Although the entry was small numerically, there were some good quality dogs entered and I was spoilt for choice in bitches. Overall quality of conformation was good in today’s entry, but some points do need to be watched. Most exhibits had short ribcages and also short keels and as a consequence loins were too long. Instead of two thirds ribcage, one third loin, I was finding half and half. Also quite a few with flat feet. Some exhibits could have done better if they had been handled to show them to best advantage. Very frustrating as a judge, but I realise from my own experience showing, that some dachshunds are just not easy to show!

Puppy Dog (3)

1st Jones’ Cwmdarhian Emoji, Compact brindle with correct length to height ratio, shown to advantage. Attractive head with dark eye and keen, alert expression. Reasonable length of neck, well placed shoulders, but could have slightly longer upper arm. Good prominent breastbone and forechest. Immature in body as yet, and lacks coat. Particularly liked his tight, bunched feet which was a rarity in this entry. Moved out smartly, holding a good shape, although at present he just rises slightly behind at times viewed in profile. Preferred his overall proportions and shorter loin to 2nd.

2nd Irvine’s Bronia The Dutchman, Longer cast red of completely different type to 1st. Also has much to commend him, having a strong, masculine head with dark eye and powerful jaw. Reasonable length neck leads smoothly into well laid shoulders. Would prefer a longer ribcage and much shorter loin as his ribs only reached halfway along his torso. Well angulated quarters and in much fuller coat than 1st. He gave his handler a bit of a hard time on the move, and was slightly erratic at times, but I am sure more show experience will improve this as he is only a puppy. Very promising.

3rd Drady’s Indiko I Am The Music Man

Junior Dog (0)

Post Graduate Dog (2)

1st Paskins’ Dinkidax Sandrayana At Kindeace, Completely unexaggerated, compact and soundly constructed red with balanced angulation at both ends. Attractive head with well shaped dark eye, carried proudly on a good reach of neck. Firm, level topline held in stance and in profile movement. Very free mover, holding his outline at all times. Correct coat, not being over furnished. Moving parallel coming towards me, but could perhaps be slightly more positive in hind action going away, which was the deciding factor when making the major awards. One to be proud of. Reserve CC.

2nd Heiser’s Polinard Kimber, Smaller shaded red with good overall conformation. Has a more profuse coat which made him appear slightly stuffy in neck compared with 1st. Not making the most of himself on the move, as he was inclined to keep dropping his head and spoiling his outline. Moved steadily, having good up and back movement. Not quite the flair on the move of 1st however.

Limit Dog (1)

1st Kennedy’s Hanishan Blue Diamond, Beautifully constructed black and tan in fabulous condition with a gleaming coat. Attractive head with reasonable reach of neck, flowing smoothly into well placed shoulders, having the correct forechest as a consequence. Pleasing body shape, firm topline and good sweep of underline. Well let down quarters with correct bend of stifle. Lovely bone and substance, but also has elegance. Just slightly let himself down on the move, as he would insist on sniffing the floor and crabbing. Very frustrating, as I liked him a lot and he could have gone further if his handler had managed to get him to cooperate and show himself off better.

Open Dog (3)

1st Kennedy’s Ch. Denkena Loganberry, Soundly constructed cream with everything in the right place, and very satisfying to go over. Compact body, with balanced angulation fore and aft. Firm, level topline held at all times in stance and on the move. Holds his shape in profile and steps out freely. Has parallel action up and back. A good showman who carried himself proudly round the ring. Could perhaps have a slightly longer neck for perfection and this was the deciding factor when he met the bitch at the end of judging. Well deserved CC.

2nd Connew’s Fenellafleur Zorro, Impressive silver dapple with high level of quality of conformation. Attractive head with keen expression. Good neck leads to well laid shoulders. Good body shape, spring of rib and flow of underline. Well angulated quarters. Coat not quite at his best, and is just slightly starting to show his age, being a veteran of 7 years. Quality dog to be proud of.

3rd Buchan & Kerslake’s Devonwood Crackerjack at Helenium

Special Beginner’s Dog (1)

1st Drady’s Indiko I Am The Music Man, 3rd in puppy class. Immature black and tan with pleasing overall shape, although I would prefer slightly better layback of shoulder and length of upper arm. Good body shape, topline and well angulated quarters.

Puppy Bitch (5, 1 abs)

1st Mitchell’s Bronia Rogue One,  My star of the day! Beautiful shaded cream who commanded my attention on entering the ring and did not disappoint when I examined her in closer detail on the table. Excellent level of quality of conformation. My hands flowed over her. Everything fits seamlessly together. Attractive feminine head with dark eye and alert expression. Excellent length of neck flowing into textbook shoulders that were correctly placed and had good length of upper arm to complement and also good forechest. Well bodied with firm, level topline and good sweep of underline. Well angulated hindquarters complete the picture. Moved with freedom and style in profile, keeping her lovely outline at all times. Carries quite a lot of coat, which slightly obscures her hind action going away, however. Stood out in this entry and although I don’t think I have ever awarded a CC to a puppy, I couldn’t resist her! CC and Best of Breed, and delighted to see she also achieved Best Puppy In Show and was shortlisted in Best In Show too.

