Crufts
DACHSHUND (LONG-HAIRED)

Venue: NEC, Birmingham
Date: 4 - 7 March, 2004

It was a great honour for me to be invited to judge the breed at Crufts. Sadly, however, as it was due to Kath Bethal’s indisposition as the scheduled judge. I am sure therefore that all the exhibitors will join me in wishing Kath a speedy return to good health in the very near future. It is some two years since I last judged the breed at the Longhaired Club championship show (bitch classes). Viewing the Crufts entry of 105, I was disappointed by the lack of quality and conformity in many of the exhibits, particularly the younger stock. Whilst I was happy with my principal placings, some classes were simply not up to standard. Concerns I would ask the exhibitors to address in their future breeding programmes are:

i) movement in many is unsound and, whilst dogs look ok standing, they don’t when walking, and the longer the walk the worse it becomes. They lose their outline and lack the drive to propel themselves along.

ii) feet are long, flat and narrow. This is incorrect and some even had front feet that turned inwards. They must never do this. Good feet can go flat due to soft pads, resulting from the lack of exercise.

iii) Back to movement, I was appalled to fine tails with ‘kinks and twist’, not the correct reach of neck. The neck should be sufficiently long, slightly arched in the nape, running in graceful lines into the shoulders, carried up and forward. This is essential if the dog is to comply with the required general appearance of the breed - a ‘bold defiant carriage of the head’. Reading my report from the Longhaired Club show two years ago, I expressed the view that ‘movement had improved’. Sadly I cannot say there has been further improvement over the last two years, the contrary can be said! My overall remarks are made as a constructive observation - it is a wonderful breed, but serious efforts now need to to me made to reverse the decline and lack of conformity to the Breed Standard.

Vet D (8) 1 Holt’s Cedavoch Clandestine. S/R. Lovely quality, nice shoulders and good hind action. 2 Atkins’ Ch Kantis Karamel-Kreme. Lovely red with nice free flowing movement. Handsome shape and a worthy Champion. 3 Thompson’s Metadale Magnum. S/R. Lots to like about him, well done.

SpPD (3) 1 Metcalfe’s Master Craftsman. A lovely quality puppy from this well known kennel. Lots to like about him. Good luck for the future. 2 Burke and Manston’s Loggeta Good Vibrations. Another b/t of the larger type.

SpJD (6) 1 Metcalfe’s Metadale Macquarie. S/R. My notes at the time of judgingsaid ‘top drawer boy’. Everything to like about him. Loved watching his free flowing movement. He challenged hard for the top spot and I was pleased to award him the CC and Best of Breed. 2 Cooper and Steadman’s Alex’s Favourite with Merrygarth. 3 Bradley’s Pure Velvet at Lafrowda. Two shaded red with lots to like about them both. However, movement decided the placings on the day between them.

SpYD (4) 1 Edwards and Pankhurst’s Neropa Ace of Spades at Danward. B/T of correct size with a lovely outline, which was still in place on the move, as well as on the table. 2 Garlick’s Ranglewood Benedict. S/R. Longer type, did not show well on the table. However, allowing for that I still preferred the movement of the winner.

PGD (11) 1 Page’s Chipperfield Brigadier. Red of the correct size, showed to advantage with lovely front, level topline. Very nice. 2 Hobson’s Ranglewood Azures. Equally nice s/r. Lovely drive on the move and showed well. 3 Lawrence’s Peverleigh Solo Vision. B/T of longer type. Lovely overline. Preferred the movement of 1st and 2nd.

LD (13) 1 Cooper and Steadman’s Darsoms Zuave at Merrygarth JW. S/R of all through quality. Lovely head, shoulders and correct reach of neck. Good hindquarters with the correct drive. Very nice. 2 Negus’ Shardaroba Midnight Sun at Tarramist. S/R, nice lines and overall appearance. Sound movement. 3 Furneux’s Voryn’s Fellini. Also s/r, lots to like. Good outline - a very nice threesome.

OD (7) 1 McFaul’s Ch Ir Ch Darsoms Zwagerson. A worthy Champion, having to concede the CC on the day to the young contender for the top award. I was pleased to award him the Res CC. A pleasure to go over him. I remember judging his sire as a puppy. A worthy winner of the top class, strongly contested. 2 Metcalfe’s Ch Metadale Make My Day. Lovely b/t with everything to like about him (sire of Best of Breed). On the day didn’t move as well as the winner. 3 Holt’s Metadale Midnight Cowboy. B/T, Metadale breeding. Top quality and a worthy placing in a strong class.

Good Citizen D (1) 1 Gore’s Frankenwen Frascati for Georgessa. B/T, moved well.

Vet B (6) Placings as follows. 1 Tomlinson’s Bokra Mistique. 2 Cook and Coulson’s Abydachs Electra at Bournder. 3 Burfitt’s Dandydayo Melody Maker at Fragglerock.

SpPB (4) 1 Warke’s Glasvey You Nique. Red, loved her movement. Very nice puppy, hopefully will continue to develop and I wish her well for the future. Best Puppy. 2 Negus’ Shardaroba Casiopa by Terramist. Nice red, lots to like, except I did not like her topline on the move. 3 Metcalfe’s Metadale Make It Happen. Nice red, lower to the ground than 1 and 2.

SpJB (3) 1 Swann and Roberts’ Swansford Vivadora. S/R of nice length. Delightful on the move, one with a bright future. 2 Haye’s Rodima Dark Crystal Mitt Dialhouse. B/T of the longer type. Good movement, not yet in full coat. 3 Mitchell and Hanney;s Swansford Viennadora of Bronia. Nice red, lots to like about her. Did not, however, move as well as 1 and 2.

SpYB (3) 1 Garlick’s Ranglewood Bryony. Won on movement. 2 Chester’s Brianolf Hyacinth Bu-Kay. 3 Wilson’s Broanolf Hunny Bun.

PGB (14) 1 Halsall’s Distinctive Dream for Kiddles. Lovely red, very sound in all apsects of movement and a good outline. 2 Newport’s Merrygarth Greve D’Azette. Red of good type. Sound on the move. 3 Atkins’ and Harwood’s Kantis Kreme Fraiche. Nice red of the longer type.

LB (16) 1 Metcalfe’s Metadale My Way. Red, a girl who oozes quality. Lovely front, topline and sound movement. Very pleasing to the eye. Dam of my Best of Breed. She deserves her title and I was pleased to award her the CC. 2 Mitchell’s Darsoms Zerenity at Bronia. B/T. Lovely outline. 3 Sutton’s Dolan Cupid Golden Dawn at Damai. Red, nice type and moved well. Three nice ones!

OB (7) 1 Warke’s Ch Ir Ch Darsoms Zanatasia. Shaded red of good size. Sound movement and well shown. Res CC. 2 Mitchell’s Darsoms Zophisticate of Bronia. S/R. Not dissimilar to the winner. However, on the day I preferred her standing to moving. 3 Atkins’ Ch Kantis Koko-Chanel. A worthy title golder.

Good Citizen B (2) 1 Halsall’s Distinctive Dream for Kiddles. 2 Cunningham’s Frankanwen Merlot for Georgessa.

S A Lund