Programs In a Box – ASSA Educational Program

By Jan Leonard, Dorothy Christiansen, Beverly Muhlenhaupt

Discussion on Size and Measuring

Objectives:

a.       To begin a discussion on the reasons for the size disqualification in our Standard.

b.      Acquaint everyone with how a dog should be measured at any stage of life.

c.       Be sure each exhibitor knows how an in ring measurement should be conducted and their rights during the procedure.

Points to Cover:

a.       State the wording in the Standard

b.      State the wording from the Standard from the British Isles (The country of Origin)

  “Ideal height measured at the withers14 inches for bitches, 14 1/2inches for dogs.  Anything more than 1 inch above these heights to be considered a serious fault”

c.       Theories of why the Standard writers felt the need to include a DQ on size.

1.      To retain the moderate size of the breed

2.      AKC wouldn’t allow multiple DQ’s so Size and Brindle color was chosen. Perhaps the writer felt this was the greatest threat to pure breeding of Shelties of moderate size.

3.      Discuss the wide variance of 3 inches – 13-16 inches dogs and bitches vs. the 1 inch accepted variable in England.

4.      Discuss possible reasons the British Standard doesn’t refer to a lesser size

d.      AKC’s Guidelines to Judges states “…do not hesitate to use it (the wicket) when necessary.” “ You are responsible for making a height determination whenever you suspect a dog is not within proper limits as specified in the standard or in the specification of the class.”  The judge is “responsible” for applying this portion of our standard for disqualification. This is a serious part of their job.

e.       Discuss the different means by which judges decide whether they will measure your dog.

1.      Measuring with their hands while evaluating the equal distance of foot to elbow and elbow to top of shoulder.

2.      Marking 16 inches on the ring entrance post.

3.      Knowing where 16 inches is on their pant leg, skirt, knee, length of their arm from elbow to fingertip, etc.

4.      Eyeballing the distance from foot to elbow times 2. If the dog is actually equal and the distance from foot to elbow is 9 inches times 2 = oversize. It must be 8 inches or less time 2 to be 16 or under.

5.      All of the above can also be used to decide to measure if the dog is under 13 inches.

6.      The real point is…if the judge is using these methods to question size…they really should measure. It is in our standard and should be used to evaluate breeding stock.

Activities:

1. Introduce how a judge needs to set and verify an adjustable wicket.
   1. Lay the wicket on a table, loosen the screws, and adjust each leg to the slots corresponding with the height the judge desires to measure the dog for according to the Standard, tighten the screws.  Lift the wicket and push slightly on the legs to be sure the legs are tight and won’t move during the measurement.
   2. Take your measuring tape and measure from the tip of each leg to the bottom cross bar to be sure each leg is set at the desired height. 16 or 13 inches.
   3. Show the wicket to the handler of the dog to assure them and have them verify that it is set at the correct length.
2. Discuss procedure while measuring a demo dog.
   1. The dog must be stacked to the judge’s specifications. The dog should be standing four square with the head in a natural position. Neither pulled up to make the dog measure taller nor encouraged to have the head level or lower than the shoulders with the dog looking down at the table to lower the shoulders.
   2. The dog must be measured where it is normally examined – the table
   3. Be sure the dog is stacked in the middle of the table so both legs of the wicket will impact the tabletop.
   4. The judge may not touch the dog except to find the highest point of the shoulders.
   5. The judge should ask the handler if they are ready prior to approaching the dog and finding the highest point of the shoulder.
   6. The judge may only measure the dog once so be sure you are ready as the first measurement is the one that goes in the judge’s book.
   7. You may brush the hair forward and back to expose the highest point of the shoulder for measuring. Be sure you get it right. If not, the judge will measure where they feel the highest point of the shoulder bone and you can add fractions of inches with excess hair if you try to influence the judge to measure at another place.
   8. The judge will approach the dog. Place their fingers of one hand, usually the left hand, on the highest point of the shoulder. With the right hand the judge will bring the wicket forward over the hind part of the dog till it is above this measuring point, and set it on the shoulders. Some judges will push, some will not. The legs of the wicket must BOTH touch the table at the same time for the dog to measure in at 16 inches. The legs must not touch the table for the dog to measure in at over 13 inches.

Practice:

      Measure 3-4 dogs of size following this procedure so everyone is comfortable with what a judge is supposed to do and what the rights are of the handler and dog. Be sure to measure a small dog.

      If you have a dog of questionable size be sure to practice frequently with that dog so he will stand correctly and get an accurate measurement.

      Record in your notes on judges which ones measure and which ones do it correctly.