Judging Dogs by Mr. Robert E. Layne The letter I received from Joy DeGruccio, Chairperson, Judges Selection Committee read "Congratulations! This is to officially inform you that you have been selected to judge dogs at the 1998 Great Dane Club of America National Specialty to be held the week of October 5."

Needless to say one can’t help to feel a bit honored and privileged to have been recognized by fellow breeders and exhibitors to be selected to judge the National. I hope this means that through much controversy as a breeder, I must have done a few things right over the last 28 years.

Well, Congratulations should definitely go to the GDCA South Central Division and all of the hard working committees for a job well done. Although I did not attend all of the events, it is my understanding that the South Central Division made all feel as welcomed as I did. As I entered the upper level of the hotel lobby, I was greeted by Top 20 Judge, Carolyn Thomas who stated "Here Come the Judge, I hope you enjoy the day." And enjoying the day is just what I was planning to do. Upon approaching the show site, one could only be impressed and a bit overwhelmed by the tent that had been erected for the week of exhibiting. I was very impressed. I was beginning to feel the excitement of the day!

I would like to critique my judging assignment from the perspective of a breeder since breeding is my first love and I can probably get away with stating more as a breeder than I could stating as a judge. I don’t find critiquing shows, class by class, really has much value unless you are sitting ringside the actual day of judging to see the dogs and to question the reasons one makes certain decisions. When I completed my assignment, many of the exhibitors both those who placed in as well as those who placed out of the ribbons, thanked me for judging their dogs. They further stated that they could follow my judging. However, the question that was often asked me was "Do you look for type or movement first?" So I thought what a great place to start this article for the National Specialty requested by the Breed magazines.

As a class enters the ring, the first characteristic I look for when I am judging is General Appearance which translates for me into BREED TYPE, BALANCE and MOVEMENT which means:

** First, the animal must look like a Dane

** Second, the animal must walk like a Dane (sound movement, good reach and drive)

** Third, the animal must talk like a Dane (good sound temperament and attitude)

To explain in more detail for new comers in the breed, a side profile of the top of the dog should exhibit a correct head piece, with adequate depth and length of muzzle, a well arched neck which flows smoothly into a nice high withers, a level topline that meets a correct croup and tail set. An additional look at the dog, I should expect to see a nice forechest, well angulated shoulders, deep brisket, good spring of rib and correct tuckup. The hindquarters should be well angulated to add balance to the overall general appearance.

Having bred five of the six accepted colors, I really enjoyed having the colors separated in the 6-9 class since the harlequin, black and blue puppies usually grow much differently than some fawn and brindle puppies. I have always felt that judging all of the colors in one puppy class has been unfair to some extent.

All throughout the day, I was looking for Breed Type, Balance and Movement. The fawn puppy dog that came out of the 6-9 class who also happened to be my Reserve Winners Dog was very deserving on that day. For a young puppy, he really exhibited a great deal of ring presence and self confidence. He had the attitude of "I am here and I know it. So make sure you take a good look."

The Open Harlequin Dog class winner who was my Winners Dog also had all of the qualities and the maturity that I like to see in an animal deserving of a Specialty Win. This well marked mature Winners Dog moved a little better towards the center line of gravity on the diagonal. I came away saying that I would not hesitate to take either one of these animals home. Overall I felt that the classes had a good deal of quality in them. Many of the dogs will certainly go on to finish their championship titles.

I made a statement at the Awards Dinner which many of the fancy came up to thank me for saying towards the end of the evening. I would like to clarify that statement for those who may have misunderstood what I was trying to say. When I made the objective overview of the dog classes, I said that I would have expected to see more animals exhibiting breed type at the National. I should have prefaced that statement by stating that when I first started in the breed, our large shows had Open Fawn classes of 20 to 25 dogs. On any given day at least half of the class had breed type worthy of being pointed. I know due to the changes in the economy and the decrease in the large breeding kennels there are not as many people showing dogs. However, I am talking about the ratio of dogs deserving points in the classes when compared to the overall entry is not present at this time. I am further stating that if we are going to move forward as a breed and remain competitive in the group ring, as breeders we need to pay particular attention to the correct angulation which is needed for our breed to move correctly when breeding our dogs.

