Crufts

Crufts 2022- Affenpinschers

I’ve been looking forward to this appointment for a long time, a breed that I have shared my life with for many years with currently one veteran girl at home. Pleasing to see that it’s attracting the interest of both new people and exhibitors in other breeds.

I was hoping to find unexaggerated well balanced little dogs full of their own self-importance, twinkling eyes with a hint of mischief, sound both in temperament and body and not too over groomed or stylised. I wasn’t disappointed, some cracking dogs here, particularly in the hotly contested open classes and also great to find some exciting youngsters which bodes well for the future of the breed and they will I’m sure given a bit of time to grow on and develop, give some of the established champions a run for their money.

Some classes were quite varied for size and type, but I was delighted with my eventual winners with several other dogs and bitches that I would have been more than happy to sign off a challenge certificate.

VD (2,1abs)

1. Currie’s Ch Orlock Evernight for Faehat ShCM. Carrying his age well, this ten year old boy is sound and typical when moving with light footed, straight legged high lift in front and with minimal drive behind. Small masculine head not overdone in any way, short blunt muzzle and good turn up. Short neck, straight front, good bone for size, his coat was harsh and nicely turned out without being over groomed. Lovely attitude, full of his own self-importance. A worthy champion.

PD (8,1abs)

1. Wildig’s Affentude Ticket to Ride. BPD. A quality sturdy little puppy who has a cheeky look at me attitude, lovely size and a square shape all giving a typical silhouette. Delightful head with the darkest of eyes with a hint of mischief, blunt muzzle with good prominent chin and lower lip. He has a well-balanced body with a firm topline, moderate angulations, nothing exaggerated, and well set on tail. Lovely natural harsh coat which was presented very well. Scores highly on the move, with an eye-catching and desired lively strutting action. A great little showman.

2. Mather’s Scapafield Schwarz Roc at Benningholme NAF. Another quality youngster, pleasing for size and a typical outline. Attractive masculine head, lovely dark mischievous eyes, blunt muzzle, not quite the turn up of winner as yet. He has a correct shortish neck, level topline and correct tail set with moderate rear angulation. Won his place on his excellent movement, moving around the ring with attitude and correct light footed front movement with an excellent lift in front, and moderate drive from behind. Shown in great condition with a rough harsh jacket.

3. McEvoy’s Ashiblack Pearly King. Sturdy little boy, ideal size and shape, and one who definitely carries himself with a comic seriousness and a cheeky attitude, but finding it a bit hard to concentrate today. Well-made throughout without any exaggerations. Beautiful head, short muzzle, dark sparkling eyes, neat well set on ears, and good turn up and lower lip. Well balanced body with correct moderate angulation fore and rear. Nicely sprung ribs and level firm topline. Good tail set and carriage. Moved very well with the desired lively strutting action lifting his front legs high. Presented in first class condition.

JD (2,1abs)

1. Clifton-Plaice’s Coutureabulls Tom Ford. 15mth young man with an attractive head with blunt muzzle, good prominent chin, neat ears and dark eyes all giving a monkey like expression. Nice straight front legs with correct bone, sturdy body with good ribs and rough harsh coat. He seem to find his time in the ring a bit overwhelming today, so lacked a little animation, and was a bit reluctant to get his tail up on the move, but on balance I decided that his overall breed type warranted his class placing.

PGD (6,1abs)

1. Currie & England’s Vanistica Lindy Hop for Faehat. An eye-catching dog with a square sturdy body and of ideal size and shape. Lovely well balanced head, with a cheeky expression and glint in his dark eyes, blunt muzzle with super turn up and that desired prominent bottom lip. Good front, shoulders and topline, moderate rear angulation, nothing exaggerated here. Really well presented rough harsh jacket. It was on the move that won him the class, moving around the ring with a lively strutting action, lifting his front legs high and full of his own self-importance.

2. McEvoy & Pirrie’s Guereza Meet Joe Black. Close up to winner and a pleasing size and shape. Quality head properties, masculine with gentle dome, neat ears that were high set, small dark sparkling eyes, good muzzle and chin all giving the essential monkey like expression. Nice straight front, good ribs, level topline and moderate rear angulation. Shown in great condition with harsh jacket. He has such a lovely personality with a typical comical temperament but finding it hard to concentrate today, so although moved out soundly, he didn’t quite have the lift at front of winner and tail held a little close to back whist on the move.

