Page 18 - ShowSight Presents - The Toy Fox Terrier

If they have to get down to hold the dog and hold the tail up, it probably doesn’t have the courage and animation the breed should have.
4. How, if at all, do UKC and AKC TFTs differ?
GG: UKC standard does not allow chocolate with self-color noses and they have a weight restriction. AKC standard does not address weight with numbers.
5. How do you feel about undocked tails?
JD: The ramrod straight, undocked TFT tail does not bother me. However, I think those breeding the undocked TFT have a long way to go to approximate this tail. As of now, it is difficult to find any consistency in the undocked TFT tail.
GG: The AKC standard calls for the tail to be set on high and docked at the third or fourth joint. Besides adhering to the standard, I feel this docked tail is part of the terrier animation and complements his perky personality.
KK: Regarding tail crop, the standard is very clear on dock- ing. It says docked to third or forth joint. Therefore, it is a docked breed and judges cannot change the standard, so if you want it not docked or docked differently then it will have to be written into the standard.
DV: I personally love and prefer the undocked tails. I bred Min Pins and Brussels Griffons, therefore I have looked at those undocked tails for years. Some breeds I do feel look okay either way, but for some, I think absolutely ruins the look and type of the breed. If the standard asks for a docked tail, then that’s the way I judge that breed. I treat it has a serious fault that does not conform to the standard. If this rule is implemented that we cannot dock tails, it would result as an injustice to our sport. They should not take away our choice to dock our breeds. If some breeders don’t want to dock their dogs, that is perfectly fine with me, but don’t take away my choice.
6. Anything else you’d like to add?
GG: A ring full of TFTs just makes you smile. I really love this breed and enjoy judging them.
DV: This is a very lovely breed. It is a great breed to judge because of their friendliness and animation.
7. And, for a bit of humor: What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever experienced at a dog show?
JD: I had taken a class of TFTs around the ring to the table. I noticed a lady quickly enter the ring and become absorbed in setting up her large guardian breed. The steward went to her and said she was not in the right ring. The red-faced exhibitor apologized and said someone had told her she was late and the ring number. I am sure she had been set up. However, I have often wondered, as absorbed as she was, whether she would
“besides adhering
To The sTandard, i Feel This docked Tail is parT oF The Terrier animaTion and complemenTs his
PERKY PERSONALITY.”
have lined up with the TFTs at the start of the class and
followed them around to the table.
GG: This didn’t involve a TFT, but recently my ring was next
to an obedience ring. An off lead exercise was being attempted when the dog decided to have fun. He ignored his command and ran around the ring looking for the exit. Two alert stewards blocked him from leaving. He sat down with his ears pinned back and you could see him thinking, ‘Hmm, now what?’ His owner, still in the ring, called him back. He went running back, stopped at the owner. Then sat down and promptly rolled over on his back with his four feet in the air. A few seconds later the owner leashed him and the dog was wagging his tail as they left. As I was judging I caught a glimpse of the possibility of a loose dog and stopped judging. Everyone nearby had stopped to watch the dog have a good time, even the handler just shook his head and grinned.
KK: The funniest thing that I have had happen at a
dog show is in the brace class of Chinese Cresteds when a brace walked in and one was a powder puff and the other a smooth—not a brace at all—I cracked up and excused them!
DV: The funniest thing that happened to me on a regular basis was a Pug that I had many years ago that used to embarrass me every time we walked in the ring. He was so beautiful outside the ring that professional handlers would walk up to me ask if they could show him or if I was interested in having someone show him for me. But the minute we walked through the gate he was a total clown, and all bets were off. Exhibitors would show
up at ringside to watch, to see what he was going do to me on this day. One day when the grass was wet, as he approached the judge from the down and back, he went flat and crawled the last couple of feet on his belly, and then rolled over on his back. Believe me, everyone at the time knew who Jeffery was. I should have never named him, The Devil Made Me Do It! Maybe this is why I have the patience I do as a judge. Thank you Jeffery. He fin- ished in 5 shows at 10 months with one reserve.

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