Cheryl Calm | Calm Bouviers

Interview with Cheryl Calm, Breeder of Calm Bouviers

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? What is your kennel name?
2. In your opinion, is your breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern?
3. As a Preservation Breeder, can you share your thoughts on the sport today? How’s the judging these days?
4. How important are Performance Events to you as a Preservation Breeder? As an Exhibitor?
5. In your opinion, is social media good for the sport? Is it harmful?
6. What are the biggest challenges facing the dog show community as a whole today and how can these be addressed?
7. What are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the sport over the past decade?

Cheryl Calm

1. I live near Portland, Oregon, attending most dog shows in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. I’ve shared my life with Bouvier des Flandres since 1976 after growing up in Dog 4-H Obedience and Junior Showmanship. I began Calm Bouviers in 1980 and continue a limited breeding program aimed at bringing each generation closer to my vision of the AKC Bouvier Breed Standard.

2. There are several concerning trends away from our Standard:

1. Straight Shoulders. The Standard says, “slightly more than 90 degrees.” We’re seeing far too many Bouvier’s with the front leg standing in a line directly below the ear. A correct Bouvier shoulder has equal angles in the scapula and humorous, putting the leg beneath their body so that you can draw a line down from the withers through the elbow and leg bone to the ground.
2. Inefficient Movement. This straight front brings lack of balance and serious foot-timing issues. There’s restricted movement in front, and rears bicycling or hocks kicked-up off the ground in wasted motion. The Standard calls for movement that’s balanced, free (not restricted), bold, and proud —showing an easy, efficient, ground-skimming trot that can be maintained for a long day of work. Judges should reward Bouviers with balanced, full extension in motion, with no legs coming up noticeably above the ground or feet crossing underneath.
3. Narrow, Leggy Bouviers. This is a cow dog and all-purpose farm dog needing the strength, agility, and power to turn a bull and pull a cart. Bouviers should be powerfully built, strongly boned, and well-muscled as defined by the Standard. A long-legged Bouvier, lacking bone and width and depth of body, is poor type. They’re “a lot of dog” in a square package.

3. Too many judges make choices based on the previous days’ winners, with the same four dogs placing in Groups at a cluster where the quality is deep. With the number of entries dropping, it’s common to see judges trying to sort through Bouviers of poor type and motion with no choices of true quality. They hand out the ribbons and points, producing champions that are bred and produce more like themselves. It’s hard for the judging to be good when the entry is mediocre. Those coming up need to learn from preservation breeders and understand what the Standard creates and why. The current show system does not encourage judges to be part of the learning process. There’s no opportunity for judges to explain their choices—and when asked, few will give an answer worthy of the question. The number of shows is okay. You can choose how many you go to.

4. I fully support all performance events as they give dogs an opportunity to show they can do what they’re bred for. They also strengthen the owner/dog connection.

5. When used in a positive manner, social media is good. It’s a great forum for sharing information, helping others to learn, get answers to questions about shows, training, and whelping, and sharing the joy of time spent and success with your dogs. It keeps us in touch no matter where we are. However, when social media is used to bully, criticize, or pass false rumors it’s good for no one. Pass by those posts. Engaging just fans the flames.

6. The biggest challenges are dwindling numbers of breeders, fewer volunteers to run clubs, declining entries, some judges favoring handlers, which discourages new exhibitors, and a diminishing pool of quality judges. These problems can be addressed in part by current breeders, club members, and exhibitors welcoming and helping new people. AKC, judges, and clubs must create a culture that clearly supports rewarding the best dogs (based on Breed Standards) and not just well-known professional handlers and faces showing whichever dog “won yesterday.” We need quality testing and review processes by AKC to catch and help those judges needing more education in a breed.

7. Grand Championship levels and NOHS have given people a reason to keep showing. It gives owners more chances at success and ways to count your dog’s points. More happy owners and dogs leads to continued involvement in our sport.