Leeds City & District Canine Association

Siberian Huskies

Leeds Championship Show, 25.07.22

Thanks to the exhibitors for a large and very classy entry of Siberians for my first CC appointment. While neither the camber and quality of the ring nor the weather were ideal for the breed, thankfully the dogs appeared cooler and more sure-footed than the humans on the other end of the lead.

Our shows are competitions rather than a hybrid of assessment and competition which meant there were exhibits who went without a placing and without their handlers knowing the judge considered them to have very good and, in some cases, excellent breed attributes or potential for the future. It’s always disappointing for the exhibitor but remember, dogs are judged how they present on that day and there are always other days.

The Siberian Husky is a breed of sled dog and their construction should enable them to fulfil that function – allowing them to cover as much ground as possible while pulling a moderate load, swiftly and efficiently, whilst protecting them from stress and injury. Everything from toe to tail (well, the base of the tail at least) is instrumental, with correct bone lengths, angles, and proportionate muscle keeping the machine running smoothly. Their physical features are also integral to the breed’s function. While these features also make the Siberian a very beautiful breed, this “packaging” should never be considered cosmetic, and exaggeration is deeply undesirable. Flashy would not get you far down any sort of trail, let alone to Nome.

A few points about Sunday’s show. Due to COVID-19, most dogs are at least a bit out of practice and, like many humans, are getting their heads around a sudden broadening of horizons again. Many younger dogs may not have faced such a social situation at all in their lives or had limited experiences of it before the world closed around us. Finally, the ring had more in common with a forest trail than a bowling green. We tried to make it a larger space but the flipside to this meant there was more uneven ground to deal with.

Most dogs coped extremely well with the social aspect of a long hot day. Some were a bit overwhelmed. Others really did not have the best time and it was just never going to be their day. Some of these probably need a bit more time to desensitize to weird strangers wanting to touch them, different shaped dogs making different noises around them and the general stress and busyness of it all.

Given the uneven surface and conditions, I did not expect dogs to perform the out and back flawlessly, I was not ruling dogs out on “one false move”; actually, sometimes handlers can’t run straight which doesn’t help their exhibits. The dogs did, however, need to demonstrate they were able to move soundly on the day with elbows and stifles remaining tidily where they belong.

Feet are really, really important. No feet, no sled dog. Really, I was not looking to see if they’ve been run lately. Nice to see the vast majority of feet were good.

And there’s me who does not care for preambles but in short, I liked my entry immensely and I feel if this is representative of our breed, then we do have a considerable depth of quality out there.

MPD (2,0)

1st Wright, Mrs & Miss V, Articcastle How Dairy. G/W piebald with an attractive head, nice ear set and alert, fun expression. Still a real baby but presented a promising, athletic picture with a nice front, very good chest proportions for his age, correct croup and nicely set pasterns.

There’s something quite graceful standing that is tentatively coming through in his profile movement but coming and going he was rather messy on the day.

2nd Bolsover Miss KJ, Charmedkelz Fozzie Bear. Six months old R/W baby who is super raw and has lots of coming together to do plus still some growing looking at his bone. Nice length of neck, shoulder looking good. Sweet expression, nice earset. Tidier on the move than 1st today and covered plenty of ground.

PD (6,0) 1st Morgan Ms P, Arctictreks Tommyknockers. G/W who showed precise movement for such a baby and covered lots of ground going around the ring to win his class, very pleasing to watch. Nice proportions. Pasterns of good length and correctly angled and at the other end, a nicely angled croup coming off a strong top line gives him an athletic profile. Took everything in his stride today although he was using his ears for awareness of his surroundings rather than for show at times.

2nd Swiffen Mrs J, Xinaskyii’s Hogyn Drwg G/W bi-eyed youngster with a super head and expression. Another very tidy mover, very sound on the out and back. Nice overall proportions. A good length of upper arm into a good shoulder. Held topline firmly on the move, croup okay.

3rd Wright Mrs and Miss V, Articcastle How Dairy

JD (8,0)

My notes say very nice class in large letters. While promising youngsters are nice for the future of the breed, this meant a difficult class as these were all quality young males.

1st and 2nd place dominated a strong class.

