Volume 3

Volume 3, Issue 3

International Parti Poodle Gazette

July 2007

Te-Awa Tuxedo Partilicious at Rollaxend

SHOWING CONFORMATION PARTIS IN THE U.K.

Author: Juliet Bumstead
Rollaxend Poodles
Suffolk, England

My experience showing a parti-colored Poodle in conformation classes in the United Kingdom has had its highs and lows. Shirly and I have been more successful than I ever dreamed possible, but we have also had many unpleasant challenges from the established solid-color Poodle community.

I imported TeAwa Tuxedo Partilicious (Shirly) from the United States simply because I wanted a parti-colored Standard Poodle – for no other reason. So Shirly would have hobbies, I planned on doing agility and companion shows with her; however, after seeing how nicely she settled in, I decided to also take her to ringcraft classes, mainly to socialize her with other people and dogs.

In ringcraft, people are taught how to handle dogs for the conformation show ring. In ringcraft competitions, the handler is judged on his show handling skills and not on the quality of the dog.

Ringcraft classes were a new experience for Shirly, but she soon overcame her concerns. Because she did so well in ringcraft, and since she turned out to be such a beautiful dog, I decided to enter her in some Kennel Club (K.C.) affiliated conformation shows and blow the consequences. (In the Kennel Club Poodle standard, the parti color is listed as a fault but not a disqualification.) In the beginning, I failed to have adequate information under my belt for judges in case comments arose about her color. I later contacted the U.K. Kennel Club and, much to my surprise, the news has been positive. So far.

Juliet with Shirly in the Any Variety Class.

Our first K.C. affiliated show was the Lowestoft Show. We were entered in Any Variety Not Separately Classified (junior class) under breed judge Julie Warnes of the Myhaven Miniature Poodles affix. I had attended the show with several friends who were showing their Lhasa Apsos. In my class, there was a Bulldog, a Miniature Poodle, a Standard Poodle, a Boston Terrier, a Lhasa Apso, and Shirly – with placements from first to fifth. As there were six of us, I knew Shirly would not place.

Regardless of my being so incredibly nervous, Shirly’s behavior was exemplary: she stacked and showed really well. Of course, I was proven right – she did not place. Later I found out that before I had gone into the ring, the steward was overheard saying to the judge (indicating Shirly), “You DON'T have to go over THAT dog!!!” When the class was over, I thanked the judge for not asking me to leave the ring. She said she never would have done that as Shirly was a lovely dog and had she been a solid color, would have taken the class. I later found out that the Standard Poodle the judge placed in our class had a very iffy temperament and had growled at the judge during her entire examination. So that was sad.

The Isle of Ely Show was our second show. Once Shirly and I arrived inside the venue, I saw a Poodle person who writes a column for one of the dog papers; a little later, I saw a well-known couple who had Poodles. I thought, Ohhh Noooo. Then I thought, Get a grip, woman! What can these people do? Burn me at the stake?

I had entered Shirly in Any Variety Not Separately Classified. This judge was an all-rounder (a judge who has been approved to judge all the recognized groups). While preparing Shirly for the ring, I noticed our judge talking to the above couple. My immediate thought was that they were trying to influence the judge . . . although it was probably just my paranoia.

Several people came up to ask me about Shirly and my other partis. We had caused quite a stir!

My time came to go in the ring. My mouth went completely dry, and I shook from head to toe. I barely managed to show Shirly. Fortunately, my nerves didn’t transfer down the lead since Shirly did just fine. There were four dogs in the class and, naturally, I got fourth place. I didn’t really mind as I expected that result since attitudes about partis in the U.K. are similar to those in the U.S.

I was unable to attend the third show I had entered as Paris, one of my partis, decided it was time to whelp her babies.

Juliet stacking Shirly for the judge.

Our next show was the Great Yarmouth Show. I had entered Shirly in one Poodle class and one Any Variety Utility class, both judged by Gavin Robertson, an all-rounder. Again I was a little nervous, although not so much as previously. It seemed the ice was well and truly broken. However, having said that, I noticed that the Poodle folk in attendance did not look too impressed. Some of them I had known for many years, but only two of them spoke to me. The others chose to ignore us.

When I took Shirly into the ring, she showed perfectly and, to my amazement, placed second (in front of the dog with the iffy temperament from our first show). The judge stuck his neck out and obviously thought a color fault was better than bad temperament – much to the disgust of the Poodle folk. (It’s funny how people forget that videos also record sound.) I then took Shirly in the Any Variety Utility class and was told that my face was “a picture” – but, Shirly took first place! Afterward, when I thanked the judge, he said it was his pleasure – that Shirly was beautiful and was presented to perfection. My heart swelled with pride!

A very lovely evaluation from judge Val Beck.

Next came the Herts and Essex Show. This time Poodle classes were judged by an “A list” Poodle judge. I have to admit I was really, really nervous this time. I had entered Shirly in two classes, junior and graduate. I was up against two other Poodles in our first class, one of whom had recently won Best Puppy in the East Anglian Super Match, a prestigious doggy event in our region. Out of three entries, I was sure we would be placed third. Once the class had been seen and we were stacked waiting for the judge to make her final decision, I was very shaky. To my astonishment the judge gave Shirly first place! I was so stunned, I cried like a baby.

