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GZ BREED COLUMNStoys“help.” Since my girl was a lightcolor—kind of a pearl gray—this personoffered to “fix” my bitch’s colorbefore I showed her.At first I was confused. As the understandinghit me that she was offering tolet me use a product to darken mybitch’s color, I was outraged on a coupleof levels. I think I declined her offerpolitely, but I wish I had collected mythoughts well enough at the time to saywhat I will write now. I hope she readsthis. I may send her a copy.Our standard allows “any color orcombination of colors.” One of thedelightful things about ChineseCresteds, to my way of thinking, is therainbow of colors we have in our breed.We see colors from white all the waythrough black, with spots or patterns,and in shades of brown, red, and occasionallyblue and lavender—in anycombination. There should be no preference.Being an old-fashioned, law-abidingcitizen, my first outrage was because it’sjust not right to alter the color of yourdog; it’s against the rules. Now, I realizethat in today’s world, a lot of peoplewouldn’t give that a second thought,but I do. But I stop at stop signs, too.The other part of my outrage shouldconcern everyone. If we promote onlydark-colored dogs, we will eventuallylose the other colors. Judges willassume (and some already do) that thedark dogs are superior and should beput up. I have had students in seminarsask me about “other colors,” saying,“But they’re not as good as the darkones, are they? Wouldn’t you ratherhave a darker one?”Structure is what I hope they willjudge—and movement and breed type.Puppy-seekers frequently call and specifythat they want a dark-colored dogwith white furnishings, like the onethey saw at the dog show or on television.We really must do our best to dispelthis myth that the darker, the better.Just as with people, all the colors arebeautiful. Color is really the icing onthe cake or dog in this case. And strawberryis just as yummy as vanilla orchocolate or butterscotch. —SueKlinckhardt-Gardner,Tamoshire@Qnet.com; AmericanChinese Crested Club website:chinesecrestedclub.infoEnglish Toy SpanielsJudging From Outside theRing: Find the PositiveIt is often said that a good judge willnever fault-judge. They shouldinstead be assessing the positiveattributes of the exhibits brought tothem in the show ring.I agree with this as well and wonderwhy we do not hold ourselves to thesame standards outside of the ring. Howmany times have you listened to spectatorsand other exhibitors make disparagingremarks about the quality ofdogs being presented?Perhaps you are guilty of this personally.I have found myself falling into thisnegative way of thinking, and I plan tohold myself to a higher standard in thefuture. As far as I can tell, there is nothingbeneficial in this behavior for anyonein the sport.Why does anyone find themselves inthis situation? I think there are a numberof reasons. People are poor losers,have a grudge against the owner of aparticular dog, or maybe want to appearas if they are well educated about theirbreed’s important qualities.It would benefit the entire fancy ifeach one of us looked for these negativetraits in ourselves and pledged torise above our petty behaviors.I am not saying we must love everythingabout every dog we see. A dogmay not be a type that you appreciate,but someone saw something there andfelt he was worthy of being shown. It isnot for anyone else other than thejudge in the ring to decide if the dog isworthy of being shown.Our breed’s standard has no disqualifications,except for missing testicles,and only a few stated faults. It was writtenspecifically to help us look for thepositive and prized traits that make theEnglish Toy Spaniel a unique treasure.If I think about it, there is not oneexhibit I have ever seen who did nothave positive qualities. Perhaps a doghas a poor topline but a beautifulexpression that you can admire. Maybeher head is not your cup of tea, but shehas soundness and lovely movement.Sometimes the things that might strikeme are the wonderful temperament andlovely way of showing themselves. Allof these positive traits are things thatour breed needs, so it behooves us tonotice when they appear.Even if you do not have good feelingsabout a dog’s owner, remember thepride you feel about your own dogs,and know that they have the same feelings.You do not have to include thesedogs in your breeding program, but youcan still appreciate the qualities theypossess.Take the pledge with me to refrainfrom negative talk outside the ring.Find the positive in every exhibit yousee, and find out how it might openyour eyes to new possibilities. I am notproposing we turn a blind eye to thefaults in the dogs around us. Instead Iwould like to see a balance—notice thefaults, but praise the virtues.Above all, show respect for others,and as our mothers always told us,“Treat others the way you would liketo be treated.” —Janelle Smedley;Jsmeds@cheqnet.net; English ToySpaniel Club of America website:englishtoyspanielclubofamerica.orgHavanese“Purebred” and “Well Bred”Does it seem like there is noawareness of quality these daysamong prospective owners? We all hear:“I don’t care about show dogs.” “I amnot going to show; I just want a pet.”We should respond by saying, “Youshould care! A good purebred puppywill look and act like the breed youchose.”When people choose a breed, theyusually do so by looking at pictures ofshow dogs, going to a dog show, or seeinga dog show on television. Do theythink every dog of that chosen breedwill look and act the same?A K C G A Z E T T E • 12 • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 2