by a professional, instead of evaluating movement and the structure with their hands. A lot of handlers move Goldens too fast, which makes it difficult to evaluate the movement correctly. There is a range in both color and size, and I think new judges get caught up in color and size. Quite often the one Golden that is NOT like the others is the only correct Gold- en in the ring, but because the rest are alike and mediocre at best it is easy to reward what is similar in the ring, instead of what is truly correct.
Do today’s Goldens have breed type? What can be improved upon? Balance and correct movement. Form and function are not being considered, and the condition of Goldens needs to be improved. This is, again, primarily a hunting dog and thus should look like one!
How do I prioritize key Golden breed-type elements when judging the breed? First would be overall impression, balance, and outline. Then proper movement; the Golden should cover ground effortlessly and not have so much kick-up in the front or rear. Least important to me would be color.
How would I characterize correct outline and proportion? Cor- rect proportion is just off-square or 12:11 as stated in the standard. Breeders are making the mistake of often breeding to the flavor of the month and not really understanding structure, balance or type.
What is the state of Golden Retriever heads today? Heads are starting to become a problem and seem to be all over the place with houndy ears, loose eyes, and no underjaw. The Golden should have a soft, loving expression, yet so many have a very harsh expression. The backskull is too big and the muzzle is lacking in depth and width. But there are still some lovely heads as well. I look for: The Golden expression, which is the hallmark of the breed; a muzzle that is deep with a strong underjaw, which is necessary as a hunting dog; and a proper backskull with proper size ears.
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? It is a pet peeve of mine when they race around the ring. Correct movement needs to be evaluated at a normal pace. Han- dlers will move at a very fast pace in hopes of hiding the faults—it doesn’t. I require all my exhibitors to move at a normal pace and, if they move too fast, they do it again.
How do I prioritize correct Golden coat and color when consid- ering breed type? Color is not a major issue for me. The extremes should be panelized, but I will put structure over incorrect coat color every day. Correct coat texture is very important in the field. It should not be soft and have adequate undercoat. We are also seeing excessive length of coat and excessive grooming. The coat should fit like a jacket and be weather-resistant. Too many handlers blow the coat out to give the impression of more substance or rib spring. This doesn’t fool me. If there is a LOT of product in the coat, I will mention it to the handler.
What do I think are important features of Golden Retriever type that are too often overlooked by conformation judges? The type that screams primarily a hunting dog. Too often the fluffy, excited attitude gets the attention and the correct dog that is mov- ing with head out and tail right off the back gets ignored because he is not flashy.
What advice would I give to a new judge of my breed. Study, study, study. Talk to long-time breeders and don’t be afraid to
GOLDEN RETRIEVER Q&A
226 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2020