This is the fourth time that I've been invited to judge at The Dachshund Club which  I consider to be one of the highest honours in our hobby. To say that I was delighted to receive an entry of 91 Min Wires is an understatement, thank you so much for your support. I dearly love this variety having a Champion bitch & her daughter still with me, its the beautiful head & expression that really steels my heart. I thoroughly enjoyed this appointment, I found the males hard work to sort out for a variety of reasons but my bitch line up thrilled me emensley with several that are worthy CC winners & hopefully several future champions especially in the younger classes. Overall my only real concern was the actual size of some exhibits. The clue is in the name of the breed, miniature & not midi or medium. Not one single exhibit was thin or under weight, the scales are used as a guide only & I've never been a judge to penalise ounces but in some cases even on the eye without weighing them to me several are just out of what is my interpretation of miniature. My thanks to my two stewards Mike & Helen Caple who added to my enjoyment on this assignment. A most memorable days judging, thank you

SB D/B; (2,1 abs), 1, Macfarlan's Granhoward Lilly, really lovely bitch to start with, fills your eye overall & keeps a beautiful outline both standing & on the move. Beautiful head & feminine expression, well arched neck leading into very good shoulders, tight elbows with plenty of forchest & width throughout, very good ribbing with correct top & underlines, short loins leading into well made quarters. Sound enough coming & going & in profile really projects herself well, clearly displaying correct reach & follow through. In great coat & condition & went onto win a strong PGB class later in the day

MPD (3), 1, Furneaux's Bassodon Sirus, just coming upto 8 months, lovely type, loved his head & expression, lovely dark oval shaped eyes, plenty of neck, very good legs & feet with enough forechest, good strong topline on well developed ribbing for his age, excels in hindquarters with good length of second thigh on neat firm parallel hocks. Very sound coming & going for one so young & appeals in profile keeping an attractive outline. 2, Tomsett's Pinocchio Klara Difino At Dajean, 6 month b/t, very good head & strong under jaw, enough neck, keel is prominent & extends well back, very good legs & feet, well proportioned body with ample ribbing, another baby with well made quarters & so well muscled too for his age. Not as precise coming & going as 1 & today his coat was a touch on the soft side. 3, Crossman's Arfa Ate

PD (6,1), 1 Thorn-Andrews' Drakesleat Ivor Notion, 11 month b/t with the most impressive profile action & carriage, he uses his well arched neck to great advantage which makes you look twice, very good shoulders, tight elbows on very good legs & feet. He has enough forchest with plenty of width throughout, his keel extends well back which leads into a lovely underline, cast iron topline, very good ribbing leading into short thick loins, tail correctly set & carried at all times, well made behind with strong neat & short hocks, ultra sound up & down & he certainly covers some ground in profile, certainly an eye-catching exhibit in great coat too. 2, Crossman's Janter Clarion, another youngster that excels in profile, he too can cover some ground with ease. Good head & expression, ears correctly set & carried, long well arched neck leading into good shoulders, everything fits nicely, shade taller than 1 throughout but all in proportion, very good ribbing & body, correct firm backline, sound enough coming towards me though a little untidy going away today. Promising young man that can certainly move out well keeping an attractive outline. 3, Philip's Gulliagh Loganberry of Robinswood

JD (2), 1 Russell's Russteck All Eyeson Me, This 12 month youngster had the most amazing coat & was beautifully presented. Very good head & houndy expression, deep dark expressive oval eyes, strong powerful jaws, lovely neck leading into good shoulders with tight fitting elbows, enough forechest on strong legs & tight feet, very good body & ribbing, short loins leading into well muscled quarters, tail is correctly set & carried. Ultra sound in front action although not so precise today going away, looked good in profile with plenty of reach in front, fit & hard as nails. 2, Jones' Carlita Sunrise, 15 month youngster going through the sillies today, he did however enough to impress especially in profile. Good head & expression, long well arched neck, not quite the shoulders of 1, good legs & feet with plenty of width throughout, another with a great wire coat & well presented, ultra sound coming & going & went so well in profile covering so much ground. Certainly at that teenager stage both mentally & in body which will both no doubt improve

