tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post2621585518803004798..comments2024-01-24T11:34:49.094-05:00Comments on The Portuguese Water Blog: StandardsSuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05100381901254968075noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-49353638691720294432015-02-23T11:13:45.728-05:002015-02-23T11:13:45.728-05:00Very interesting post... thank you for the perspec...Very interesting post... thank you for the perspective. :)Lapdog Creationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816978797409540468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-54359427057936604902015-02-21T22:16:50.496-05:002015-02-21T22:16:50.496-05:00My armchair theory (and this is after 25+ years ha...My armchair theory (and this is after 25+ years hanging around dog shows and dog people) is that David Merriam (the BIS judge) was thinking about the long game.<br /><br />Think about this: WKC is the ONE dog show that non-dog-people might actually see in their lives. It is everyone's picture for what a dog show looks like. Dog-loving (but not necessarily dog-breeding or dog-showing) people actually tune in to watch it.<br /><br />Think about how the public would see the lineup he had for Best. The Shih-Tzu (too "frou-frou"), the Poodle (silly haircut, also "frou-frou"), the OES (over-the-top "frou-frou" and resembles no working herding dog I could ever imagine), the Skye Terrier (who's ever heard of that?), the ESS (groomed to within an inch of her life), and the PWD (the POTUS's dog, but also borderline-frou-frou). Then, finally, the Beagle - no extra hair, pleasant Snoopy associations, and it looks like a dog you might actually have on your couch. (Never mind that the modern show Beagle is thoroughly bleached, dyed, trimmed, and chalked before it hits the ring.)<br /><br /><i>Every single one of these dogs</i> is a magnificent specimen of its breed (or else it wouldn't be in that BIS ring). Merriam could have picked any of them and been "right". <br /><br />But only one of them would be the "people's choice", a dog who people who can relate to, a dog who doesn't bring up any uncomfortable questions about over-exaggeration or over-grooming. A uncontroversial dog that can make the public feel good about dog shows and the AKC.<br /><br />It's just one dog show out of the whole year - and it's the one dog show that the public will see. David Merriam is a longtime veteran of the AKC, and he knows that the fancy is being challenged by a public who sees the dog show world as overblown and detrimental to dogs. <br /><br />So he can pick any of seven dogs - so he picks the one that will make Joe Public feel good about dog shows for the next twelve months, until the next BIS judge at the next Westminster gets to make his picks.Megannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-51643371614660602015-02-21T08:26:35.578-05:002015-02-21T08:26:35.578-05:00I'd give you a standing ovation if the Knight ...I'd give you a standing ovation if the Knight wasn't sleeping and I didn't have two dogs pinning me to the sofa.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure we've had this conversation before. I credit the AKC and Junior Handler (along with horse shows, high school athletics, etc.) for comparatively sane teen years. HOWEVER, the AKC and I parted ways over what is this week, the Parson Russell.<br /><br />I won't rehash my favorite breed's AKC broohaha here, but I am glad to hear that some breed standards do focus on the job(s) the dog was originally designed to do.<br /><br />Now... that being said, I'd put Sissy's UKC basset body up against the AKC "Hushpuppy" standard every day. Sissy is finer boned, a little leggy and way too lean by AKC standards, but every single vet who has seen her (and you know that's dozens) declares her the fittest, ortho-est healthy basset ever. <br /><br />I KNOW we've discussed why I don't show dogs or horses anymore, so I'll just mentally give you - and the Westmin. judge - another round of applause and wrap it up.SissySeeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13249971578077045662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-32852760671513890182015-02-21T05:06:35.104-05:002015-02-21T05:06:35.104-05:00We love watching Westminster and seeing all of the...We love watching Westminster and seeing all of the dogs strut their stuff. We love them all!Molly the Airedalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12533954545013852862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-61478402773956545632015-02-20T23:20:19.683-05:002015-02-20T23:20:19.683-05:00Yeah, I thinks the lion cut is strange lookin'...Yeah, I thinks the lion cut is strange lookin'! Then again, ALL my fur cuts are strange lookin', so who am I to criticize!! BOL!! <br />butts, my issue is with no Airedales winning since 1922!! Pffffffft!!! Just not right i tell ya! Then again, i haven't really been thrilled with the winner of the Airedale group in a long time. I thinks they need one that acts more like ME! Ya know, attitude! That's what's missin'!!<br />Anyhu, I loved the Beagle, he was a cutie, butts still no Airedale...☺<br />Kisses,<br />Ruby ♥Rubyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10174917571557571096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-7892486239921700212015-02-20T22:58:19.022-05:002015-02-20T22:58:19.022-05:00Very insightful. I wonder how the PWD won his gro...Very insightful. I wonder how the PWD won his group.Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3https://www.blogger.com/profile/06173252316434699745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-23178730983009823192015-02-20T21:53:38.943-05:002015-02-20T21:53:38.943-05:00Thanks for your comment to my "new" blog...Thanks for your comment to my "new" blog. It feels good to be back and welcomed again.<br /><br />I had a long blurb here about award shows that just disappeared but the gist of it was that if the putter-oners and the awardees would pool the money spent on these whoops, they could probably rebuild Detroit, or something like that!<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Jo, Stella and ZkhatJo's Worldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07004590496962477481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-37248033161760923422015-02-20T20:11:52.056-05:002015-02-20T20:11:52.056-05:00I saw Matisse jumping up on people, looked like th...I saw Matisse jumping up on people, looked like the judges, during a dog show last year or the year before. Matisse was already wearing a ribbon so the job was done. But i couldn't help laughing because even the most perfect Portie was still just a little bit naughty. So if Matisse can be bad so can my Bronson. Kisses to your furkids. Mel and Bronson. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-9948309980166125362015-02-20T19:48:12.841-05:002015-02-20T19:48:12.841-05:00This was really interesting, Sue. Matisse is beau...This was really interesting, Sue. Matisse is beautiful, but he looks like a sculpture, not a working dog. I agree, too, if there are breed standards, they should be adheared to. Have a good weekend!rottroverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12040584911302243673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-22202715600774272522015-02-20T19:07:47.862-05:002015-02-20T19:07:47.862-05:00Well, we like the scotties......
That's a gre...Well, we like the scotties......<br /><br />That's a great point. Often we can't see what the judge sees..not that we've ever been in shows.Bella Roxy & Macduihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10268052368797347239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-79229638183529796872015-02-20T16:49:13.319-05:002015-02-20T16:49:13.319-05:00This was a nice, introspective post, Sue. It'...This was a nice, introspective post, Sue. It's very honest of you to admit that your favorite did not meet the standards for his breed. I love all of your different example pictures, and have to say I'm not fond of the Lion clip. Your guys look great just as they are, and I can't imagine you doing anything other than the Retriever clip, as you mentioned. And while adopting is a good sentiment, sometimes you just want a specific type of dog for a specific reason (like my vet and his hunting dogs, for example), so adopting isn't practical. Marjiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14950085029835332900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336283699663453373.post-72579124009584560722015-02-20T16:31:57.877-05:002015-02-20T16:31:57.877-05:00We love the dog shows. The Portuguese water dogs h...We love the dog shows. The Portuguese water dogs haircut needs to go<br />Snorts, <br />Lily & EdwardTwo French Bulldogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10504475675258871866noreply@blogger.com