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The third most important thing to me is temperament. When I say temperament, it’s not to be shy. I mean that it has the correct breed temperament for that breed. You would have to somewhat be around that breed to know what the correct temperament is.
And the fourth most important thing to me is movement.
Some people may say, or think, that movement is more important than the 3 things I mentioned above because it is a working dog or a hunting dog. Movement is part of breed type but I think the 3 things I mentioned above are more a part of breed type than movement. There are some breed standards that describe movement as part of breed type other than in the description of “Gait”. There are some breeds that movement is not mentioned in their standard. There has always been a controversy of “movement vs. breed type”. Breed type is what makes the breeds different from each other. You should recognize a breed by the silhouette before it ever starts moving.
Places of improvement… The rise in the topline is in the wrong place in some dogs. I like a curvy dog, but I don’t like the curve all in one place. Too short in loin and pasterns too short and straight. When I come up to a dog I am looking for expression. I only need to see ears to make sure they are correct, there is too much emphasis on ears. I’m seeing a lot of dogs that could be a little tighter scissor bite than they are. However the standard gives a lot of leaway giving ¼ inch and in my opinion that is a lot. (Although, I do not have any problem with the standard reading that way) And this is, in my opinion, a lack of underjaw. I see a lot of dogs being borderline too large as well as being borderline too small. I don’t have a problem with that as long as they are balanced, although they are not ideal. Undersize is a disqualification just as much as the oversize whippets. In my opinion the standard could be easier understood if it didn’t say ½ inch either way. However, I will repeat, I do not have a problem with the way the standard is written.
I do not want anyone to read between the lines of anything that I have said. I think sometimes when you write articles that some people take from them more than what is said.
“Editor: I asked Mr. Blake to please name a few whippets that he thought were exceptional
quality”
quality”
