You can't see them, you can barely find them. Sound
familiar? Dew
claws are a hallmark of the Briard and it is the
responsibility of every judge
to make the effort. Think of it as a bend and stretch
exercise, part
of a healthy heart regimen.
The AKC Standard for the Briard lists 8
disqualifications. We would
like to draw your attention to a few that are
sometimes overlooked
during the course of a show. The most often
overlooked, and the
omission most easily noticed by handlers and
spectators, is the dew claws.
This omission brings us the most complaints.
While the standard requires two dew claws on each hind
leg it is not
unusual to find three dew claws on one or both legs,
hence the wording,
"less than two dew claws on each rear leg". When the
dew claws are very
low on the leg it may be advantageous to run the hand
from the ground up
rather than from the hock down to more easily find
them.
An item that seems to be causing confusion is the
admonition against a
white spot on the chest exceeding one inch in
diameter. All three colors
black, tawny and grey may carry a small white mark on
the chest. It is
perfectly acceptable so long as the mark does not
exceed one inch in
diameter at the skin. The length of the white hair is
not the criterion.
In the tawny Briard the confusion seems to extend even
further. Some
tawny dogs, especially young ones, have cream-colored
hair on the throat.
Cream is not white. Think Westies, think Bichons.
That's white.
With more gray and/or blue Briards being seen today
the judge must
be exceedingly careful in evaluating the color of the
nose. The
standard clearly disqualifies any color other than
black .
Though it's not necessary to distinguish between the
blue and the
gray by looking at the coat color, it is important to
look at the
color of the nose. The blue Briard carries the same
dilution factor
as the blue Dane or the blue Dobe. If the nose of the
Briard is
gray, however dark, it must be disqualified. When in
doubt compare
the nose color with a black or tawny dog.
Last but not least is the height disqualification.
Occasionally in
the puppy classes one sees a dog whose height is
questionable.
Briard puppies are cute and several go on to win the
points. Others
may be left at the end of the line because of the
judge's indecision
about the height of the dog. We understand your time
constraints, but if
you are in doubt you must call for the wicket.
Disqualifying faults are
the price we pay for seeking perfection in our breed.
We breeders and
exhibitors must live with them. You as judges have an
obligation to abide
by them. To do anything less does a disservice to us
and to your
reputation.