PGD (2), 1 Reilly's Phyvars Winston, Impresses on the move especially with his drive from behind from his beautifully made quarters. Great head & expression, correct ratios from muzzle to skull, well arched neck that he uses so well on the move, good well filled front that fits nicely on good legs & feet, good firm topline although his underline does tend to cut up a little, his quarters are textbook, well bent stifles on neat & firm parallel hocks, ultra sound coming & going & certainly projects himself well in profile, even for a male he appeared a little on the large side for me. Another that wears a great coat thats so well presented. 2, Hayward's Fallowmill Cambera, lovely headed dog, dark points & beautifully proportioned. Enough neck leading into good shoulders, very good ribbing with correct top & underlines, although his quarters are firm & well muscled his angulation did not match that of one lacking in second thigh & a shade longer in hocks, certainly not as precise today coming & going as 1 but another who covers the ground well in profile keeping an attractive outline

LD (7,2) 1, CC, BOB, BP & BPIS, Thorn-Andrews' Drakesleat Evan Sent, isn't he just!. Totally divine & certainly full fills my interpretation of the breed standard. I found his type, construction & overall proportions exceptional, most beautiful head & expression, dark almond shaped eyes give that melting expression that I just can't get passed. Long well arched neck leads into very good shoulders with correct upper arm on the best of legs & feet. Well prominent forechest with good width throughout. His topline is cast iron & never falters, ribbing already is deep & extends well back. Short strong loins lead into very well made quarters, stong & well made. Ultra sound coming & going & quite delightful in profile giving a picture that will always make you look at him twice. His coat & presentation was perfection & for me he was the overall package I was looking for & I was delighted to award him his first CC, without doubt 2019 should be an amazing year for him!. 2 & RCC, Kay's Kaytian Tempest Over Haiti JW, 2 yr red that is beautifully proportioned & so well made throughout, your hands just flow going over him where everything fits like a jigsaw. His head & expression is quite beautiful with deep dark points & lovely oval shaped eyes, well arched neck lead into very good shoulders, super legs & lovely tight feet. Plenty of keel that extends well back giving the desired underline. Ribbing is deep & well sprung with a good firm backline. Tail well set & carried at all times & his quarters are so well made, his hocks are short, neat & parallel. Ultra sound coming & going & certainly projects himself well in profile with lovely reach in front & follow through from behind. In great coat & condition, for me 1 just had a little more length in body & was the type I just can't get passed. If there is any justice this boy will carry his crown, good luck. 3, Clare's Lordscairnie Love God

OD (5,1) 1, Kirkwood-Emery's Ch Helydon Laird Loki, this 19 month youngster certainly was full of himself today & on the move insisted at going a hundred miles an hour which at times did detract from his overall outline. Without doubt he certainly is a quality young man & is beautiful to go over, appealing head & expression, long well arched neck, good tight elbows, fantastic bone & feet, very good body & ribbing, good firm topline, very well made quarters, beautiful angles & so well muscled & strong. Ultra sound coming & going, no doubt he can cover the ground in great style, today just needing to drop it down a gear which would have shown less effort too. His coat & condition is an absolute object lesson to everyone. 2, Presnail's Taree Useless Loop, beautiful type that certainly excels in shoulders & front construction. Lovely houndy head with plenty of width & strength in his jaws, enough neck, shoulders are text book, beautifully angled with the correct length of upper arm. Plenty of forechest & width throughout, his ribbing is broad, deep & extends well back, his quarters didn't quite match 1 either in angulation or length of hocks, certainly very sound coming towards me although not as precise as 1 going away. Keeps a pleasing outline in profile where he covered the ground at a more sensible pace. Another with a great coat. 3, Russell's Int Ch Heidilind's Kilt Cancan Rusteck (Imp Swe)

VD (2) 1 & BV, Phillips' Ch Curtisey Boogy Woogy JW, In profile this 8 yr old has everything that you look for in a Miniature, elegance, easy action with correct reach & follow through & holds an amazing outline at all times. Good Head & expression, long well arched neck that he uses so well on the move to project himself. Very good shoulders with the tightest of elbows,his body proportions are beautiful, long deep oval ribbing, short thick loins on a solid topline, I loved his body length, typically Dachshund not being short or cobby. His quarters are lovely too & on the move he comes & goes with precision. Lovely coat, super outline, a most worthy Champion. 2, Hayward's Taree Scoville At Wirefusion, another very sound oldie, just as precise as 1 coming & going & in great coat too. Very good head & expression, enough neck, not quite the shoulders as 1 & a shade shorter in body. Ribbing extends well back & is well sprung. Loins are firm, short & strong & his tail is correctly set & carried at all times. Although he kept a pleasing outline in profile his gait didn't match 1 who covered the ground with very little effort. Certainly a lovely type & no denying his breed type

