Judge’s Comments
2020 BCA Virtual Sweeps
I’d like to thank you all for the opportunity to be part of your Barbet Club of America Virtual Sweepstakes. I’ve done some virtual judging before and it comes with a unique set of challenges, especially in a coated breed. Obviously, there is so much more I’d want to feel and see in motion. And while it should never be a photo contest, it can be difficult for every photo to show the dogs virtues. Some can even give an impression of faults that may not be there. But as they say, you judge them on the day. In this case you judge them on the day in four split-second images frozen in time. The offsetting benefit is that you have the time, far more than the typical two minutes per dog you get in the show ring. I can tell you that I spent a whole lot more time than that and enjoyed every second. And why not? They are a beautiful breed!
The entry was very nice, lots of quality, easy to find virtues in every one of them. When I approach any breed, I first focus on the whole dog, the make and shape, the outline, and I do so from a functional perspective. I then move to the parts that make it unlike any other breed, the essentials that contribute to breed type, the ones that set the breed apart. For me, in Barbets, heads and coats are those keys. Of course, the pieces don’t mean as much unless they are in harmony with the rest of the dog. Balance is key.
The standard allows for two subtle variances that make perfect sense to me. The first is regarding the tightness of large curls from loose to tight. I had both ends of that spectrum, all correct and functional. Also, the body proportions of being off-square, but with balance taking priority, allows more emphasis on balance without abandoning the premise of off-square. In photographs, coat length can make proportions, especially leg length, difficult to see but looking at the overall shape helps see through that as best as possible.
I was quite impressed by the quality of the heads. As heads are of great importance to the breed, they were of importance to me. I was looking for broad and rounded skulls and there were plenty to choose from. In all sporting breeds, large nostril openings are functional necessities and I had plenty of exemplary examples. I saw many bright and engaging expressions as well. Shorter and “quite square” muzzles are important to me as they help set apart from other gundog breeds. When skull shape, ears, ear-set, eyes and expression were fairly equal, the muzzle length and squared shape became even more important in my decision making.
Fronts and rears were good, some were just being puppies. One or two particularly lovely pups appeared weaker in rear than I’d prefer but it could simply have been the photos or way they were standing. I had to resist the temptation to place them as I thought they’d look in person in order to stick to the format. I also would have loved to shift the fronts legs more under the body on some but at least in those cases I could look for the withers and the entire visible front assembly to determine if they were naturally set under correctly.
It’s easy for a judge to say they had close calls, but in this case, I absolutely did in nearly every class. I had quite the struggle between the 6-9 bitch and the eventual winner which in my opinion are both beautiful examples of the breed with promise for a bright future. A different photo angle on the side view of the 6-9 bitch winner would have facilitated better assessment of some of her profile virtues; regardless, it was easy to see she has so much to like in so many regards. There were similar close calls in dogs with pleasant quality in both genders.
The Best In Sweepstakes bitch has a beautiful coat of long, tight curls that should handle any weather. Her muzzle and skull are in lovely proportion for the breed, ears set on beautifully, and her entire outline is a graceful series of proper curves. Her neck flows well into her shoulders and solid back, a level topline with beautiful slightly arched loin that continues into a naturally rounded croup finishing with a correct tail. There isn’t a single spot on any part of her silhouette that interrupts your eye. She is particularly strong behind with well let-down hocks resulting in short, parallel, rear pasterns.
The opposite sex winner was another pleasure to see, also full of correct breed features. In the front and rear photos, he and the bitch excelled with strong parallel legs; I assume they would be among the most sound coming and going as a result. Both have the appearance of dogs with the potential to proudly represent the breed in the ring and in a good breeding program.
While there was only one veteran, he was just beautiful. Gorgeous silhouette, superb coat, chock full of breed virtues; he sure filled my eye.
The BarBabies competition was like asking to choose my favorite child! They were all winners, every single one. Those faces! Such wonderful expressions. I seriously spent way too much time with those photos just because I wanted to. It seriously could have been anyone’s win. I showed my wife and kids some of the baby pics afterwards and everyone, understandably, had a different favorite. Just too darn cute!
Thank you again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Wishing you all the best with your breed - congratulations on becoming a great new addition to the AKC Sporting Group.