Bath Canine Society

Firstly, can I just thank Bath CS for inviting me to judge at this great show. I won my first ever CC here in 1989, so it always holds special memories. It was a great set up and, as usual, the rings were immaculate. Secondly, can I thank my steward for her work in the ring. Much appreciated. So, to the dogs. It’s always great being amongst the Canadian Eskimo Dogs. Though small in numbers, the quality is usually high, and that was true here. The bitches did cause me a slight headache, as I had to make compromises due to performances. Places could certainly change! This breed has much to commend it and I’m sure it will continue to go from strength to strength. Obviously for this time of year, coats were not necessarily at their best. Without exception, all had wonderful temperaments.

Junior Dog (1,0)

1st: Bailey’s Qimugata Judas By Akna. Super black. This is a most attractive, striking young dog, already showing many attributes and qualities of the breed. Head is maturing nicely but with still some width to develop. Muzzle, is medium in length compared to the head as a whole. Head is most definitely of a wedge shape. Eyes correct for shape and set. Ears just about right size compared to head. Neck is muscular. Good lay of shoulder and return to upper arm. I liked his length of foreleg. Good bone for age and large feet. Chest still to develop more in width, but ribcage is carried well back. Moderate loin. Firm, level topline. Correct turn of stifle to balance front. Tail set and carriage is ok. Really great side gait and, when settled, sound out and back. Coat coming back and some evidence of cape. A very good prospect indeed if he carries on developing as he is. RBD

Post Graduate Dog (1,0)

1st: Heyes’ Qimugata Winton At Chillipaws. An upstanding Canadian who is very nicely put together. Very handsome. Large head, but in no way coarse. Good width to skull and muzzle has good strength. I felt he scored here though perhaps not quite as good wedge shape as the other males today. Eyes are ok for shape and typical in colour. Ears were nice for shape and set. Neck firm and muscular. Good forehand with correct lay of shoulder and upper arm returns sufficiently well. Bone perhaps just a tad light for size. Good depth of chest and just enough width. Topline slopes very slightly from withers to croup when he stands. Shorter in ribcage than winners. Loins firm and strong. Good turn of stifle. Overall, well balanced. I won’t comment on his tail hair! But it was set well. A pleasing mover with enough scope and very good drive. Bit short of coat on the day, which is to be expected.

Open Dog (2,0)

Two very different males here really.

1st: Bailey’s Can Ch Arcticice Qimmiq G Amorak Avec Akna (Imp Can) (ShCM). Yes, this is an old favourite, but he had to pull out the stops and nearly threw it away being a little flatter in performance than I’ve seen him previously. That said, for me, he scores well in so many places and the overall comes together to make a truly great ambassador for this breed. All male, but so polite and gentle. I love his shape, being just a little longer in the body that some others present, but with that length coming from a lovely deep, long ribcage. He has the most gorgeous eyes for shape and set, and they are obliquely set where some others can be a tad level. Wonderful expression. His ears are thick and well furred. He has a very good wedge shaped head with enough width of skull for me and a tapering muzzle that still has strength. Short muscular neck. Excellent shoulders and his return of upper arm really brings those well boned legs back under him. His chest is wide enough and he does not present too much tuck up. For absolute perfection, he could have a tad more definition at the hock. Tail set ok. Coat is of a nice texture and in good condition. His movement is ever so sound and he flows round the ring without any real effort. A top quality dog who deserves his many accolades. BD & BOB and WVG3

2nd: Heyes’ Arcticice Qimmiq Tlun at Chillipaws. (Imp Can). This is another very handsome dog exhibited in tip top condition. He has a gorgeous head. Super wedge and enough width to skull and muzzle, which is also medium in length. Ears are a little larger than 1st, but are set well. Eyes are obliquely set. Both dogs scored here. Neck is short and he does have a moderate lay of shoulder and enough return to upper arm. Presents a better cape than 1st at present even though slightly out of coat. He has a lovely deep chest which has decent width. He is shorter in body than 1st giving him a slightly squarer outline. Quite short in loin. Even feeling under the coat, his topline appears to slope from withers to croup. It is firm. I’d prefer slightly more turn of stifle and definition at the hock. Feet are large. An imposing boy who has much to like and would make a worthy Champion in this breed if they had CCs. Moved with power and drive. Just preferred the shape and balance of 1st on the day.

Veteran D/B (2,0)

1st: Bailey’s Can Ch Arcticice Qimmiq G Amorak Avec Akna (Imp Can) (ShCM).

2nd: Atkins’ & Bailey’s Hr Ch Akna Asavakkit. Another old favourite here, who still has that gorgeous shape I remember. Was unsettled here and didn’t really show herself off to the best advantage. Head is typical of a bitch. Ok for width of skull and muzzle is medium in length, though I felt it looked just a little ‘pinched’ on the day. Overall presents a good enough wedge. Neck is correct for length. Love her balanced construction fore and aft where she has very good angulation. Good firm topline. Moves with consummate ease, and probably the soundest here in the bitches. Tail set on well. Good bone I’d say for a bitch. Just lacked that ‘something’ today to take her to the top. RBB

Junior Bitch (1,0)

1st: Graham’s Akna Voorhees. An attractive bitch who I feel is developing along very nice lines indeed. Has a lovely body shape and appears very well balanced. Very attractive, feminine head with scope for further development. Eyes are lovely for shape and set. Super expression. Neck is ok for length. I feel she has good slope to shoulders and enough return to upper arm. Chest is deep. Ribs appear quite rounded, be interesting to see how these develop. Rib cage is long and she doesn’t have excessive tuck up. She has a great topline. Firm loins. Good tail set and carriage. She has well bent stifles and nice definition at the hock. Moves with ease and quite controlled. Lots of maturing to do.

Post Graduate Bitch (1,0)

1st: Atkin’s Qimugata Harpist. This is a little superstar in the making. I love her feminine head. She has a good wedge. Skull has width and muzzle tapers. Ears ok for size. Obliquely set eyes. Wonderful expression. Perfect neck. Super angulation fore and aft giving her an excellent balance overall. Chest is deep, could still have a tad more width. Ribcage is carried well back. Loins good for length and very muscular. Tail set ok. Good definition at the hock. Feet are large enough for her size. Like her body proportions being slightly longer than tall. Strong, firm topline. Lovely side gait with beautiful reach and drive. Gave some ground going away today. She wasn’t settled in the challenge and threw away her chances of the top awards. I love her. I’m sure she will become one of the greats in this breed when she reaches full maturity. Bit sparse of coat on the day.  

Open Bitch (1,0)

1st Byrne’s Ir Ch NI CH Harpan Charlotte Bay Irjch Bjch. Bitch on the smaller end of the standard. She has a wonderful head in my opinion, with lovely oblique set eyes, correct wedge and enough width and length to muzzle. Ears are of correct size with rounded tips. Neck is of ideal length and she has a super lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Good width and depth to chest. I’d like a little more length of foreleg. Being critical, her topline does have a tendency to slope from withers to croup, brought about I feel as she is slightly over angulated behind, with a slightly short lower thigh. She does have good definition at the hocks which are also nice and low o ground and firm. Good bone for size. Excellent feet. Tail set ok and carried well. She has excellent reach in front. Slightly exaggerated movement behind. Overall, she presents a good picture of a Canadian Eskimo Dog and, as a whole, gave a pleasing picture that took her above others on the day. Coat has very good texture. Handled very well and in excellent coat and condition. BB