Page 9 - ShowSight Presents The Basset Hound

248 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2018
All good type but shades of different styles.
moderate stop. The dewlap is pronounced. Eyes are dark, with prominent haw. Prom- inent haw does not mean gaping droop to the eyelid, hazardous to a hunter. Ear are long, velvety, low set and turning slightly inward for funneling/stirring up scent. High set flat ears is a serious fault, the only serious fault not related to movement as defined in the standard but one related to function. Although the head displays important elements of breed type, we do not want undue emphasis placed here as we are not a head breed.
SIZE, BONE AND LENGTH OF LEG
Some Bassets may have more bone or weight than others; some may be taller than others. Length of leg, ears, and body can all vary, but remain cor- rect within the breed standard. It is up to the judge to determine if each hound meets the breed standard.
Regarding size, the standard says sim- ply, “More bone, size considered, than any other breed.” Many breeders, exhibitors and judges find this statement confusing. Perhaps a reasonable way to interpret the statement would be to consider the height of the exhibit being examined, and ask the question, “Does it have more bone than another breed of the same height?” For example, the Beagle. We are not sug- gesting the breed have bone of some of our taller dogs—St. Bernard, Wolfhound or Mastiff.
STYLE VS. TYPE
It is important to understand the dif- ference between correct breed type and style within breed type. The official breed standard identifies the features which define breed type. Style is individual inter- pretation of that standard. More than one style may exhibit correct breed type and meet the standard. Think about your own breed, the breeds you know well, you have different styles within type.
‘ICING’
Another confusion of style and type is “icing”—type features we like but not in excess. The unique look and structure of the Basset lends itself toward caricature but more is not better. Rewarding animals with highly exaggerated features at the expense of soundness is deleterious to the breed. Breeders and judges have a tenden- cy to overemphasize one or two features, such as excess skin or bone, forgetting the soundness demanded for this breed.
CONSISTENCY IN JUDGING
We often hear that a judge didn’t evalu- ate dogs consistently, because two differ- ent styles have been awarded. Good judges and breeders look beyond “style” and