Examining Toys on the Table

Examining Toys on the Table

I breed and show Toy Fox Terriers and Toy Manchester Terriers, and I read with interest the recent posts on social media regarding the exam of smooth-coated Toy breeds on the table. Some exhibitors were unhappy with how the exam on the table went for their breed at a show the previous weekend. The post and the comments resonated with me, because like so many other exhibitors, my pups and I have experienced some judging exams that, at best, left the pups unsettled and, at worst, made my pups become afraid to be gone over by judges. Many people with various breeds weighed in and commented, signaling the issue is a concern to many Toy exhibitors.

With a Toy dog that is smooth-coated, what you see is what you get. We can’t hide faults under carefully coifed coats or improve angles with sculpted hair. So, it would seem to be common sense that the use of heavy hands to examine every inch of the entire dog in those breeds isn’t necessary. Unfortunately, what seems obvious isn’t always applied in the ring. While most judges are careful and gentle with the Toys and minimize the exam to just what is necessary, the ones who don’t, unfortunately, lead to the discussions noted above.

There are some judges who feel they must run their hands down each leg, feel all the structure on the face while looming over the dog, check the length of the prick ears, and one who squeezed my poor male dog’s jewels so hard he leaped up from the table. Occasionally we see judges who use their hands and fingers to measure the dogs’ legs or angles or necks or other anatomical parts all the way across their bodies while we attempt to keep our dogs still. I had two judges recently tell me they check for luxating patellas as a part of their table exam!

Also problematic are the judges who don’t pay attention to the breed-specific oral exam. I have had judges cause wrestling matches on the table when they wanted to see the back molars in young Toy Foxes. Toy breeds that only need to have their front teeth checked for alignment find it quite disconcerting to have a stranger trying to peer in their small mouths at their back teeth. There have been many comments on social media posts discussing the thumb-check oral exams when a few judges tried to pry open the dogs’ lips or mouth to see the teeth.

Thankfully, the majority of judges understand the nuances of Toy breeds. More than one Toy Breed Standard states they are highly animated, energetic, clown-like, and similar descriptions. Most Toy judges know that happy talk or baby talk to these Toy breeds can cause issues. I had one Toy Fox who used to launch her little body in glee at judges when hearing baby talk from any who thought she was cute. Some breeds find it uncomfortable for judges to try to become their new friend while on the table. Understanding the character of the Toy breeds means the realization that they will not be statues and that less is more when examining the dog. One recent poster on social media said it for many of us: “Less is always better! Less talk and less touch!”

A great piece of advice was presented in one of the online posts. “The table exam is a mere convenience for any judge to examine the essential qualifying aspects of the breed, teeth and testicles, topline. This is a smooth-coated breed, what you see is what you get!” Similarly, in an article titled “Judging the Miniature Pinscher” by breeder/judge Gloria Knapp, published in Top Notch Toys May 1999, she stated, “The table is for checking things like teeth, disqualifying faults and eye color.”

Marcia Tucker advised in an article about judging Miniature Pinschers in the February-March 2001 issue of Top Notch Toys: “They usually won’t stand still on the table, so it’s best to just use the table to check bite, testicles and for disqualifications such as white spots over one-half inch and thumb marks on blacks and chocolates. Min Pins should be judged on the ground, standing naturally.”

In his Top Notch Toys article titled “Judging the TFT” on evaluating Toy Fox Terriers (reprinted several times), Jon Rawleigh said, “The Standard calls for a muscular body with a smooth, elegant outline. This can all be done with the lightest of touches. TFTs don’t like the unnecessary massages and maulings so often seen. Verify on the table, judge on the floor.”

When evaluating smooth-coated Toy breeds on the table, approach quietly. For some breeds, the judges’ education instructors will advise to approach from the front. Other breeds advise getting a good look at the proportions and silhouette from the side first and then approach, doing the head last. Educate yourself on the breed-specific evaluation and exam for the breed you are judging. If you are in doubt, reach out to the Judges’ Education Committee for the breed in question and ask. Do not rush to the table, don’t loom over the dog, and keep your touch gentle, brief, and efficient. Never grab or reach for the dog’s face. The judges who have soft hands on our Toys are well-regarded and greatly appreciated. Remember the adage: Examine on the table and judge on the floor. The smooth-coated Toy breeds are easy to see and evaluate, and judges are appreciated, and become an exhibitor’s favorite, when they make the table exam a good experience for their dogs.