Ladies Kennel Association

LKA 

7th December 2023 

Judge: Miss L Tarabad (Khatibi) 

It was very exciting to judge the first group on the first day of the first LKA held at their new home of Staffordshire showground. There was a warm welcome from the committee and a lovely big ring for the Group judging. My fellow judges had sent though some lovely dogs, unfortunately a couple I really liked were a little unsettled in the ring and just didn’t do enough to go further. Making the shortlist was the smart Griffon, the immaculately presented Maltese, the free moving King Charles Spaniel and missing out on a place in the top 4 by a whisker was the beautiful Yorkshire Terrier. Topping the Group was the ever impressive Chinese Crested, Dunlop’s Ch Habiba Hold My Purse. This was the not the first time I’d had the pleasure of judging her and yet again I could find nothing to compare and so for the 3rd time in 3 years I found myself walking towards her to award her the Toy Group! She is simply a class act, well constructed from head to toe, has a beautiful head with the darkest eyes, is in glorious condition and simply never puts a foot wrong. Her accuracy out and back is so impressive and watching her happily circle the ring eating up the ground beneath her with head held high and topline firm is such a joy. Although there were plenty of very impressive, top winning dogs in the group none could match her star quality and so I had no hesitation in making her my winner. Taking the runner up spot was the delightful Pomeranian Holman’s Ch Altina’s Henry Higgins JW. I’d awarded him bis at a club show earlier in the year but now at nearly 2 ½ years old he is in full bloom, presented in fabulous coat, compact and dainty with a super tailset and carriage. His head and expression are a delight with dark eyes and pigment and neatly finished muzzle, I could look at his face all day! On the move he holds his neat outline well, moving with a brisk, accurate gait. He was so attentive to his handler and always stood showing off his super outline. Taking a close 3rd was the Papillon, Roosens’ Ch Bel Dutch Dk Lux Int Real Daydream Believer De Costalina. This beautiful dog was impossible to ignore and I was in no doubt that he’d feature in my top 4 from the moment he stepped into the ring. Spot on for size and balance, so dainty with lovely neck, topline and high set tail arched well over his back with fabulous plume. His large, mobile ears are well set and carried with impressive fringes, framing his pretty face and enhancing his intelligent expression. He moved with such a light, positive action and was presented without a hair out of place in absolutely sparkling condition. Completing the lineup in 4th was the charming Pug, Ellis’s Eastonite Porthos JW. A new one to me and I was rather taken by him! Small but with great substance, squarely built, cobby and well balanced with lovely front and rear assembly, firm topline, strong legs and high set, tight curl. Gorgeous head and expression with super pigment, plenty of well defined working, good width of jaw and big dark, lustrous eyes. He was so impressive on the move, accurate in all directions, steady and purposeful with typical roll and holding a super outline in profile. Didn’t make it easy for his handler, but that added to his charm! I heard he had gained his crown on the day and deservedly so.