Working & Pastoral Breeds Association Of Wales

Working & Pastoral Breeds of Wales Championship Dog Show

Saturday April 15th 2017

Breed:    Great Danes

Judge: Colin Richardson

My sincere thanks to the exhibitors for allowing me to judge their dogs, it is always an honour and a privilege. My comments below are, as always, because of my deep affection and love of the breed with which I have, for the last 40 years, either owned or been involved with.

My aptly named BOB, Ch. Vanmore Stop and Stare at Castleon was extremely impressive, with ring presence, elegance and that look of dash and daring, an essential element of the Great Dane. I was pleased to see him make the final cut in the working group later; he did not let the breed down. I last judged this young man about 2 years ago when refereeing the GDCW show, giving him RBIS. He moved around the ring with drive and purpose, commanded your attention. Bitch CC was the very precocious young lady Samdice Best of You, closely challenged by her sister, the RCC winner, Samdice In Your Honour. The Best Puppy was Justininan Lady Beatrice, who I hope has a very bright future.

The previous night, because I had heard so many negative comments over the preceding year or so about the state of the breed at the present time, I decided to read the breed standard twice and prior to judging I re-read it again to try to clear my mind of any misconceptions or misinterpretations. I do believe the breed is nearing a tipping point, especially in the dogs. In some classes it was like judging a variety class of any big dog, not a breed class.

The standard is quite specific regarding head proportions, equal proportions of foreface to skull or

preferably of greater length in the foreface.  There were some heads that would not have been out of place in a Mastiff ring. With the shorter muzzle has come incorrect underjaw alignment. There were 8 present with suspect bites, far too high a proportion in an entry of 69.  

I encountered round eyes, short forefaces, light eyes, upright shoulders, short on the leg, toeing in, knuckling over on the move and standing and that totally foreign hackney action is still too prevalent. The hackney action should remain with the Miniature Pinscher or the high stepping Italian Greyhound and has no place in a breed whose original purpose was to hunt large prey and had to have an efficiency of movement.

It was difficult to judge to type, as there is now a divergence of type within the breed.

Eye shape in some instances seems to be changing and with it a change in the expression to a ‘harsher eye and expression’.

Temperament on the whole was very good, no cross words although a few did shy away when being examined. As I am quite big person I am always sympathetic to the younger stock as I know how heart breaking it can be to have a young animal upset by inconsiderate handling.

I thought the bitches had more quality in depth than the dogs and the strength of any breed is in its bitches. With judicious use of correctly proportioned and constructed males there is an opportunity to rectify some of the faults.  .

I thought the majority of dogs were well presented, clean and a credit to their owners care and attention.

Dogs

Minor Puppy (6, 2 abs) A nice class of youngsters.

1st  Thurlby’s Justinian Lord Brady. Well-bred 7 month old youngster, a little raw at the moment but shows his quality. Correct head shape with good length of foreface, Neck and lay back of shoulder.Correct topline and tuck up. Excellent rear angulation with low set hocks. Moved out well with good front and rear extension.

2nd Young, Cunningham & Robertson. Another pleasing youngster who was unfortunate to meet the winner who had settled to the task better. Slightly different type to the winner. I am sure on another day they may well change places. Pleasing expression and head shape, correct forequarters and length of loin. Held topline on the move, preferred head shape and rear angulation of winner.

3rd Cottam’s Roucandane Wilson Picket

Puppy (7, 1 abs)

1st ,RCC & Best Puppy dog Bishton’s Jaydania Bjorn Borg , 9 month old powerful fawn youngster, without coarseness and I am sure he will make up. Won this class with something to spare. Fawn dog with head of good proportions, parallel planes.  and with flat skull. Long neck going into good forequarters. Good depth of brisket with nice tuck up. Clean body outline with correct tail set. Typical of the breeding from this successful and caring breeder.