1st McInnes, Mr J and McInnes Mrs D, Inneska Malachite. This sweet young man is not only beautifully put together with nice bone lengths and angulation at all points, I watched him move very soundly at all times, with ground covering grace. He also has that lovely youthful polite boldness and was clearly working well as a team with his handler. The picture of balance is topped with a lovely head. It will be exciting to see what maturity brings.

2nd Thomas Z, Eversepp Tag This more substantial, rangier young male pushed 1st place hard. A very good front and correct, shock absorbing angulation throughout, I particularly liked his proportions through the ribcage and loin. He exudes strength and athleticism although remains precise coming and going and is graceful covering plenty of ground around the ring. He has a pleasing head and a sweet expression.

3rd Oliver Mr T and Mrs M, Penkhalas Sylas

GD (8,0)

1st Biddlecombe Mrs C & Biddlecombe Mr S, Volkadens Lykan. Dark G/W with a lovely typical head. Another substantial young male whose bone lengths/proportions and angles produce a balanced and athletic outline standing. Such a nice shoulder. Another with proportions through the ribcage and loin that really pleased me, a strong but supple topline and good croup. Covered lots of ground going around the ring with little effort but did seem a bit loose front on, hope this comes together with maturity and another winter.

2nd Foard, Mrs J, Bifrost Chayka Sound’s. Another dark G/W, another with a lovely typical head, who pushed 1st all the way. Super length of neck into a nice shoulder. Strong, flexible topline with correct slight arch over the loin and an excellent croup giving a balanced and athletic profile that translated to sound, graceful, ground covering movement.

Bryson, Miss A, Azgard Padron of Inukshuk 

PGD (15,3)

Another 3 placings that were close.

1st Smith Miss R & March Miss N, Trailhunters Tsutey. Pale G/W with a very attractive, masculine head. Particularly liked his front with a good length of upper arm into a very nice shoulder. Good topline, his croup is ok. He is a smart, positive mover who was very sound and covered lots of ground going around the ring.

2nd Cooper Miss J, Janskcoo’s Merciful. Dark G/W similarly attractive head that is all male but with no coarseness (not surprising as I see they share a sire). Another very good front and shoulder. I particularly like the length of his ribcage and loin. Good top line and good croup. Good ground covering movement around the ring.

3rd Manning Mr S and Manning Mrs K, Chatanika’s Ridge Runner

LD (8,1)

Although their colouring could not be further apart, I found 1st and 2nd similar in many ways and it was very close between them.

1st Beirne Mr R and Beirne Mrs K, Penkhalas Itaska. Masculine G/W with an attractive head, ears tall but well set and alert. Substantial boy with super bone lengths and angulation, particularly through correct upper arm into a nice shoulder. Exudes athleticism right through a strong, supple top line with correct gentle rise over the loin, croup okay. Bang on the money in terms of soundness and ate up the ring on the move. Really nice boy who made his mark in the challenge.

2nd Evans, Mrs L and Evans Mr M, Eversepp Arizona at Demoneira. Agouti/white. Shares a lot of excellent attributes with 1st. No mistaking the maleness of his head but no coarseness at all and a kind expression in spite of piercing eyes. Another super front with ideal bone lengths and angulation for a sled dog right through. Excellent ribcage/loin proportions makes for an attractive outline standing. Sound mover and covered lots of ground with minimal effort.

3rd Hart Mrs S and Hart Mr T, Zawkkast’s Scrappy

OD (8,1)

Super class.

1st Sargent Mrs S & Sargent Mr R, Ch Hushwing Wezztlee with Keriquel. B/W who brought something extra with him to take a very strong class today and went on to be awarded DCC and BOB. Here is a dog who has matured beautifully into his frame to present a picture of athletic balance, substance and breed type. Super precise on the move out and back and covering ground effortlessly around the ring with head dropped slightly, topline held firmly but not rigidly and tail trailed gracefully. Lovely head and kind, engaged expression. Bone lengths and angulation throughout ideal for a sled dog, nice length, depth and breadth of chest. He looked assured and comfortable with himself. DCC and BOB

2nd Cooper Miss J, Janskcoo’s Fortitude. G/W with a handsome, masculine head and alert, friendly expression. Super front construction with good length of upper arm into a very nice shoulder. Another dog with an excellent topline, with gentle arch over the loin, that looks strong but never rigid on the move. Very surefooted mover, precise on the out and back who eats up the ring going around. Very happy to award him RDCC.

