judging Great Dane colour show

In 2009 when I received an invitation to judge the Mid-Swedish Great Dane Club unofficial colour show in Lövudden in August 2010, I found it difficult to believe. Actually I was not sure of the fact until the moment my ring stewart called in the first exhibitors – fawn male puppies – that this was real.

Yes, I am not an official licenced judge and there are various reasons why I don't want (any more) to become one – though one should never say never. However, I have passed the judging courses and been a student judge (twice in Sweden actually), though many years ago, and I have tried to keep in touch with the developments in the Great Dane scene around the world: during my work-related trips I have met (and chatted) with Dane breeders, visited shows and done ringside judging (by filling the catalogues with descriptions or remarks) from Scandinavia to Great Britain, USA and Australia. Perhaps that was the reason I was asked – and it is a great honour.

In Sweden Danes at official shows are still (until 2012) judged in one group undivided into colour groups. This keeps the level high and won't allow for any compromises on the basis of colour alone. Thus Swedish Champion Danes have had to pass more intense competition than their neighbours in Finland or other European countries. Colour shows, therefore, give an opportunity to compete within one colour: classes are like at official shows, but each colour is separate. And as it is show, no quality marks are given, the dogs are placed and given an honorary prize if the judge considers them excellent specimen of the breed. There are also place rosettes, a multitude of travelling cups and trophies for the best and best opposites in age groups. The first part of the show ends when a best puppy, veteran and adult of both sexes have chosen for the evening best in show gala. A pause of couple of hours allows for a rest and chance to dress up: for the gala each participant as well as ring stewards have smartened themselves. And then it starts – the most difficult part of the show since it is the competition of the best. First the best puppy, veteran or adult of each coluir is chosen who then compete for the Best In Show. And it is difficult, for the superiority can be defined in details and depends on personal preference in the interpretation of the standard.

After a long while I had an a chance to experience the difference of inside and outside the ring judging. The judge can look into the mouth of the dog (and what s/he sees is not seen by those outside), touches the dog and can get a sense of the dog's feelings (uncertainty, confidence, friendliness, indifference, etc.) to the extent that can be unnoticed by those near by. It is easy to evaluate a silouette or a picture, but much more difficult to judge the movement as we often don't see from aside what the judge sees form his/her angle. Side movement (that can be seen well from outside) gives information about topline (and possible problems in that area that could be missed or seem unimportant when the dog is standing) of drive and length of step. Hind movement offers a view not only of the parallel (or its lack), but of other interesting things. One dog at the show had a very wide and paddling hind movement which made the hind movement very inefficient and unbalanced (since the front movement was opkay). Also turned oput elbows are quite visible from behind. Front view gives information about tenseness in the shoulder area, looseness in elbows or softness in pasterns. Some dogs with good fronts may still pin in or tunr elobows strongly out in front which in the long run means inefficient movement and uneven wearing of the joints, ligaments and tendons leading to traumas. A dog moving in balance and steadiness doesn't move in a startlingly stunning way – the movement is rather characterised by stability and firmness (an honest mover, would say a Golden Retriever person). Often – and this is quite common in Danes – the natural movement of dogs is ruined by pulling the head up for show effect, making dogs move hackney with raising the legs high up. Well, show me a sportsman who would run in a totally vertical position, shifting the gravity backwards. Or running with pulling the knees up! Yes, movement is very important criteria for me in judging and one of the reasons I was quite sparing with honorary prizes. (I take it for granted that a Great Dane looks like a Great Dane, that is a typical specimen of the breed.)

Thus when in two minds about the placings I asked the dogs run side by side forth and back. In most cases that was decisive. Though in fawn champions I still would have placed both [Ch Grand Fawn's Khalfahni and Ch Owlwatch Summer In Sweden] first! The decisive factor was expression (not head, but expression) – in my opinion Great Danes should have a gentle expression and the dog who won (the first mentioned) was closer to that criteria. But both were excellent dogs. My ring secretary mentioned that by my critique she though I would like the second dog more – and i truth I did like him more (he had also fantastic deep gold colour!) but judging dogs is not a matter of liking for me but how close is the given specimen to the ideal described in the standard. Or when I had to evaluate two beautiful puppy groups in a breeder's class (black-harl [Nordic Giant] and fawn [Ganteus]) the I liked the black-harl group more – I know how difficult it is to get this group of nice colour and good body. But at that particular day the fawn group was better (they were older as well: 7 months versus the other's 4) – their movement was more stable and correct whereas that day two of the harlequin puppies tended to turn the left hindleg in when moving, and that made the fawn winners.

