JUDGE’S VIEWS

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32382, 22 August 1970, Page 14

JUDGE’S VIEWS

Chihuahua Showing The separation of long and smooth-coated Chihuahuas for judging had been accepted practice in Australia for four years, and she was very surprised that it was not so in New Zealand, said Mrs E. MacMahon. a noted Australian dog-show judge and breeder, in Christchurch last evening. Mrs MacMahon is in Christchurch to judge the South Island Chihuahua show, which will be held today. She started breeding dogs 34 years ago and has been a judge for the last 18 years. Her father and grandfather were also breeders of dogs and the three generations of her family have bred dogs for 108 years.

She was the first to import Chihuahuas to Australia 15 years ago, when she brought in two dogs and four bitches. Twenty-seven further animals have been imported and she now has 42 Chihuahuas and has been unbeaten at the Melbourne. Brisbane and Sydney Royal Shows for the last two years in the categories for the champion dog and champion bitch in both the long and smooth-coated varieties. Before breeding Chihuahuas, Mrs MacMahon bred red setters, Australian terriers, Yorkshire terriers and Maltese.

The separation of the long and smooth-coated varieties was for judging purposes only and did not affect breeding; dogs from the same litter could in fact win championships in either category of which they were eligible, said Mrs MacMahon.

The main line of judging was contained in the first line of the breed’s standard—“a gay, alert little dog with a saucy expression”—said said Mrs MacMahon. Although she bad been to New Zealand twice before, this was the first time she had come as a judgp, but it was pleasing to find that 127 dogs had been entered for the South Island show and this showed that the breed was quite popular, she said.