Koops, Leich & Leich Ms, Ms & Ms A, Forstal’s Inola

VD (1,0)

Siberians are really quite often “fake veterans”, by that I mean they are not “oldie” or “golden”. They are often dogs in their bloom who have matured (finally in a slow maturing breed) into their finished selves both physically and mentally.

1st Redwood Mr WG & Redwood Mrs H, Rigrunner Jubilee Flotilla. G/W stood alone but this should not detract from the fact he is a quality dog and a very strong class winner. At 9 years old this dog embodied the above today, looking great in profile and demonstrating ground eating profile movement. He is another with a super front, good length of upper arm into a really nice shoulder. Good topline, length of ribcage and good croup. He pushed hard in the challenge. Very well handled.

SpBDB (5,1)

1st Caudy Miss J, Penkhalas Amka. Light G/W. The sweetest of young ladies with tons of potential that should be realised with maturity. Beautifully put together with fabulous bone lengths and angulation throughout from super pasterns, through a great shoulder to a really nice croup and rear. She has good length of ribcage balanced with good length of loin contributing to a super profile. Moved extremely well. Very precise on the out and back and covered lots of ground around the ring. Also 2nd in Junior.

2nd Snelson Mrs H, Azgard Monticristo at Ashtrax. B/W piebald. Nice head, masculine without coarseness. Attractively marked and a smart boy who works with his handler as a team. Balanced angulation, good front. Very clean and tidy mover and was sound as a pound on the out and back, also covered plenty of ground around the ring.

3rd Rodgers, Miss C, Articskies Baileys on Ice 

MPB (2,0)

1st Dyson Mrs A, Charmedkelz Sugar Bear at Rozgobel. G/W Still very much a baby at 6 months old but a nicely balanced baby. Feminine head with a nice ear set. Presented a good outline standing with good neck length, a nice front and shoulder and a good firm topline which she held on the move. Was happy and confident and moved nicely around the ring although her movement was a bit wild on the out and back.

2nd Wilkinson Miss AJ Cyanda’s Blue Hellfire. Pretty G/W in very good coat, she too has a good length to her neck and a nice front. Held her top line nicely on the move and she covered plenty of ground going around the ring with a light footed gait. Another happy, confident youngster.

PB (5, 1)

1st Allen Miss J, Moon Eclipse Wilcza Dusza of Zimavolk (imp Pol) Promising dark G/W 10 month old who presented a super outline with lovely proportions and at this stage is a picture of balance. Pretty, ultra-feminine head. Lovely neck length, strong topline with a good croup and tailset. She covered a lot of ground going around the ring and was generally very neat coming and going. BPIB

2nd Morgan Miss P, Arctictreks It Wasn’t Me. Pretty G/W piebald. At 8 months old, another very nice baby with good bone lengths and angulation and bags of potential. She has a lovely croup and tailset. Moved very well around the ring and was very precise on the out and back, will be lovely to see how she develops.

Wilkinson Miss AJ, Cyanda’s Blue Hellfire

 JB (9, 1)

1st Hart Miss S & Mr T, Penkhalas My Evaline from Zawkkast. Lovely G/W youngster who simply did not put a foot wrong. Very pretty and feminine head. Good front and nice shoulder with a firm but supple topline into a good croup and tailset. She presents an elegant and athletic profile that she keeps on the move, covering lots of ground. Very sound. Very well handled and presented.

Found out later she is sister to the Sp Beginner winner and 2nd in this class and they share many of the same attributes.

2nd Caudy Miss J, Penkhalas Amka. Winner of Sp Beginner.

3rd Koops. Leich & Leich Ms A, Ms S & Ms S, Forstal’s Olla

GB (6,1)

1st Munday Miss K & Cunningham Miss R, Icebex Morning Steeler G/W with a lovely head and the sweetest expression. Absolutely loved this one. Sympathetically handled especially when she was a touch overwhelmed in the challenge. So much right about this one, with super bone lengths and proportions. Particularly like the proportions of her ribcage/loin and correct croup which give her a lovely athletic outline I kept coming back to. Moved extremely well and was bang on the money on the out and back.

