Welsh Kennel Club 2017 Breed: Miniature Wire Haired Dachshund

Judge: Susan Holt

Thank you to the Welsh Kennel Club committee for inviting me to judge my own variety at this show, I thoroughly enjoyed my day. Thanks too, to my efficient stewards who kept proceedings running smoothly.

Having owned and bred this lovely breed for over 20 years, I know how difficult it is to get everything you want from your breeding programme. I found type varied widely and some are still a long way from the ideal ratio of 1:2 height to length, required by our standard. On the whole temperaments were good, although some of those that were nervous showed this in wide and scuttling hind movement which cost them in the placings. There were a few with missing teeth and, whilst I am not a “mouth fanatic” our breed standard calls for full dentition. Ability to perform the tasks they were created for was uppermost in my mind and I was looking for a Dachshund with the correct coat (wire with an undercoat) that could move freely, with confidence, and without exaggeration.

Veteran Dog 1 (0)

1^st Phillips CH Curtisey Boogy Woogy JW

A brilliant start to my judging found this happy, extrovert 7 year old Champion, with the most fabulous coat strutting round the ring and absolutely enjoying the attention. A moderate dog all through with correct angles, enough ground clearance and keeping a good outline. Best Veteran

Minor Puppy Dog 3 (0)

1^st Russell’s Russteck The Bruce

This well boned, compact young man headed a class of raw babies. He presents a neat picture, and looks all of a piece, keeping his outline on the move. His head and expression are male without being coarse. He has a strong neck flowing well into correctly laid shoulders. His length of ribbing ensures a good underline and he has a well filled front. He stands on strong legs and feet with good width front and back. Best Puppy in Breed.

2^nd Cadmore & Greenslade’s Ridanflight Reginald

A rangier type and a promising puppy dog. He is more scopy than the first, moves out well and keeps a good shape. He has a great length of neck and a strong head with arrogant expression. He is pleasing to go over on the table with everything in the right place and was presented in super condition, will be interesting to see him mature.

Kay’s Kaytian Tempest Over Haiti

Puppy Dog 2 (0)

1^st Russell’s Russteck The Bruce

2^nd Kaytian Tempest Over Haiti

This red boy was 3^rd in the previous class and is at that “in-between” stage. His proportions are good and he is sound coming and going. He settled better on the move in this class. Still quite raw, he needs to body up and drop into himself, which will come with maturity.

Junior Dog 2 (0)

1^st Clare’s Lordscairnie Love God

This is an honest little dog who is pleasing to handle on the table. Nothing overdone, he is well ribbed with a sound front assembly and moderate angulation both front and back. He was well presented and moved soundly, just lacked a little animation.

2^nd Jenkinson’s Badgerhunter for Eastriding (imp)

Very different type to the 1^st, this boy is rangier and still needs to come together to present a balanced picture. He has a crisp, pin wire coat, a glorious head and correct front. His feet are super tight and he moves well in profile. Tucks up a little underneath and is still a bit erratic coming and going.

Post Graduate Dog 3 (1)

1^st Rose’s Ridanflight Rock On Tommy

This boy kept his shape on the move and presented a balanced picture of good proportions. He is moderate all through with a male head. He has a well filled front and good ribbing, with a short loin. His confidence is illustrated in his positive movement and proud head carriage.

2^nd Cassidy’s Rosenez Little Rambler

This one is a tad longer in loin than the first. He has a good front and sweep of neck and was well presented, standing on nice tight feet. He was not quite as steady on the move as the 1^st.

Limit Dog 5 (1)

Difficult class as I liked different things about all of them and placings could change on another day.

1^st and RCC Howell’s Fallowmill Sydney

Presented to perfection, this boy gave his handler quite a hard time! He is a compact boy who is well bodied with a good spring to his ribs, which are carried well back. He keeps his outline on the move, holding a strong topline and, when settled and behaving, moves soundly with a good stride. His head is well proportioned and very definitely masculine, with a strong neck and good front construction. He has good width forward and back and correct, well padded, tight feet.

2^nd Russell’s Russteck Wyre In The Blood

Another well presented boy, this one has a harsh, pin wire coat. He also has super feet and keeps a good outline. He is a shade taller than the first, still correctly proportioned and there was very little to choose between these 2 boys. This one strode out well, covering the ground and having parallel movement up and down. First one just edged it with a stronger head.

3^rd Crossman’s Tythe Black Bee

Open Dog 4 (1)

1^st and CC Jones’ CH Bimini Starstruck

One I have admired from the ringside and he did not disappoint. A well boned and bodied, masculine dog in a neat, compact package. Inspection on the table revealed a well constructed dog with moderate angulation, good ribbing, a well filled front and nothing overdone. On the move, he carried his head high, showing off his well arched neck and moved soundly with good reach. His head is well proportioned with a correct earset. His coat is harsh, right down to his feet, pleased to award him the CC.

