Welsh Kennel Club

Hound Group WKC 2019 

My sincere thanks to the officers & committee of WKC for inviting me to judge my first Championship Show Hound Group at this great representative show.  I was very appreciative of the hospitality and slick organisation provided.  The BIS ring is one of the best in the UK and provides so much opportunity for considered assessment.  

I found the quality very high and a number of dogs I really liked didn’t make it to the final 8. I am very appreciative of the judges who put forward such calibre of dogs. These included: 

Standard Wire Haired Dachshund -  Silvae Keynote – a most beautiful bitch.  Super head, dark eyes. Long neck. With well laid shoulder, good slope of upper arm. Decent forechest and strong rear. Moved soundly.   

Norwegian Elkhound – Ch Rothenborg Leaha. Very impressive 8 year old who simply doesn’t show her age. Impressive when standing and on the move. Correct wedge shaped head and friendly expression. Strong in quarters and topline. 

Otterhound  - Teckelgarth Dreadnought. Well grown for his eleven months of age. A very striking example of the breed when standing and on the move. Lovely head and eyes. Decent shoulders and hind quarters. Good proportions and strode out in the ideally sized ring. 

Pharaoh Hound -  Fantasa Chicago Bull At Ankors. High quality and eye catching  male with good proportions . Upstanding and alert at all times. Lovely head and expression with correct well set ears. Good long and clean neck into decent shoulders and topline. Impressive hindquarters and moved with drive.   

My Group winner was the Saluki, Ch Canerikie Catalina . A very elegant cream bitch with correct head shape and very typical expression with dark eyes. Long neck and well laid shoulders. Correct topline and strong hindquarters. In sound condition throughout.  Movement just takes your breath away – so precise and moved at just the right speed to make the most of this beautiful hound. No hesitation in awarding her Group 1. Delighted she went on to RBIS on the third day. 

Group 2  the  Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand)  - Ch & Ir Ch Tarmachan Cartier. A super 7 year old imposing mature male who is striking in appearance and impressive in overall conformation. A outstanding example of the breed, he is sound all through with ideal proportions. Very balanced in profile and with true extension and free, driving action with a noble head carriage both standing and while moving happily and confidently around the ring. 

Group 3 the Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Hibeck Dino. I found him to be an excellent example of the breed having won through from the AV Import classes. An impressive and sound  exhibit with a very masculine head with a kind expression with dark eyes, well set  ears .   Strong and masculine throughout with good coat of correct texture.  Moves with an easy and free striding gait. 

Group 4 – the Beagle -  Eardley Izzy Cummings . Very high-quality young bitch.  Oozing quality and lovely nature. Super profile, beautiful feminine head with dark eye giving a very soft expression.   Firm straight front, lovely reach of neck,  sound shoulder placement and showing good spring of rib. Level top line and correctly carried stern.  Both standing and on the move is impressive.  

Robert I Greaves (Judge)