3. Macdonald’s Ashiblack Above Suspicion for Zondora. Old fashioned type boy who is has well balanced profile and is sturdy in build. Handsome head, with gentle dome, dark sparkling eyes, correct length of muzzle with good turn up and and prominent bottom lip all of which aids his great monkey like expression. Good clean front, neat feet, level topline with well spring ribs without being overdone. Good tail set on and carriage. Harsh jacket that was well presented. Really good front movement, with good lift.

LD (7)

1. Marris-Bray’s Scapafield Schwarz Quibble. Headed a strong class, a super boy with a pleasing and typical silhouette. I liked his head very much not exaggerated in any way, well proportioned, with gentle domed skull, blunt wide muzzle and with good prominent chin and lower lip all aiding his cheeky monkey like expression . Good front with straight legs, sturdy body, firm level topline with moderate rear angulation, good tail set on and carriage. Well-presented harsh jacket. A confident showman, he was sound and typical when moving with light footed, straight legged high lift in front and with minimal drive behind.

2. Gruninger, Sweigart, Truesdale & King’s High Wire Walker of Darkle. Pushing the winner all the way, this quality boy has a lovely head with dark sparkling eyes, and short muzzle with nice upturn of chin and such a cheeky monkey like expression. Moderately angulated front and rear, sturdy body and square balanced outline. Topline level and tail was well set on. Shown in great condition, his coat was nicely presented but very natural and harsh and rough in texture. Scored highly on his movement, strutting around the ring with attitude and correct front movement. He has a lovely personality, and definitely carries himself with a comic seriousness.

3. Clifton-Plaice’s Coutureabull Mr Muison. Another lovely boy, with a pleasing unexaggerated profile, very square and breed typical. Attractive masculine head, dark sparkling eyes, excellent ear set , blunt muzzle with a good turn up not quite as prominent as winner. He has correct moderate angulation fore and rear, well sprung ribs and chest not too deep, firm level topline topped off by a harsh well-presented jacket. Confident showman, he moved out well with good lift at front, rear could be a little tidier moving away.

OD (6,3abs)

1. Shennan’s Ch Ashiblack Double O'Seven JW. DCC and BOB. A particularly strong class of quality males, so whoever topped this class had to be something special. From the moment he appeared in the ring this boy displayed that desired comical attitude that just made me smile. A keen showman, and unmistakeable in silhouette being square, compact with plenty of substance and gently curving tail. Gorgeous head that is balanced with neat ears, dark sparkling eyes, wide jaw with just the right amount of turn up and the desired prominent bottom lip. Beautifully made throughout with straight front, width to his chest and good spring of rib, topped off with a harsh well-presented coat. Comes into his own on the move with a light, free goosestep and minimal drive from behind. A pleasure to send him forward to the group where I felt he would be a great ambassador for the breed.

2. Owen & Ossowski’s Ch Darkle Hawker Harrier. RDCC. Another top quality male, pushing the winner all the way. Looking at the catalogue afterwards, I see that it was his son who pipped him, and he’s also sired a number of my other winners today, so good to see that he’s stamping his quality on the breed. I particularly liked his excellent head proportions with blunt muzzle with good turn up, dark sparkling eyes and cheeky expression. He has a square, sturdy body, with good ribbing, firm topline, hind legs well under his body and his tail is set on and carried correctly. Shown in great condition with a lovely natural harsh coat to enhance the picture. Sound on the move with a lively strutting action, not quite the lift in front of the winner.

3. Faithfull & Le Clercq’s Ch Jonevelyn Bowmore Darkest. Another handsome fella, pushing the winners hard. A lovely unexaggerated example of the breed, ideal size and square well balanced sturdy body. Most attractive masculine head, expressive dark eyes, blunt muzzle with good prominent chin and lower lip. Short neck, good shoulders and clean front. Well sprung ribs with chest not too deep. Shown in a natural harsh jacket. Lovely strutting action with nice lift in front and bags of personality.

VB (4)

1. Faithfull’s Ch Hamlock The Conspirator at Jonevelyn ShCM. BVIB. This seven year old is lovely unexaggerated girl, full of breed type and so very sound on move with her accurate strutting action. Very pretty well-proportioned head, dark sparkling eyes, blunt muzzle and good turn up all giving a charming monkey like expression. Scores well in silhouette and profile, so square and sturdy in build, level topline with pleasing tail set and carriage. Her rear was firm with great muscle tone, and moderate angulation throughout. Lovely rough harsh jacket that was well presented, without being overdone.