When in the ring – also as a steward – I want all dogs do well. I don't mean good grade (what do dogs know of this, its more for the owners), but that the dog would feel happy in the ring and would show its best aspects to all. That the charm of each dog would come out despite all its possible shortcoming as a breed specimen. This does not happen often due to the inexperience, tiredness, nervousness of the owner or the dog, and I feel always sorry for them. Many of dogs I went over won my heart and I know I will follow their careers via the internet in the future.

The final was hard. During the pre-gala pause I was getting over the dogs in my mind. Many had left a strong impression, some needed more reflection. And I know it will be a tough decision and quite dependent on how the dogs would show themselves in the finals – how well they and their handlers would be able to bring out in the ring and overcome their tiredness or nervous tension. Again I was in a situation where I would have liked to place more than one dog on the top pedestal, but the rules of the games won't allow! All the puppies of the respective colours (blue missing) were worth the first prize. And in the end it was the movement that made the placement (the brindle puppy was too eager to play and thus jumping and not running). But in other situation, on another day the order could have been different.

BIS 1 puppy: fawn Ganteus Il Ragazzo Sesto Tesoro; (best fawn bitch puppy was Ganteus La Ragazza Sesto Lucido),

BIS 2 puppy: harlequin bitch Nordic Giant's Elegant Gangster (best harlequin male puppy was Great Bel's Eastman);

BIS 3 puppy: brindle male Pine Graden's Diamond Duke;

BIS 4 puppy: black bitch Nordic Giant's Enter The Show (litter sister of the harl).

The veterans turned out to be a hard nut since both were beautiful 9-year-old ladies in whom feminine elegance combined well with the breed characteristic power. I observed them with admiration and respect and would have loved to place both first. But the brindle [Liebe Doggen Fifty Fifty Special] was slightly pinning in front whereas the harl [Ch Kingsize Modesty Blaize] moved as the textbook prescribes – faultlessly. I was much moved by the good sportman's spirit of the brindle's owner since she hugged the winner as if the victory had been hers! (Goodwill to the competitors was really touching – the black and harl puppies were encouraged by „Heia Norge! Heia Norge!“ not by the Norwegians but by the Swdes; and when the dogs were moved around for placement decision the audience was clapping enthusiasticly – acting on the veteran brindle as an energy shot.)

And then the BIS. Until the very end I was not totally sure in the winner (I certainly knew what I liked, but as I said, liking is not an issue for me in this question), the differences were minor. Finally the steadiness and dignity of the harlequin bitch's (also my best veteran's) movement and presence, the quintesence of Great Dane – elegance and power without any exaggeration into either direction – won. Whatever one would think – that movement, that presence made it for me and I wish there were more of such movers and creatures among Great Danes. Not just because it is beautiful (though that as well), but because this movement and condition ensure durability and good health.

BIS 1 (and BIS Veteran) harlequin bitch Ch Kingsize Modesty Blaize (best harl male Ch Speardane's Castillo De Gredos);

BIS 2 fawn bitch Maxidan's Her Choice (best fawmn male Ch Grand Fawn's Khalfahni)

BIS 3 blue bitch Boarhunters Yakita (best blue male Grandelux Big Blue Diamond)

BIS 4 brindle male Ch Ganteus La Ragazza Secondo Selvagio (best brindle female was BIS-2 veteran Liebe Doggen Fifty Fifty Special)

BIS 5 black male Grandisons Grand Slam (best black bitch was Galanthus Evolution of Choice)

I am deeply indebted to my ring stewards – two elderly ladies Bibbi Thunell and Maud Lundwall who had done this work at these Dane shows for 20 years! Whenever I had some doubts abouit the procedural rules they immediately solved it, added by their sense of humour and goodwill towards each partcipant – to support them the way they could, guarantee that everyone present comes into the ring on time – making judging a smooth process!

After the end of the show I could finally speak with the owners/handlers of the competitors. It was very touching when people thanked me and kind words were said not only by the winners' people but even those whose dogs did reach the top honours. And the kidn words of the organisers. And the gala dinner that was spiced with speeches (hard for me to follow because of my non-existing Swedish) and common singning.

Next day was dedicated for the official certificate show and I could have a day of regular show attender: chat by the ringside, observe what the judge Warren Benort from the USA was doing, evaluate the dogs from outside the ring (many were different and there were quite a few more). Another judge, different placings – making dog showing an exciting hobby. Different judges value different things: I was emphasising movement (and temperament), but others may consider some other aspect important and places the dogs of his value criteria. What is important is that the choice criteria could be followed in show critiques and by their readinhg one could understand what the judge was seeing and valuing. In many countires breed clubs issue books containing critiques from all the shows – a perfect study material for breeders, owners and forthcoming (as well as existing) judges.

My sincerest thanks to the organisors and of course all the exhibitors. I began to miss a Great Dane in my life!