Critique of Divina!

[SizzleDog]

Okay guys... here's just my opinion - uneducated opinion, mind you - of Divina. her "mom" asked me to do a critique. I did some reading on the standard, looked at a lot of photos...

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Divina fits the standard relatively well - she appears to be sturdy but not coarse. She does look a bit chunky in certain areas, but that might be just from the photos or her current weight.

HEAD
Skull is flat at the top (good) and free from wrinkles (also good). Divina's head is a leasing one, with a very intelligent and alert expression - very nice! Eyes could be a tad darker and closer together, but all for all she's got a nice head. Ears have proper carriage and placement. Muzzle is proportional, and is very nice. Personally, I think Divina has a great head. However, one fault I see is that her nostrils appear pinched - this is considered a fault in the Boston Terrier breed... but without being able to see the two extremes (flared and pinched), I can't say how severe a fault Divina's nostrils are - I don't think theyr'e that bad, though. :wink:




NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
Divina's neck could be a bit longer. The correct neck balances the dog - but Divina's neck isn't bad, and only needs to be lengtheded a small amount to be correct. Divina is nearly square - luckily, bitches of all breeds are allowed to be a tad longer, due to the anatomical requirements of carrying and delivering pups. Divina's topline is hard to judge - a roach back is seen as a serious fault, but I don't think she has a roach back. In the first photo I believe that she's being made to stack and isn't used to it - many dogs roach in this type of situation. Even is she does have a roach back (which I doubt), it isn't nearly as severe as some I've seen. Her tailset and carriage look perfect!




FOREQUARTERS
Divina's forequarters hold her worst fault... :oops: She's got good bone, but her forelegs aren't straight - they turn out and end in weak pasterns. See photos for a better look. She does have nice tight feet though - which I find very pleasing (after all, I am a dobe person!). forelegs would be a bit further apart. Surprisingly, her elbows are fine - they turn neither in or out.




HINDQUARTERS
Devina has well muscled thighs, good proportions, well defined hocks... in short, a very nice rear assembly. Hinglegs are straight when viewed from the rear - no cowhocks in sight! :D


GAIT
cannot be determined from photos :wink:

COLOR AND MARKINGS
White portion of ear could be considered a mismark... depending on the mood of the judge! Markings on forelegs aren't symmetrical, but neither leg has incorrect markings. Facial markings in black could come farther down on the cheek, but that's a minor thing. On the spectrum from undesirable to desirable, Divina's markings lean heavily towards "desirable".


Personally, I think Divina is a nice specimen of the breed. Aside from her front, the rest of her is extremely evident of her breeding. Remember that every dog has faults - and most dogs have virtues :wink:

Could she be finished? With the right handler, probably... but it would be costly and time consuming. Could she be pointed? Probably... the front may bother many judges though. Does she fit the standard close enough to be recognized as a well bred dog? Absolutely!

[Guest Anonymous]

awe man, I wish I had a purebred dog now so I could get you to do it for me!! :D But my boy's a mutt :wink:

That was really cool, learned more then I knew about the breed! And Divina is so cute!! :D :angel:

[StarFox]

HazelNutMeg napisał(a):

awe man, I wish I had a purebred dog now so I could get you to do it for me!! :D But my boy's a mutt :wink:

I thought the EXACT same thing shara. :lol:

V. good critique sizzle, very interesting.

[abker17]

I agree, great critique Sizzle! :D

And either way, Divina is beautiful! :D

[courtnek]

why could you not show a deaf dog? I could see it could be a problem in field trialing maybe, but show? If she was strongly trained in hand signals that would work. When I watch dog shows, I rarely ever hear anyone say anything to the dog. They usually use treats and the lead to get the desired results. OK maybe you dont want to breed it, but I dont understand why you cant show it....

:oops:

[Guest Anonymous]

I think they can't show the deaf dogs becuase when you show them it is supposed to be the best of the breed, it has all the qualifications for the breed standard, and has good genetics. Most dogs that are deaf have show some signs of being deaf, for example divina having white on her ear, and my cody has the HUGE fualt of being too white...
i dunno lol i'm just kinda of rambling here , but i would say that is why. if i dont make sense i'm sorry. lol sitting here and trying to help hubby put our computer desk together :oops:

[courtnek]

no DAL it makes sense, and it doesnt. If you agree to not breed the dog. because of deafness, I dont see why it cant be shown. It could still be "best of breed", even with an infirmity. I dont show, so maybe I'm clueless, but this seems wrong to me.

:evil:

[mouseatthebusstop]

if you have her papers you should try her in the ring
Sizzel would you like a go at mine
they are both shar pei

[Guest Anonymous]

I'm with mouse Divina!

And Sizzle-- also with mouse on that one. If you ever get a free chance and feel like looking at some more.. I'd love you to look at cody.
i can tell you his biggest fault right now.. LOl HE'S WHITE!!

[SizzleDog]

LOL! Just PM me photos, and I'll see what I can do. Thankfullt he Boston Terrier national club has an illustrated standard - critiques are much harder to do with only a written standard.

Right now, a doberman listserv is doing critiques... it's AMAZING! Here's the link to the dog photos. These types of "activities" are wonderful for the breed and its fanciers - it "teaches" the standard, which I find fascinating!

http://www.isoc.net/mminnich/cyberdobes/index.html

[mouseatthebusstop]

it's only costly if you are going to travel miles to champ shows Do you have open shows? join a local ring craft club

[Sarahstaff]

Your dog is not eligible to be shown:

Rules applying to dog shows, Chapter 11:

"Section 8. A dog which is blind, deaf, castrated, spayed, or which has been changed in appearance by artificial means except as specified in the standard for its breed, or a male which does not have two normal testicles normally located in the scrotum, may not compete at any show and will be disqualified except that a castrated male may be entered as Stud Dog in the Stud Dog Class and a spayed bitch may be entered as Brood Bitch in the Brood Bitch Class. A dog will not be considered to have been changed by artificial means because of removal of dewclaws or docking of tail if it is of a breed in which such removal or docking is a regularly approved practice which is not contrary to the standard. Neutered dogs and spayed bitches would be allowed to compete in Veterans Classes only at independent specialties and/or those all-breed shows which do not offer any competitive classes beyond Best of Breed. "


I suppose it might be possible that the judge would not notice your dog was deaf, but it would be dishonest to show a dog that you know has a disqualification.

It is for this reason that I put up with heat cycles from my Staffybull bitch, though I don't plan to breed her, I am showing her. No, the judge would be extremely unlikely to notice if she were spayed, but I will not make a liar out of myself by signing an entry form which states that "I agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club...", if I am unwilling to do so!