West of England Dachshund Club 2002

Judge: Jeff Horswell

Dachshund (Long Haired)

 Great pleasure to judge at this friendly and well run show, glad to see the West Of England haven’t lost their touch. I enjoyed this variety very much, it was heartening to find so many Longs of the correct size, carrying the right coat and with the proportions a Dachshund should be. Most had sufficient leg length to do a day’s work, without having a ‘leggy’ appearance. The most common fault was ear set, I would say the majority had low set Spaniel type ears, although not too many thick skulls. Whilst I would not suggest anyone breeds for ears alone it does need thinking about before it creeps in much more. Pigment could also be better in a few. Far too many very long loins through the entry. Movement was on the whole not bad at all, most toplines also were nice and firm, most dogs were in excellent condition, with plenty of muscle. I was interested to see my BOB winner, who made by day by going BIS under one of our leading breed specialists, Len Hammond, shares the same dam as the 2 exciting puppies. My expectations of the day were far exceeded by the quality of dogs I found right through the entry, thank you for entering on such a ‘marathon’ weekend.

MPD (2) 1 Metcalfe’s Metadale Moondancer. Very floppy p of 6 mths. Liked his balance and proportion and size. Super head, enough neck, nicely laid shoulder, good forechest, long ribs, slightly long in loin as yet, well made rear, super front action, true behind and a firm topline. Most promising; 2 Pannell’s Penzown Sorcerer. More mature d. Has a long head, super jaw, long neck, tends to knuckle on one leg as yet. Long ribs but long loin, well made rear, nice tight feet.

JD (6) 1 Page’s Chipperfield Brigadier. Liked his balance and proportions best in this class. Super head, arrogant expression and high set ears. Long neck, fair front, long rib and keel with correct loin. Holds a firm topline. True mover but could stride out more. Correct coat; 2 Cooper and Steadman’s Darsoms Zuave At Merrygarth. Good overall d just not putting anything in. Fair head, angulation is well balanced so moves well. Correct for size and coat. Super rib and a short loin. Well muscled rear; 3 Swann and Roberts’ Rodima Gold Knight At Swansford.

PGD (5) 1 Metcalfe’s Metadale Matador. Correct for size, type and balance. Super ribs and a lovely short loin, long head but lacks a touch of refinement. Nice neck, shoulders ok with a long upper arm, firm topline, not too long either. Well bent stifle, fair moving; 2 Oxley’s Larkhund Latest Destroyer At Owlery. Long head, super for neck, is a nice size, long upper arm, cannot match the winner’s ribs and loin. Holds a level topline, well bent stifle. Moves ok; 3 Alford’s Loxbar Private Murray.

LD (8) 1 Edwards and Pankhurst’s Danward Sibelius. Super to go over, liked his head and high set ears, long neck, long shoulder blades just a fraction far apart. Super ribs, level topline, well made rear. Correct for size and coat and a lovely temperament. Very honest sort of d. Pleases moving, very true and a fair stride. RCC; 2 Chapman’s Witchespell War Lord. Liked his head, eye and ears. Strong neck, balanced angulation, holds a firm topline, strong rear, true and free moving d. Good legs and feet, correct size and coat; 3 Burke and Manston’s Bonavoir Seven Sisters.

OD (5) 1 Swann and Roberts’ Ch Swansford Lanador. Very well made d, moving true, minimum of lift of leg in front and ok for stride, long head, nice ear set, could be a touch more refined, sufficient neck, good shoulder, long well laid upper arm, could have tighter feet. Best ribcage and loin in males by far, keel goes so far back, short strong loin, well made rear, muscled up well. Firm topline, like his balance, not too long or low and just about ok for size. CC; 2 Cooper and Steadman’s Darsoms Zante Of Merrygarth. Lots to like about this stylish d who didn’t want to move with any sparkle. Long head, arrogant expression, long neck. Not quite the front of 1. He too has a lovely body. Tight feet, firm topline, well made rear in super condition; 3 Witchespell War Lord.

MPB (3) 1 Metcalfe’s Metadale Memories Of You. Very raw but loved her in every way. Super feminine head, long and refined, ears just a fraction low, long neck, super front, lovely body. Ideal bone and feet, firm topline, long ribs, short loin, super rear. Add spot on proportions and size, lovely prospect. BP; 2 Marsh’s Marshwick Moonlight. Long and feminine head, strong neck of good length. Nicely made and balanced. Just a trifle low. Holds a good topline, true and free mover; 3 Atkins and Harwood’s Kantis Kreme Fraiche.

PB (2) 1 Oxley’s Owlery Golden Splendour. Quality p. Super head, lovely clean skull, could be darker in pigment. Lovely neck, shoulders long but a shade apart at the blades. Good bone, long ribs, holds a level topline, strong and well made rear, just needs to tighten in front but very promising.

JB (7) Super class of lovely girls. 1 Metcalfe’s Metadale My Way. High class b. Super for size and balance and coat. Gorgeous head and eye. Long neck, well made front, can just tidy in front action still. Lovely ribs and body. Firm topline, well made rear. Moves so well behind. Quality b. RCC; 2 Worth’s Hilmar Velvet Alabama Of Loxbar. Liked her balance and proportions. Scored in feet over 3. Feminine and refined head, long neck, nice front with good forechest and long upper arm. Firm topline, nice rear; 3 Swann and Roberts’ Rodima Gold Mist Over Swansford.

NB (2) 1 Geeson’s Abydachs Rock N Roll Dream. Nice youngster who mustn’t grow on any more. Pleasing head, could have more neck. Nice front, long ribs with short loin. Nice rear. Sound and free mover; 2 Chapman’s Melminds Melanee. Lots to like. Head more refined than it looks under coat. Nice front assembly, well off for neck. Good body and ribs, not the hind action of 1.

PGB (7) 1 Mitchell’s Metadale Moment Of Truth At Bronia. Super feminine b. Loved her size, balance and movement. Nice head, strong neck, well made front, grand body, nice rear, holds a firm topline. Could be fractionally better in feet. Moves so well. CC and BOB; 2 Wedge’s Bonavoir Irish Mist At Dolans. Like her for size and soundness. Plenty of coat for me. Nice head, needs more pigment. Long neck, nice front. Touch low and long. Well ribbed. Super rear; 3 Harwood’s Kantis Koriander.

LB (8) 1 Oxley’s Owlery Dakota. All round sound and honest sort of b. Liked her construction, balance and size, long head, very feminine, super neck, nice front. Good body and ribs. Holds a firm topline, strong rear; 2 Edwards and Pankhurst’s Danward Symphony. Nice b. Better in profile action than out and back. Feminine head, little too much stop, strong neck, fair front, super ribs and body. Nicely made rear; 3 Metcalfe’s Metadale Made In Heaven.

OB (6) 1 Mitchell’s Bronia Gold Trinket. First 2 of slightly different type with different faults and virtues! I thought 1 was better in pastern and feet if not quite so positive coming. Super head, nice neck, well made front, not as low as she appears. Super proportions, nice topline, good rear; 2 Geeson’s Ch Abydachs Give Me The Future. Nice head and eye. Not quite the hind action of 1. Super neck. Well made front, good body and rib. A trifle long in back but presents an appealing outline at all times; 3 Burke and Manston’s Louetta Laylana With Bonavoir.

Jeff Horswell