Meet Sporting Group Judge Karin Ashe

Interview with Sporting Group Judge Karin Ashe by Showsight Magazine.

1. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge?
2. What is your original breed? What is/was your kennel name?
3. Can you list a few of the notable dogs you’ve bred? Any performance or field titles?
4. How important are Performance and Companion titles in a Sporting Dog?
5. Have you judged any Sporting Breed Specialties?
6. Do you find that size, proportion, and substance are correct in most Sporting breeds?
7. Is breed-specific expression important to you as a judge? Can you offer some examples?
8. What are your thoughts on the current grooming practices among the coated breeds?
9. Are the Sporting breeds in good shape overall? Any concerns?
10. In your opinion, how do today’s exhibits compare with the Sporting Dogs of the past?
11. Why do you think the Sporting breeds make up a large portion of the typical show’s entries?
12. Just for laughs, do you have a funny story you can share about judging the Sporting Group?

Sporting Group Judges – Karin Ashe
Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a judge? I have 50 years in dogs, 30 years as a judge.
What is my original breed? What is/was my kennel name? My original breed is the Pointer. Scanpoint is my kennel name.
Can I list a few of the notable dogs I’ve bred? DC Scanpoint’s Touch O’ Troll Any performance or field titles? DC/AFC Scanpoint’s Mackenzie.
How important are Performance and Companion titles in a Sporting Dog? These titles are very important.
Have I judged any Sporting Breed Specialties? I’ve judges many.
Do I find that size, proportion, and substance are correct in most Sporting breeds? No. Too many have beautiful profiles, but lack rib spring and bone.
Is breed-specific expression important to me as a judge? Can I offer some examples? There can be a lack of proper ear, muzzle, and eye shape.
What are my thoughts on the current grooming practices among the coated breeds? As long as the coat is not clearly scissored and the coat looks field-tapered, it’s not a problem.
Are the Sporting breeds in good shape overall? Any concerns? Some are in beautiful shape for their Standard. Others are a bit overdone.
In my opinion, how do today’s exhibits compare with the Sporting Dogs of the past? Today’s dogs are more of a “groomed” dog than a dog that does its work in the field.
Why do I think the Sporting breeds make up a large portion of the typical show’s entries? They do, quite a bit. They are popular for their temperament and loyalty.
Just for laughs, do I have a funny story I can share about judging the Sporting Group? I have judged the Group so many times, but there is one time that I can remember where I looked through the breeds and thought to myself, “There is not one dog in here that fits the Standard and looks like it can do its job.” Then, one of the bird dogs had a bird land in the ring, and went on point. That made my day!