Page 222 - Showsight December 2020

Robin Stansell
NON-SPORTING GROUP
Placements:
Group One: GCHB Hightide Tarquin Venus (Standard Poodle)
Group Two: GCHG Barnstorm Blue Blood Royalty By Dzine (Tibetan Ter- rier)
Group Three: GCHP Bret D N Adventureland Star Coach (Dalmatian) Group Four: GCHB Delamer Suzi Sells Sushi On The Boardwalk (Schip- perke)
1. Can you describe the thrill of receiving an invitation to judge at the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin?
I was excited to receive this invitation! As the date drew near, the excitement grew since there have been so few opportunities to judge over the past months.
2. How did you prepare for this assignment? Any special preparations (particularly due to COVID-19)?
As always, I reviewed breed standards and our collection of other educational materials. We have been extremely careful with mask use, social distancing, and hand washing/disinfecting.
3. Was this year’s show noticeably different from previous years (due to the pandemic)?
Of course, it was different. Although the social aspect was nearly non-existent this year, the entry of quality dogs was great.
4. What did you experience when you first entered the ring? Can you describe the feeling?
Entering the ring was both nervous and exciting. Nervous because of specific procedures for the televised event and exciting because of the opportunity to pass judgment on quality dogs.
5. Did you feel any pressure from the live Internet coverage?
Only before the dogs entered. When the dogs are in the ring the routine of judging takes over and external concerns are forgotten.
6. How challenging was the assignment? Can you share your selection process?
There is the challenge of deciding between excellent dogs, but this is far more pleasant than assignments with lesser quality entries.
1. Look at the overall appearance of each dog as they circle the ring and take their place in the line.
2. Evaluate the structural components in the individual examination.
3. Assess how well the components work together on the down and back,
and movement around the ring.
4. Make a final assessment of how closely each dog compares to my image
of the breed described in their breed standard.
7. Do you have a word or two about your winner? About the dogs that placed?
Saturday evening, the Standard Poodle met my image better than any other. The square appearance, correct proportions, head, neck, topline, tail set, an- gulation, and compact feet fit together to make a beautiful Poodle with ex- ceptional breed type—both standing and moving.
About the dogs that placed? Placements between them were difficult since each of the dogs closely met my mental image of the breed standard. My final decisions were based on the last look to see which looked most like my image of that particular breed.
8. How do you think this show furthers the cause of the preservation purebred
dog breeder?
Hopefully, the television exposure to these dogs and the accompanying narrative will increase the recognition of purebred dogs bred by dedicated preservation breeders.
9. What are your thoughts about the 2020 show year? The year ahead?
Although this year has been devastating to our dog shows, clubs, owners, and handlers, the public de- mand for purebred dogs has increased and breed- ers have had more opportunity to breed. Hope- fully, the approval of vaccines will bring our world back to normal in 2021 and the newfound interest in our breeds by the public will continue.
10. Have you got any advice to offer next year’s Group and BIS judges?
I encourage each to enjoy the opportunity to judge such wonderful examples!
220 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2020