Breed Notes Breed Watch: I often wonder if many Collie folk out there actually know what it is, what effect it can, and will have on our breed or worse still, just think that it is another of those Kennel Club things that does not affect me! Let me enlighten you, for those who may need to know and to refresh the memory of others! Breed Watch was started many years back and was part of the Dog Health Group and really took off when the KC were under attack from certain media folk for allowing breeds to continue with obvious health issues It is an on-line tool launched in 2009 to help not only Breeders but also Judges and Exhibitors understand how their chosen breed is progressing with regard to visible Health Issues From 2014, it is monitored by reports received from ALL Championship Show judges, who are asked to complete a questionnaire (which is in the back of the Judges Book) when judging has been completed or it may even be sent to you, as a Judge before your appointment. It is used as an “Early Warning System” to highlight visible faults which can and do “Creep” into a breed Breeds have been divided into Three (3) Categories, the first: Category 1 Breed; these are all Breeds who have NO current Breed Watch Points of Concern. Category 2: Are those breeds who do have Points of Concern, and a Mandatory Report completed by Judges after judging and confirmed by not only the KC but Breed Clubs and our Breed Health Co-Coordinator regarding such points Category 3 Breeds, these were once known as High Profile Breeds and work done by those Breeds/Breeders has reduced the original number by approx. half to those remaining today.
Sadly, we find that our breed, Collies Rough fall into Category 2 with the following, visible, points of concern:
If we, as breeders/exhibitors actually look at those faults listed, All the issues are against anything written in our Breed Standard, so where have they originated from and why are judges/breeders/exhibitors accepting them? We could, with time correct them and then all future judges would have nothing to report on and we could move back to Cat 1 which is where our breed should be. So I ask the following questions – answers on a Postcard please Overly narrow jaw and incorrect dentition? Surely the two items are linked. If a dog has a narrow jaw, (the standard calls for a strong under-jaw) then there is no space for correct size teeth to come through and narrow jaws often come with smaller Shetland sheepdog sized heads which have been prevalent in the breed. Conversely, i.e. too long and narrow can also cause the lower jaw to be unduly narrow and lacking in under jaw which can give a tendency to an overbite or misalignment of the incisor, this is often accompanied by a lack of foreface/rounding in muzzle. Weak Hind Quarters and Cow Hocks, again, surely if there is no strength in the hind quarter then the lower hind legs will have to support the rest of the frame. If there is a lack of muscle in the rear, then the hocks will bow and turn both inwards and outwards to support the frame. On this same point, there is not one comment concerning movement! Surely if a dog has a weakness in the hind quarters it will lack the required powerful drive as required. I regularly have read, with some astonishment, moved well……..when I and others know it is poor. Are these statements being made because the judge has never seen good movement or is it that the exhibitor sets off at 90mph trying to disguise poor front or back movement? A collie will naturally single track yet some are totally unaware that not only is this acceptable, it is NOT a fault. The Collie was (and still should be) a herding dog and as such will be required to move over rough ground and narrow ledges.
To end on a dismal note, sorry, if future judges report more issues, such as dogs being over-coated (not fitting the outline of the dog). Shortness of leg, short backs, high tail carriage etc. there is every probability we could move from Cat 2 to Cat 3 – so please think about the future. Meanwhile, let us be more positive and try and work together with both the Health Co-Coordinators and other breeders and judges, as we are aware, our smooth coated collie fraternity were very pro-active, all got together, improved certain aspects of the breed, applied to the KC to have the points removed and were rewarded with a move back to Cat 1 – so it can be done. Let us all go down this road for the future and try and return the Rough to the status it deserves. Carole Smedley |
