My Journey    Thailand

Poland

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What I knew first and foremost about Poland was that it is a country rich in history; where Karol Józef Wojtyla (otherwise known as Pope John Paul II) was born, and where acclaimed personalities such as Marie Curie – who was a pioneer in the field of Science – hailed from. However, having traveled eighteen hours for my judging assignment there, I soon came to realize that it is not only, metaphorically speaking, a vast collection of possible knowledge, but also an array of culture, colorful and picturesque, a perfect foundation of a society of civilization, a way of life. Poland had also a lot of dog lovers, be it in the field of an exhibitor or a breeder paved the way for organized dog shows all for one purpose: to nurture a sport solely for the passion of the pure bred dogs. And this is an art close to my very soul.

I was, needless to say, anxious just as much as I was excited, the hint of an adventure beneath my fingertips. I wanted to make the most of my experience, to put into action the years I’d spent perfecting my art. And I was eager with desire because I didn’t know what to expect. Which was why I was pleasantly surprised when I found the exhibitors to be enjoyable and warm, as was the general climate. They portrayed showmanship at its finest. So I must take the time now to congratulate the Polish Kennel Club and thank them for putting on a spectacular event. I was honored to be there to witness it firsthand.

A sincere thank-you goes out to Mr. Jan Gajewski, president of the Polish Kennel Club Warsaw Chapter, for his attention to every small but significant detail and for taking such good care of me, having accommodated me at Novotel Hotel Warszawa; my fellow judges: Magdalena, Andrzej, Viva, Dorota, Millivoje, Stefan, Kot, Danguole, Peter, Rune, Ramune etc for their friendship in making me feel welcome; my two stewards and my interpreter for attending to me and making sure the rings ran smoothly. A special mention goes out to Andrzej Stepinski vice president of the Warsaw Branch of the Polish Kennel Club, Tomasz Kochan, the commentator and Wanda the club secretary. The experience wouldn’t have been complete without you all.

I judged the two largest breed entries in this particular show: the Beagles and the West Highland White Terriers. And not to forget some Skye Terriers and the Australian Silky Terriers for this I was honored and priviledged. To my utter amazement, I was also asked to step in for the Best in Show ring! This was the greatest.

As a beagle breeder, it was a great honor to be selected to judge the breed I love most. Seeing the many beautiful beagles of quality and type, one can immediately figured out that the breeders truly safeguarded this breed of its purpose. And this is also a responsibility that I personally do not take lightly.

I have always believed that to judge a dog, one must take note of its form and function, virtues over faults. I wish to make comment on things I found to be most obvious, and have no intention other than to share what I felt that might develop more for the breeds and for its improvements.

The overall quality of the Beagles that were presented was of a high standard. I would say my main concern was the movement on some of the dogs. I would also like to see better turn of stifles to a well-bent hock. I was, nevertheless, delighted with my lineup in both sexes, as my major winners were in my opinion top-quality dogs their owners should be proud of.

As for the West Highland White Terriers, shoulder placement and front movements were variable in comparison to a generally better conformation and movement of the rear. Quality was good, overall.

The Skye Terriers and the Australian Silky Terriers were particularly interesting. Some of the dogs did not like being inside the ring, because it was rather hot and, of course, this affected their performance. It did however made me feel good to see some dogs, who were on a loose lead and still at pace, a joy to watch.

Now, from the moment I stepped into the ring to judge for Best in Show, I knew that keeping focused on what I believed to be the essential elements in the standard, made finding the quality of a dog rather an easy task. I was looking for a dog that would lure me into his aura, into his totality and identity. Interesting enough, it seemed that all the dogs I chose for best in show 1, 2, 3, 4 based upon their correctness of type, also excelled in soundness on both temperament and movement. These dogs were undeniably pure of quality in form and function. Of course, it goes without saying that the winners were dogs in depth and of beautiful type.

My best in show which was the Scottish Terrier was very compact, fits the standard in every way, long clean head, good deep front, low to ground, back is strong and straight, big powerful quarters, in excellent condition, moved soundly with confidence and his presentation was first class. I would also like to acknowledge the Schipperke for winning best in show 4, the New Foundland for best in show 3, and the Chinese Crested for best in show 2 – undeniably lovely dogs.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express the deepest appreciation to Mr. Bob Dawson and Keven Harris, for the countless hours of unending guidance, for the larger-than-life friendship, and for sharing with me the knowledge and wisdom of a decade ( or even longer than that). I know I have a lot more to learn and experience, but this trip is something I will never forget. I also believe with full conviction that learning is an unending process. It is as much a beginning as it is a climactic point on my journey. And to the Polish Kennel Club, for presenting me with this circumstance to judge all those brilliant dogs, to be reunited with old friends, and to meet many new ones, THANK YOU!

In the spirit of this journey, I was truly blessed for this opportunity and it was indeed an honor. The world is small and we are restricted by infinite boundaries. But if we strive for greatness and the best we can do, we are able to make possible the impossible. I hope I can see you guys again soon.