I quickly pulled myself together for the next class. Shirly was up against one other Poodle, an apricot imported from Canada. Once again Shirly placed first. Then it was time to challenge for Best of Breed: Shirley placed Reserve Best of Breed. What a day!! A short time later, Shirly competed in her last class of the day – a Junior Any Variety Utility under a different judge, an all-rounder. Shirly was up against a Tibetan Terrier and won the class then had to challenge for Best Any Variety Utility against a Toy Poodle and a Boston Terrier. She finished the day by winning Best of Variety. What a fantastic day we had!

A few days after the show, I received an email telling me to check out the Standard Poodle Club website forums. Oh, my. What a shock I got! They were talking about Shirly . . . some comments were very unpleasant, to say the least! But, some comments were positive, and some people didn’t care one way or the other.

Our next show was the Dunstable Show. I entered Shirly in Any Variety Not Separately Classified Utility under an all-rounder judge. There were five dogs in the class and Shirly went fifth out of five dogs. As I walked to my fifth place station in the ring, the judge apologized to me. Strange, I thought, they don’t usually do that. Four dogs were entered in our next class: Shirly placed second. We had a lot of attention that day . . . all very positive.

Our conformation placings came to light in the dog press, and my friends kept saying, “Oh, you’re becoming famous!” “Hmmmmm,” I replied, “infamous is more like it.” At least it was out in the open now. Accordingly, I have responded to all that has been said in the dog press to date.

Our next show was the Chelmsford Show. I entered Shirly in Any Variety Not Separately Classified – again, under an all-rounder judge. She was up against only one other dog – the same dog who had placed third behind her at the Herts show. The owner was very gracious about having been beaten by a parti color and congratulated me – which I thought was very nice of her . . . especially since she had probably read all the stuff recently printed in the dog press. Shirly came in second that day.

Shirly stacked

Just before I went into the ring, a lady and her daughter came over to tell me how much they admired Shirly. The daughter, Rebecca, was showing in Junior Handling that day; however, the dog she had arranged to handle had not turned up for the show. I told her that if she wanted to, she could handle Shirly.

As soon as Shirly and I came out of the ring, Rebecca whisked her away. I quickly got my video camera and filmed their class . . . which they won, and then they went on to challenge for Best Junior Handler and won that also. Rebecca was very excited and asked if I would take a snapshot of her with Shirly for her portfolio. As I left to get my camera, I noticed that a well known poodle person had stopped to talk to Rebecca. (He was judging dogs that day, but not Poodles.) When I returned, Rebecca was very upset. She said he had verbally abused her about showing a parti-colored Poodle. He had also gone to the Junior Handler judge and complained. The judge told him that she didn’t care what color the dog was as she was not judging dogs, she was judging junior handlers. By the time I returned, he had come back to Rebecca and was berating her again. I made it very clear to him that Shirly was my dog, not Rebecca’s, and we had a rather heated discussion . . . well, his part was heated. I kept very cool and calm. No one was going to accuse me of getting stroppy!

Our most recent show was the Southend and Essex Show. There were several Standard Poodles entered in the graduate Poodle class, but I was the only one present. As I entered the ring, I saw Judge Sheila Gunn and the steward staring at Shirly and whispering. Ut Oh, I thought. But, the judge only said, “Take her around.” I gaited Shirly around the ring and she moved beautifully. The judge went over Shirly then she told me to move her again after which she reluctantly gave Shirly the red card and rosette for first place. As she wrote her critique, she said to me, “Really sound dog, good mover, lovely teeth . . . but, her color! You DO know . . . ?” I said, “Oh, yes.”

Shirly stands so nice for the judge to examine her.

For Best of Breed, Shirly was the only Poodle entered and again the judge and steward stared and whispered. Then the judge swaggered over to me with the Best of Breed rosette. She said, “The Kennel Club states that I HAVE to award a Best of Breed, otherwise you wouldn’t get it. You’ve really put me on the spot.” I said, “No, I haven’t. The breed standard currently states that the parti color is a fault, just as an upright shoulder or an undershot jaw is, but it is not a disqualification.” She said, “There’s a lot of controversy about that at the moment.” I realized that she didn’t know it was me who had caused the controversy. She then said, “If the other Poodles can’t be bothered to turn up, that’s a shame, but if they had, you wouldn’t have placed.” She went on to say, “You do know the correct head markings for a parti color is a white muzzle and blaze going up into the topknot.” I replied, “Well, actually there is no Kennel Club breed pattern for partis because they have never been recognized.”

We were also entered in an Any Variety Utility class, but I decided to withdraw as I thought it was more important for Shirly to be seen in the big ring for Best in Show. It wasn’t based on the Group System so all the breeds were in together. It seemed to take forever for Judge Carlos Saevich to go over all the dogs, and I was VERY nervous. But, Shirly didn’t let me down. After the judge had seen all the dogs, he pulled Shirly for his short list. I was thrilled! It certainly made up for the unkind comments of the previous judge.

Shirly is a most exceptional dog! The following day, I went to a companion show which was Kennel Club licensed. I entered her in the Pedigree class which she won and later went on to win Reserve Best in Show!

All in all, considering the circumstances, it hasn’t been too awful an experience showing a parti against solids in the U.K. I will continue showing Shirly until such time as the Kennel Club tells me I can’t.

SHOWING CONFORMATION PARTIS IN THE U.K.

Author: Juliet Bumstead Rollaxend Poodles Suffolk, England

Author: Juliet Bumstead
Rollaxend Poodles
Suffolk, England