2nd Mackenzie’s Carsan Arianell. Young man who I think will eventually be a very powerful dog. shows a lot of promise. Good head shape with parallel planes. Adequate reach of neck. Front and rear angulation OK.  Nice body shape. Will watch his progress.

3rd Allan’s Lamborghini von der Kieselbachquelle (imp DE).

Junior (2, 0 abs)

1st Wallis & Simmonds Adoreadane Just That Jazz for Danojan. Tall mantle boy of 13 months who needs some more time to mature on. Reasonable head shape with parallel planes. Strong neck going into good forehand with lay back of shoulder. Depth of chest with good spring of rib. Moved positively and with purpose.

2nd Dyson’s Samdice My Hero. Fawn boy of quality unfortunately he would not let me handle him and paid the price.  Pleasing head shape. Powerful neck going into good shoulder placement. Good rear angulation. Unsettled on the move.

Novice (3, 0 abs)

1st Mackenzie’s Carsan Arianell.

2nd Wood’s Castledayz Jagermeister. Young black boy who was 4th in Minor Puppy. Got himself together better in this class. Head still developing but seems to be on right lines. Good length of neck and pleasing forequarters. Correct length of loin moved out well in this class.

3rd.Southgate’s Bombardier Boy at Leamap

Graduate (1, 0 abs)

1st Pepper’s Danemoor Black Watche for Sarawen. Short in muzzle. Forechest good held topline on move. Slightly low tailset. Moved OK.

Post Graduate (3, 1 abs)

1st Pepper’s Sarawen Archdeacon. Exuberant young blue dog who once settled moved well. Would like slightly longer muzzle length Good strong neck going into well laid shoulders. Correct depth of chest. Good rear angulation.

2nd Allan’s Asphuzazz Fact or Fiction Von Dramadanes. Harlequin dog who was too heavy in head for me. Shoulder placement rather upright therefore lacking length of neck. Rear angulation good and moved OK.  

Limit (3, 2 abs)

1st Ryan & George’s Keirkane’s King of the Throne JW. Fawn dog with head of good proportions. Good eye shape and alert expression. Parallel planes with flat skull. Long neck going into good forequarters. Good depth of brisket with nice tuck up. Clean body outline with correct tail set. Moved OK, might benefit from more roadwork.

Open Dog (8, 4 abs.)

1st, CC & BOB Webb & Morgan-Evans’ Ch. Vanmore Stop and Stare at Castleon  Cracking dog all that a dane should be, strength with elegance, no hint of coarseness. Came into the ring and commanded your attention. Beautiful outline of classic shape. Head of correct proportion with parallel planes. Correct eye colour and shape which enhanced his expression. Good strength of jaw and correct bite. Lovely clean neck flowing into good forehand. Had depth of chest with plenty of heart room. Correct body shape with tuck up. Good rear angulation and tail set. Covered the ground with ease. A real pleasure to judge, thank you for bringing him.

2nd Stevens and Squires’ Carranisle Masked Monsieur at Tabordane.  He was unfortunate to meet the winner in such sparkling form. Good head shape with parallel planes. Strong neck going into good forehand with lay back of shoulder. Deep chest with good spring of rib. Correct rear angulation, moved well. Unfortunately in the challenge he had gone lame and therefore could not be considered.

3rd Chappell & Williams’ Selmelda the Journey JW

Bitches

Minor Puppy (4, 2 abs)

1st & Best Puppy in Breed Thurlby’s Justinian Lady Beatrice Lovely feminine 7 month old bitch puppy of quality. Good head shape with parallel planes. Strong neck going into good forehand with lay back of shoulder. Correct depth of chest with good spring of rib. Correct length of second thigh and short hocks Moved positively and with purpose. Will follow her progress with interest.

2nd Stapleford’s Wunderhund Poised for Madjax. 8 month old young lady with excellent body shape. Pleasing head shape, neck of correct proportions. Very good front and rear angulation. Moved well once she settled to the job in hand.

