Great Dane Breeders' & Owners' Association

Great Dane Breeders & Owners’ Association Championship Show Saturday 7th August 2021

Firstly, I’d like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge at this prestigious show and to my able stewards for making it easy.

Some promising stock in the younger classes which is good to see and a number of Danes presenting the balance I was looking for, which made for an interesting line up. A number didn’t have the best of mouths however I feel we have other items that need more focus. Eye shape and rears construction must be at the top of the list. We need to remember we are on the watch list for eyes and weak rears for a reason and we need to acknowledge the issue. I’ve had my own challenges with eye shapes so I’m not immune either, but they are not going to get better unless we make a concerted effort to breed for it.

There is nothing like a Danes melting expression with a correct eye, with lids that fit properly to the eyeball. Sadly, many loose eyes giving a blood hound look and a few exhibits clearly needing some attention due to eyelids scrolling in.

The Walkmyll kennel consistently produced good croups and rear assemblies giving the driving power that was great to watch. Unfortunately, no one seems to have filled this void and we are in much need of it. Sloping croup not only ruins the outline but also generally alters the reach and drive. I feel we are getting to the point that there are so few examples of nicely balanced rears that we are forgetting what they should look like.

Minor Puppy Bitch (5,0)

Lovely class to start the day with a number showing lovely balance and promise of a bright future.

1st Miss Cranfields Zefathers Rumor Has It. Lovely fawn bitch who once settled showed herself well I appreciate that it must have been tough conditioning puppies during the lockdowns. Beautiful head with excellent eye shape, good length of foreface, nice planes and jet-black mask. Good depth of chest and well filled front. Nice front angles giving a nice flow from neck into shoulder. Correct length of loin flowing into a nicely balanced rear with good tail set. Good width and length of second thigh and nice straight hocks. Moved true coming and going with nice balance profile from the side. Lovely puppy throughout and one I’m sure will do well.

2nd Mrs E Southgates Malbecio Rioja. Black with again a nice balanced shape, just not quite the shoulder placement of 1. Nice balanced head which was stronger than 1 and will therefore take time to develop and fill out. Nice broad croup and good bend of stifle. Move round well when settled. Another I’m sure will do well.

3rd Mrs S M Bourton’s Verano Vivacious

Puppy Bitch (8,1)

1st Miss H D S Windmills Murrayvhale Miz Congenial TAF Upstanding fawn with well-balanced head and eye shape. Good length of neck flowing into and nice top line. Good shoulder with good depth and width of chest. Nice straight legs and good pasterns. Nice rear with good muscle definition. Moved with good reach and drive. Certainly, enjoying her day out. Delighted to see her, with my co judges’ agreement, go best puppy in show. I’m sure she has a bright future.

2nd Ms K Kingsleys Dainoak Forever in Blue Genes (AI). Blue with a lovely balanced body shape. Good shoulder with a nice clean front. Good head with a clean skull. Good eye shape would prefer a slightly longer foreface. Nice depth of chest and good top line. Nice width of stifle and straight hocks. Handler tended to over stretch her slightly but when she stood herself presented a nice balanced shape. Moved well coming and going.

3rd Ms N Pendleton-Watkins Goldania Queen of Egypt (AI)

Junior Bitch (5,0)

1st Mrs L M Collett Foaldown a Real Diamond. Such a well-balanced fawn. Was happy enough for me to go over but gave her handler quite a few challenges on the move and wanted to go back to her owner. However, she did enough for me to easily assess her and I had no hesitation on giving her 1st. Lovely headed girl with the required chiselling with a paler mask. Good eye shape and parallel planes. Good neck into shoulder and nicely angled upper arm. Good depth and width of chest. Good topline and angled rear. Good powerful movement.

2nd Ms N & Mrs H Pendleton-Watkins Goldania Celtic Princess. Sister to the 3rd in puppy but with a better-balanced head and eye shape. Stronger in body and bone than 1. Good neck and shoulders. Good topline. Good width of second thigh. Slightly lacking in rear angles at this point and not the croup of 1. Moved out well and steady.

