What Would You Like To See

[SparkyTansy]

our breeds are constantly changing... lines come and go, focus on different traits happen over generations, grooming requirements change, even the way a dog is handled and stacked can change...

What would you like to see change, what would you love to see come back as a focus for your breed? What can definitely be improved upon as a focus for the breed?

[SparkyTansy]

right i'll start...

Weimaraners I think are relatively healthy as a breed... a lot of breeders work together and we have access generally to new blood very often. There are a great deal of people within the breed that work the breed in the field and i think that it proves their ability as a whole, even if not everyone works their dogs. As a general, i'd prefer it if there was more focus on the fact that the breed should be moderate, and that breeding extremes in angulation may cause issues in the future.

English Setters well... I'm a bit out of the loop with them but an overall improvement in the genepool would be great, and some openmindedness to lines and looks from all countries would be wonderful. Improvement in fronts of the american lines, and improvement of rears in the UK lines. Skin issues should have more focus for the English dogs, and breeders in the UK should be more open to sharing their knowledge with those who seek it. Less focus on coat in the show ring, with more on sound conformation and movement.

OES i'd like to see less sculpting... I'd like judges to be able to do what they are meant to and feel what's underneath - consider presetnation but not make it the be all... I'd like to see breeders encourage new people in the breed. I'd like a focus on getting the tail right, without putting too much emphasis on it. Acceptance of the tail from everyone would be wonderful... I'd also like to see more focus on better fronts and getting rid of that rotary movement in the rears that has started popping up.

[SkySoaringMagpie]

Salukis,

The whole appearance of this breed should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountain. The expression should be dignified and gentle with deep, faithful, farseeing eyes

I think we have elegance and beauty which are an important part of the breed type but we're struggling with the performance ability that should sit beneath it. I wish we had more smooths in the country so that judges were more familiar with them. I think we're being good about introducing new gene pools to Australia.

Movement is all over the place, sometimes quite literally. I'd like to see judges be more exacting about movement, and drop the flashy stuff that isn't balanced and true (and the lame stuff). Also, I'm sure we aren't the only breed fancy cursing the "show it like an Afghan" trend...

I'd like to see fewer fat dogs. We don't have as much coat to sculpt with as some breeds but you can hide a multitude of sins by keeping the dog "well covered". I really dislike it. Some judges will have a word about it, many are accustomed to the seal on stilts look and award it.

[Trisven13]

Speaking Saluki's should they really be as thin as some of them are shown? Some of them look almost skeletal to me and I don't like fat dogs at all (in fact I've been told some of mine are too thin previously by pet owners).

For us with the Fauves it is more about making sure that we don't lose what they were bred for and what they're still used for primarily in Europe. Their coat shouldn't ever get too flashy but I fear it will take a while before Judges and other show people truly accept that the coat should be

"Very rough, harsh, rather short, never woolly or curly. The face shouldn't be too bushy."

[SkySoaringMagpie]

Speaking Saluki's should they really be as thin as some of them are shown? Some of them look almost skeletal to me and I don't like fat dogs at all (in fact I've been told some of mine are too thin previously by pet owners).

Hard to say without a picture. You should be able to see the last three ribs, but they shouldn't protrude. Sometimes younger dogs can be a bit ribby because it's hard to keep weight on them. I look at other things to work out if they are unhealthily underweight - ie, overall condition, coat shine, muscle tone, etc.

Edited to include a photo of a famous and beautiful bitch in what I think is perfect condition:

Bayt Shahin Impulse, CC, CM

Edited October 6, 2010 by SkySoaringMagpie

[Sheridan]

I'd like to see wheatens look like this:

instead of straight coated overgroomed blonde kerries.

[whippets]

I want to see whippets going back to this kind of look

Instead of body's and toplines like this

Also sloping toplines that should be seen on Boxers and Dobermanns, not whippets. Seeing this alot in younger stock now.

Also whippets do no move like this. This high knee action goes hand in hand with short upperarms and straight shoulders.

[Alyosha]

I'd like to see less obsession over excessive topline. Back rather bony and free from any cavity, rising in a graceful curve with a well balanced fallaway. Highest point of the curve is situated over the last rib.

Not - back should fall in a dramatic way from the withers to the hock; and not, back should rise sharply from the withers in a pronounced curve or semi circle to the tail base. Either is not correct, and you are either looking at a skeleton that is drooping at the hips, similar to some specialty GSDs - not sound or correct; Or a "wheelback" where the ribcage is entirely tilted upwards from the shoulder assembly, again incorrect and unsound.

Plus, Sheridan I can see your point. that is a lovely Wheaten coat. In Borzoi too I'd love to see less overgroomed straightened coats - some coats are flatter than others yes, but over use of heavy duty dryers can damage the correct silky textured coat and straighten out beautiful wave and curl.

ETA = Yep Whippets - that last picture of yours is a movement commonly seen in Borzoi and also in Salukis, and doesn't do them justice at all.

Edited October 6, 2010 by Alyosha

[poodlefan]

I'm still coming to grips with the Whippet topline pic Whippets posted.

[Shaar]

For Miniature Poodles I would like to see longer muzzles.

It's getting harder to find a poodle with correct length, let alone those gorgeous long faces without being too heavy or too fine.

I can't really think of anything for Chinese Cresteds other than it would be nice to see them with a little less body hair. But it's a catch 22 there as with more body hair comes thicker, fuller manes and socks.

edited for spelling.

Edited October 6, 2010 by Shaar

[Trisven13]

Speaking Saluki's should they really be as thin as some of them are shown? Some of them look almost skeletal to me and I don't like fat dogs at all (in fact I've been told some of mine are too thin previously by pet owners).