3rd Middleton’s Damarkann Illicit Love

Puppy (1, 0 abs)

1st Bishton’s Jaydania Steffi Graf Very elegant young bitch from this well-known breeder. Head of correct proportions with parallel planes. Good length of neck, strong and clean. Forequarters well angulated, good depth of chest. Rear angulation good, with low set hocks.

Junior Bitch (6, 0 abs)

1st & BCC Dyson’s Samdice Best of You Lovely example of the breed who together with her litter sister made my day. Still young and with a bright future in front of both of them. Head with parallel planes, flat skull and good length of foreface. Strong jaw and size of teeth. Excellent length of neck going into beautiful forequarters. Correct length of loin. Excellent rear angulation and croup.  Moved with ground covering stride.

2nd & RCC Morgan’s Samdice in your Honor. Similar remarks apply to this young lady as the winner. Her sister edged it as she was slightly more mature, however a very bright prospect for the future and would love to see her in a couple of years.

3rd Bourton’s Zefather Crazy Diamond for Verano

Novice (4, 0 abs)

1st Tempest’s Adoreadane Just the Ticket Young Harli bitch who won this class with something to spare and is aptly named. Ead shape good. Good length of neck, forequarters, body shape and rear angulation.Moved with drive.

2nd Walker’s Riverdragon Seren Fach. Black bitch who needs more time to mature and fill out. Chest needs to drop. Moved OK

3rd Harrison’s Jasnettdanes Misty Morning

Graduate (3, 1 abs) Withheld first prize in this class

2nd Stevens & Squires Garsak Season of the Witch at Tabordane What a great shame that this bitch would not allow me to examine her. I tried 4 times to go over this bitch but she was not willing. She is a quality bitch and I hope that the owners can get her to behave. Even though I could not examine her properly she is physically a very nice example of the breed.

3rd Walkers Riverdragon Seren Fach

Post Graduate (10, 2 abs)

1st Wood’s Alphuzazz Fit For Function 3 year old Harlequin Good head shape if a shade heavily marked. Clean neck flowing into well laid back shoulders. Body outline good. Rear angulation correct and moved well

2nd Nunn’s Roshhanun Show Business Needs to be a little more animated to show herself off more. Good head shape and earset. Good reach of neck and lay of shoulder. Pleasing body outline, angulation front and rear good. A little unsettled on the move.  

3rd King & Dolby’s Vanmore Enchanted with Eppwood.

Limit (6, 2 abs)

1st Ryan & George’s Keirkane’s Kiss From Heaven JW.  20 month old  fawn bitch, best moving bitch in the class. Feminine head good length of muzzle in correct proportions to skull. Lovely crested neck flowing into excellent forequarters with good depth of chest, good front and rear extension. Rear angulation correct with lovely bend of stifle. Well muscled, moved with drive and purpose.

2nd Ellis-Khanna’s Ravendane Maleficent for Harvaxe 3 year old Harlequin with feminine head of correct proportions. Well bodied with correct shoulder placement. Good body outline with tuck up Moved well.

3rd Bishton’s Paper Moon Heavy Fuel to Jaydania

Open (7, 1 abs) Disappointing class.

1st  Henshall’s Calchas Wincy Willis  When I initially saw this bitch I thought she could be my CC winner. The owner and handler did not get the best out of her in this class as the owner did not retire out of sight of the bitch and she was looking for her owner. In the challenge a different handler was used and unfortunately the bitch was not settled enough. Great shame. Harlequin bitch with distinct black & white colouration. Feminine head shape with well chiselled cheeks & broad muzzle. Parallel planes and good ear set. Alert expression with good eye shape. Clean powerful neck flowing into well laid back & correctly placed shoulders. Good depth of brisket with plenty of heartroom. Good tuck up and correct outline. Muscular hindquarters with length of second thigh and low set hocks.

2nd Chappell’s Selmelda Zizzi’s Journey JW. Red fawn, clean neck and good forehand, good bend of stifle.

3rd Morgan-Evans’ Vanmore American Express.  

Judge: Colin Richardson