Dr. Natalia Samaj Kunze, DVM, DACT
1. My name is Natalia Kunze, I am a board-certified veterinary theriogenologist and residency-trained veterinary pediatrician, living in Warrenton, Virginia. I fell in love with Kerry Blue Terriers 30 years ago, breeding and competing under the Cross the Rubicon prefix since. My first Kerry imported to the US from Italy won The Great Western, and his offspring covered the top-ranking spots in the breed ever since. I compete in Europe as well and I am honored to be owned by the 2024 Cruft’s Dog Show Best of Breed, Cross the Rubicon Omen, the Number One Kerry male in the breed.
2. I would ask judges to take into consideration the entire dog in determining the proper type. First of all, consider the outline of the Kerry. The Breed Standard asks for a short, strong, and straight back, and a short and powerful loin. Our Illustrated Standard depicts close to square dogs as a preferred representative of the breed. Long frame, even if balanced with long legs, continues to be a challenge to overcome. The Kerry should have a well-developed and muscular body, able to wrestle a badger. Second, the Kerry coat is wavy, not curly or frizzy. As this breed has no undercoat, it is not made to repel water but should be able to dry quickly. We can debate the wording change from the original Standard describing it as “plentiful” to the unfortunate choice of “dense,” creating the issue of thick, even poodle-like texture being rewarded.
As a helpful visual, it is compared to a marcel wave; the style popular in the 1920s made famous by Hollywood stars like Josephine Baker. The Kerry coat should have a deep, soft (open) wave. This is best to be recognized on the body, as the legs and head are mostly blow-dried. Thirdly, in Ireland, the dogs rewarded as breeding specimens needed to pass Teastas Mor—the certificate of gameness. Although we welcome dogs with milder temperament (especially seen in the bitches), the Standard describes a terrier character throughout. Be considerate of this fact and allow plenty of space in the ring of adult dogs; as well as control the ring and do not allow handlers to crowd and bully other competitors and provoke the response which surely will come.
3. I am concerned about disappearing knowledge of the old school dog-men, acquainted with the original European bloodlines. Although I consider some US judges “legends in making,” the general exposure of the judges to the European stock is very limited, and as such, many lack understanding of what’s in front of them. Our club is lucky to be able to invite breeders and judges living abroad to our Specialties, but more exposure is needed for the all-round judges.
4. Montgomery is a pilgrimage; looking forward to it every year and preparing a few months before. It is not just a devotional practice involving a long journey to a place where the terrier entries are like nowhere else in US, but also represents a chance for a personal and spiritual growth, challenging what I know about this breed and my dogs. It is a chance to be part of a one-of-a-kind social circle, and despite the amount of intense care one puts into presentation, it is also a one-of-a-kind opportunity to reconnect with friends from all across the country and the world.
5. Social media in general has a huge impact on any sport. The information provided is easy to obtain, fast, and convenient. The marketing is simplified and cheaper. Although there are many virtual ways to tweak the reality, there are also opportunities to see the dogs for what they really are if one is willing to investigate closer.
6. The generational differences are extending into the world of the dog shows, with the change in the priorities. Not to fall into the trap of stereotyping young people and ensuring that they are treated as individuals, there are known differences between Gen Z and the previous generations. Rather than expecting them to adapt to the current style of life, there are ongoing studies focusing on recommendations for the best approach to Gen Z. This struggle includes education, and workplaces faced with the need to adjust to a new generation’s requests for physical and emotional well-being. To succeed, the institutions and businesses are recommended to make the learning or workplace experience a top priority to retain the interest of the coming generation, as well as to provide a friendly atmosphere, friendly relations with the immediate supervisor, customized feedback, fair and equal treatment, and fast professional development.
The social networking is done primarily through the Internet rather than in person, and in short windows when it is convenient for them. Financially, they are less stable and more purpose-driven. There is also a noticeable shift away from sports, as an increasing percentage of Gen Z view sports fandom as a pointless pastime. All the above-mentioned findings contribute negatively to show attendance, and unless there is a shift in the method in which the shows are conducted, the perceived return-on-the-value will continue to diminish.
7. I love the idea of the 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition, helping the young ones to prepare while providing comic relief to the rest of us watching and reminiscing about all the shenanigans our pups put us through their first time in the show ring.