I enjoyed the challenge of judging the assignment and I look forward to judging in the future. Once again, Hats Off to the South Central Division for a Job Well Done!

~Robert E. Layne~

Judging Bitches by Mrs. Elizabeth B. Mitchell I understand from those attending the great festivities provided by the South Central Division of the GDCA, that the National was a huge success — but I doubt, even though our participation in the festivities was somewhat limited, no one had a better time than Dale Tarbox, Bob Layne and myself! Being asked to judge the National Specialty of our breed is such an honor and my thanks to all who entered their lovely bitches for me to judge.

When, after several hours of judging, the Winners Class proceeded into the ring, I admit to feeling very proud of the bitches who represented their classes and with so many beautiful ladies to choose from, I was well aware that I still had my work cut out for me! My Best Bred-By Bitch was lovely — representing the strongest class of the day in depth of quality and the 9-12 Month Harle Puppy was a wonderful package of soundness and movement. However, the Open Fawn Bitch could not be denied in overall quality of breed type, soundness and correct movement — thus she received the Winners Bitch nod, with the Reserve going to the young harlequin.

I loved judging the wonderful Veteran Classes (although there were tears in my eyes) and I was so happy to see the beauty and elegance projected by these senior citizens who were well into what we call their "golden years". Both were wonderful classes!

I did come away from the National with some concerns for our breed, however. I was quite disappointed in the incorrect movement of the front assembly. This lack of correct movement seems to be due to the neck and shoulder placement that translates into poor movement and excessive toeing-in. I hope our breeders will take note of this breed tendency when planning their breeding programs.

Again I wish to thank all the owners who showed their lovely bitches for me — they are all winners in our hearts — but there is, unfortunately, only one winner of the purple in the ring. It was an honor and great pleasure to judge all of them.

~Brucie Mitchell~

Judging Best of Breed by Ms. Dale Suzanne Tarbox The task of judging 90 Great Dane champions is something I had looked forward to since being told about my assignment almost two years ago. It was every bit as challenging as I knew it would be. I was honored to have such a quality entry.

The last 25 Danes in the ring were of very good quality and each had something exceptional about them. When it came down to the final choices, I went with the overall balanced and sound moving Danes, all of which displayed good Dane type.

The Best In Specialty dog is a wonderfully sound moving Dane who has beautiful balance and good breed type. He is a very nicely marked harlequin. The first time he moved for me, I was impressed. He is effortless and clean moving, no elbows, no turning of pastern, no hocks turning, just clean and true. He presented a lovely profile, back always level and a good reaching stride. A Great Dane I would be proud to own.

The bitches were lovely, as usual, and making a final decision on just one of them was tormenting. I could live with any one of the bitches I had in the final cut and especially the six that I had out at the end. The Best Of Opposite winner is a lovely bitch who is sound coming and going and again on profile. Her neck set and shoulders are one of her best features. She has good breed type and a very pleasing expression.

The Stud Dog class winner was the son of the Brood Bitch class winner. I was pleased to see that her get were all champions and I had kept them all in through the final cut and had given one of the bitches an Award Of Merit.

Best Puppy proved interesting as they had both garnished Reserves. The Puppy Dog was my style of dog and I will watch him as he grows up. Interestingly, he was the son of one of my Award Of Merit bitches.

The Bred By bitch is well balanced and sound. The owner was a little more than nervous, but the bitch helped her through the class. Bred By is one of my favorite classes and I am glad to see more breeders using it.

It was a wonderful day for me and although I may not have looked it, I was having fun doing what I love to do. But ... oh the responsibility!!!

The National Specialty is a true learning experience as well as a place to meet new friends and visit with the ones we don’t get to see very often. I will say that I sort of missed that this year, but I would not have traded this opportunity for anything. Thank you all for the experience of a lifetime.

~Dale Suzanne Tarbox~