2nd Mason’s Tolberg Beezs Kneez at Teckeltown, Attractive compact, feminine red of perfect proportions, possessing the correct two to one length to height ratio. Admired her head and expression with correctly shaped dark eye and keen outlook. Not quite the layback of shoulder and length of upper arm of 1st, but overall had good construction and this was reflected in free movement where she held her shape at all times. Handled to advantage to display her virtues. Less profuse coat than 1st, which I prefer. Very promising.

3rd Drady’s Indiko Destined to be Cream

Junior Bitch (3)

A strong class with 3 quality exhibits who could change places on another day.

1st Bell’s Tolberg Cream Treat, Compact, beautifully constructed cream with correct length to height ratio and high level of quality of conformation throughout. Attractive head with keen, dark eye. Good reach of neck, flowing smoothly into well placed shoulders. Good body shape, spring and length of rib. Well let down quarters with pleasing bend of stifle and short rear pasterns complete the picture. In fabulous condition with correct coat. Held her shape at all times in stance and profile movement and had an easy, free-striding action, covering the ground without effort. Particularly admired her drive and extension of stride behind, which is a rarity in this variety of dachshund, where a lot of them move under themselves with a tummy-tapping action. This was the deciding factor when placing this class. Should have an exciting future. Reserve CC in a line-up of very high quality bitches.

2nd Geeson’s Abydachs Alohomora, Black and cream with good bone and substance throughout. Of different type to 1st, being slightly longer-cast. Her head type did not appeal to me as much as 1st, however, she is very well made and had a well filled front viewed head on, with very pleasing forechest and overall body shape in profile. Handled to advantage and put up an accomplished performance in this hotly contested class.

3rd Cohen’s Lilac Blossom For Hutzpah

Post Graduate Bitch (5, 1 abs)

Another good class.

1st Rowell’s Emmajesk Masquerade,  Like my bitch CC winner, this bitch was one of several high quality exhibits I admired that were sired by Ch. Tolberg Cream Dream, who is obviously proving his worth as a sire. Elegant cream with attractive head, good reach of neck, well placed shoulders and pleasing length of upper arm to complement and as a consequence, moved with good reach in front. Well bodied, with firm topline and good flow of underline. Well constructed hindquarters complete the picture. Moved with free, lengthy stride around the ring, and this was the deciding factor when making my placings.

2nd Geeson’s Abydachs Avada Kedavra, Chocolate & cream of equal quality to 1st, but different type, being slightly longer overall. High level of conformation throughout, having well laid shoulders and plenty of forechest, good body shape and topline. Not quite the firm stance behind of 1st, however. In beautiful condition and handled to advantage. Stylish mover, holding her outline at all times in profile.

3rd Heiser’s Polinard Nobilis

Limit Bitch (3)

1st Cohen’s Ralines Red Bouquet For Hutzpah,  Quality red with high level of quality of conformation. Well presented and handled to advantage to display her many qualities. Attractive head with alert, attentive expression. Very good length of neck and well laid shoulders with correct forechest. Good spring of rib and overall body shape. Held her firm, level topline at all times, both in stance and profile movement. Good parallel action up and back. Very well balanced in fore and hind angulation. Stylish mover, stepping out with freedom round the ring. Close up in the challenge.

2nd Allen’s Penparc Creme Caramel,  Another quality exhibit with good conformation. Attractive, feminine cream with pleasing head and expression of slightly different type to 1st. Compact overall outline, holding a firm topline and has a good sweep of underline to complement. Moved freely and soundly. Slightly out of coat at present.

3rd Woodvine-Shone’s Hanishan Little Red Madam

Open Bitch (2)

1st Bell’s Tolberg Legally Blonde,  Another beautiful bitch sired by Ch. Tolberg Cream Dream and has all the same qualities as his other offspring on show today. Compact, beautifully constructed cream with attractive head and expression. Reasonable length neck leads to well laid shoulders. Holds a firm, level topline at all times and keeps her outline in profile on the move. Well let down quarters complete the picture. Not showing quite the animation on the move of the younger girls today, but certainly one to be proud of.

2nd Graham’s Devoncream Lily Luna At Jadag,  Cream brindle of different type to 1st, being much longer overall. I admired her head and expression and she is well constructed in front, but didn’t quite have the angulation behind of my 1st, having longer rear pasterns and this was reflected on the move, where she was slightly rising up in her topline viewed in profile.

Special Beginners’ Bitch (2)

1st Mason’s Tolberg Beez Kneez at Teckeltown.Up from 2nd in puppy. Best Special Beginner.

2nd Drady’s Indilo Destined to Be Cream,  3rd in puppy and very immature as yet. Had a good outline viewed in profile, but is just a shade wide in front action coming towards me. Hope this tightens up with maturity as she is otherwise very pleasing in conformation and moves out freely.