WORLD

BREEDERS
 

  
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LYTHWOOD AT PRESENT ... continuing

Ch Lythwood Sindy Lou

"In England at the moment, a few exhibitors (who do quite well) have started running their dogs to hid the rear movement. I hope this does not catch on and judges are strong enough to stop this latest craze as I feel you can only assess movement when you can see the placement of their feet. I personally would like to see a measure used, as our Standard says, an inch above or an inch below is permissible, but I will point out, there are very few male dogs and bitches of ideal size being made up in England. In some cases, when it comes to the challenge for Best of Breed, the Bitches are stronger and bigger than the dogs!"
HEALTH


Derek sometimes thinks that people can go overboard on trying to breed the perfect healthy dog. You can have tests now for so many ailments. Derek: "This is a good thing up to a point and breeders should consider how far to go. As a stockman of good experience can tell so many things that are prominent in various breeds. We have almost forgotten PRA which certainly does affect the livelihood of the dog and Hip Dysplasia which causes the dog pain. But we can not get humans right, so how does one expect to get the perfect dog. But all the aspects should be taken into consideration when breeding."
 
A Lythwood puppy
AMERICAN INFLUENCE

Asking Derek Rigby for his opinion on the American influence in the breed today he is very explicit. Derek: "What people do not understand, by mixing the American and the English lines together, although you might import a smaller American dog, it has got the genes of a much bigger and stronger animal, which means that in time, it will change the elegant dog, which we like so much into a much stronger and bigger animal. On viewing the American lines, I am convinced that there are more dogs in America, than the rest of the world put together, so if we are not careful, the appearance of the Shetland Sheepdog will be changed forever.
 

Ch Lythwood Secret Dreams		 As I said at the World Conference in England, the American’s showed us photographs of dogs which had sired one hundred and forty-seven champions, and that is just one dog, so it must be much easier to make up a dog in that country. As I have already said, there are horses for courses and if we wanted a horse to pull a cart, we would have a carthorse, but I think we want an animal of speed and elegance, so I refer to it as a racehorse. As I think breeders today, should think very seriously of incorporating these two completely different types into their breeding programme.

The problem we have got today, the world has been made so small with flying, that Judges from America (All Rounders) expect to see the strong heavy large dogs they see in their home countries." 
JUDGING


Phyllis and Derek both had the opportunity to judge at Crufts and Derek has judged at eight out of nine Club championship shows. Derek Rigby's first judging appointment was in 1968 when he took over the entry for a great friend and helper with rabbits and dogs, Cyril Stanley, who unfortunately was unable to judge the show. This show was one of the lowest levels of show, which is a Sanction Show. His first championship show was in 1973 at Birmingham City. Derek has  given CCs in England on twenty-five occasions and judged in all the Scandinavian countries, as well as Australia and Germany. He also judges rough collies with Ccs and smooth collies.
Derek: "The main thing when judging abroad, I always consider are they adhering to the Standard of Origin i.e. The British Standard. The overall symmetrical picture of the dog is most important, as one part perfectly compensates another. Head and expression is very important, this is a combination of size and shape of eye, rounded muzzle and nicely placed ears. I always think of a Sheltie’s head from the front is like a traffic cone gradually increasing towards the ears. The relationship to height and length of body is also very important.
Derek Tigby judging collies
Length of tail is an important feature as, on a predator this helps with balance when turning and twisting.

When I was judging in Australia, at the spectacular show, before judging in my pre-talk, I said I did not want any of the exhibitors running around the ring, placing the dogs feet and holding the ears up with a slip lead, as many of them are accustomed to doing. I must say, that the exhibitors were the best behaved that I have ever judged abroad."