Manchester Dog Show Society

Malinois

Thank you to the Manchester committee for the invitation and their kind hospitality it was first class. thank you also to my stewards who worked tirelessly to get things completed in time from such a late start, sadly I don’t think despite my best efforts and a bit of a rush at the end, we managed to get my Malinois BOB in time for the Group for which I apologise. Thank you to the exhibitors firstly for their entry and secondly for the patience with the late start and finish. Unfortunately the timings meant a lot of hanging around and some dogs were a little jaded by the end of the day which was a huge shame.

It been a while since I last judged these two varieties on home turf in the UK so I was interesting to see how they had progressed from a close-up hands-on view point rather than just ringside. I was absolutely delighted with the quality and type of my overall winners, however the type throughout the entry was very varied. In addition to some work to be done on breed type I felt that fronts and movement in general needs attention lest we lose that quick light easy action that is so typical of our breed. That said, the surface was not ideal to be able to asses movement and caused several of the dogs scrabbled over the ground. On the whole despite the lots of noise and echoes in the halls, the dogs were generally settled, unfortunately there were a couple who were unsettled by the environment which was a great shame. Another thing to watch is weight with a few shown over weight, Belgians are athletes and carrying excess weight spoils both topline and more particularly underline, they lose their breed distinctive silhouette, and causes a roll on the move, equally they do need to carry sufficient weight to complete the picture, which I understand only too well sometimes is not easy with Belgians

Puppy Dog

1st Davies Foryd Rocky Mountain High Well grown male of 7 months who just needs to grow into himself, with good bone and substance, good length of leg, nice silhouette, good underline and tuck up, just needs to develop in fore chest, which he has plenty of time to do. Good height at the withers, good firm topline nice neck and good head carriage, He is a little steep in front angulation good rear angulation. His head is masculine, a little strong for his age and a little deep through, I would prefer at little more refinement. well defined mask, good length of muzzle and good strength

through the muzzle, excellent well split mouth, needs to develop his chiselling, eyes are dark and expressive of good shape, would prefer slightly closer set, ears are well formed and used constantly could be a little higher set. He tended to scrabble a little on the move but once into stride he has a quick light action, just would prefer a little more front extension but good drive from behind. He is a very promising dog for the future.

Junior Dog

1st Clarks Foryd Family Affair. Super well grown and very typical male, needs to carry a little more weight. Coat is good colour and correct texture. Tall, very elegant male yet very masculine, again with good bone, long straight limbs, nice body shape and silhouette, good underline, needs to develop and drop a little in chest, again there is plenty of time for this, croup a little slopping, excellent height at the wither, good neck with very proud head carriage, slightly straight in front good rear angulations. Very typical attitude and pick up, lots of animation which I loved. Head is excellent, with correct skull to muzzle proportions, masculine, a little deep through but strength appropriate for his size, good parallels, chiselling coming, will develop as his head develops and refines. Eyes are excellent dark of good shape, obliquely set and giving a very typical expression. Ears are excellent, well formed and good position on the head, he used them constantly. Coat texture is excellent, Mask is excellent and well defined. Tended to scrabble a little on the move and a little proud of his tail, but when settled he does cover the ground with ease, just needs to strengthen behind, which again should come with maturity. A super prospect for the future Delighted to award him the CC based on his excellent breed type.

Limit Dog

1st Bretts Goldmali King of Hearts Medium sized male with good bone and substance, good type, but a little longer in loin, and tuck up not as well defined as I would like, chest not quite deep enough. Good height at the withers, but a slight dip behind the withers, lovely neck with good head carriage nicely rounded croup, tail set a little high. Excellent character with a typical attitude. A tad wide in front, Coat is of good texture and well fitting, mask could be more clearly defined. Balanced, if minimum angulation front and rear. Head is masculine slightly strong in skull, would prefer more length to the muzzle, pronounced zygomatic arches, nice chiselling, good volume through the muzzle, eyes are excellent dark and good shape I would prefer a closer more oblique setting which would give him a more typical expression. Well split mouth, ears are good shape well-formed but could be higher set. Excellent movement in profile, with correct extension front and rear. He moved around the ring with purpose and a quick light action, a little wide coming and going.

