Southampton & District Canine Association

Stakes Classes

I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge the stakes at their show. Also, I would like to thank my very capable, helpful and vocal steward Adam Hawkins for doing his best to make sure everyone knew that their class was due in the ring!

A big thank you to all of the exhibitors who entered their dogs under me, this was my first-time judging stakes and I was very humbled by their entries.

Overall, the quality of entries was very high. I know this is a cliché, but I do wish that there were more red cards to hand out as I found some of my decisions very difficult. Temperament amongst all of the dogs was excellent with only a couple of dogs hesitant to be gone over. These were in the older classes though, so these dogs may still have not seen many shows due to the pandemic and I personally think this should be forgiven having a young “lockdown” dog myself.

Presentation overall of the exhibits was excellent but on a few it was lacking; some were in need of a bath and attention to the coat was needed in some of the longer coated breeds. This isn’t nice for a judge to assess this and more importantly it’s not good for the dog.

Whilst we are still required to show our own dogs’ teeth, as a handler it is vital that we don’t put our own heads down between the judge and the dog’s mouth whilst doing this. It makes it very hard for the judge to see what we need to. Following on from this please make sure you listen to what the judge asks you to do and look where the judge is standing, I had to move around a lot to try and assess several dogs as the handler’s didn’t listen to my instructions.

A.V. Puppy Stakes 11(4)

1. Parker-Moore’s Muzoku My Voodoo Child- Alaskan Malamute 9-month-old bitch. I watched this bitch come into the ring and she immediately caught my eye, a smart looking girl with an abundance of coat. On approaching her to do my assessment she displayed the breeds friendly temperament. She has a broad head, ears set well on and of correct size & shape, eyes very dark, almond shaped giving her a kind expression and she has a correct scissor bite. She is solidly built, yet still very feminine, well-muscled with a deep chest and powerful hind legs leading down to excellent compact feet. Her immaculately groomed coat is her crowning glory; undercoat is dense and her guard coat thick and coarse. On the move she worked with purpose and drive, not too fast, steady, rhythmic and totally effortless. This bitch is certainly fit for purpose. I was very happy to see her go on to get BPIS.

2. Harrell’s Beaukitas McCrory Park - Beauceron 8-month-old bitch. When I read the breed standard this bitch pretty much fits everything that it should. She is of correct size, nothing exaggerated, head in proportion to her body, a well-defined occiput with a strong muzzle. She has the darkest of eyes which give a beautiful expression, her ears are of correct size and well set on. She has a good mouth with a correct scissor bite. She is well bodied, muscular and has correct tail set, carried low on the move. She has good feet with the correct rear dewclaws which are correctly placed. She is slightly bum high at the moment but I am sure this will correct itself as she matures. Her coat is short on the head and longer on the body as it should be, thick but not as coarse as I would expect, again this should change as she gets her adult coat. Markings are excellent with tan where it is required. Her movement belies her age, she has good reach and when viewed from every angle her movement was effortless. Her handler certainly gets the best out of her.

3.Aylett’s Rillaton Lakota For Me - Giant Schnauzer

A.V. Special Yearling Stakes 10(5)

1. Murray & McKenzie’s Charmagen Viva Diva at Sanelle - Spaniel (American Cocker) 18-month-old bitch. This smart black bitch is another who catches your eye when she glides into the ring. She has an excellent feminine head of correct size and shape, not too fine as can be seen in this breed but is not correct. She is full of ring presence, confident and friendly. She has beautiful, dark eyes of correct shape, set correctly in her head giving her the softest, kind expression. Her ears are correctly set on and well clothed, she has a strong mouth and a correct scissor bite. Her has a beautiful, strong but feminine neck leading down to deep shoulders. Her chest is deep, my notes actually say “fabulous”, with well sprung ribs. She is well boned and muscular without losing femininity. Her tail is correctly set on and carried well on the move. Her coat is excellent, jet black, silky and is immaculately groomed. On the move this bitch brings everything together and you really do get the full package. She looks like she is on rails when she moves, totally effortless, covering the ground with purpose and total co-ordination. She is an absolute joy to watch.

