Expertise
Expertise. Looking for the truth
The man is curious critter. He is always has so many questions. Also cynological. What kind of question, which doesn’t have unambiguous answers. For example: why in the one breed there are so many different dogs with exterior? Dilettante question? Maybe yes! But no one professional of cynologia never answer to me specifically. Usually everything strikes into, that existing the different types of breed in the range of standard. Then you can rise the question, which is also very often can say not answered, why the inner types of breed are so far away from the standard?
Let’s say it is a breed –Scottish terrier. Of course it is a standard of the breed. The question is why “Scotties”, the same breed dogs, are so different? I’m looking to some of dogs and thinking: why somebody reared that kind of breed? Vainly Scottish and British breeders spent sleepless nights in the way of thinking to create the background of the breed, the breed that we have today. Probably vainly were sacrificed life’s of human being to improve and trying to make plenty representatives of perfect Scottish Terries. For many breeders of our days is really vainly. Some breeders treating the standard of the breed in the own way so in very short time they can “multiply” so different exemplar, that you can loose your breath! So it means the standard of the breed goes in one way, and breeding goes to the other way.
The British describe “Scotty” as “stocky, short-legged, compact, appropriate stature height at withers 28 cm (11 ins); weight 10,4 kg (23 lbs), dignified presence, it makes expression of big power in small body, mobile and energetic dog”. In few words: small, stocky, bony… but we can see in the ring “Scotties” which weigh 27 kilos and more!
British standard remember to as all the time, that is it not big, but very powerful and compact dog, and against his short legs, “Scots” movement is plastic, free, a little bit strange typical only to this breed. It this described characteristic usually coincide to alive British exemplars, so ours Scots “inner” types are so unbelievable different. Many of ours Scots are leggy, tight and long. Scottish terriers are remaining sometimes fox terrier with short legs. Strange, but it is some experts which love and adore that kind of dogs. That is why it is so many titled dogs with “inner” type of breed. And the breeders with owners are very happy about, and talk about “modern” type of breed and evolutionary process. The British standard describe the head of “Scot” as “long, pro rata to the dog stature”, neck as “muscular, powerful middle length”, so our brothers judges give the advantage for the middle long head and tiny, long neck. I don’t know why, but somehow it means that “Scots” can get some elegancy. It is nonsense! Many experts describe middle long neck as a lack (they write exactly: short neck)
British “Scotty” watch us with small, penetrating, almond-shaped, dark eyes. Exactly this penetrating and unblinking gaze, in the combination with “Scotties” mobile imp, gives for this breed gravity and solidity. Well and our “brothers” look to the world with round, big and surprised eyes, so dogs look like the woman from province, which has lost in the metro station…
And finally character, the main lineament of breed, it`s own pride and honor. In British standard it is written (quotation): “Loyal and faithful, dignified, independent and reserved, but courageous and highly intelligent, bold, but never aggressive”. It is really hard to tell exactly about “Scotties” character. But I’m sorry if I’m asking, from where come aggressive Scots? What kind of own perception of value and continence we are talking about?
We can take long time term to flounder in the standard, compare and put against everything. The question is: how to find the compromise, which will satisfy owners, breeders and experts? Each human being has an own right to choose which way to go. Why I shouldn’t do what I want?
Of course you can take the easiest way, like American breeders did, they created own “religion”: own style and exterior. They even breeding breed till the big nonsense! Well it happen in our days, that American “Scots” winning all big dog shows and that kind of dogs are so cheeky lucky, and nobody cares about huge demure from British breed standard.
The other way, probably the most merely is: the breeding invoking of experts favors and their appreciation. Many experts judging in the shows are “allrounders”, it means whey are broad profile specialists. Their understanding about breed is usually facile and obscure. That is why it isn’t so high demands. So you can describe their job specification in the ring and often to high appreciation for non-typical dogs. On this background is very important experts appreciation in specialized dog shows. One of the way to perfect show up in the dog show is to prepare your dog perfectly and “show your self” in the ring.
