SMOOTH HAIRED

I last judged this variety in Scotland in 2004, so most of the dogs were new to me. Much has been written in the last months over temperament in the smooths, yes there were a couple who did not wish to be handled, but equally there were more who were happy and out going with tails wagging. There were also some who did not seem to care whether they were handled or not, in other words they stood rock steady on the table. Smooths are not like wires, the clowns or longs, the laid back dachshund, but I did not hear a growl or feel I might get bitten, in fact there were some who seem to be more out going than a few months ago. Heads were in some cases a little snippy, but eyes were dark and mouths good with teeth clean. All seemed to have a good length of ribbing with their ribs well sprung and toplines level both standing and on the move. There are still some who are over done in front with nothing in the rear therefore they look like two dogs. I do like to see dogs with good feet and short nails but quite a few were lacking in this department and wrinkle is present on many. There was though a variation in size, some far too big, the standard is for twenty to twenty six pounds and some were far more than this, where possible I went for the smaller dog. I enjoyed judging your dogs and thank you for an excellent entry. The great pity was the weather, which meant we had to judge in doors, which does not do the dogs any favours.

PD (12, 2) A good class of very promising youngsters, size did play a part in my final placings. 1. McNaughton’s Cedavoch Galadrim a B/T who has a masculine expression with an excellent reach of neck, with good shoulders and rear angulation. I liked his top and underline and he really does have great bone and feet with short nails. Moved out freely. Seriously considered for the R.C.C. but pleased to award him B.P.I.B. 2. Jeffrey’s Rosenket Heir Apparent At Andax, a good chocolate very close up to one, another with excellent bone, does have a little wrinkle, but he has excellent shoulders, good reach of neck, good rear, so he moved out well, and is very out going. 3. Burke & Manston’s Bonavoir Molton Brown a chocolate, whose feet were not as good as one & two and he needs to settle behind.

JD (3) 1. Hunt’s Carpaccio Black Sabbath B/T a large lad, but he has a good masculine head with shoulders quite well placed, good bone and feet. Level topline and good underline, no shortage of ribbing. Well muscled rear and he moved out freely. 2. Turner’s Rafthouse Son Of A Gun, two months ago I gave this lad a B.I.S. but that was outside and today was inside and he just did not want to be handled on the table, such a pity, as he is a nice size, is well constructed and should have been an easy winner here. 3. Harris’The Jetsetters Legacy, this lad was only ten months old and has lots of developing to do, but everything is in the right place.

SpBD (1) 1. Macdonald’s Carpaccio Black Out At Bensarka. Unplaced in the puppy dog class, this lad has a masculine head, a little short of neck and is somewhat upright in shoulder. Needs to settle in movement.

PGD (4,1) 1. Punter’s Welcumen Kiss Me Quick. A nice size and not over done in front, with good shoulders, level top line, which he maintained on the move, good underline and nicely angulated rear. 2. Jones’ Adnerb’s Mystification A large boy, who is quite heavy in front, with shoulders a little upright and short of upper arm, and who needs to settle in movement but he has an excellent temperament. 3.Hedges’ Silandajo The Only One. Another rather large lad, who is a little overdone in front.

LD (5,1) 1. Turner’s Rosanport Out of The Hat, excellent temperament with a wagging tail. Masculine head with a good reach of neck and well laid shoulders, rear construction good with a level topline and a good underline. Moved out well, showed extension and drive. Good bone and feet. 2. Goad’s Rosanport the Illusionist litter brother to Out Of The Hat and very like him, but rather heavier built and not quite his feet, 3. Eales And Tite’s Lauralee Roll Of Honour Via Rijobeau Good head and eye, good forechest and level topline, but his movement was very erratic and he carries some wrinkle on his legs.

OD (6) 1. Cooper’s Ch Sontag Simon Le Bone, Masculine head with a dark eye excellent reach of neck running into well placed shoulders, excellent body with spring of rib, level topline and good underline. Good feet and bone, well muscled quarters, which he knew how to use on the move. Was pleased to award him the C.C. but preferred the size of the bitch for B.O.B. 2. Armstrong’s Lauralee Lloyd George, very similar to the winner but has a little too much front, so looks rather overdone, and his feet are not as tight, but he has a great masculine head and expression with good bone, a level topline and a good underline. R.C C. 3. McCarthy’s Ch Seatris Laced With Success, this lad lost out to one and two on feet and shorter nails would improve the look. Moved well in front, but was not settled in rear.