2.Tuttle’s Laverko One Day More - Rottweiler 23-month-old dog. This boy is of correct size but with lots of maturing still to do, but this by no means detracts from his appeal. He has a beautiful masculine head, in proportion with well boned cheeks, correct almond shaped eyes which are beautifully dark give a great indication of his good-natured temperament. His ears are well set on of correct size and shape which add to his expression and perfectly frame his face. His mouth is good, flews not excessive and correct scissor bite. His neck is strong and muscular, my notes say “powerful”, no throatiness which can be seen in this breed. He has a deep chest with well sprung ribs. His tail is well set on and of correct thickness and proportion, it is carried well on the move. His coat is in excellent condition, the top coat coarse and flat. The coat is of correct colour with tan markings, a lovely mahogany colour, in the correct places. His movement matches his confirmation, he moves with purpose and shows such strength and power from every angle. A powerful work horse who is certainly fit for purpose. I look forward to seeing him fully mature.

3. Shepherd’s Kidaruka It’s Showtime at Oxana JW – Whippet

A.V. Post Graduate Stakes 10(2)

1. McAllister’s Rumolboys Cascade of Fire - Lagotto Romagnolo 2-year-old bitch. When this bitch entered the ring everything about her said “look at me”, she had such presence that forced you to look at her. When it came to assessing her, she didn’t disappoint. Perfectly square bitch with everything in proportion, good temperament and confident not a hint of the shyness that I have seen in other examples of the breed. Her head is of correct size, she has large eyes full of expression, of correct shape and well set. Her ears are of correct shape and size and frame her face perfectly giving her an alert expression. Her neck is solid and powerful, she is well bodied with not an ounce of fat on her, well-muscled and compact. Her topline is excellent. Her feet are excellent, strong and tight with good webbing. Her coat is excellent, woolly and thick with perfect curls and she looks so natural, like she had just come from a hunt. On the move I could not take my eyes off of her; she moves with purpose and drive keeping her topline on the move, my notes say “movement to die for”. She really is the complete package. I was thrilled to see her go on to get Best in Show.

2. Baulch’s Whisterfield Je Ne Sais Quoi - Whippet 5-year-old bitch. Such a pretty girl, who I could have happily taken home with me. The standard says “an ideal companion” and this girl seems to fit that very well. She has a good long but lean head and powerful jaws with a correct scissor bite. Her eyes are lovely dark and bright giving her such an affectionate expression. Her ears are of correct size and well set on. Her neck is long, slender and elegant and muscular, her chest is deep and she is well muscled but not at all over done, not losing any of her femininity. Her tail is of correct length and was carried well on the move. Her coat is fine and immaculately clean. On the move she looked correct from every angle, moving with ease, taking long and powerful strides.

3. Bull & Warren’s Zaralee I’m Still Standing at Starferry (Imp Ir) – Sharpei

A.V. Open Stakes 16(8)

1. Woodbridge’s Dacfolke Kenwyn - Leonberger 4-year-old bitch. A beautiful bitch who has great ring presence not just due to her size but the glint in her eye when I came to assess her. She certainly made her handler work hard today. Her head is perfectly in balance with her body, she is strong without losing any of her femininity, her eyes are of correct size, oval in shape and dark brown in colour giving her a kind expression with that glint that I previously mentioned that gives a hint of her playful nature. Her ears are of correct shape and size and well set on, adding to her kind expression. She has a good mouth with correct bite and close-fitting lips. She has a powerful, muscular neck with no throatiness. She has an excellent, deep chest and correct tuck up. She has a good strong back and a correct croup. Her tail is well set on and amply furnished. Her coat is in excellent condition, long but well fitted to her body, I love the furnishings on her front legs which is exactly as the breed standard is looking for “distinct”. This bitch comes into her own on the move, she covers the ground well and with great ease, keeping her topline perfectly. She has great front extension and drives from behind with purpose. She had excellent movement from every angle. I could watch her move all day.

2. Marsh’s Gunalt Escapade at Comorin – Weimaraner 6-year-old bitch. When I checked her age, I had to look twice as she will be a veteran next month, she certainly does not look like a veteran! A bitch who I have seen from ringside since she was a youngster but this is the first time I have judged her. When reading the breed standard, it is looking for “a picture of power, stamina and balance” which I think is perfectly exhibited by this bitch. She has a powerful head without losing any of her femininity. Her eyes are of correct shape and size and are well set giving her the required kind and intelligent expression. Her ears are long, and of the correct shape and size. She has a powerful mouth with correct scissor bite. Her beautiful neck is strong and long, she has an excellent chest, deep and capacious with well sprung ribs. She has the most beautiful topline and a well set on tail which is carried well on the move. Her coat is in excellent condition. On the move she covers the ground effortlessly, keeping her topline perfectly. She was extremely unlucky to meet 1 today who was also on top form.

3. Allen’s Kelgrove Blue Heaven - Shetland Sheepdog

Sarah-Jane Finch (Dalticino)