|
INTERVIEWS
ONLINE ©
TheDogPlace.com
TheDogPlace.com
interviews Dean
Aamodt
Format
based on ShowSight Seminars
developed by columnist Barbara J. Andrews. Top breed authorities
are asked the
same questions, in the same order providing a broad range of experience
Dean
Aamodt got involved in the Bullmastiff breed while still a teenager in the mid
seventies, his first dog to reach the top ten being Am,Can,Mex.Int Ch
Little Caesar ROM. Working for several local Northern California Handlers as he
grew up, Dean turned a hobby into a profession, handling many breeds. He has
gone on to breed many Bullmastiff champions and won at National
Specialties and won Best of Breed at numerous regional specialties. One of Dean's
high points as a Bullmastiff breeder and owner was on May of 1989 when BIS Ch.
Aamodt's Little Cyrus Noble ROM became the first Bullmastiff to win a All
breed Best In Show in California.
1.
WHAT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT YOUR BREED?
By
the average person, many feel that Bullmastiffs are big pitbulls and have
aggressive tendencies, unfortunately there are some judges that feel the same.
2.
WHAT IS THE MOST DEFINING PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC?
The
head is what defines Bullmastiffs from other related breeds, it is the hallmark
of the breed and what many breeders tend to emphasize when talking about breed
type.
3.
WHICH BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTIC MOST TYPIFIES THE BREED?
I
think that the breed is much more intelligent than given credit, sometimes to a
fault, living with these guys for so many years I am convinced they can think
and reason just as we do. You just have to look in their eyes to see the wheels
turning.
4.
WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON JUDGING MISTAKE IN YOUR BREED?
Bigger
is better is a misconception, I think many judges misunderstand that when
all things are equal (and within the standard) the more substantial animal
should win, I've seen to many big dogs win that were not as correct as the
smaller dog.
5.
WOULD YOU PREFER THE BREED BE JUDGED STANDING OR MOVING?
This
breed should be judged on the move, I believe that if they are not sound they
would not have been able to do the job they were bred for.
6.
IS THERE A BREED RELATED COSMETIC ALTERATION SHOULD JUDGES BE AWARE OF?
Some bullmastiffs
out there that have had their eye's fixed because of entropian, this is
done for the health of the dog but they should not be exhibited or bred.
7.
WHICH FAULT IS OF GREATEST CONCERN TO BREEDERS TODAY?
The
fault that comes up in more conversations with other breeders is, eye color,
there is way to many bullmastiffs with light color eyes as far as I'm
concerned.
8.
IS THERE ANY ONE THING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED IN THE STANDARD?
I
would like to see the weights increased a bit for Dogs and Bitches, The
Bullmastiff standard doesn't take into consideration a dog with any kind of
substance, for example a 25 inch dog with plenty of bone a muscle at
130 lbs. would be too lean for me so a 27 inch dog would look to thin.
9
NAME ONE WAY IN WHICH THE BREED MOST IMPROVED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
I
think the breed is much more sound, there is plenty of dogs out there that are
very strong moving. I honestly couldn't say that a few years back, I used to
cringe when watching the Bullmastiff ring at times.
10.
WHAT ARE THE THREE WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE YOUR BREED?
Confident,
Intelligent, Gentle
Ch. Aamodt's Spartacus
- Group Winner, Specialty Best Of Breed Winner,
Breeder Owners: Dean
& Terry Aamodt email:
Aamodt
|
Back