Companion first, showdog second.
First Published in the Stafford Magazine (UK) 1997.
The following article is based around correspondence published in
"Dog World" newspaper in 1997 on articles entitled "Fewer But Better
Judges" and "Reasons to Breed".
The suggestion that there may be a connection between growing criticism of judges
abilities and declining entries at Open shows is valid in my opinion. This may be due to
the KC discouraging qualified Championship show judges from judging their breeds at
general Open shows so novice judges have to be appointed. The same dogs are eligible to
enter at both types of shows so why should the quality of judging be vastly different?
It is difficult to know where to draw the line - new judges need to gain experience, but
the quality and quantity of entries is suffering. I agree that "fewer, but better,
judges" would help the situation but in my view the selection of a judge should be
based on the dogs that the prospective judge has owned, perhaps in conjunction with a
series of theory and practical examinations, rather than the current selection system or
exams alone. For example, a prospective Open show judge should at least have owned and
campaigned winning dogs, such as a CC winning dog or a Stud Book Number winner.
Surely, if this criteria were to be introduced then it would prove to be a good assessment
of a prospective judges "innate flair or gift" or "eye" which is an
important characteristic of the competent judge. Judging is primarily a subjective
process, but a competent judge with an "eye" should be capable of judging to
type and hence use a more objective approach.
I believe that responsible dog owners should only breed when they want to keep a puppy, so
just being the breeder of a puppy which is sold and then matures into a winning exhibit
should not qualify a person to judge, since surely one way of proving a good
"eye" is being able to pick out the "best" puppy from the litter.
Once it has been established that a judge is a competent stock person who has a "good
eye" then the judge can move on to other breeds through the use of fairly devised
tests and examinations like the one proposed by Betty Penn-Bull in her article "Fewer
But Better Judges" (Dog World, January 3, 1997). However, I must emphasise that I
think that any test should be practically based since a person with a good knowledge of
stock may not be able to express themselves cogently when writing a critique.
As I have said, selection of judges should rely first and foremost on the quality of stock
associated with their kennel, after this criteria has been fulfilled then other factors,
such as tests, length of time in the breed, etc., should be considered.
My view
that people should not breed unless they want to keep a puppy has been described this
as a "naive and judgmental" statement ("Reasons to Breed", Dog world,
Feb. 1997). However, it has proved to be a very successful philosophy since the small
family kennel with which I am associated (JOLIHEM) has produced/owned and campaigned the
record number of Staffordshire Bull Terrier champions, 4 other CC winners and numerous
stud book number and JW winners - all when only breeding when we wanted to keep a puppy.
Proof that success and political correctness can go hand in hand.
"Reasons to Breed" also stated that "people with a very small number of
dogs are not always in a position to add another puppy to their numbers, and therefore
only be able to keep a puppy on the death or re-homing of another dog". Dog owners
should note that keeping a dog is a life-long commitment to that dog. My dogs'
companionship is far more important to me than their physical attributes, so from a
welfare standpoint, I would encourage people not to breed unless:
a) they intend keeping a puppy,
b) they are prepared to give their chosen puppy a good, loving home
- even if it turns out to be unsuitable for showing, and
c) they should be able house all the puppies should the homes they
go to prove to be unsuitable.
Waiting until you have room to keep a puppy may mean that your bitch is 4 or 5 years old
before she has her first litter. However, I do not see that preventing this is a reason to
breed as you could use your stud dog and buy in a good puppy. I, along with my colleagues
at London University, have not seen any statistical evidence to say that a normal, healthy
4 to 5 year old bitch who is in whelp for the first time is at any greater risk than a 4
to 5 year old bitch who has had one or more litters. I would be very interested if someone
could provide me with this statistical evidence. It used to be said that a bitch that had
not been bred from was at increased risk from pyometra - but this has now been shown not
to be the case. Risks from pregnancy in an older bitch arise from factors associated with
age and the age of her eggs (females are born with all their eggs, unlike males who
produce sperm throughout their life), and not from a lack of fitness for the pregnancy due
to not previously having had a litter.
Also, I do not agree with breeding a
litter just to see what they turn out like. Surely if you have selected the stud dog
and know your own bitch's breeding you should have a fair idea of what the mating will
produce, and you should be fully prepared to accept the consequences.
Finally, I believe people should not breed a litter unless they are attempting to
"improve" the show quality of their existing stock. I would ask readers to
examine the morality of the suggestion that breeders should produce "good quality pet
puppies" in order to prevent sales from puppy farms (see "Reasons to Breed, Dog
World, Feb. 1997). I have my own strong opinions on this. For SBT's this is a big problem
and I am sure that we like to think of ourselves as responsible breeders and feel
revulsion at the thought of puppy farmed litters or progeny produced by "back street
breeders". However, due to the Stafford's great popularity more and more individuals
are riding the "Staffordshire Bull Terrier Gravy Train", not only by breeding
"good quality pet puppies", but also by providing an unending supply of
"Staffie Consumables" which in the "good old days" used to be provided
by the breed clubs for the benefit of the breed. Where have we gone wrong ?
Please send your comments about this topic:
Jolihem
Code of Conduct:
All owners of Jolihem dogs are issued with, and expected to abide by, this code of
conduct.
The object of this code of conduct is to provide the dog owner with guidelines for
good practice, taking into consideration the welfare of the dog and the best interests of
the breed. It is not a legal document but an agreement based on good faith and has been
adapted from the Kennel Club Code of Conduct (initially drafted by Jo and Lionel Hemstock
in 1985 for the PSBTC).
- To maintain the best possible standards of health and quality of life for the dog. Owners will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
- To exercise the dog in such a way that will not cause offence to others. Owners will not allow their dogs to roam at large or cause nuisance to their neighbours.
- To ensure that the dog wear a properly tagged collar and are micro-chipped or tattooed. They shall ensure that their dog is fully leashed or under effective control when away from home.
- The owner will clean up after their dog in public places.
- To breed only from Kennel Club registered dogs, of sound stock and good temperament.
- The dog should be fully inoculated and regularly wormed as advised by your veterinary surgeon.
- Owners agree not too breed from a bitch in a way which is deleterious to the bitch, or the breed. No one should breed a litter unless they intend keeping a puppy and have the time, facilities and finances.
- Owners using their dog at stud should check that the bitch is sound, of suitable quality and registered.
- Owners using their dog at stud should also check that the bitch is not being bred from in a way which is deleterious to her health, or to the breed, and that the owners of the bitch have the time, facilities and finances required to rear a healthy litter of puppies.
- Should your puppy need re-homing for any reason, it should be returned to the breeder and not placed in the hands of a rescue organisation.