First Place in Special Open Working Dog or Bitch, Judge: Miss Julie Price (Oxcroft)
I would like to thank the Midland Border Terrier Club committee for the opportunity to judge this year’s Joint club show. Many thanks to my two ring stewards Bob and Liz Wright for the smooth running of the ring and the cups of coffee. It was an experience to go over so many dogs of different types; this made my job difficult at times, as each one had different attributes to the next. A few classes I found very hard to decide who my winners would be for this reason. Is the breed getting better or worse? I do not think I am the first to mention that there are too many foreign heads and plain faces with no expression. The breed standard states “a head like that of an otter” and “essentially a working terrier”. Confirmation and movement, I think has improved a little, but the heads and strength of the dogs has declined. When I looked at some of the dogs, I liked them but then had to remind myself that they where dogs not bitches. Thank you to all exhibitors for letting me go over your dogs and the gracious way most of you accepted my decisions.
My first impression of this dog was he is obviously not afraid of the dark and capable of doing a day’s work. Under his good thick jacket is a narrow dog with good lay of shoulders and he is not overdone in any way. Easily spanned, flat ribs of a good length, correct size and weight. He has a good head with a keen expression. A balanced dog, shown in a fit condition. Moved well. Showed himself off better, in the challenge than in his class. DCC & BIS.