But it is the third way. This way is ungrateful and the path isn’t laid with roses. This path is only for few people. But going on this way you will get and give to this breed the biggest goods. Definitely it is more than questionably owners of champions. More than 100 years smart British and Scottish people were breeding Scottish terrier. They grew up and multiply their own results of big job, but all other world buying dogs, which are useful for breeding in their historical homeland. That not stupid British know their own value. And they don’t want to prove for all world own oneness. They don’t need European titles and recognizing of millions people. The title of British champion is much more worth for neither them nor European or World champion title.
That British are odd. They breed dogs without any step away from own code. They don’t try to please anybody, each year they are breeding a new champion, and other by courtesy of British breeder have a great chance to make the breed better. Well and each year we are watching and waiting when the dog of our breeding will get better. Well I can tell: Never! Because, Britain cynology living always by strict standard, seeking old traditions, but not by appreciation of experts. So, not all British champions can be champions of Europe and America. Well and our understanding of the breed are too much different to seek British breeding code. Actually it isn’t comfortably for us. Good representatives of the breed, which have excellent genetic lines, which cost too much, but don’t win too often, this kind of dogs distinguish from big mass! Because of this dogs expert can feel not comfortably, he have to give for this dog all titles so it means he have to break the rules of the game. To don’t blink in expert eyes this kind of dogs usually goes to the end of the row, which is much easier. Well so not everybody has much boldness to bring very good dogs to the dog show; actually it cost and has too many troubles.
Dog breeding is particular art. As in different parts of art in the world we have talented persons and no gifted persons. World don’t have so much genius, but exactly only this people let the world to run, forcing to see all beauty and mankind. Unfortunately sometimes it is too late. By the courtesy of genius we got rich and perfect abandonment of different breeds. Each of us has a right to use it as we understand. Somebody will create copies equal to origin, somebody will hang on the wall certificates and with proud will show for friends. Well other will create regrettable spoofs and will sell in the market for cheep prize. Anyhow origin won’t get worse, but will the human being get better taking desirable as reality? That is a question…
Yana Chorunzhaya,
Journalist, Scottish terrier and gold retrievers kennel „Sansibility“owner,
Magazine „Black & White” editor"
P.S. I know the author of this article very well; I respect her as a breeder and as a human being. I agree with many minds of author. I feel, that the author of this article just tells you about many mature problems of breeders. Only person who really can’t take longer to stay quite and person who feels “pain” of the future of the breed, and person which want to scream, only this person can write like this.
Article actually is controversial. I, as breeder couldn’t tell so categorical, that in British cynology everything is perfect and in America and Europe everything is only black…everything is here and there. For example, if we talking about my beloved breed, we, Europeans have to thanks to Americans for now having a great “Scotties” temperament and a perfect movement….
We can’t forget that we, professionals of cynology from East Europe, lived for a long time sequestered from the other world and what isn’t our fault. Cynology don’t move to fast in the future, not for 5 or 10 years. So if we won’t get a chance to rehabilitate ourselves, I hope that our kids will have this opportunity. Well we know that persistence and fanaticisms of our breeders is very huge, and any British can be jealous. Well if we only could add beside our persistence the British living standard…
Criticize is always easier than to breed. Buy and bring to homeland good dogs, of course if you have good knowledge and good relationship also isn’t a big problem. The author of article has brought few really terrific dogs. But breeding doesn’t mean buying! Well as it says, the chickens will be count in fall…
I think, that written mind in this article, especially where it is talked about experts job in the ring, is very topical not only for Scottish terrier breeders or owners. So I’m asking to join this discussion for breeders and owners of all kind of breeds, professionals of cynology and experts. Let’s talk!
Jūratė Butkienė,
Owner of Scottish Terrier kennel „TIKRAS BILDUKAS“,
FCI judge