The judge was about halfway through the examinations of the Best of Breed dogs when I glanced up and caught him looking over at us while the dog on the table was being set up. Some judges will only look at the dog in front of them, but sometimes a judge will surprise you by looking back at the lineup, out of order. Quickly, I asked Pi to pose, and he took a step forward into a beautiful stance. The judge turned back to the dog on the table.
I asked Pi to continue posing, and he stood calmly while other dogs were frisking about. From the corner of my eye I was aware the judge was sneaking peeks at him. The judge took his time making his selections, you could see he was deliberating. He did not move us to the front of the line, so as to tip his hand, but in the end, he turned right to us, and Grampa Pi won Best of Breed.
Pi is 6 years old this fall, and doesn't go to shows anymore; this was his second show weekend in 4 years. His last time in the ring was a special request for Mama's Bucket List: his wonderful performance at Westminster (you can see it on the Westminster KC website video of the Basenji judging.) Other than that, Pi has been lying on the couch, cuddling in bed, and chasing squirrels. He has been making his name as a stud dog, with 7 champions in the US, more on the way, and as many more in Europe.
But every now and then...Pi likes to take over from the younger brood, and strut his own stuff.
But every now and then...Pi likes to take over from the younger brood, and strut his own stuff.
My somewhat grey-haired husband loved it. He and Pi walked around the show site together, my handsome gentlemen, telling everyone the value of "maturity."
And there is something to this, something for which dog shows in the U.S. are not designed. We start puppies in the ring at 6 months of age, and some dogs finish their championships quickly, before they are a year old. But a dog that looks like at adult at 10 months is not done growing. What does that dog look like at two years, three years, or six years? True, some dogs mature early and stop, holding their good looks for years. But others keep developing, shooting past the mark, and end up not so handsome at maturity.
A handler once bragged to me how she had finished a dog at 8 months, then laughed and added that it was a good thing, because by 9 months, she wouldn't have been able to finish him at all; he had "fallen apart." More than once I've heard someone wonder what happened to a dog who rapidly earned all its points, then disappeared into someone's back yard, no longer a dog one could exhibit proudly.
In some (all?) European countries, a dog cannot attain its championship until after a certain age, 2 years, I believe. It must get its final win after that age. This assures that the dog is judged at maturity, that the whole picture is seen. I like this requirement. What happens here in the U.S. is that dogs are bred for rapid maturity; breeders unconsciously select for dogs who look mature, dogs who can win, at six, seven, ten months of age. I fear that owners will give up exhibiting a slower maturing dog, because they are not winning at ten months or fifteen months. Yet at three, the dog is finally ready. This dog who matures later, who can win at three, four, six years of age, this dog will be beautiful for many years.
Just ask Pi. His sire finished his championship at 6 years. His half sister finished at 4 years. Two of his sons finished at three years and four years.
And this is why Pi's win at Harrisburg, PA, at 5.5 years of age, was an important one.
And there is something to this, something for which dog shows in the U.S. are not designed. We start puppies in the ring at 6 months of age, and some dogs finish their championships quickly, before they are a year old. But a dog that looks like at adult at 10 months is not done growing. What does that dog look like at two years, three years, or six years? True, some dogs mature early and stop, holding their good looks for years. But others keep developing, shooting past the mark, and end up not so handsome at maturity.
A handler once bragged to me how she had finished a dog at 8 months, then laughed and added that it was a good thing, because by 9 months, she wouldn't have been able to finish him at all; he had "fallen apart." More than once I've heard someone wonder what happened to a dog who rapidly earned all its points, then disappeared into someone's back yard, no longer a dog one could exhibit proudly.
In some (all?) European countries, a dog cannot attain its championship until after a certain age, 2 years, I believe. It must get its final win after that age. This assures that the dog is judged at maturity, that the whole picture is seen. I like this requirement. What happens here in the U.S. is that dogs are bred for rapid maturity; breeders unconsciously select for dogs who look mature, dogs who can win, at six, seven, ten months of age. I fear that owners will give up exhibiting a slower maturing dog, because they are not winning at ten months or fifteen months. Yet at three, the dog is finally ready. This dog who matures later, who can win at three, four, six years of age, this dog will be beautiful for many years.
Just ask Pi. His sire finished his championship at 6 years. His half sister finished at 4 years. Two of his sons finished at three years and four years.
And this is why Pi's win at Harrisburg, PA, at 5.5 years of age, was an important one.
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