MPB (5,1) 1, Dance's Emem Constance Sunshine, chunky 7 month baby with the most sweetest feminine head & expression, well arched neck lead into very good shoulders, good layback even at this age, plenty of forechest & width throughout. Well developed ribbing for one so young, correct top & underlines, well made quarters with plenty of angulation, sound enough coming & going for such a baby clearly displaying a very happy personality. Moves out well in profile, in lovely coat & so well presented. Once the puppy fat goes & she tightens up (& you wouldn't want her any other way at this age) she should go onto exciting things. 2, Powell's Forbell Special Performer, totally different in type to one, shade more exaggerated throughout & certainly a shade more of her. Good head, long well arched neck, good shoulders on well boned legs & feet, ribbing is long & well developed & she too is well made in her quarters. Ultra sound for 8 months coming & going & holds her outline in profile. Another with a lovely wire coat. 3, Macfalan's Bassodon Minerva

PB (10,4) 1 & BPB Clare's Drakesleat Helen Back To Mabellene, outstanding for type & her head & expression is quite exceptional, so feminine & so pretty. She is so well made & beautifully proportioned throughout, enough neck leading into good shoulders with plenty of forechest on very good legs & feet. Correct top & underlines with very good ribbing that extends well back, short firm loins lead into well made quarters. Her angulation is correct & her hocks short & neat. Ultra sound coming & going & in profile carries herself well with good reach & follow through. All quality & one I liked very much indeed. 2, Storton's Dereheath Helen Reddy, such a well made puppy excelling in body & profile action. Her coat & presentation certainly helps to enhance her virtues. Good head & expression although not the ultra feminine outlook of 1, ample neck which she uses well at all times, well developed shoulders on very good legs & feet. Plenty of forechest with her keel extending well back, correct top & underlines with short strong loins. She too has lovely quarters with good strong neat parallel hocks, ultra sound coming towards me though not as precise as 1 today going away. Eye-catching in profile, a real showgirl that's full of potential. 3, Morris' Stargang Peggy Sue At Pennywave

JB (9,2) 1 & CC, Ergis & Merry's Drakesleat Trial N'Error For Siouxline, Just the type I like & she gave the impression that she could actually do the job she was bred to do. So well made throughout & everything flows & fits just as it should. Gorgeous head & expression with lovely dark almond shaped eyes, good strong teeth with plenty of width & depth on the under jaw, firm mobile neck which she uses so well on the move, her shoulders are correctly angulated with tight knitting elbows. Very good legs & feet give her body the desired ground clearance. Very good ribbing that is deep & well sprung with correct top & underlines. Her loins are short & well muscled & her quarters are well made & 'hammy'. Her muscletone is certainly outstanding. Rock solid quarters & hocks that never faltered & remains precise at all times. Her coat & furnishings certainly give her a lovely finish. From the way she is made she had to be ultra sound coming & going which she is & in profile the correct reach & follow through is clearly displayed for all to see. Her second CC from a fabulous line up of bitches & if there is any justice her title won't be far away, just lovely. 2, Russell's Russteck Dancing In The Dark, another lovely bitch that appealed greatly for many reasons, just 12 months, all in proportion & so well made. Lovely head & expression, plenty of neck leading into very good shoulders, her angles are correct already & elbows nice & tight. He body proportions are good although slightly more compact than 1, very good deep oval ribbing with correct top & underlines, short firm loins, well muscled quarters with strong parallel hocks. She too is ultra sound coming & going & projects herself well in profile keeping a beautiful outline. Her coat & condition was second to none & without doubt will always do well for she has so much to offer. 3, Howell's Fallowmill Indian Runner

PGB (14,4) 1, Granhoward Lilly, after winning the first class of the day this beautiful bitch certainly pulled out all the stops here & without doubt certainly deserved to head this class. 2, Clements' Springdac Red Siren, loved the overall shape & proportions on this girl who was so sound on the move aswell. Lovely feminine head & expression with dark points throughout. Enough neck leading into good shoulders although not quite the layback of 1, tight elbows & plenty of width throughout, very good ribbing with a good solid topline, short loins that lead into very well made quarters, beautifully angled & so strong & hammy. So precise coming & going & in profile keeps an attractive outline at all times. She ran 1 all the way but just not opening her gait as much as 1 when it mattered, a lovely bitch that should certainly be useful. 3, Crossman & Kennedy's Janter Bee Forever

