I would like to thank the Great Joint Dachshund Association committee for inviting me to judge at their show which always has a lovely atmosphere. It was a shame there were no mats available though, as the dogs were not happy on such a slippery sports hall floor.

MPD (2/0)

1^st: Andison & Peel’s Clentry Hear Me Roar – Lovely clear red puppy. Very much a baby but I really loved his type, gorgeous houndy head and chunky bone. When he did get moving he really drove out, and when he did stand he looked stunning, but being such a baby gave the bitch puppy the upper hand when it came to BPIB. Once he settles he’ll be one to watch.

2^nd: Beach’s Beachdachs Red Hot Blaze – Nice shaded red dog. Very different in type to 1, but a smart puppy who moved well.

PD (3/1)

1^st: Barrett’s Ayseebee Twinkling Star – very smart black & tan, lovely head and eye, good front assembly and held a good topline. Moved well. Didn’t feel he looked as well when it came to the challenge, perhaps a bit tense with a different handler.

2^nd: Starkey’s Carpaccio Black Obsidian at Hamoura – Nice head and front construction, but not quite holding his topline on the move and not cooperating with his handler today.

JD (5/0)

1^st: Mitchell’s Bronia Biaggio – Another very smart B&T dog, I would prefer a stronger head but he is excellently constructed, looked a picture stacked and moved out soundly.

2^nd: Protheroe’s Royalmaple Fiddle Sticks – I loved this dog, he was exactly what I was looking for. Gorgeous head, lovely bone, and powered around the ring. Unfortunately in the noisy hall he just wasn’t happy and threw the class away which was a shame.

3^rd: Andison & Peel’s Clentry Knock Em Dead Norman

YD (7/0)

1^st: Melbourne, Paget & Carroll’s Marvale In Cahoots with Melriding – Didn’t put in a stellar performance today, particularly on the slippy floor, but he has a good head & forechest, nice tight feet and chunky bone and moved soundly holding a firm topline.

2^nd: Ergis’ Sioxline Jacob – finer in type than 1, looked lovely stood with a nice head, lengthy neck and solid topline. He was a little short in upper arm and this showed on the move.

3^rd: Burke & Manston’s Bonavoir Blackjack

PGD (3/1)

1^st: Beach’s Izia Klara Difino (Imp Svn) – I really liked this red dog. He is a big dog and I would like to see him with a bit more body than he had on the day, but I just loved his movement. He absolutely powered around the ring with drive and style.

2^nd: Rudkin’s Dynastydax Secret Agent – very different in type to 1. Very smart, moved out well and sound front and back whilst holding a firm topline. Nice head and chunky hindquarters.

LD (4/3)

1^st: Scott’s Danton Mr Brown – compact chocolate & tan, moved very soundly holding a good topline. Well laid back shoulders, good length of ribbing and short loin and chunky hindquarters.

OD (4/0)

This was a difficult class as all 4 were totally different in type, and the slippery floor made it more difficult as clearly some didn’t perform.

1^st: Barrett’s Ch Ayseebee Rumour Has It – this dog simply put on the best performance today. He is super smart, sound and well constructed, lovely houndy head with dark eyes and a kind expression, lovely length of neck and a super forechest. He had no issues coping with the floor, and moved out with both drive and style holding a lovely outline. I would maybe prefer a bit more of him, but he is proportion and couldn’t deny him the CC.

2^nd: Paget & Carroll’s Ch Marvale Up With The Lark – love this red dogs type, and he is undeniably a worthy champion, but unfortunately he showed today like didn’t want to be there, slouching and sinking in to himself, which was a real shame. There were moments when he did get himself together and he looked fantastic but then would revert back. Couldn’t deny his lovely houndy type, he is also super sound and very well constructed. RCC.

3^rd: Scott’s Wolferlow Will Scarlet JW

MPB (7/0)

1^st: Russell’s Russteck Tea Cake – Loved the type of this smart B&T bitch who showed so well for a baby. Nice head, well made front, tight feet, hammy quarters and good topline. A close decision for BPIB, she just had the maturity over the dog.

