MINIATURE WIRE HAIRED:

I was very disappointed in the overall quality of the Min Wires shown under me today. Last time I judged them, which was 10 years ago, the quality of the exhibits across the board was far superior to those here. The variety has been changed by the introduction of a lot of continental blood which has altered the type almost completely in many cases. The introduction of new blood is, of course, necessary to eradicate certain problems and add to other characteristics but it should be done in moderation to maintain our type. Breeders need to get back to basics and look honestly at the dogs they are showing and compare them to the description of the Kennel Club breed standard. Whatever happened to the correct Dachshund front? The Standard asks for a prominent forechest and shoulders, well laid back with 90 angulation between shoulder blade and upper arm and oval ribbing carried well back. Quite a lot of the exhibits on the day had virtually no pro-sternum and short, steep upper arms and very upright shoulder angulation, having the effect of a terrier front and ribbing which cut up sharply just behind the front legs making a totally alien outline. I am not suggesting that the forechest should be heavy and deep, I agree with moderation but a lot of the Min Wires here were far too leggy and lacking in the correct depth of ribbing, which is not what our breed Standard calls for. I found only a handful of dogs with correct shoulder construction, most had reasonably decent hindquarters. Most mouths were good, though teeth could have been cleaner in a few cases! Movement in profile on the day I found was not good, too many exhibits were lacking in confidence and so not moving out as a relaxed animal would, with the correct reach and drive. I decided that true movement fore and aft would have to be the main priority on the day.

VD (1) 1 Douglas-Banks’ Torabbi Welsh Malt, 8 years, enjoying his day out, fair head, good shoulder placement, excellent ribbing, good quarters, sound on the move.

MPD (2) 1 Blackburn’s Stargang Tigers Eye, well balanced puppy, lovely head and eye, good neck and layback of shoulder. Would prefer better ribbing. Lovely quarters, sound on the move and very happy. 2 Phillips’ Molloney Andy Man, fair head, good shoulder placement. Bit short in upper arm, causing him to move narrow in front. Quarters were balanced but could have done with more length to first and second thigh. Sound.

PD (5,4a) Withheld.

JD (6,2) Not a good class. 1 Moore’s Danvichar Euphrasia, fair head, front OK, ribbing fair. No extension in rear on the move but a balanced little dog. 2 Miller’s Bothlyn Black Raven at Sharplaw, nice head and eye. Lacking angulation and a bit leggy. Good temperament.

PGD (6,2) 1 Shaw’s Cilnant Happy Harry, nice had and neck, good shoulder and ribbing. Could do with stronger quarters. Excellent coat, sound on the move. 2 Puckett’s Molloney Willy Wayme, not such a good coat on this chap. Nice head and eye, good neck, reasonably good layback of shoulder, good ribbing and fair quarters, moved soundly. 3 Price’s Samlane Tetley.

LD (1) 1 Black’s Bassodon Bilbie, lovely head and eye, good neck, well placed shoulder, decent pro-sternum, good ribbing carried well back, balanced quarters, movement excellent. RCC.

OD (3,1) 1 Horswell and Iwama’s Ch/Jap Ch Drakesleat Jp Trier Winshotten, beautifully balanced dog, really liked this one, excellent head, small dark eye, good neck, well laid shoulder, excellent front construction, ribbing carried well back, well balanced rear, absolutely true in movement. CC and BOB. 2 Kugow and Holt’s Waldmeister Henry, lovely head and eye, good neck, excellent coat. Shoulder construction not as good as 1, much taller in type and not so well angulated in rear.

MPB (4) 1 Dunn’s Barratini Bumble at Ashridge, dark brindle, lovely head and eye, long neck, good shoulders, good pro-sternum, excellent ribbing, well angulated quarters. Just needs to build her confidence. 2 Jones’ Bimini Rhapsody In Blue, completely different in type from 1, roly poly baby with a fair head, fairly good front, good shoulder and decent ribbing, neat quarters, moved out well. 3 Hunt’s Marvellous Mischief at Earthsea.

PB (8,3) 1 Barney’s Verrami Ava Nuvver Romaunt, this puppy is just my cup of tea. Lovely head, dark eye, good forechest, neat well placed shoulder, good length of upper arm, excellent depth and length to ribbing, neat well developed quarters. Just needs to tighten up to complete a very promising picture. BP. 2 Kugow and Holt’s Waldmeister Steffi, head a little plain. Good neck and shoulder placement. Angulation in shoulder a bit steep, lacking pro-sternum. Ribbing fair, good quarters, excellent coat, moved soundly. 3 Rigby’s Waldmeister Maud for Rigadac.

JB (11,2) Good class. 1 Roberts’ Drakesleat Win’Er Takeall, to Swansford, lovely head, eye and earset, long neck, well placed and angulated shoulders, good long ribbing, well balanced quarters, moved well. 2 Hayward’s Foxearth Fee’ling, good head and front construction, well angulated shoulder, good ribbing. Could do with more length to his first and second thigh to balance quarters. Moved soundly. 3 Billinghurst’s Drakesleat Russia Bout to Jiljac.

PGB (8,3) 1 MacKenzie’s Stargang True Blue at Tysar, neat dapple of good proportions. Would prefer a better head and a little more forechest. Decent neck and shoulder, fair length and depth to ribbing, balanced quarters, moved very soundly. 2 Price’s Samlane Touch Of Gin, different type to 1, much taller, good head and shoulder angulation, decent pro-sternum and ribbing, well angulated quarters. Seemed tense and not moving as well, however sound. 3 Otter’s Donnadoon Dapple Diamond of Tarkus.

LB (2,1) 1 Kugow and Holt’s Waldmeister Guillemot, fair head, good eye colour and shape, good neck and shoulder placement. Lacking forechest, angulation in shoulder rather steep. Fair quarters, sound on the move.

OB (9,2) Good class of varying types. 1 Horswell’s Drakesleat Knot On Yer Nelly, really correct stacked out, beautiful head, small dark eye, long neck, correct pro-sternum, good shoulder with good length to upper arm and shoulder blade, good depth and length to ribbing, excellent hindquarter construction, movement absolutely correct. CC. 2 Blackburn’s Stargang Beau Belle, nicely constructed, good overall balance, head, neck and shoulder good. Could have slightly more upper arm. Good forechest and ribbing, balanced quarters. Moved out very well in profile but just lost out in front movement. RCC. 3 Fulton’s Bothlyn Black Rose.

Fran Mitchell