When the S.C.C (French Kennel
Club) changed the C.A.C. (Aptitude Certificate to
Championship) into C.A.C.S. (Aptitude Certificate to
Standard Conformity ), they took a real wise and
courageous stand which no doubt must have delighted every
true dog-lover.
This decision probably came after the beginning drift in
judgements which favourised brio of presentation to the
prejudice of standard conformity. I cannot tell whether,
for any of you, this new attribution of the C.A.C.S.
allowed preserving the authenticity of most breeds, at
any rate, I hope this was so, but, in so far as the breed
which I have particularly at heart, is concerned the
Lhasa Apso, I fear this was no more than wishful
thinking.
Otherwise, how could you understand that in a breed whose
ideal size should be 25,5 cm for males (females being
sligntly smaller) champions measuring 30 and 32 cm have
been crowned whose progeny sometimes happened to be
refused confirmation owing to their too large size !
One
cannot help wondering how it has been possible with the
same standard to judge dogs as dissimilar as the Lhasa
Apso as we first knew them and the present <<modern
Lhasa>>.
What has become of the breeders who are lucky enough to
own dogs of the first and beautiful stock.
None of them are ever, or hardly ever, seen in the rings.
In the last French Championship on 6th June 1997 there
was not one to be seen.
Breed Pioneers in
Europe |
The great pity is that they left
place for the new ones, for they had not realised what a
unique genetic potential they had in hand of priceless
value nowadays seeing it has practically disappeared
Those of you who still own dogs of this type dating back
to the former Hamilton and Anapurna stocks should have
the courage to come back and should not allow today's
stars to impress them, for very soon, quite certainly
they will be needed.
Annapurnas LA
1962 Annapurnas |
The S.C.C. ought already to make
it compulsary for posters of the standard to be billed up
in the rings. This would remind every one that a value of
the breed doesn't lie in the dog's grooming and the way
in which it is presented but in the respect of the
characteristics with which nature has endowed it.
Exhibitions should not be confused with shows
(spectacles). Of course, nature must be helped but it
must not be distorted? Unfortunately this is what
happened with the Lhasa Apso. Every thing has been
altered; its morphology, its gaits, its fur, its attitude
and even its colours.
Original vs American
type |
Regarding the morphology, size is
not the only problem; the general bearing of the dog is
different with a very highfront leg prolonging a long
neck. Either they are very heavily boned and their weight
is about 9 or 10 kg. or else, they are no substance. In
either case their outrageously long-haired fur brides
their defects.
Their gait with back paws lifted high up to show the pads
is not an Apso feature
As to the fur, cosmetics may do all kinds of things but
they can't give back goat hair!
Where are the lovely black ear fringes, where are the
black beards and moustaches? They are still to be seen,
though very rarely, on certain shaded grey dogs. On the
other hand, one sees lots of a pale apricot colour
vaguely similar to that of certain american cockers.
How can such a change have occured whithin the last few
years?
1 - Lack of rigour with regard to the standard and, in
certain countries, non respect of the standard.
2 - Exaggerated selection in view of obtaining a more
spectacular type of << show dog >>. This
unavoidably leading to degeneration due to the many
qualities lost on the way.
3 - Mixing with different breeds in order to obtain the
desired type. Whatever the reason and perhaps all three
at once, there is no cause for rejoycing.
American type |
As to the exhibitions, which ought
to be presentations and not spectacles, much would be
gained by being somewhat more natural.
Do away with the leashes which stretch the cervical
vertebrae almost strangling the dog to make him fly and
to give him the so called elegance of a lovely neck;
instead use supple leashes which allow the dog to be
lively and to walk naturally.
As o the stand position (campé) so much in demand
nowadays, I'll leave the floor to Dr LUQUET :`
<< A number of exhibitions presents their dogs
'campés' on their hind quarters whereas the front legs
retain their normal balance. When they say that in such a
position the dog is 'well placed' they are mistaken in
this connection >>
The best way to express our opinion is to quote what
Professor BRESSON has written << this leads us to
regret the manner (of anglo-saxon origine) in which too
many dogs are presented in the rings, their hind legs
exaggeratedly pulled backwards, extension rearwards, the
top directed upwards, this artificial position being
further accentuated by the owner who places one hand
under the chin and the other at the bend of the knees;
such being a current practice in the American
exhibitions. The silhouette thus obtained may be elegant,
pleasant to the eye; it is conventional, illogical and
makes it impossible to issue a reasonable judgment. It
prevents the conformation and the balance of the dog.
>>
Mlle duPont and Suzy
Solidor at an early 'exhibition' |
I also wish to add the following
excerpt from one of Professor QUENNEC's articles <<
for exhibitions, the tenet advocates hand presentation
which allows hiding any anatomic defects. The attitude
described in resting on the from legs, head up and hind
quarters down. This gives the animal plenty of brio but
such an attitude is one of aggresive threat often
associated with hidden fear. In the U.S.A Humphrey and
Warner followed by many other authors, find strong
negative correlation between a balanced temperament and
vistories in exhibitions >>
I leave to each one of you to meditate on the opinions of
the men of science, who knwo, far better than mere
dog-lovers what corresponds to animal's morphology. If
only we would listen to them !
All
of us, such as we are judges, breeders, amateurs, we all
share in the responsability of maintaining the species.
It is our duty to preserve them, to respect them and not
to modify them according to our tastes, our fancies, our
vanities and our insterests. They are not our slaves, but
living beings to whom we owe protection.
If man with his unconcious, has allowed 2 500 species of
animals and plants to disappear within the five last
years, in so far as I am concerned this very ancient and
beautiful breed, heritage of Tibetan culture must retain
every characteristic which tradition has maintained
untouched for over a thousand years in its country of
origine.
Dolma-the eyes of a
true Lhasa Apso
Mais où sont les neiges d' antan ??
But where are the snows of yester years??
Y. de ZAROBE |
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