Sp Vet (3) 1. Turner’s Ch Marictur Materal Girl, a young lady of nine years old, who looked no where near that age, for she is well constructed, with a feminine head and expression, who moved out freely and with purpose. Well muscled and in excellent condition. Best Veteran 2. Cooper’s Ch Sontag Savour The Favour, one who has just joined the veteran ranks, and who was close up to the winner in construction and movement. 3. Jeffrey’s Rosenket What A Wizard At Andax Sh.CM another seven year old but this lad although he is quite well made is obviously not too keen on showing off his virtues.

PB (7,2) 1. Turner’s Marictur Uptown Madam very feminine head and expression, out going temperament, good reach of neck running into well placed shoulders, level topline and good underline, well constructed rear and one who moved with extension and drive. Would expect her to have a bright future. 2. Bethel’s Hampdach Alinga another very nice bitch who was close up to one, but just lost out on being a little apprehensive. Very feminine in looks and has a well constructed front and rear really knows how to use her quarters. Could possible be a little tighter in front, but another who should have a very bright future. 3. Punter’s Welcumen Returned Kiss, who was somewhat unsettled by her owner rushing from one ring to another, but has some good points, feminine head and expression, well constructed rear, which she used on the move.

JB (4) 1. Lovick Gibbs’ Roleta Remember When. Very feminine head and expression with an excellent temperament, good reach of neck leading to well placed shoulders, good top and underline, well constructed rear and one who moved out well. 2. Davies’ Adnerb’s Be Friended lovely temperament, red with a feminine head and expression, reach of neck running into well placed shoulders. Well off for bone and good feet. 3. Hedges’ Roleta Playing Up, litter sister to the winner, but not her bone or feet, she is though small and neat, but needs to strengthen in rear movement.

SpBB (1) 1. Walkley’s Churchoak Naughty Nun an excellent chocolate colour with a good front and shoulder, well off for bone, her feet are a little flat and there is some wrinkle. Nice front and shoulder placement, but would like her a little steadier in rear movement.

PGB (5,2) 1. Rawson & Walkley’s Churchoak Chit Chat With Rosenket a B/T with a lovely temperament, feminine head with a gentle expression, good reach of neck and well constructed shoulders, level topline both standing and on the move. Rear angulation allowed for free movement. Good feet and bone, coming up two and one who should have a bright future. 2. Jones’ Phaeland Secret Diva To Adnerb, red, who was quite close up to winner, but did not have her feet, but she has a good feminine head and reach of neck, good body proportions and one who moved out well. 3. Goad’s Rosanport Play Me B/T feminine exhibit with much to like about her but I felt she was rather tied in at the elbows, which restricted her front movement.

LB (7) one of the best classes of the day with quality all the way down the line, some still had some maturing to do. 1. McNaughton’s Cedavoch Aarwen Red bitch of a lovely size very feminine, excellent shoulders and front construction, good top and underline, well constructed quarters and in excellent condition, so moved out freely and with drive. Tight feet with well trimmed nails. R.C.C. just lost out to C.C. winner by a whisker, but it was a close decision. 2. Rawson & Walkley’s Churchoak Hot Gossip About Rosenket litter sister to P.G. winner and very like her but this one is a lovely rich chocolate. There was little to choose between this one and the winner but on the day Aarwen won on her stronger rear drive, but I like the general construction of this young lady and would expect her to do well. 3. Lovick Gibbs’ Roleta The Name Of The Game another nicely made young lady but could not quite match the other two on rear angles.

OB (8,1) 1. Norton’s Matzell Melua, B/T what a lovely feminine bitch of the correct size with excellent construction, she moved and showed well and there was nothing I would change on her, was pleased to award her the C.C. and B.O.B., which she won over the dog on her size. Hope her third is not too far away. 2. Dalgety’s Ch Thundergay Lady Be Good, one I had judged before, since when she has slimmed down and looked very good in the line up and it was another close decision as it was with the R.C.C., but I just preferred the front construction of the winner and the R.C.C. but this is a lovely bitch for all that. 3. Armstrong’s Lauralee Under Milk Wood a nice B/T but not the feet of other two and was a little heavier in front.

Pamela J Poulter