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We welcome Judge Chris Neilson to the site for some "ask a judge questions". Chris is a licensed all breed judge and a Bulldog Breeder..
Among his accomplishments and under the kennel prefix Comepatabull Bulldogs, he has shown, bred and handled bulldogs to #1 in Canada,1991,1992,1997,1998,1999,2000
and 2006.
He is also the President of The Confederation Bulldog Club in Ontario as well as President of The Ontario Breeders Association. He has agreed to generously offer to this site views for you all and can offer two opinions to bulldoggers, one as an all breed judge, and one as a Bulldog breeder judge. Chris has judged The New Jersey Bulldog Specialty, The Forth Worth Bulldog Club Specialty, all breed shows in Dallas, Bloomsburg, PA, Lansing, Michigan, Wisconsin, every province in Canada except Newfoundland, Australia including a Bulldog Specialty, and China. So please feel free to ask any serious question you may have. So ask your question as it relates to showing and a judges point of view.
Chris has been at BDW since Feb 2007
Bulldogsworld.com presents
Please feel free to click here and ask your question for the Judge to answer. You will remain fully Anonymous. Check back at a later date to see if your question is posted.
Volume 20- June/July 2009
Back to Bulldogsworld.com - Visit our Show Forum "The Winning Edge" - Visit our General Message forum
Past (archive) issues link at bottom of this page
Q- What is the best type of lead to show the bulldog. I am using a nylon snap choke right now, then went to a learning class and the teacher there said they would never us this type of lead, she had me to use in class an all in one slip choke. What do you prefer?
A- I've always used a 'Martingale' lead. It is a type of choker, but is very gentle on the dogs neck. Steel chokers for Bulldogs are not needed and one other thing. When stacking your bulldog DO NOT LIFT THE DOG BY THE CHOKER.
Not only does this risk the dog's larynx it hurts the dog to and if that doesn't stop you from doing it. Keep in mind a judge seeing you do this will certainly not be impressed.
Q- From a breeders point of view, what type of breeding would you suggest when you start a breeding program with bulldogs, most prefer line breeding and why?
A- We have been breeding bulldogs for over 30 years and have managed to establish a good healthy line. Health Is always the most important. If you are lucky and you continue good breeding practices, the show dogs will soon come. The odd time people have success with their first litter, but unless they really did their homework, this is just luck. Reading bloodlines is very important, and sometimes even when they look good on paper they just don't work out. I am talking here specifically about show puppies.
I always question when a breeder tells me they just had a litter and they're all show dogs. This might be true, but I have always considered getting 2 show dogs in a healthy litter to be a success. I guess you have to ask what you consider a show dog. To us it is having a dog that not only gets his/her championship, but is also good enough to compete in the specials ring. There are 'champions' and then there are 'specials' and there is a big difference in the quality of the two.
We have nearly always line bred, with the occasional outcross. Our line 'Comepatabull', consists of the 'Bredt' line from Philadelphia, the Thunder Bay Line from Detroit area, and the Smasher line from Wisconsin. At the time when we started we could see that the quality was in the U.S. And decided to start our breeding stock from there. There are so many good breeders in the U.S. It is not hard to find one, but you must be careful as sometimes two great bloodlines together do not make a successful show dog. However, as long as the litter is healthy that is the most important, and you can always experiment with a different line until you get success.
Q- I have a 2.5 month old bulldog bitch. I have a couple of concerns. One is that I noticed she has blue eyes. Will this change as she grows older?
A- In all our years of breeding (over 30 years) we have only ever had one dog with a blue eye. No it will not change. We sold the dog as a pet, and of course other than that the dog was gorgeous.
Follow up Q - Also her tail was not docked, its straight with no bends. most often it remains down. however I have noticed it standing (gay tail as Ive seen on the net). Other than that she is one hell of a body.
A- Bulldogs tails should not be docked!!!!!! A straight tail is good if it is spiked and if she holds it down. When standing this is very important. The odd Bulldog with a long tail will probably raise it as she gaits, but if this is the case, you will probably get away with it. However a gay tail held straight up is a serious penalty and although it is not a dq, you will have a very frustrating time gaining points in the show ring.
Follow up Q- What are the chances of showing her in a competition.
A- As I said above, if the tail is gay at all times, your dog's success will be very poor.
Q-I have a bulldog that had cherry eye in both eyes. He is champion sired. I was planning on showing him. He had to have surgery and the eyelids were tacked...is he disqualified from the show ring?
A- No he will not get dq'd in the ring as long as the surgery was done properly and it is not noticeable. Cherry eyes are very common in our breed and have to be dealt with by all of us.
Q- May i ask what if a wry jaw do they have chance with an all breed judge ? I recently saw a wry jaw dog that has won it champion.
A- Yes they have a chance, not only with all rounders but breeder judges as well. It amazes me when I show bulldogs , how few judges want to have a good look at the mouth. Some actually only run their fingers along the bottom teeth and don't even look inside. Of course they should be , but many don't.
Depending on how bad the wry jaw is, you might get away with it, but if the dogs tongue is sticking out the side this is a sure sign of wry jaw. I personnally when I judge open mouths as I do in every other breed at shows.
Q- I have noticed in the ring that the size of the dogs and bitches are most certainly NOT "standard" sized. Isn't it wrong for judges to choose the big dogs over the correct "standard sized" dogs/bitches?
A- Yes it is wrong, but......................size is only one point in the standard. You have to examine the whole dog and weigh each point the positive and negative while you assess the total dog. You are right though by saying most of the dogs are over the standard in weight.
Q- I have been showing by bulldog for a few months now. He wins his class most of the time, but he has never been winners dog. How long do you recommend showing a bully before you know you should stop? I have had many breeders and/or exhibitors say he is a nice boy, and we both enjoy the shows.
A- I wish i knew how old your dog was. If he is winning his class and there are several entered, he must have qualities. However, if he is young and competing against the open dogs, he is at a big disadvantage. I have the feeling your dog is still young and immature. Don't give up.
Q- How serious a fault would it be for a bulldog to have white splotches in the nose in the 6-9 puppy classes? Would it be worth the time and effort to show if the puppy's nose isn't complete by this age group?
A- Ah........the dudley nose. Many dogs have dudley noses as pups but they quickly fill in. Personnally I would not show a pup with a dudley nose, especially an all rounder who doesn't know the breed. A breeder judge might forgive this fault knowing he is still a puppy and likely to fill in.
This said as a judge you are supposed to judge a dog on the day..........and not thinking what he might become. This is the dilemna. I would not have a problem giving a dog like this it's class if it is entered in the puppy class, but I would be reluctant to go further unless the dog was of exceptional quality.
Chris
WE NEED MORE QUESTIONS for the next edition! click link above!
