Page 17 - ShowSight Presents - The Airedale Terrier
P. 17
WITH ANNE BARLOW, PEGGY BEISEL-MCILWAINE, KEN MCDERMOTT, BETTY-ANNE STENMARK & JOHN TURBA
correct texture I will award it because coat does grow. Side Gait: I’m one who likes my cake and wants to eat it, too. I love a clean down and back as well as good
side gait. I want an Airedale to move like an Airedale and not like an Australian Shepherd, Doberman or German Shorthair.
KM: Sparring: Sparring, done right, is a never-to-be forgot- ten tool and should almost always be utilized. I do not allow the exhibitors to decide how it is to be done in
my ring, but I give them specific directions, thus, “Bring those two out here. I don’t want them to touch, I want them to look at one another.” If they are not sure of where to go, I point it out clearly! I wrote years ago, “A Terrier looks best looking at another Terrier!” Those moments have brought out pictures that are stored in my mind forever at just how beautiful Terriers are! What it
does is bring the Airedales into an alert state—not a growling, snarling, leaping into the air or out of control state. It brings them up on their toes, their eyes are fixed on the dog close to them, the placement and size of the ears are easily seen; they pull their bodies together and show us that square outline that we want. In addition, the neck arches, the feet tighten and the tail shows us its set-on and carriage. The king of Terriers has now arrived! Coat: Very much. I expect Terriers of hard-coated breeds to be shown to me in top shape—body, mind and coat. That hard coat that is called for is for the dog’s protection against the environment and against attack by any game that is being hunted. It also protects it from the elements. I don’t just look at it, I also feel it and I know what a good coat feels like. I also know and appreciate the amount of work that it takes to get it into shape.
Side Gait: That side gait shows me the balance of the animal and it lets me see the total interaction of all of the
parts; shortcomings clearly stand out.
BAS: Sparring: I was writing a book on judging
Terriers a few years ago and Rhonda Davis (Findlay, Ohio) wrote the chapter on Aire- dales. She finished each chapter with the
refrain, “Yes! We spar Airedales!” I never judge Airedales without hearing Rhonda’s words in my head. I don’t spar every Aire- dale I judge, but when it comes to a decision
I find sparring makes many of the decisions for me. Many years ago I judged an Airedale Specialty on the Gray’s Lake, Illinois Terrier weekend. I can remember RC Carusi showing his Airedale special and Gabriel Ran-
gel showing his Airedale special, both were wonderful examples of their breed. I sparred them, the two came together, arched their necks, pulled themselves together, tails quivering, it was the most beautiful sight to see! I don’t remember which dog I pointed to, but I do have
“A TERRIER
LOOKS BEST
LOOKING AT ANOTHER TERRIER!”
