Now and then, it's a pretty good day......naw - REALLY good day. When it comes to dog shows, sometimes those REALLY good days are happening further and further apart. Mostly the judging, sad to say, where the Toy Fox Terrier breed is concerned. Breed Standard, Breed Type, and Judging seem to arrive at a major standoff more often than not. Not so yesterday.
We had an entry of 24 TFT's and my Special and I were fortunate enough to be entered in BOB (looking for Select) and not in the classes. So I observed from ringside.....and I was impressed with consistant and very knowledgeable judging. Takes a lot anymore to impress me.....just old age and bullheadedness (is that a word?), I suppose. But I WAS impressed. The final lineups were showing Breed Type, good movement, meeting Standard points and had attitude that this little breed is supposed to exhibit. They stood on their own without being held fast in posed place by overzealous handlers; they moved spritely as well. Ears and tails were proper and correct and when it all came down to the final judging of all the classes, almost all of us at ringside were seeing a consistant, pleasant lineup of dogs and bitches.
Judge was happy, smiling, pleasant and interacting with both handlers and dogs. She had been judging most of the day and was getting tired for obvious reasons. However, this in no way affected her quality of judging. Beverly Capstick did her usual outstanding job and I commend her. Many of us also complimented her when it was all over and done with, for her happy demeanor.....telling her it was such a joy to see a judge who "actually enjoyed" what they were doing. Her reply consistantly was " If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't be here", was proven in the ring. It was nice, folks......because we don't see enough of that anymore.
How many of you have wondered why you paid your hard earned money for a judge who stands in the center of the ring staring at something either up in space or in another ring, with a bored look on his face as if he cannot WAIT for this whole unpleasant thing to be done and over with? Why you were in the ring with someone who OBVIOUSLY preferred to be somewhere else? Or the real biggie.....why are you there with someone who apparently thinks they are judging monkeys or parakeets....because they seriously have no knowlege about what they're supposed to be passing judgement on with this little breed. God, it's just SO depressing.
All in all, win or lose, over the years we have shown other breeds to Beverly Capstick and have NEVER walked out of her ring feeling like we have been shortchanged. She makes sure that everyone in her ring is "special".......that they all deserve her best. And she gives it....impartially, knowledgeably, with NO politics or partially involved......and she's just so happy while she's doing it. Even as tired as she must have been by late afternoon yesterday......She didn't let down one bit and even most of those who didn't win were not griping and complaining as usual. Of course, you always have those who would bitch if they were hung with a new rope.....kinks, ya know? But we can just space them off, cuz they are just that....bitchers. If they don't win, it's ALWAYS someone else's fault. I'm sure you know the type....and can even put names to many. If I was a judge, I don't know that I would be as nice as Beverly always is to some of those. But she is, always has been, and I suspect always will be.
So if any of you have the opportunity to show your dogs to this grand lady, I strongly suggest you do. It's the way dog shows should be.....the way they used to be.....FAIR AND IMPARTIAL.
So then.... I guess I'm just rambling this morning, and that occasionally happens when I wake up at 3:30am and can't go back to sleep. Isn't it a wonder how your mind shifts into Mach 9 at that time of the day when you'e just lying there squinting your eyes shut with a prayer for sleep. Over the years, I have built homes, bought new cars, bred the perfect dog and horse, and won the lottery. All accomplished in the never-never-land of "almost asleep". What a great place!
Have a great day! Have fun at the dog shows! Hug your dogs!!
Oh, by the way, Beverly picked our Jaz for her Select Dog for a 5pt Major, along with a lovely white/tan/chocolate bitch for her Select Bitch. BOB was a gorgeous boy bred/owned/handled by Jane Reed. Her WB and WD were both totally deserving of the wins she gave them!.
Like I said....it was a REALLY good day!
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