Page 43 - Chow LIfe - 2021 04 Winter

Southern CCC Associated Regional Judge's Critique

Deborah Barrett
In this difficult time, some of our usual USA exhibitors and shaded red coat in excellent condition. With an appealing
of course the foreign visitors were sadly missed. But the headpiece GCHG Dreamland’s Game Changer also present-
show committee persisted even in the face of many difficult ed an unforgettable side picture in motion – his stilted gait
issues, and I was so happy to see the Chow contingent that was quite eye-catching and I could not deny him. Besides
came to represent! We were determined to have a good my Veteran Bitch BOS, also under serious consideration was
time and I hope each of you came away from my ring real- my Select Dog. This striking self-red dog has a lot of body
izing you had been seen and seriously considered. Some but was still balanced. Although he is endowed with a broad
exhibits clearly hadn’t been out in a while which was un- and flat topskull, his ear carriage still remained properly on
surprising considering the way the world has been, so their the inner corner of the top of the skull. It’s sometimes the
reticence was understandable. With their aloof nature, I case that heavier-headed exhibits seem to show a lower ear
don’t expect any Chow to love me, a stranger, although I take carriage which I find a distracting detriment to an otherwise
care to approach them from the front. As long as I can see appealing headpiece. This dog possessed quite an imposing
and feel what I need, I usually resist removing a Chow from mug with his ears set properly. Well up on his toes particu-
competition. larly for a powerful dog, he made a lovely sight as he was
still agile enough to move around the ring. My Select Bitch
Generally with the class animals and the specials both, I was also well-bodied, up on her toes with an exceptionally
considered the dogs to be stronger than the bitches this year. tight tailset and an attractive headpiece. This is as they say
I truly looked at every color and coat type, from every class. “a lot of bitch” and as a seasoned showgirl, was well groomed
My Winners Dog came from the Open Black class. Long and never put a foot wrong. My Awards of Merit were
Feng Roman Pearce moved well and his squareness and also hotly contested. CGH Pendleton the Prime Minister
balance were undeniable, carrying his head elegantly and was so notable for his gorgeous neck and fabulous balance.
proudly above his topline as he moved cleanly. He had a de- His scowl and square muzzle excelled; up on his toes with
lightful headpiece and clear eyes, with a lovely square muzzle beautiful movement, he made my decision difficult. GCHB
that I appreciate plus excellent ear placement. I believe this Liontamer-Pazzazz Rothrock’s Tradition by Buddakan is just
finished him today, and well deserved. My Reserve dog was so darn square with short little hocks. Beautifully presented,
Wismar’s the Last Jedi, a fine upstanding shaded red who he also has a lovely topskull and square muzzle with well-set
also possessed a very appealing headpiece, clean movement, ear and eyes that can be clearly seen. There were a couple of
good balance, and very straight hocks. He was expertly other magnificent specials I could easily have awarded and I
groomed and handled and should have no problem at all in regretted that I was out of ribbons on this day.
finishing.
Friends, I don’t know how many times it says in the stan-
My Best of Winners came from the BBE Bitch class. Cameo’s dard, at least three, but we should have square Chows. There
Sparks Will Fly was mature with an appealing feminine were a surprising number of exhibits which were longer
expression including beautiful square muzzle, decent length than they needed to be. Some long in loin, some short on
of leg and balance, very straight hocks, and moved well. My leg, etc. In some standards, it gives the bitches a break from
Reserve bitch, Maibear’s Dancing in the Moonlight was also being square, but not ours! Additionally, I was looking for a
my best puppy. Out of the 9-12 class, she is a cream; this Chow who had the front assembly and structure to carry its
little miss made a lovely feminine statement with crystal- head “proudly above the topline”. The standard also men-
clear eyes and a charming headpiece, and moving well. tions that at least three times. I can’t consider a Chow to be
She has a nice short loin and should finish quickly. I look elegant as our standard specifies, without that trait. There
forward to seeing what both of these bitches will produce in are always trade-offs when you judge, because no exhibit has
the whelping box. every single thing you wish for and we must decide what we
I want to talk for a minute about the Veterans. They always can live with. Fronts in general need attention and continue
bring a tear to my eye and I hope they enjoyed their day in to be very often quite narrow. We saw some outstanding
the sun as much as I did. I take them quite seriously and fronts twenty years ago but surely less often nowadays. For
they were very much in contention amidst a specials class informational purposes, I was surprised to see a fair amount
which had such depth of quality. My Veteran dog GCH of level and undershot bites. Feet are good and many entries
FlamingStar Burning Sky was for some reason the only are well up on their toes. Overall pigment is satisfactory and
smooth in attendance. I said several times that I wished I temperament is reasonable. I believe eyes are improving and
had a couple more ribbons of merit and one would surely I saw many clear and dry ones although they didn’t always
have gone to him. At just short of age 8, he moved well and have the oblique placement I was looking for. On several
was nicely upstanding with lovely balance. My Best Veteran exhibits I could not see the eyes (and I will never try to pry
and BOS went to GCHG FlamingStar Some Like It Hot CD them open) – they either stayed squeezed shut or when
BN RI CA RA, a bitch who at 8-1/2 years of age was VERY opened, the pupils were really not visible. These exhibits
eager to see if there might be any rats in the hay bales near although they often had a lot of other fine features which I
the photo podium. She retains her clear eyes and although loved, I faulted more heavily. Finally, I was thrilled to be able
has depth of body was still a very agile and clean mover to show our visiting judges actual stilted movement. There
and rarin’ to go. All of my veterans showed non-stop and have been years at a National when you really could hardly
seemed delighted to be there. I wish I had a ribbon for each find one to show but this year, I commend the breeders and
of them and I was certainly privileged to be able to go over exhibitors for retaining one of our important traits.
them, and allow other Chowists to see what might be back in I enjoyed my afternoon, thanks to the exhibitors who
their pedigrees.
brought me so many of their lovely living works of art to
After much examining and sorting, about 10 dogs stood enjoy. Thank you also to the Southern CCC for this
out in my mind but alas for me, not enough ribbons to go delightful assignment.
around. I ultimately chose as my Best of Breed a seasoned
showman who was perfectly presented, square, balanced, his 41 41 411
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