Open Dog

1st Ch Xillys Mauwerick Smaller male, with a super character and great showmanship, body very balanced and size appropriate, good bone, would prefer better definition in underline and tuck up. Good accentuation of the withers nice neck and proud head carriage, very nice top line, nicely rounded croup. I want to see him use himself a little more and show a little more pick up. Super coat of correct texture and well fitting, mask a little diluted. Head is well balanced and masculine however I would prefer more emphasis on length to the muzzle, good chiselling, the eye are dark of good shape and giving a nice expression I would just like a more oblique setting. Ears are well formed neat triangles and well used. Movement in profile was good covering the ground with ease with a quick light workmanlike action. A great relationship with his handler he never stopped showing, although I would prefer slightly more of him I was pleased to award him the RCC

Puppy Bitch

1st Gaffeys Foryd Cinnamon Girl. A real delight to see such a typical specimen. She is only a baby but what a bright future she has. Ultra-feminine and elegant but with good bone and substance, good length of leg, excellent body shape, good height at the withers, just needs to develop her chest and there is plenty of time for that, excellent underline and tuck up, nice short firm topline with well-rounded croup, balanced angulation front and rear, lovely arched supple neck with desired proud head carriage. Great pick up and ring presence. Coat is well fitting of excellent texture and rich colour, mask clearly defined. Head is excellent, good parallels, beautiful skull to muzzle proportions already, good volume through the muzzle, well split mouth with excellent pigmentation, lovely flat cheeks, the head is dry with chiselling appearing, I expect this head will become dryer with more chiselling as she develops. Excellent mask well defined, eyes dark good shape and expressive, ears well formed a little on the tall side but well placed and well used. On the move she excelled, excellent topline held on the move, excellent tail carriage, good drive from behind she floated over the ground with great ease. Super character. Delighted to award her what is surely the first of many CCs and BOB and Best puppy. Congratulations to the breeder/owner.

Open bitch.

1st Brasons Ch N ‘ Mango Flambard du Domaine De Vauroux (Imp) Another nice female with so much to like about her. Nice character, very compact with good body shape, with good bone and substance, good length of leg, good height at the wither, good underline and tuck up, nice croup. Nice neck, I would like to see her pick up, pull together and use herself and be a little more animated. Balanced angulations. Excellent coat texture well defined mask. Head is excellent with good parallels, nice chiselling, good skull to muzzle ratio, nice dark eyes of good shape which I would prefer closer and more obliquely set. Ears are well formed could be higher set. She moved with drive and enthusiasm. Pleased to award her RCC

2nd Neffs Ch Bonvivant Gigi Sh Ch A lovely female who is well preserved for her age. She has an excellent silhouette, has a good body shape, very short coupled, with nicely rounded croup, nice underline with good depth of chest and excellent tuck up. Good angulation front and rear. Head is a good, balanced skull to muzzle ratio, maybe a little strong in skull but with good parallels, good volume through the muzzle, good chiselling, nice eyes which for me could be more obliquely set, ears are well formed could be higher set. Beautiful coat with correct texture, mask is well defined. She moved well in profile but was lacking a little drive from behind. Great character.

3rd Phillips Ch Flambards Sakorra at Tanje

Veteran Bitch

1st Goldmail Fabulous. Lovely veteran girl with a wonderful character and a sparkling attitude who is just beginning to show her age, she is elegant with but good bone. She has a nice body short coupled with good withers, slightly lost her topline with a dip behind the wither and rise over the rump. Good depth of chest just would prefer more definition in tuck up but allowing for her age to be expected, a little wide in front. Minimum angulation front sufficient rear. Nice head very balanced, good length of muzzle and good volume through the muzzle, good parallels, nice chiselling, eyes a little wide set, ears are well formed but could be higher set. Beautiful colour with good coat texture and good mask. So pleased to see her striding out and enjoying herself.

Jacky MacAndie