LB (14,2), Lovely class with the first three all appealing greatly. 1, Thorn-Andrews' Drakesleat Drakesleat Drop Dead Gorjus, she is certainly beautiful both to look at & examine. Ultra feminine in outlook with the most gorgeous head & expression, long well arched neck leading into good shoulders with the tightest of elbows. Plenty of forechest & width on very good legs & feet. Everything fits so well. Good deep oval ribbing that extends well back with correct top & underlines, short well muscled loins lead into the most amazing set of hind quarters, beautifully made & proportioned. Hocks are short, firm & parallel & her movement coming & going is ultra sound. In profile her carriage & easy action is lovely to see & on this performance she will prove hard to get past in 2019. Certainly pushed the eventual winners all the way in the challenge where I was spoilt for choice!. 2, Daykin's Barratini Angels Eve JW, certainly pushed 1 extremely hard, for me she was a shade shorter coupled & not quite the ultra femininity in head of 1. Having said that her shoulders are exemplary & are an object lesson to all on how a true Dachshund front should be made. Her angles are simply stunning, her elbows tight & her deep will filled front sits so well in her crook, her feet are gorgeous too!. Very good body & ribbing with very good top & underlines, her loins are short & firm, well angled behind & solid neat hocks too, ultra sound as 1 coming & going & certainly shows her many virtues off so well in profile, a real showgirl that possess a fabulous coat that was presented to perfection. 3, Black's Bassodon Dodecahedron JW

OB (8,2)  Three lovely Ladies headed this class. 1 & RCC, Smith & Moon's Ch Drakesleat Prim N'Proper For Alncroft, thought this bitch to be absolutely stunning all through, so beautifully made, so feminine & looked like a Miniature Dachshund. She certainly is a lovely size & her proportions & balance are really lovely. Her head piece is truly delightful with the most heart melting expression, well arched neck lead into very good shoulders with correct layback & the tightest of elbows. She has enough forechest on very good legs & the neatest of feet, very good ribbing with short firm loins, rock solid topline & lovely underline, her quarters are neatly made & well muscled, her hocks are short & strong, so very sound coming & going & in profile showed her socks off really covering the ground effortlessly & in great style. Her coat & furnishings where spot on & added to her overall finish. Handled to perfection & possibly one of the closest decisions I have ever made. Certainly wouldn't mind seeing this delightful bitch running around in my yard everyday, lovely. 2, Thorn-Andrews' Ch Drakesleat Too Gud To Be True, another beauty, giving a lot away in age & overall finish to 1, the same beautiful head & expression with the darkest of almond shaped eyes & lovely furnishings, well arched neck leading into good shoulders, plenty of width through her front & throughout, very good ribbing that extends well back, firm backline leading into strong loins, her tail is well set & carried at all times, well made quarters with correct length of second thigh on strong parallel hocks. So very sound up & down & projects herself well in profile clearly displaying correct reach & follow through from behind. At just 17 months she has obviously won well carrying her crown & I feel that the best is yet to come from her. Such a lovely young Lady.3, Price's Samlane Belleza JW

VB (3,1) 1, Dance's Ch Emem Candy Sunshine, so very sound & full of herself. Good strong teeth & under jaw, plenty of neck leading into good shoulders, plenty of width through her front which fits so correctly, very good body & ribbing with correct top & underlines. Short thick loins lead into well made hammy quarters which she uses so well & freely on the move. Sound enough coming & going & moves out in profile with great style & effortless free movement. Fit & active with many more years showing as veteran ahead of her. 2, Kirkwood-Emery's Ubu Isla At Helydon, such a delightful young Lady to finish the day with, its hard to believe she is 11 yrs old as her character & personality is that of a puppy!. Her coat & condition is such a credit to her owner & even at this age she ultra sound coming & going. Her profile action was free & easy with great reach & follow through from behind & her overall outline was pleasing to see. She certainly ran 1 very close & both are a credit to their owners dedication & a delight to watch

Daniel Roberts (Judge)

Swansford