2. Hill’s Ch Scalene Saucy Sal JW ShCM. I think she was one of the oldest Affenpinschers shown today at twelve years, but no one told her that! A right cheeky little madam, totally unexaggerated and so happy and confident. Lovely Feminine head and mischievous expression, blunt muzzle with good prominent chin and lower lip. In admirable body condition, her front is straight with neat feet, level topline with good tail set and carriage topped off with a well presented rough silver coat. Moved soundly with a lively strutting action.

3. Ferrier’s Ingerdorm Affenlicious for Rangimaria. Smaller bitch all round with no exaggerations and a typical outline. Her head is pretty, very feminine and monkey like. She is moderate in all respects with a short neck, compact body and good bone for her size. Topped off with a natural harsh coat. Moved very well with the desired lively strutting action. Happy showgirl and a real charmer too.

PB (5)

1. Wiggins’ Scapafield Schwarz Raven BPB & BPIB. This nine month young lady has quality stamped all over her, ideal size and unmistakeable in outline. Lovely for size and shape, a lovely old fashioned type who is so nicely put together and totally unexaggerated. Pretty head and money like expression, good turn up and underjaw. Nice short neck with good shoulders, straight front legs with correct bone, level topline and tail set on well with gentle curve over back. Shown in a lovely natural harsh coat. Came into her own on the move with her classic lively strutting action. One to watch.

2. Shennan’s Ashiblack Pearly Queen. At just seven months, this young lady certainly knows how to show herself off to best advantage, such an accomplished showgirl already. A sturdy little puppy that has a lovely attitude, compact with a typical outline. Gorgeous head and expression, correct length of muzzle, blunt with quality turn up of chin and that desired prominent bottom lip. Square and well balanced in profile, moderate angulation fore and aft and already sporting a harsh jacket. Moved well with the desired strutting action.

3. Pirrie & McEvoy’s Guereza Suck It Up Buttercup. Another seven months promising youngster, she scores well in silhouette and profile. Cheeky attitude, pretty head with neat well placed ears and the darkest of eyes, lower jaw a little prominent at the moment. Short strong back, level topline and little tuck up. Won her place on her sound and characteristic movement, lifting front legs high. Harsh jacket already. A happy showgirl with typical comical attitude.

JB (7,3abs)

1. McGroarty’s Datiro Hi Desire Ardhub. This girl caught my eye straight away, she has quality stamped all over her with a very pleasing and typical outline with a correct shortish neck, level back and correct tail set. Good for forequarters and moderately angulated rear. Such a pretty head and cheeky monkey like expression, dark sparkling eyes, broad muzzle with good turn up and bottom lip. Rough coat coming along nicely, which was shown in natural way. Really comes into her own on the move, which was a joy to watch, lovely strutting action with nice lift in front and stepping well under herself at the rear. An accomplished showgirl and an exciting prospect for the future. Close up for RCC.

2. Rogers’ Datiro Hi-Declare. Liked her size and shape although a touch finer throughout than her litter sister standing first, time is on her side to body up. She also scored highly on move with a good profile action, Very pretty head and expression, not exaggerated in any way. Dark eyes, correct muzzle width and proportions with good turn up. Short neck, good shoulders and clean front, level topline and tail set correctly. Her harsh coat was well presented but still left natural.

3. Cary’s Carycares Dinky Diva. Similar age to first two, pretty head and expression, small dark eyes, good muzzle and quality chin, all aiding a very monkey like expression. She has a short neck with excellent shoulders, straight front legs with correct bone, level topline, a shade longer in the loin than the Datiro girls, with good tail set and carriage. Coat harsh and rough in texture. She also moved out well with good stride and a jaunty strutting action.

PGB (13,1aabs)

1. Cary’s The Dressmaker. Stood out for me in this large class, immediately appeals for her unexaggerated balanced silhouette, Delightfully feminine head and expression, dark sparkling eyes, neat ears, and correct length of muzzle which is wide and blunt with good turn up and prominent lower lip giving her a pretty monkey like mischievous expression. She has a shortish neck, good shoulders and nice straight front. Well sprung ribs with chest not too deep, firm level topline and moderate angulation and good tail set on and carriage. Well-presented harsh jacket. Scoring highly on her excellent movement, with the desired lively light footed strutting action with good lift at front. A self-assured performance.

