JUDGING THE NEWFOUNDLAND
The following excerpts from the standard work "This is the Newfoundland" were written by the late Mr. & Mrs. Major B. Godsol.
"Remember that type, balance, and general appearance are of the utmost importance. As a breeder, shun those faults that are hard to breed out. As a judge, remember that any dog can gait soundly, but no matter how well he moves, unless he looks like a Newfoundland, he is not typical of the breed. Type is the embodiment of a Standard’s essentials."
"It does not matter whether you are an official in the ring, an interested spectator, or just appraising dogs in your own kennel, judging dogs is an art based on observation. One can read a Standard and quote it verbatim, but that does not enable one to have the proper mental picture of an ideal Newfoundland."
"To appraise dogs correctly, one must possess the basic principles that underlie all good judging:
1. A clearly defined ideal in mind.
2. Power of accurate observation.
3. Sound judgment, which includes the ability to make a logical analysis and to evaluate the good and poor qualities in terms of a sound breeding program."
"Remember, no dog is perfect. He can score well on individual points and still not be balanced. It is good for a novice to learn the parts of a Newfoundland and the relative values attached to each part. However, the animal must be considered as a whole and not as a large number of separate parts in the final analysis."
"We put much emphasis on condition and handling in the show ring in America today. To be sure, fine conditioning and good handling of dogs are things we all like to see at shows. Judging at each show, in this country, is by comparison only with other dogs entered and present at that particular show. When it comes to judging an individual dog, only the degree in which he measures up to his breed Standard counts. In other words, all the grooming and skillful handling cannot change a mediocre dog into a top one, nor are beauty treatments transmitted."
"Finally, remember you are dealing with living things whose fate is in your keeping. The responsibility for the welfare of Newfoundlands as well as the future of the breed is yours."
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