It was a pleasure to be invited to judge at this Hound speciality show and I very much enjoyed my day. Overall, I found the Longs to be in soft condition and many lacked muscle-tone. The coat hides a multitude of sins in some cases, particularly tummy-tapping hindquarters in profile movement. I found a couple with edge to edge bites. Too many had short ribbing and keels that didn’t extend back much. Temperaments were good, as expected in this easy-going breed. Size was quite variable but, in general, I was not concerned about many being too big on this occasion. My current concern in several Dachshund varieties is the trend towards downward sloping toplines, resulting from very upright shoulders, high withers and over-long lower-thigh bones with weak hindquarters. This fault is so obvious from the ringside, I don’t understand why it is not being penalised more by judges.

Puppy - Dog

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST PEVERLEIGH AUTUMNAL LOUIS AT DOLANS (MR M WEDGE) 7 month red dog with correct 2:1 proportions and not over-coated. Presented in gleaming condition. Quite a big boy already and could do with losing a bit of puppy fat. Prominent forechest but not overdone. Good layback of shoulder and moved very true coming towards me. Good feet. Held a good topline at all times.

2ND CEDAVOCH IT'S TABOO AT KINDEACE TAF (MR K S & MRS S M PASKINS) Just 6 months, this red boy is of a slightly longer type than 1 and tended to run up slightly behind. More crook in front than I prefer to see coming towards me. Needs more layback of shoulder. Tidy underline. Good head and ear carriage. Like 1, not over-coated.

Limit - Dog

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST BRONIA PLUTUS SHCM (MRS J A LINDSAY) 5 year old red boy who is well-boned and a taller type which makes him appear more compact than is desired. I found him to be rather upright in the shoulder which meant he lacked extension and drive in front movement. Coat presented in lovely condition. Good bone and substance. Held a good topline in profile.

Open - Dog

Entries: 6 Absentees: 1

1ST SHARDAROBA'S COUNTRY FILE (MR J G BENNETT) 2 year old red boy of correct proportions who has good bone and is not excessively big. Well-proportioned head with good eye shape. He is well-angulated in front with good layback of shoulder and length of upper arm enabling him to move with good reach. Held a lovely topline on the move, in profile. Very clean underline, not cut up at all. Good parallel hind movement going away from me. Dog CC and BOS.

2ND CH BRONIA LOTARIO JW (MISS E MITCHELL) A well-deserved champion who was slightly more compact than 1 and I loved his overall proportions and balance. Good reach of neck flowing into a good topline, held in profile on the move. Presented with a gleaming coat and in beautiful condition. I felt he moved slightly closer behind than 1, going away. Reserve DCC.

3RD ABYDACHS SEIZE THE NIGHT (MRS J F GEESON)

RES ABYDACHS RIDES THE STORM TO BOURNDER (MRS I A & MRS P M COOK & RHODES)

VHC CH CEDAVOCH THE ALCHEMIST (L J MCNAUGHTON)

Puppy - Bitch

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST FAULKSFOLLIE MISS MINAVER AT DOLANS (MR M WEDGE) 10 month red girl of correct size and proportions. I liked the fact that she had good ground clearance and is not-excessively coated. Good length of upper arm, with well laid shoulder placement and moved true coming towards me. Could do with a bit more hind angulation but she moved out well and held a good topline. Best Puppy.

Junior – Bitch – my first two could easily have swapped places on a different day; both high quality girls.

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST ABYDACHS KUMALA (MRS J F GEESON) 14 month red girl with good type and balance, plus adequate ground clearance. Good size. Reasonable amount of forechest. Held a good topline and has a neat flowing, underline with no cut-up. Very feminine head on an elegant neck. Just the right amount of coat and feathering. Impressed in profile movement with good hind drive and I was pleased to award her Reserve BCC.

2ND BRONIA SUPERNATURAL (MISS E MITCHELL) Another lovely red bitch with spot-on 2:1 proportions. Correct size and, again, with the right amount of coat. Lovely head with a really dark eye. Slightly better layback of shoulder than 1. Moved closer behind, going away, than 1 and slightly less hind drive in profile.

Post Graduate - Bitch

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1ST TEKALHAUS DIAMOND LIFE (AI) (MR P P & MRS D J CLARKE) Red bitch of correct size and with good ground clearance. Good length of upper arm. She moved with a good topline, in profile. Ribs go well back, unlike many here today, so she has a lovely, neat, underline. Could do with more bend of stifle.

2ND TERRITORIA LUBVI VESNA AT KINDEACE (MR K S & MRS S M PASKINS) Red bitch of the correct size and with 2:1 proportions. Good length of neck running into a firm topline, held on the move with a slight arch over the loin. I found her more upright in shoulder and shorter in upper arm than 1.

3RD SUECASEUS JULIET (MRS S CHEESE)

Limit - Bitch

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST TEKALHAUS MILLION TO ONE SHCM (MR P P & MRS D J CLARKE) Red bitch presented in lovely condition without excessive coat. Correct 2:1 proportions and with adequate ground clearance. Elegant, reachy neck. Plenty of forechest but not overdone. Looked lovely in profile movement with good reach in front.

2ND SUECASEUS DESDEMONA (MRS S CHEESE) Compact 6 year old B/T bitch. Lovely head with roman nose. Deeper in the body and not the ground clearance of 1. Good amount of forechest. A bit more crook coming towards me than I prefer to see.

Open - Bitch

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1ST CH CEDAVOCH CIRCE (L J MCNAUGHTON) What a stunning bitch, presented in fabulous condition and a joy to watch stepping out effortlessly round the ring. Topline was held well in profile movement. Great front construction and angulation with tight-fitting elbows. Adequate ground clearance. Well-angulated behind, used to drive well. Bitch CC and Best of Breed.

2ND CH ABYDACHS SUMMER DREAM AT KINDEACE SHCM (MR K S & MRS S M PASKINS) Another red of more compact type and deeper in the body than 1. Lovely head of correct proportions. Not the front angulation of 1, being more upright in shoulder but, nevertheless, a quality bitch. Firm topline, held on the move.

3RD CH BOURNDER RUBY EMPRESS (MRS I A & MRS P M COOK & RHODES)

Special Beginners - Bitch

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST SUECASEUS DESDEMONA (MRS S CHEESE) – as above.