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Meet Futurity Judge Debi Adams of Jade Whippets Enjoy our interview with Debi
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR "REAL" LIFE?
I share my life with my perfect husband of 13 years James Lahm and our two whippet sons, Scoop and Huey. By day, I am a Director of Marketing for a retirement community in downtown Portland, Oregon called Terwilliger Plaza. In my free time I enjoy dog shows, reading, stair climbing and coffee shop exploration.
GIVE A BRIEF HISTORY OF YOUR START IN WHIPPETS?
I bought my first Whippets in 1984 from Janet Vanwormer (CHEHALEM) who was instrumental in my start in the breed. From her I started my foundation with BIF CH. Chehalem's Santa Maria, FCH and Ch. Chehalem's Mr. Good Bar, FCH. From there I established the JADE kennel name. See my website at www.jadewhippets.com
WHAT IS YOUR JUDGING BACKGROUND?
My early judging experience started in high school with 4-H judging of horses and then into dogs. My first judging experiences were in Doberman Pinschers and Labrador Retrievers where I have done specialty sweepstakes. In Whippets I have judged specialty sweepstakes, sighthound specialty matches and most recently the 2001 National Top Twenty Event as the Breeder Judge and will be the 2002 National Futurity Judge.
SHARE A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AS A RESULT OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH WHIPPETS.
I would have to say that my recent mentor relationship with a young junior handler by the name of Sarah Lawson has been most rewarding and memorable. Over the past year, I have enjoyed helping Sarah with her handling, conditioning and training of her whippet "ROZ" that I was fortunate to help her find. Sarah and Roz have not only won an all breed Best in Show, several Best of Breeds and Junior Handling awards. Sarah and Roz will also be featured in April, 2002 in an Animal Planet special on TV. There is nothing more rewarding than helping a youngster gain confidence as they pursue their dreams. I have learned a lot from Sarah and our friendship continues to grow. She is a fine representative of the future of dog showing and I am very proud to see her become a rising star.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT WITH A WHIPPET?
Co-breeding and exhibiting National Select Am/Can CH. Jade's Ice Dream Man of Whyme aka "SCOOP" to 26 hound group wins, a national specialty select and 1997and 1998 Top Twenty status.
WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN WHIPPETS?
Continuing education of prospective judges. One of the main reasons I have chosen to not become a licensed breed judge is to continue to present educational seminars on our breed. It is a challenge to judge by the standard without bias and personal preference influencing your decisions. This will always be a challenge for anyone that judges or educates. It is my work in progress and through the presentation of educational seminars, I hope to help others with this challenge as well.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT JUDGING?
The opportunity to put your hands on the breed and compare the exhibits to the standard. To have the opportunity to reward those that have both type and soundness and first and foremost, meet the standard. It is also fun to wear the nifty badge that says "judge" on it and watch how people act funny around you when you have it on.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE LEAST ABOUT JUDGING?
Judging classes of 5... especially in junior showmanship...
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A WHIPPET?
As basic as it comes, I am looking for the Whippet that most closely exemplifies the standard as it is written. Placing close attention to the details and characteristics that make the breed unique. Avoiding strictly penalized faults and rewarding for type and soundness in a moderate package. I do appreciate a beautiful whippet with all the attributes that come with that, but the standard is always what I fall back upon in my decision making process.
HOW DO YOU THINK JUDGING INFLUENCES THE BREED?
In many ways, some good, some bad. Good judges will use the standard and not be influenced by advertising, handlers, color, etc. They are the ones that reward based on the standard and don't fall prey to the politics. Good judges know that the show ring is the proving ground for our breeding programs. We should only reward those that have merits and qualities that will further improve the breed. If you reward a mediocre dog with a big handler or a big advertising campaign, it will ultimately hurt the breed. Judges who fall prey to politics are not doing any of us a favor...Many newcomers erroneously think that top winning dogs must be GREAT ONES since they have done so much winning. Bad judges contribute greatly to this falsehood. Our breed can only be a good as the judges that judge it.
WHAT SUGGESTIONS CAN YOU GIVE TO NEW JUDGES?
Always study your standard, fall back on it to make your placements and never look back. If you use the standard as your guide, you will never have to justify your work.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRENGTHS IN THE BREED TODAY?
Size seems to be coming back to moderate, we are seeing a more balanced moderate Whippet in the ring today with less extremes. Soundness is also improving as are toplines. Temperaments are good as a rule and the breed continues to improve in that area.
WHAT ARE SOME OF PROBLEMS IN THE BREED TODAY?
I believe we can still improve on our interpretation of head type which includes a large dark eye, good underjaw, good width between the ears and ear set. With two disqualification's and three strictly penalized faults on the head alone.. We need to pay attention to head type according to the standard.
Also our pasterns need improvement, straight pasterns and toeing in are faults that are not acceptable in a running breed but common in the show ring. We need to work on them as the standard is specific in this area.
WHO OR WHAT HAS INFLUENCED YOU IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE BREED?
One of the greatest influences anyone can have is to watch the veteran classes at a specialty. These glorious old men and women can reveal to almost anyone what we have lost in the breed, where we are going and what we need to work on. Our veteran classes are a living blueprint we can use to build the next generation. We need to pay attention to them as they have something to teach us,
WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE NEWCOMERS TO THE BREED?
Do your homework, visit with many breeders before making a decision to buy a dog. Get into a mentor relationship and trust your breeder. I have been in the breed for almost 20 years and I am still learning. It is a lifelong process if you are dedicated to the improvement and protection of the breed.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE IN THE SPORT OF DOG SHOWING?
Random drawings for group and Best in Show judges made the day of the show. Also no judges allowed to watch the groups they are not judging. To see the winners of each breed the day before they judge them is almost certainly influential.
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