TEACH - IN AND “HANDS ON” SEMINAR
Inverkeithing Civic Centre
Sunday, 1st. June 2003
It
was a real pleasure to be back in Scotland and to spend a lovely afternoon with
the East of Scotland Cocker Spaniel Club.
This was my debut as a speaker on the Cocker Spaniel breed and the
presence of several friendly faces in the audience made me feel at once that I
was at home and at ease with you all.
George Findlay, the quiet man who always has the interests of this breed
at heart, opened the Teach - In and introduced me to everyone present.
To begin, I explained my background in dogs. How, in childhood, stumbling across a dog
show (Kilmarnock & District Canine Club’s January Open Show) in my home
town, the fascination and excitement that I felt seeing all those wonderful
breeds of dog and how this chance encounter had sown the seeds of what became a
lifetime’s interest and study.
As a democrat, I felt that The Kennel Club’s Judges’
Working Party’s new system for judges put into place in 1997, was the most
revolutionary step yet devised for Judges.
This made the possibilities for judges to progress fairer. Those interested and with enough basic
experience could now officially apply for to be considered for inclusion on
breed club Judges’ Lists. In the past,
we learned from the great names in the breed of our choice and many years of
trial and error in practical experience as breeder exhibitors. Today these great kennels and their characterful owners were becoming scarce. Times and attitudes have changed. My current role as Judges’ Lists
Administrator for the Parent Breed Club was therefore held with a true sense of
commitment. Seminars and Teach - Ins of this kind are a means of trying to give some
information and insight into what should be appreciated when judging.
Presented by:
Mrs. Jinty Gill
(Rosecourt)
We looked at a short video on Spaniel work. This provided an insight into the dropped
head carriage when the dogs were hunting up game and the opposite requirement
of strength when the dog was retrieving
a pheasant or hare to hand.
The need for correct angulation
in front was noted, the purpose of a well developed chest, the reason for
muscular hindquarters with good angulation and the
essential properties of sound pasterns and feet in a working dog.
As the breed standard was originally laid down by
enthusiasts of the breed who regularly shot over them, we have to keep in mind
all of the time that we are looking for a well built construction which would
allow the dog to work tirelessly all day.
Next we went through the current breed standard expanding information
about spaniel features which used to be taken for granted by enthusiasts but
which do not appear in the breed standard of
today. Mrs. Elizabeth McLean
provided a very typical orange roan dog and two lovely bitches, one orange
roan, the other blue roan, from her “Lynwater” lines
to act as models.
She also kindly provided an example of a pet Cocker
which had rather a lot of structural faults.
We were able to handle and talk about the consequences of these faults.
Then we discussed colour and markings and touched on the optical illusions that
both favourable and unfavourable markings might give. It is essential therefore to learn to “listen
to your hands” and let your eyes confirm your findings. Mrs. McLean provided further examples of the
breed in liver roan and red and we used the pet bitch once again to show how
favourable markings might take your eye off structural faults.
The need to recognise the abilities of handlers was
also talked over. A good handler could
make the most of an average specimen and a poor handler could disadvantage an
otherwise well made dog. All of these
things have to be taken into account when judging. We talked about judging dogs with too much
hair and those with not enough. Breed
type, sound construction and movement, a happy temperament and sound
constitution being more important than outward appearance and glamour.
Conversation then turned to the occurrence of rare
colours and markings and how these could be recognised and treated. This breed, having the unusual distinction of
producing a wide variety of colours and patterns ought to cherish this facility
which lends diversity and choice for owners and breeders.
It was then time for the “hands - on” session and
most of those in the hall took this opportunity to go over the dogs. They were able to put their knowledge into
practice.
Finally, we had the pet bitch up on the table again
along side her improved daughter and grand daughter. This demonstrated what could be done with a
carefully considered breeding plan.
After all, many judges today, started out as pet owners, decided to
breed a litter, kept a better one and got bitten by the show bug thereafter. Further successes, judging experience and a bit
of luck had allowed them to eventually become Championship Show Judges of the
breed.
The day concluded with a vote of thanks to Mrs.
McLean and her team of handlers for providing several interesting
“exhibits”. I am most grateful to the
Club’s Officers and Committee Members for making all of the arrangements which
included providing the use of a television and video and printing off a folder
full of useful information for everyone to keep. We all enjoyed super refreshments throughout
the afternoon and an excellent raffle.
George Findlay closed the Teach - In by thanking me
and saying that he hoped everyone had found the day interesting and
enjoyable. He commented, (with the wisdom of Solomon - or perhaps as someone who has had so
many years of experience!) that we all never stop learning and he hoped
everyone had learned something this afternoon.
As Secretary, Mrs. Mary Hynd
then presented me with a wonderful box of Harrod’s
I hope that everyone present found the afternoon
helpful in under pinning their knowledge of Cocker Spaniels. With an enlightened view of the breed’s
purpose and exactly why the breed standard is set out as it is, it should be easier to apply your knowledge of both the
breed and its standard when judging.
Good luck to you all.