2^nd CH Foxearth Fiddler On The Roof

A red in good condition with a harsh coat and beautiful masculine head and strong jawline. He moved and covered the ground well with a long, purposeful stride, keeping a good outline. He too has a well filled front, good bone and ribbing, just a little longer in loin than the 1^st

3^rd Feetham’s Kimbleholme Jackpot

Veteran Bitch 0

Minor Puppy Bitch 5 (0)

1^st Rose & Hunt’s Cagebrook Tickle Or Treat At Kavacanne

This confident and free striding bitch took my eye on the first go round. She immediately settled into her stride and moved soundly, with a composure that belied her young age. She is well angled with a superb coat, pleasing front and correct height to length. She has a decent length to her ribcage, a short, strong loin and is well bodied. At the moment her head needs to develop and grow some furnishings but that will be the icing on the cake. Her handler got the best out of her and worked with her to show her to advantage. Best Puppy Bitch

2^nd Bimini Wish Upon A Star

2nd and 3^rd are very similar in type and could change places on another day. This girl is a different type to first, with lots to like but unfortunately giving her handler a hard time! This compact, well made bitch is very feminine and has a pretty head. Smaller than the first, she is well proportioned and everything is in the right place, she just needs to learn to co-operate on the move! When settled into her stride she moved soundly with a good stride.

3^rd Daykin’s Barratini Angels Eve

Puppy Bitch 2 (1)

1^st Grant’s Granhoward Ethel

Good proportions and a very pretty head on this harsh coated bitch. She is well bodied and presented in good condition, has enough angulation and moved well in profile. A little unsettled coming and going.

Junior Bitch 7 (1)

1^st Jones’ Bimini Blue Moon

This elegant and rangy bitch headed a nice junior class. Harsh coated, with a strong yet pretty head and super neck and shoulders, she handled well on the table, with good angulation both ends and well sprung ribs. She covered the ground with verve and panache, keeping a good outline and very sound out and back. Considered her in the Challenge, just preferred the shorter loin of my CC and RCC winners.

2^nd Pain’s Russteck Nicely Nicely For Ravensbeech

Close decision between the first two. This is a different type to 1^st, also with a lot to like. Super temperament, harsh, pin wire coat, super tight feet and very sound. She is maturing well, with good depth to her body, holding a strong top and underline and moving absolutely true.

3^rd Marston-Teal’s Lordscairnie Life’s New Love

Post Graduate Bitch 6 (2)

1^st Pain’s Russteck Nicely Nicely For Ravensbeech

2^nd Meredith’s Deepdax Perrie

Unfortunate to meet the first in such fine form, there is a lot to like about this compact bitch. She never stopped showing from entering to leaving the ring, she was totally focused on her handler. She is “all of a piece” and very well presented. A smaller bitch but in proportion and nothing overdone. She is correctly angulated, which shows in her positive, sound movement. Just carrying a little extra weight over her shoulders.

3^rd Gilkes’ Ridanflight Rockin Rita

Limit Bitch 6 (1)

A difficult class as the first three could change places on a different day

1^st and Reserve CC Meredith’s Deepdax Let’s Dance

2^nd Daykins’ Barratini Chatters

2 quality bitches to which similar remarks apply. Both compact with correct height to length and moving with ease over the grass. Both well presented and pleasing to go over, with good angulation and well filled fronts. Both have pretty heads that are feminine without being “twee”, and strong necks. The second is a tad longer than the first but very little to choose – the first just showed a bit more on the go round.

3^rd Lordscairnie’s Life Of Love

Open Bitch 6 (0)

1^st CC and Best of Breed Kirkwood Emery’s Helydon Fabulous Freya

Glorious bitch that commands attention. Well presented and handled, with a crisp coat, she is a solid bitch that is both strong and feminine. She has bone and substance and absolutely eats up the ground on the move, never breaking her stride and so light on her feet. She has width, depth and a short strong loin. Her confidence shows in her arrogant head carriage, her outstretched tail and her free and happy movement. Pleased to award her the CC (her second I believe) and Best of Breed

2^nd Howell’s Fallowmill Top Of The Class

A bit lower to ground and very feminine, this is another that moved with attitude and was sound out and back. She uses her well rounded quarters to advantage and kept her outline on the go round. She has ample front and is well ribbed back, giving a short, strong loin. Preferred the head and exuberance of the winner.

3^rd Feetham’s Kimbleholme Queen Of Hearts