Richmond Dog Show Society

A small entry, but one packed with top class quality. What a great honour and wonderful experience to be able to judge these dogs. Thank you.

Puppy Dog (1,0)

1st: Cullen’s Philoma One Night Only. I felt his head development was very good for his age. Good length and strength and proportions compared to body. Medium stop, blunt wedge and excellent head planes. Dark eyes of oval shape helping to give a lovely keen expression. Ears set high and good for shape. Neck ok for length. Moderate lay to shoulder and correct degree of slope to upper arm. Good bone for age. Forechest ok. Chest reaches to elbows. I felt he had super body proportions being equal in length to height at withers. Firm topline with very slight slope to hindquarters. Moderate turn of stifle. Low set, firm hocks. Croup is slightly sloping. Topcoat felt nice and harsh. Very good mover in all directions. Not quite as collected or mature as the BD, but very little not to like and must have a great future ahead. RBD, BP and very pleased to watch him win WPG3.

Open Dog (1,0)

1st: Melville’s Philoma American President. A top glass Giant with lovely dark eyes which are oval in shape. Excellent head planes and good length of head as compared to body. Moderate stop and typical eyebrows and beard top off a wonderful head piece. Cheeks are muscular but not bulgy. Neck is strong and of medium length with a slight arch. This runs into very well-set shoulders. Upper arm angles back to give an overall well angulated forehand. Good amount of forechest. Depth and chest of ribcage is ideal and he has the correct degree of rise to the loins. Very firm, straight topline with very slight slope to rear. Great bone. Well-turned stifles and low set, firm hocks. Height/length proportions are very good. Croup slopes slightly. Tail set on high and I felt it looked in really good balance with the rest of him. Lovely gait showing really good reach and powerful drive with that characteristic outline for a Giant. Coat was harsh enough on body, a little less so on legs. Great muscular condition. Loved him. I’m sure he will win many CC’s. I learnt after that this was only his second show. BD. Just preferred the scope of the bitch for BOB.

Open Bitch (3,0)

1st Veals’ Philoma American In Paris. The standard asks for the appearance to be powerfully built, robust and sinewy. She certainly is, but all within a totally feminine package. Delightful head with good length and strength and ideal head planes. Really dark eyes which are oval in shape and have that typical Schnauzer glint and ultra-keen expression. Ears are high set and triangular in shape. Medium stop. Muscular cheeks that are flat enough to give the desired shaping. Eyebrows and beard present and she has an overall blunt wedge. Beautiful, strong neck of medium length and with a super arch that gives her such a proud head carriage. Very well laid shoulders and upper arm angles back to set the forelegs correctly rather than having them pinned on the front. Good degree of forechest and has enough width to chest. Chest just reaches to elbows. Height to length ratio is good. Very well-turned stifles with good length to lower thigh and this helps give that typical shaping extending down from the upper neck line. Slight slope to croup and tail balances ok. Harsh coat on body. Super mover with good reach and drive and typical outline when she moves around the ring. Shapely, robust, muscular and in pristine condition. Loved her. I’m sure she’ll go on to win many CC’s. BB & BOB

2nd Cullen’s Philoma Leading Lady. Another very good one. For me, not quite the femininity of the winner, but still has excellent head characteristics. Dark, oval eyes. Keen expression. Beautiful parallel head planes and typical blunt wedge, all furnished with super eyebrows and beard. Medium stop and good overall balance to head. Ears are high set and triangular. Not quite as good in neck as the winner, with slightly less arch and while head carriage is good, perhaps not quite the elegance of 1st. Super square in outline – a tad better than the winner. Slightly stronger in bone and body than 1st, but in no way overdone, just my preference was for 1st. Good forechest. Moderate angulation fore and aft. Lovely deep chest of good width and she has a very typical underline. Topline is firm with very slight slope to rear. Croup not quite as good as 1st, and tail for me, whilst high set, just looked a bit more unbalanced compared to 1st. Super low set hocks and compact feet. Lovely harsh jacket and super muscular condition. Very sound mover, just preferred the scope of the winner. Top quality bitch who, with all her many qualities should make a very worthy champion indeed. RBB