Page 42 - ShowSight Express, June 8, 2020

“Soundness” is often considered to mean sound movement only, but this word is not that limited. It does refer to proper movement, but it also refers to the entire construction, as well as the physical and mental well-being of a dog. When, however, a judge says a dog “moves soundly,” he means that the dog moves correctly for its breed and that within the confines of its breed structure, it is able to move freely and vig- orously. A Bulldog does not gait like a Poodle, but within the confines of its breed structure, it can move with perfect soundness.
Our breed (Mrs. Hoyt was a Poodle breeder), being developed for retrieving under difficult weather and water conditions, must not only move freely and vigorously, it must be “nimble,” light on its feet and strong. Therefore, toeing out, sometimes indicative of weak pas- terns, is unsound in a Poodle; crossing over in front indicates lack of chest or loose shoulders and unsoundness. A high- stepping gait that does not cover much ground indicates a steep shoul- der, unsound in a Poodle. For the dog with weak pasterns, lack of chest, loose or steep shoulders could not have lasted long in his retrieving days, nor could he on a cross-country hike today. Such a dog is built incorrectly for his kind of work. He is unsound.
There is, however, a more subtle, but equal- ly important interpretation of the adjective “sound.” For instance, a dog with one testicle (a monorchid) can sire; yet in our breed it is ruled unsound. The answer lies in two facts: One, as we have stated above, all parts of such an animal are not there; two, although what is there can function normally, it is abnormal in that this lack can be inherited and eventually produce a line of poor breeders, dogs with insufficient spermatozoa. Therefore, the rule of soundness,
namely that all parts that can function must be there and be able to function, is broken right in the beginning; the first dog is partially unsound.
This same truth applies to temperament–but alas, no rule has been made concerning it. The breeder alone for his own and for the breed’s protection must truly consider “soundness” in temperament. Disregarding the ultra-nervous animal in a breeding line is very dangerous; overemphasis on narrow, fine skulls is another grave mistake. Leave room for brain tissue. Remember, a sane dog is not only more beauti- ful, he is sound; and he can possess perfect “type”!
Again, “soundness” in its more subtle form applies to hip dysplasia: The animal can gait at times-almost normally, so normally that the judge may not be able to catch the deformity–yet as we all know, at other times, the poor creature is in great discomfort and is unable to stand. This horrible malformation can be inherited resulting in a line of weak hindquarters, often cripples.
I, for one, would like to see our Standard disqualify such dogs for life, because the animal itself is in pain. Hip dysplasia is a far worse unsoundness than monorchidism (also known as cryptorchidism).
To return to judging; How does one evaluate “soundness”? I recall a very great judge telling me that in the ring he first selected the most “typical” and from these, the most “sound.” (This quote is often credited to Annie Rogers Clark, but Mrs. Hoyt credits it to a “he.”) A good answer from the judge’s point of view! If one wished to go further, one could detail what soundness mat- tered most: I believe it would be first, the gait, although body conformation and temperament are very important. Still the general answer is the best: First, the most “typical,” and from these, the most “sound.”
“When, however, a judge says a dog ‘moves soundly,’ he means that
the dog moves correctly for its breed and that within the confines of its breed structure, it is able to move freely and vigorously.
A Bulldog does not gait like a Poodle, but within the confines of its breed structure, it can move with perfect soundness.”
FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION