Bookmark this site!CDCA Specialty
19th May 2006 • Sweepstakes
Judge: Mrs Jill Terry (Babrees)
I was very honoured to be invited to judge the club’s sweepstakes, and sincerely thank the CDCA for their invitation and also for the superb Canaan Dog cookie jar gift, which is now sitting in pride of place in my lounge! My thanks also go to everybody who entered under me and also to all those who so kindly looked after Ian and I so well. Whilst we have been meaning to attend a specialty for several years, this was in fact our first trip to America, and it was certainly a memorable one! It was wonderful to at long last meet people who I have been corresponding with for some time now. Both Ian and I had a fantastic time and really appreciated everyone who was ferrying us around and taking us out and about. One thing I would say though, beware of going shopping with Chris, Renee and Evan – they encourage you to spend money! We arrived home safely on Wednesday, albeit minus one suitcase! However, it was safely delivered to our home the very next day, which we were very pleased about as it contained a unique plaque for our lounge that we had purchased (encouraged by Renee and Chris)!
The Friday evening banquet was marvellous, and I understand the club raised some excellent funds with the auction. The welcome bags were a wonderful idea. A canvass tote bag depicting a Canaan Dog scene and chock-a-block with goodies – which our dogs fully enjoyed on our return home!
I must especially thank my steward, Martha, who kindly explained the procedure for judging in America, which differed slightly from the UK, and patiently kept me on the straight and narrow! Judging the sweepstakes, I found that temperaments excelled all round, with all dogs behaving extremely well, far better than ours in the UK! All dogs were sound, although some top-lines and tail-sets could be improved. I found them all to be presented in a good, clean and well-groomed condition.
(Click on photos to enlarge)
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I was very pleased with my Best in Sweepstakes, Ch Cherrysh Crown of Jewels, owned and bred by Cheryl Hennings. A sand coloured bitch of excellent type, well-balanced, nice size with good substance and coat; her head was of good proportions with well-set ears and correct almond shaped eyes. Nice length of neck that led to correct moderate angulation. High set tail carried well. Good, sound movement. Was sad to see she didn’t move quite so well in the breed classes afterwards. |
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Best Opposite Sex was a very close decision, and Blessed Be Cherrysh Partiot, owned by Laura Lashley and Cheryl Hennings, won it on coat. This sand coloured boy was of similar type to the BIS; well up to size, but at 10 months old I don’t expect him to grow any taller. Very immature baby with lots of potential. Lovely movement, but still needs to tighten up. Good topline and tail set, shame about the carriage. Lovely happy, smiling expression. |
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Best Veteran went to Ch Ebony Max O’Mad River, owned and bred by Carol O’Bryan. A handsome, jet black dog with white trim and super shiny coat. In excellent condition it was hard to believe he had just turned 9 years old. Good strong topline with a tail that waved happily on the move, would just like to see it set a tad higher and carried further over the back when trotting. Moved very well. |
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Best Opposite Sex Veteran was Ch Mad River Anya De Jealou, owned by Carol O’Bryan. A sweet black and white lady, whom I see is litter sister to the Best Veteran. Good angulation but a little soft in the topline now. Won the award on movement. |
When seeing or judging Canaan Dogs in another country, you can’t help but compare them to other Canaans around the world. The main differences I found were in substance, length of loin and coat.
I found some dogs to have less substance than I see in Europe and Israel. In Bryna’s translation of Pariahunde, Menzel described the breed to have medium bone, and describes type IV to be the lighter boned and of Greyhound type. I take this to mean that the bone needs to be more substantial than a Greyhound, and there were some dogs that did not have this.
Many dogs were long in the loin and thus not quite square in build. Menzel states in her first standard that the Canaan Dog is square and short-coupled. The AKC standard calls for measuring the length from the withers to the base of the tail, whereas the universal measurement is generally from the point of forechest to point of buttocks. This difference in the way of measuring could well contribute to the longer length in the loin.
I must admit I was surprised to read in the AKC standard that the length of outer coat ½ to 1½ inch, and this is why many of the American Canaan Dogs have a much shorter coat than the European and Israeli dogs. In Pariahunde, Menzel describes the hair to be “4-5cm long, about 1.6 to 2.0 inches long”. Hair that is ½ inch in length would be like a Dalmatian (my first breed some years ago). With this length of hair there is simply no room for undercoat. The undercoat is very important to the Canaan Dog as it protects them from the harsh elements found in their native environment. During the dry harsh heat of the day it acts as air conditioning, trapping the cool air; while at night in the extreme drops of temperature it retains the air to keep them warm.
Jill Terry