2nd Hughes Miss K, Siberiadrift Secret to Keep. Another very nice G/W young lady. She has a lot of the same attributes as 1st and I learned later they are half siblings. Another one with well balanced construction with the proportions and angulation ideal for a sled dog, who pushed hard for 1st place. Lovely movement, covering tons of ground with little effort and again, absolutely sound coming and going.

3rd Brown Dr K & Brown Mr J, Keriquel Honeylight at Pocketsibes 

PGB (12,0)

1st Biddlecombe Mrs C & Biddlecombe Mr S, Zarchenski Taboo Lornabo at Tsaritsa. Elegant, athletic white who I was drawn to from the first look around. Loved her proportions with a lovely front, good neck length, correct pasterns, good length of loin and a correct croup leading to a nicely set tail. Nice head. Moved beautifully. Sound as a pound and ate up the ring on the go around.

2nd Heaton Mrs CA & Heaton Mr G & Heaton Miss I, Volkaden’s Mustang. Dark G/W. Another impressive young lady whose balance gives her a lovely functional profile. Good pasterns, correct topline, nice croup present a picture of athleticism which is translated into ground covering, effortless strides around the ring and sound movement coming and going. 3rd Smith Miss R & March Miss N, Trailhunters Pandora

LB (10,0)

1st Shelford Miss A, Joy av Vargevass at Polarquest (Imp Nor). G/W. Super bitch and a strong contender in the challenge. Beautiful front and rear construction, correct pasterns, loved her length of ribcage and croup/tailset. Picture of an athletic balanced sled dog. Fantastic mover. Absolutely nailed the out and back and ate up the ring going around.

2nd Sturch Mrs J & Sturch Mr S, Frostynights Little Dove. Another very nice bitch who pushed 1st. Dark G/W. Another with an athletic outline with little not to love from her well set pasterns through to a beautiful croup. Excellent bone lengths and proportions. Lovely head. She also moved very well with sound, ground covering strides.

3rd Jones Ms S, Shaytaan’s Upyours at Icynights (Can Imp) 

OB (8,0)

Super class.

1st Cunningham Miss R, Icebex Yippee Ki Yay. Eye catching B/W bitch with an elegant profile. Nice length of neck into a good shoulder, super topline with gentle arch over her loin into a nice croup and tailset. She is a striking looking bitch, I particularly like her head. She definitely brought something extra on the move that you cannot fail to be “wowed” by, however she is very much the picture of a functional sled dog. Unlucky to meet the CC winner. Delighted to award her the RBCC.

2nd Cooper Miss J, Janskcoo’s Strength N’Honour. Lovely G/W who had probably the best front of the day. Super head. She has a lovely length of neck and a well-set shoulder construction. Super top line with gentle arch over her loin. Beautifully balanced bone lengths and angulation front and rear, those great functional pasterns and I particularly like the proportions of her chest. Lovely profile. Very precise sound movement.

3rd Wakker, Mrs JW & Wakker Mr H, Shaytaan’s China White at Ceannabeinne (Imp Can) 

VB (3,0)

1st Shelford Miss A, Snowtrekka Enchantress. Silver G/W. This girl really is another great example of the breed and of a sled dog. Super bone lengths/angulation that are balanced front and rear. Lovely length of neck, fabulous shoulder. Love her top line, croup and beautiful tail set. Particularly like the proportion of ribcage/loin. Has a lovely head with an expression that could melt rocks. Used her ears more for listening than display but put them up on the move and they are set very well. Out and back she is bang on the money for soundness and eats up the ring going around. Out of so many quality bitches, I was delighted to award her the BCC and BVIB.

2nd Unwin Miss S & Winter Miss L, Snowtrekka Bewitched JW. Light G/W. Litter sister to 1st and so alike in many ways (including a reluctance to use her ears to full cosmetic advantage). Another lovely girl with a super front, good shock absorbing pasterns, good shoulder, topline and croup. Altogether an athletic, beautifully functional outline. She is also very sound, displaying precise movement coming and going and covering plenty of ground around the ring. 3rd Shaw Mrs N, Norste Gazelle

Mel Hannam (Charoite)