3rd Mrs C Grants Lomondane Ca Canny at Eildane

Yearling Bitch (4,0)

1st Mr M Herring’s Noziaro Alula. Elegant fawn presenting a pleasing picture. Good length of head, eye shape and back skull. Nice neck into shoulder, moderately angled upper arm and lay back. Good rear assembly but be careful to not overstretch her as you lose the shape. Moved well coming a going with a straight action.

2nd Mr J & Mrs L Donnelly’s Primus Remember the Time. Nice shoulder with a good topline. Good depth of brisket and well filled front. Good width of second thigh and bend of stifle. Nice balanced head when viewed in profile. Preferred the croup and eye shape of one. Moved well going.

3rd Miss L Ash’s Alegriagiant Passadena

Novice Bitch (5,1)

1st Mrs L M Collett Foaldown a Real Diamond 1st in JB

2nd Ms K Kingsleys Dainoak Forever in Blu Genes (AI) 2nd PB

3rd Mrs S Booths Roucandane Crazy in Love at Primus

Graduate Bitch (2,0)

1st Ms K Kingsleys Dainoak Forever in Blu Genes (AI). 2nd in Pb. Won here on her balance and straight reach and drive.

2nd Mrs C Cunningham & Mrs C Gilberts Lomondane Coorie Doune. Good length of head, parallel planes and drop of lip. Good topline and depth of brisket. Good bend of stifle and straight hocks. Hard to assess her movement as she was focused on her brother in the other ring. Would prefer a more angled front, which showed on the stack and her front movement. Moved well in profile.

Post Graduate Bitch (3,1)

1st Miss M Abbots Nikami Serenade. Well balanced brindle bitch that I considered for top honours in the line-up. Good length of foreface and well proportioned head. Good eye shape and ear set. Well balanced front with deep brisket and good feet. Good topline and tail set. Moved well with good reach and drive.

2nd Ms K Kingsleys Penelope Von Den Borkener Turmen at Dainoak (Imp Deu). Well boned Harlequin with high set ears. Good shoulders. Slightly thick set neck flowing into a good topline. Moved with reach and drive. Preferred the croup and head of 1.

Limit Bitch (5,1)

1st Mrs A McLellans Jutlanders Bat Out of Hell to Anadain (Imp Dnk). Fawn bitch that never put a foot wrong and continued on to win the CC and BIS with agreement of my co judge. Beautifully balanced head with dark eyes, good dentition and melting expression. Good neck into topline and flow to tail. Excelled in rear construction which showed on the move with effortless reach and powerful drive. Moderate shoulder but producing straight, forward reaching movement. Long easy strides. Easy to watch her go round the ring. Well done.

2nd Mesdames M McGuinness, S Nelson & Mr G Hookers Garsak I Surrender Dinahtron. Dark masked fawn with pleasing head. Good dark eye with good eye shape. Good length of foreface. Good level topline. Good upper arm. Good bend of stifle and straight hocks. A little sluggish on the move today.

3rd Mrs C Mackenzie’s Carsan Savanna

Special Veteran Bitch (4,0)

Very nice class of quality girls showing correct balance.

1st Mr J, Mrs H Dyson & Miss C Dysons Ch Selmalda Journey to Melody at Samdice. Beautifully balanced girl with a well-proportioned head with melting expression. Good neck flowing into a good solid topline. Well angled front and a beautifully balance rear with a correct width and angled croup. Good depth and fill of chest. Moved with a long easy stride.

2nd Miss M Abbott Nikami The Lyrical ShCM. Another well balanced bitch and many of the same comments apply. Just preferred the head and croup set on 1. However, I was splitting hairs. Well balanced front with good flow of neck into shoulder and topline. Good length of head and eye shape. Good straight front and moved with reach and drive.