Hard to say without a picture. You should be able to see the last three ribs, but they shouldn't protrude. Sometimes younger dogs can be a bit ribby because it's hard to keep weight on them. I look at other things to work out if they are unhealthily underweight - ie, overall condition, coat shine, muscle tone, etc.

Edited to include a photo of a famous and beautiful bitch in what I think is perfect condition:

Bayt Shahin Impulse, CC, CM

She is beautiful and I agree with her condition. That is not the sort of condition I'm talking about

I'm still coming to grips with the Whippet topline pic Whippets posted.

OMG me too!!!

[SkySoaringMagpie]

She is beautiful and I agree with her condition. That is not the sort of condition I'm talking about

How old are they? I agree with the later post by Alyosha about young dogs.

I have a serious question about whippet toplines too for whippets and anyone else who wants to chuck their oar in. To what extent does the topline change depending on the fitness and mental state of the whippet in question or the way you stack it?

Edited October 6, 2010 by SkySoaringMagpie

[whippets]

Those pictures are from the breeds that are suppose to look like that. Greyhound body and and I.G gait. I dare not cut and paste others whippets, put them on here and point out the faults. That would be crass. I'd rather refer to it. BUT that is the trend of what's occuring, unfortunately.

[kirst_goldens]

OMG that Whippet pic was shocking!!

Goldens - movement in alot of lines needs work, as do heads. In the last few yrs we have been getting straighter front and rear assemblies though i have seen some stunning ones recently so hopefully a sign that this trend is done overall the breed isnt that bad... Though they are meant to be strong and have good second thigh muscle... people need to get their dogs moving and get some body on those dogs! lovely bone and structure and heads but they ruin it by letting them into the ring looking thin and weak! they should look like they could work, i fthey wlook like they would be best suited to lazing on a couch all day they dont belong in the ring hope i didnt piss anyone off bahahaha

LOL whippets now i look at the topline pic and u can see the handlers knees... of course its a grey otherwise its an absudly large whippy bahahahhaa silly me!!

Edited October 6, 2010 by kirst_goldens

[Sayly]

Some of the main things with the Irish:

- Less black in the coat: Black shading highly undesirable

- Size is only listed as "ideal" but I would like to see more correct size Irish.

And I don't like seeing massive bone on the Aussie Shepherds. Bone should be moderate.

[Alyosha]

She is beautiful and I agree with her condition. That is not the sort of condition I'm talking about

Younger salukis tho' Trisven will often go through some quite ordinary skinny, bony or lanky stages. It can make life difficult for exhibitors who don't want to lock them up and stop them running off weight for the sake of a little extra show condition, and don't want to leave a potentially sensitive breed home unsocialised. It's a fine line. If you see skinny ones, take note of their ages, more often than not they'll be in an awkward teenage stage.

Edited October 6, 2010 by Alyosha

[Diva]

For Borzoi, this:

"In males the height at the withers is equal or barely superior to that from the summit of the croup to the ground. In females these two heights are equal. " It's from the FCI standard, but it makes the point well. I hate seeing Borzoi where the hips are very noticably low compared to the withers. Sometimes they have just been groomed that way to try and give an illusion of arch to a too straight topline. Sometimes they are built that way.

....and better fronts, with this...

"Upper arm : Moderately oblique; its length is barely superior to the length of the shoulder blade. Angle of the scapular-humeral articulation well pronounced." Lots of straight upper arms and dogs where you could drop a plumb line from their ear and it would hit their foot, that's not a good front for the breed.

I'd like to see more of the correct hare feet and small, fine, high set ears.

And I wish they weren't scissored so much these days, but I think that's here to stay.

Edited October 6, 2010 by Diva

[pebbles]

Miniature Pinschers - First thing is the true hackney action in front with the hind end sound. Fronts flap and knit, no true angles in the action, hinds cross and drive lacking. Temperament is a problem - "King of the Toys" a lot look like galley slaves. There is a height standard! To see a good Min Pin showing on a loose lead is a picture.

[quoll]

I'd like to see more "compact " dogs in the Mini Poodles with a well shaped head, good under jaw to avoid that snipey look yet retain the lovely elegant face.

In both the Toy and the Mini the temperament is soo important, Poodles are a FUN dog happy outgoint full of life, we could improve on that as well.

For all breeds I think health is something we can always try to get better I d like to see more DNA testing available, and used.

[Gogee]

Salukis,

The whole appearance of this breed should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountain. The expression should be dignified and gentle with deep, faithful, farseeing eyes

I think we have elegance and beauty which are an important part of the breed type but we're struggling with the performance ability that should sit beneath it. I wish we had more smooths in the country so that judges were more familiar with them. I think we're being good about introducing new gene pools to Australia.

Movement is all over the place, sometimes quite literally. I'd like to see judges be more exacting about movement, and drop the flashy stuff that isn't balanced and true (and the lame stuff). Also, I'm sure we aren't the only breed fancy cursing the "show it like an Afghan" trend...

I'd like to see fewer fat dogs. We don't have as much coat to sculpt with as some breeds but you can hide a multitude of sins by keeping the dog "well covered". I really dislike it. Some judges will have a word about it, many are accustomed to the seal on stilts look and award it.

Although I don't have a huge amount of experience in the breed, I agree about the flashy "show dog" type movement....Salukis were not bred to fly around the ring like speeding bullets with legs going everywhere.

Also, moderation, moderation, moderation!....and balance :D ....two of my huge bug bears with the breed. Too often I've seen extremes in fronts or more often rears that leave me wondering....could these dogs possibly do what they were bred to do?

eta: in summary I'd like to see more moderate, balanced dogs who move well.

SSM - seal on stilts.. love the phrase

Edited October 7, 2010 by InSha-llah