2^nd: Butterstone’s Joshotto’s Orange Blossom – very pretty puppy. Better on the move than stood. Again, loved her type and she was close up to 1, perhaps just not quite as mature.

3^rd: Fossett’s Lokmadi Peggy Sue for Brysdax

PB (5/1)

1^st: Hunt’s Carpaccio Clarice Cliff – Pretty B&T. Smart, sound mover and well constructed with prominent forechest and nice chunky hindquarters, just preferred type of MPB.

2^nd: Dear’s Moragden Dizzy Lizzy at Onadaire – pretty red bitch, doesn’t quite have the head for me but moved out really well and super sound.

3^rd: Fairchild’s Truly Madly Deeply in Ardenrun

JB (14/3)

1^st: Callow’s Garthorne Grace Kelly – I really liked this brindle bitch, loved her type, very elegant but still had good bone and really well made. Lovely head and eye, super length of neck, very smooth over the withers with good angles front and back. Moved out with drive and held a super topline. If she had a bit more confidence she would have pushed hard for the top awards.

2^nd: Rudkin’s Keydax Layla for Dynastydax – quite different to 1 in both type and attitude. Super smart and more confident, bit finer in type but well made with everything in proportion and moved well.

3^rd: Protheroe’s Royalmaple Evil Edna

YB (4/3)

1^st: Reed’s Deercroft Daybreak – placed 5^th in previous class of quality bitches, this girl has a lovely head, is well made and has plenty of bone. Bit more compact in type, and doesn’t quite give like some of the others in that class, but still like her type.

PGB (10/4)

1^st: Bell’s Bronia Conchita at Tolberg – Really liked this pretty B&T bitch. Quite small and low to ground but everything in proportion, she has a beautiful head and the best of forechests. Looks an absolute picture stood.

2^nd: Rollinson’s Diamonddax Sassy Satine –Totally different to 1, she is shorter and taller, but very smart and moved well.

3^rd: Andison & Peel’s Clentry Goosberry

LB (11/6)

A class of quality bitches, again all quite different and each with their merit’s.

1^st: Protheroe’s Picollo Teckel Never Say Never at Royalmaple – as with my DCC winner, this girl just pulled out the stops today. She oozes confidence and totally owns the ring, whilst others struggled to cope on the floor she just got on with it holding her head up high, powering around the ring with style and elegance. She is so super smart, so in proportion, lovely to go over and looks a picture both standing and moving. Delighted to award her the CC & BOB.

2^nd: Merry’s Isabella Made for Merryline – very pretty red bitch. Didn’t look as well stood, but really lovely on the move with a very free and easy side gait. Very elegant with good reach and drive, firm topline and sound fore & aft.

3^rd: Oddie’s Riowood Tiger Socks – this bitch deserves a mention as I loved her type and it was a close decision. In contrast to 2, she looked a picture stacked up but on the move tended to poke her head which made her dip behind her shoulder a little.

OB (9/0)

This class was really tough. I genuinely liked every single bitch in the ring and in the end I was splitting hairs.

1^st: Williams & Moes’ Ch Cwmdarhian The X Factor – this red bitch is smart and elegant. Her coat shines, she stands like a professional and she moves with super drive. I would prefer a better head, but I liked everything else about her and when it came to choosing a winner her style won out. RCC.

2^nd: Ergis’ Ch Siouxline Rapunzel with Melriding – another elegant bitch who was especially pleasing on the move. A little narrow in front but I loved her shape and profile movement.

3^rd: Protheroe’s Royalmaple Daphne Blake

VB (1/1)

1^st: Kent’s Lokmadi Hidden Dragon – nice chunky shaded red bitch who looks great for a veteran. She is well constructed and moved well keeping a good topline. BV.

Heather Blackburn-Bennett