Name: Lorraine Eyth
State: New York
Kennel name: Kar-isma
Web site: www.karismakennels.com
Champions finished (owner or co owned): Bulldogs: 1
breeder/owner/handled finished, Shelties: 4 (Obedience titles: 20 from Am/Can CD to/through Am UD and Can OTCH, including Dog World Award)
How long have you been showing:
Dogs in general : 30 years starting in obedience with
a CD on an 11 mo old Standard Poodle with placings, Bulldogs tried with first bully 1989, Tried with second bully 1997...not pointed until age 3 after had1st litter in 2000 but shown at Nationals in Indianapolis...pointed first bully that I bred from
her first litter and my first actual bully litter (2000) in 2001, also went to Indianapolis Nationals,her sister was first in 12-18 at Nationals, 5 pt Specialty, etc... I had bred to Elizabeth Hugo's
Oscar...I didn't know who she really was or how well known...just knew a hunk of dog when I saw one and a dog that had what my bitch lacked....at least I learned something from years in other breeds.
Q: How do you think the breed overall compares to just 15 years ago.
A: I've only been owned by the breed 17 years myself so I am no expert there...noticed more tails of course but also noticed less emphasis on good temperaments for quite a while up in the area I live in anyway.
Q: What is the biggest health concern in the breed today, overall speaking.
A:Personally, haven't had a lot of health problems though certainly seems to be a lot of breathing problems that have cut too many dogs' lives short, especially when exacerbated by the heat. Saw a dog finished one weekend and die the next when it overheated at a dog show that my dogs and I didn't find that hot.
Q: What age did you get your first Bulldog at and what age did you first show.
A:You mean how old was I or how old was the dog...Iwill answer how old the dog was...b/c I was and am old as dirt, LOL. First bully was 10 weeks old though I could have taken her if I had wanted to at 7 weeks. I wasn't sure so I did some research and I went backand she was there and still looked cute and balanced
so I bought her for my husband's 39th Birthday.(I don't care about his birthday, he's older than I am) Agatha's registered name was "Kar-isma's Thirty Nine and Hold'N". I showed her at 8 months old and was encouraged by local show folks to show her...they were a bit blind I think now that I look back at pictures of her...they also encouraged me to breed her...think they might have been out for the stud fees...she had very strange heat cycles, I knew nothing of progesterone cycles in early 90's so she never took and her heats began to be 3 months apart...she was spayed at 3 and half years old, bred first time just shy of 2 years old.
Q: What do you look for in a good show Bulldog.
A:First 2 things I think I look for in any dog older than 6 weeks old: balance and it looks me in the eye. AS a real pup, first weeks: head shape: square, wide muzzle, some length from ear to end of jaw, cobbier body (not rectangular body in overall comparison), short heavy boned legs, length of tail. Continue to watch for those to stay.By 9 weeks old, I look for head again: width of muzzle/jaw, shortness btwn nose and eyes, angle between end of jaw and top skull, ears, where front and rear legs land naturally when they are relaxed and tiredand I set them down, length of body, if they look me in the face, start to look at tail set and top line more...also start to look at movement if I can get them tired enough to trot and not leap about.
By 12 weeks old, Same as above only pickier...want
balance, head with width of jaw, nice layback of head, start to look a bit at pigment around nose but not too picky still there, movement big time...should be seeing roll and balance in movement already...love some attitude to go with it by then...I already have leash breaking started with food so I also have
someone taking pictures for me when they move.Topline...doesn't have to be extreme but has to be there to a degree already, even in short backed dog...should be able to see the wheelback and into tail. They also go to stores and I want to see that natural curiosity and friendliness that makes a dog a good show dog...I have strangers give them goodies etc.
Q: What do you hope to see improved most in Bulldogs (structure wise) over the next 10 years.
A:Perhaps more standardization of the standard in the minds of judges where overall balance is appreciated over one or two or three of the judges pet points, especially in the education of all rounders. I'd like to see better heads overall that allow for
improved breathing space, rectangular brick for layback, not a shelf head or a pumpkin head front and side, being seen by too many as correct.Also like to see movement improve so that judge's don't put up bullies that have actually horrible
movement that is from unsound looking rear movement
b/c, "well, bulldogs are such strange movers anyway,how can you really tell" (yes a quote from a judge).
Q: Besides winning of course, what do you find most challenging at a dog show.
A:Staying completely zen calm (yeah right) when judges are going up and down a line up to do theirfinal picks. I have gotten to the point where I usually look zen calm and have my dogs well enough
trained by a certain age that they will stay put so I can just sort of massage an area and speak softly to them while I keep one eye on the judge and one on the dog...but nerves can be horrible.
The other is handlers who run up on my dog, over run my dog or go soooooooooooo interminably slowly that you need to give them a whole side lead off or I will over run them...what is the speed that a bulldog should move at anyway? Some move all bound up like little old ladies with walkers, mine move pretty
freely and easily (thought that was something in the standard in movement but, heh, I'm only an exhibitor) and others seem to barely be leash broken and take off with their handlers in tow kind of like the GSD ring (which is one reason I got out of that breed...that and hips...and the darned double and triple
handling...tambourines, bells and whistles, cantooblers all sorts of Dr. Suess and Grinch toys outside the ring! <g>)
Lorraine
Every so often we will interview some of the most respected Exhibitors and Breeders. Information they offer is a great educational opportunity for us all. We hope you enjoy and learn.
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