The 'Whole Dog' Concept
By Jason Nicolai
Before breaking a dog into small parts and pieces it makes sense to begin with a bigger picture and a more general concept of what those pieces look like together based upon what they are actually meant to do. Often you will hear folks say “Always look at the whole dog first.” Or “You have to take the whole dog into consideration above all else.” What does that mean? Truth be told if you ask some who say these things to explain further, they might not actually have a clear protocol or system in mind. It just sounds good, right? You might find that others don’t mean the exact same thing as the next person using those exact same words.
For the sake of making sure we are all on the same page let’s arrive upon a common meaning here, remembering that sometimes in a discussion about dogs, it’s more important to make sure everyone is going to be using the same definitions than it is to make sure everyone has the same opinion about the way terms or phrases are typically defined. Anatomy is a perfect example. If 2 people have differing definitions of exactly where the “point of shoulder” is or if “shoulder angle” should be measured through the center of the bones or from the edges, then any discussion forward is almost moot. Agree upon the point (at least for the sake of the discussion) first, and then it’s safe to delve deeper. So, for the “whole dog” concept let’s all get on the same page.
For “whole dog” let’s think of the overall general snapshot of qualities that make a Stafford a Stafford (First impression, general appearance, silhouette recognizable from across the room, those sorts of things). Also, for the “whole dog” concept let’s make sure we apply our knowledge of the original function of the dog because any discussion of a part or piece of the dog we get into later really needs to be in relation to that function, so apply that mindset right from the start. And finally, just think of the harmonious package of a Stafford who has no parts or pieces that stand out in discord with the others. Think of the balance that the entire dog exudes given that original function. Perhaps “whole dog” means more or less to you personally. That’s completely fine, but for the purpose of this discussion let’s all work with those points.
The AKC uses Practical Canine Anatomy & Movement by Claudia Waller Orlandi, PhD. as one of their approved “textbooks” for conformation judges. In the book Dr. Orlandi discusses the “Template” approach to judging a dog. As mentioned above this is taking your knowledge of a general snapshot of what the dog should be and quickly applying it at a glance without really getting into breaking apart all the pieces. That falls within the “Whole Dog” approach as we are defining it here. Can a complete amateur do it? Absolutely not. What it really requires is having a well trained eye for breed type. It is looking at the [whole] dog and in a quick moment answering the question, How well does the dog exemplify a proper Staffordshire Bull Terrier? Orlandi contrasts this method with “the evaluation of structural balance” that is done through a series of tests against the breed standard, using all the parts and pieces of the dog to see how well he stacks up. Here’s the interesting part; We use (or should use) both methods, i.e. the Template / “Whole Dog” approach to evaluation as well as the individual tests for structural balance via looking at all the parts and pieces of the dog and seeing how each stacks up against the breed standard. But how do we know which approach to use and when?
Let’s do a little exercise. Think of a breed you really don’t know much about. Something on which your grasp of breed type is really not keen. If you’re a master of all dog breeds think of the Selkirk Rex (it’s a cat). Now picture 20 of them in front of you. In 30 seconds rank in order the top 4 that are closest to ideal based upon the whole dog / cat method. Doesn’t work, because we have no whole dog template to apply. Give us the breed standards and we can try to reason our way through it part by part, evaluating structural balance, but still without that solid “whole dog” vision we are going to have a difficult time since we really have no ideal template solidified in our minds that we can apply.
Next exercise. Take a breed you know pretty darn well. Maybe the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Take the whole dog template you have in your mind for the ideal Stafford. This is your snapshot of ideal breed type at a glance. The mental image of the perfect Stafford. Get 20 Staffords in the room with you. Let them move around quickly and then rank the top 4 in 30 seconds according to who best matches your own mental archetype of the whole dog. Are you finished evaluating? Let’s hope not.
Seek an eye for the breed, but do not be too quick to solidify one. Form it, but keep it malleable or else all further learning will cease.
The next step involves 2 distinct processes that go on at the same time. #1 You start looking at all the parts and pieces, the angles, the details, the ratios, proportions, the body parts, etc. You test all of these details for each dog against the specifics found within the breed standard – kind of like you would do for that Selkirk Rex you know absolutely nothing about, but in this case you are testing the dog’s parts with the standard carrying a lot more knowledge of how they should work according to the original function of the breed. You will also use a bit of wisdom found outside of the breed standard such as the case with head proportions, front assembly angles, and other knowledge picked up from highly respected books, seminars, JEC presentations, etc. over your years in the breed thus far. You are testing to determine if what you saw when applying your whole dog mental template is standing the test of all the details of the breed standard. You are doing this to test the dog, but also, and this is #2, you are going through this exercise beginning with the whole dog, deconstructing, and then returning to the whole dog for a much more important reason than judging any one dog in front of you. You are with each and every dog in this process testing your mental template to see just how sharp it is and to see if you can make it even sharper.
Consider this example: You have a keen “eye” for the whole dog. You know proper breed type and how to recognize it in an instant, right? Take those 20 Staffords mentioned above, move them once and place them 1-4 in 30 seconds. Without testing each dog to the specifics of the breed standard you are also not testing your template to the specifics of the breed standard.
What if you start to look at the individual parts and pieces of your 1st place dog compared to the breed standard and also those fine points printed in books, taught in breed seminars, and talked about for decades such as a muzzle to skull ratio of 1:2, and you find that your pick dog indeed has a significant detail that is in conflict? For example’s sake, let’s say his muzzle to skull ratio on your 1st place dog is actually closer to 1:1. You recall that in the original 100 pt ranking system of all the parts and pieces in 1937 the head was actually ranked as the most important part of the Stafford. With that in mind it must be of significant importance today. Now what do you do? Two things: #1 You have to consider if you can still adjust the order of the dogs. #2 Regardless of adjusting placements, you must adjust your “whole dog” mental template. That 2nd part should be never ending. Continually fine tune and improve your mental image of the perfect Stafford.
When you’ve been in any breed long enough you’ll start to develop a “Template”, “Whole Dog Vision”, a mental image of “breed type-at-a-glance”. This mental image is your “Breed Archetype”. There are 1,000 ways to say it, but it is what develops as you form your “eye” for the breed. Seek an eye for the breed, but do not be too quick to solidify one. Form it, but keep it malleable or else all further learning will cease. With every single dog you judge in or out of the ring you should not only test the dog to the standard but also your eye. As you sharpen your sword always stay true to the test even when (or especially when) your personal preference is in conflict with the breed standard