2. Pirrie’s Afterglow Affenagiggle with Riogaioch. Lovely size and shape to this quality girl. Pretty and feminine head, short blunt muzzle not quite the finish of chin or the eyes of winner but still has a mischievous monkey like expression. She has a short neck with excellent shoulders, straight front legs with ample bone, firm level topline with good tail set on and carriage. Presented in first class condition, with harsh rough coat. Won her place on her movement, she moved out so soundly with the desired lively strutting action lifting her front legs high. Happy showgirl with a lovely self-assured comical temperament.

3. Rogers’ Datiro Hi-Declare. Second in previous class and whilst not as mature as some in this class, she won her place on her lovely head properties and her typical movement.

LB (7,1abs)

1. Pirrie & McEvoy’s Guereza Kinky Boots NAF. Eye catching girl with real look at me attitude and typical comical temperament. Loved her profile, size and overall shape. Beautiful head, her dark eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, neat ears, lovely turn up and chin with prominent lower lip, all giving a monkey like expression. Good front and legs, short neck and well sprung ribs without being overdone, level topline and well set on tail. Shown in great condition and excellent harsh rough coat. Won her place on her excellent movement, so sound with her light footed, straight legged high lift in front and with minimal drive behind, and stepping under the body as desired. Close up in challenge for RCC.

2. Currie’s Faehat Fascinator. An unexaggerated little girl with a pleasing outline and shape in profile. Cheeky monkey face, dark round eyes, good turn up and prominent chin, not quite the femininity in head as winner. Short neck, good shoulders and clean front. Well sprung ribs with chest not too deep. Moderate angulation all through. Her coat was well presented but still left naturally, harsh and rough in texture. She scored highly on the move with the desired lively strutting action.

3. Wiggins’ Scapafield Schwarz Phoenix. Another honest and unexaggerated little girl. She scores well in silhouette, square and sturdy in build. Pretty head with dark sparkling eyes, blunt muzzle and good turn up. Good legs and feet, she has correct moderate angulation fore and rear. Well sprung ribs and chest not too deep. Shown in great condition with a lovely harsh jacket that was well presented, without being overdone. Moved very well with the desired lively strutting action.

OB (7,1abs)

1. Schneider’s Suddenly Shuri V Tani Kazari von Vondercroft JW. BCC. Now this girl was determined not to be overlooked, and has some serious monkey attitude, so full of her own comic importance, she shone out today. She is ideal in size and unmistakeable in silhouette. Exquisite head with the darkest of sparkling eyes, prominent chin and lower lip, framed by shaggy hair. She had correct moderate angulation fore and rear. Well sprung ribs and chest not too deep, moderate tuck up and tail set on well and carried correctly. Very well presented natural harsh coat. She scored highly on the move, with her look at me attitude, she was a joy to watch with her lively strutting action with good lift in front and sound rear action. Delighted to hear afterwards that it was her third and crowning CC. .

2. Hick’s Ch Carmichan Heidi Hi. RBCC. Lovely unexaggerated, old fashioned type, not quite the extrovert character of the winner, but she has the most beautiful head and expression, so feminine and monkey like with dark sparkling eyes, blunt muzzle with good chin and prominent lower lip, all framed by loose shaggy hair. Shortish neck and body, level topline with a good tail set and carriage, moderate rear angulation, all topped off with naturally presented harsh coat. She could have perhaps moved with a bit more oomph in her class, but in the challenge for RCC she pulled out the stops, moving soundly with typical lively strut. Looking at the catalogue afterwards, I see she has produced some fine youngsters too including her daughter who was third in this class.

3. Hick’s Ch Datiro Gibbontake. Beautiful girl, not quite the body in terms of substance of the first and second today. Scored highly on her head properties, she has the most beautiful head and expression, gentle dome, dark sparkling eyes, broad chin with good lower lip prominently showing. She has a short neck with excellent shoulders, straight front legs with correct bone, level topline with excellent tail set and carriage. Moderate angulation throughout, all topped off with a natural rough harsh jacket. She moved with a pleasing lively strutting action, lifting her front legs high.

GCB (1)

1. Faithfull’s Jonevelyn Ailsa Bay. Lovely unexaggerated bitch, neatly put together. I liked her size and sturdy square outline. Feminine head, with gentle dome, well placed ears, dark sparkling eyes and mischievous expression. Sturdy body, level topline, and good tail set. Pleasing forequarters and moderately angulated hindquarters. Presented in great condition with a naturally presented harsh jacket. A great showgirl, she moved around the ring with attitude, so sound with typical lively light footed action. Very nice girl.

Vanessa Cox (Judge)