Page 34 - ShowSight Presents The Miniature Schnauzer

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER
QUESTIONS
JOHN
CONSTANTINE
ADAMIS
BIO
John first became involved in dogs when he was a teenager in the 1970s, working several dogs through to their Obedience titles. In 1979, John purchased his first Miniature Schnauzer. During
the 1980s he apprenticed under Schnauzer handlers, Sue Baines and Jackie Hicks (Irrenhaus). During that time he developed his Schnauzer line based on the Irrenhaus dogs. John developed
his Brussels Griffon line based on a black smooth French import combined with the American Norkus, Cana-
dian Lorricbrook and UK Marquant lines. John became involved in Boston Terriers through his partner, Lloyd Amodei and has been enthusiastically breeding and exhibiting Boston since then.
While maintaining a full-time job, John has been breed- ing Schnauzers and Brussels Griffons for over 35 years. Over those years, he bred over 125 champions, including group and Best in Show winners and handled over 150 champions. He bred the top Miniature Schnauzer in Unit- ed Kingdom in 2003 and the first duel US/UK Champion. He has judged the American Brussels Griffon Association National Specialty and the American Miniature Schnauzer Club’s National Specialty twice. John has judged many Regional Specialties in the US and National Specialties
in Japan, China, Finland, the Czech Republic, Canada, Denmark and Argentina. He is presently approved to judge the Terrier Group, half of the Working Group, Toy Manchester Terriers, Min Pins, Brussels Griffons and of course, Boston Terriers, as well as Best in Show.
1. Where do you live? What do you do outside of dogs?
I live just outside of Philadelphia, PA. I work as an
IT Manager.
2. Number of years owning, showing and/or
judging dogs?
I started in Obedience in 1975 and got my first Miniature Schnauzer in 1979. I have been judging since 2003.
3. Describe your breed in three words:
Robust, devoted and docked.
4. What traits, if any, are becoming exaggerated?
We do have a tendency towards exaggerating rear angula- tion. We can tend to be overly refined, we need tone a robust sturdy breed. We need to be careful we do lose length of leg.
5. What are your “must have” traits in this breed? What shortcomings are you willing to forgive?
I must have the classic outline of arched neck, smooth transition, solid top line with highest tail. I must also have a docked tail (in the US). I certainly forgive less than perfect color.
6. While judging, do you see any trends you’d like to see continued or stopped?
In recent years, I have seen more attention to the need for Miniature Schnauzers to have adequate forechest, with this it improves the overall front assembly seems to be giving us better movement. This is a very good thing and should continue. I am seeing tendency towards being low on leg. I think we need to be very aware of this.
7. What, if any, are the traits breeders should
focus on preserving?
In this breed and all breeds, we see many terrible fronts, such as upright shoulders, shortened upper arms, rotated assemblies. In this breed specifically, we need to focus on size. We do have a disqualification, but breeders and handlers need to respect this and not show dogs that
are oversized.
8. Has the breed improved from when you
started judging?
I think in general they are. I think breeders/exhibitors are focusing much more on the actual structure of the dogs and not how it looks all groomed and pretty. I think breeders are better educated now. Some of this may
be because of social media. We can now see dogs from all over the world on a daily basis. I think we have (I certainly have) learned from seeing dogs in places where emphasis is placed on different traits.
9. Are there aspects of the breed not in the standard that you nonetheless take into consideration because breeders consider them important?
I don’t think so. I think our standard is pretty good and covers most all we need.
10. Can Judges Education on this breed be improved?
I think more hands-on and actual “tests” using dogs is the
best way to learn a new breed.
11. Do you have anything else to share?
Finally, we need to remember that this is a docked breed in the US. A dog must be severely penalized if not docked. We do not consider an undocked tail to be a “fault”, but it is an incorrect presentation of a Miniature Schnauzer. It is analogous to an adult Poodle shown in a puppy clip.
262 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2015