3rd Mrs P Prices Ch Leamap Iron Maiden

Special Open Brindle Bitch (3,2)

1st Miss M Abbott Nikami Serenade – 1st In PGB

Special Open Fawn Bitch (3,1)

1st Mrs D Seddons Ch Culseandanes House of Tully. Nice head in profile. Would prefer a better eye shape. Nicely angled shoulders and good top line. Moved true coming and going however I’m not sure she wanted to be here.

2nd Miss C Powleys Garsak My Heart Will Go on. Nicely balanced head and good eye shape. Good expression. Good length of neck flowing nicely into the shoulder. Long in loin resulting in a weak topline on the move and stack. Well angulated rear. Lacking in fore chest resulting in weak front movement.

Special Open Black Bitch (3,2)

1st P & Z Prazak Dickson’s Jawa Casa Di Amici. A nicely balanced black bitch with a strong head. Good eye shape. Would prefer more length of foreface to complete the head. Good shoulder placement and firm topline. Nice rear assembly. Handler tends to over stretch her. Moved round with reach and drive.

Special Open Blue Bitch (2,0)

1st Mrs S Kelleways Dornoir Luciana Well handled blue girl with nice expression. Good head planes and eye shape. Moderate shoulder angles. Has a tendency to lean back and unbalance her topline but when pushed forward stands with a good topline and rear assembly. Moved round well with a powerful stride that won her the class.

2nd Mrs C MacKenzies Carsan Savanna Taller girl than one with a good head and eye shape. Good neck into shoulder and firm topline. Well filled front. Good bend of stifle and straight hocks.

Special Open Harlequin Bitch (4,1)

1st Miss T & Mrs L Pockock’s Int/Nl Ch Tamzdane Cake My Day BNLW19 EuDDC Ch’19 Not the biggest of girls but well balanced and proportioned. Lovely head with length and chiselling. Good eyes and width of muzzle. Good length of neck into well placed shoulder. Good clean front. Good topline flowing into a well set on rear. Good bend of stifle. Moves with reach and drive. Exceptionally well handled to get the best out of her. She pulled out all the stops in the challenge to gain the Res cc. Worthy of a title and hopefully it will not be far behind.

2nd Ms K Kingsleys Penelope Von Den Borkener Turmen at Dainoak (Imp Deu) 2nd in PGB

3rd P & Z Prazak Dickson’s Leera Lucky Star

Special Open Mantle Bitch (2,0)

1st Mrs S Tempests Adoreadane Heaven Sent. Another well balanced bitch who I considered for top honours. Good head with required length and breadth. Good eye shape giving a lovely expression. Good length of neck and flow into the shoulder. Good depth and breadth of forechest and nice straight legs. Good level topline. Good tail set and rear angulation. Moved well with reach and drive.

2nd Mrs S Kelleways Damarkan Raydiance with Stevarah. Well marked 15 month upstanding girl looking raw in comparison to 1. Slightly high in front and lacking in chest due to lack of angles however well set on rear. Loose in front and topline on the move at this time.

Open Bitch (6,1)

1st Miss E Faulder & Miss V Cook’s Keirkanes Picture Perfect at Elvantiedane JW. One of my top five of the day and easily champion quality. Nicely presented girl in good condition. Lovely balanced head with the desired length and width. Good length of neck into and well-balanced front. Good level topline. Good bend and width of stifle and straight hocks. Moved with an easy long stride. Lost out today in the challenge due to her croup and the preference for a darker eye. Another day maybe another decision!

2nd Mrs O Ryan & Mr D George’s Keirkanes Poetry In Motion. Litter sister to 1 and many of the same comments apply. Today I preferred the head of one and slightly less length in loin. However, both lovely girls and worthy winners.

3rd Miss J Cranfield’sZeafathers Sweet Child O’Mine JW BJWNL’19

Champion Bitch (2,2)

Judge Inez Cooke