Ladies Kennel Association

I was delighted to have been invited to judge Havanese at such a popular show, and was very pleased with the entry and turnout. I would like to thank the committee for the appointment. More importantly, I am very grateful to all exhibitors who entered their dogs, it was a privilege to be able to assess them.

Overall, the quality of the exhibits was high, to the point that some classes made it almost impossible to decide on the order of placements. In many of the classes, I felt spoilt for choice and on another day the outcome could have been different, depending on which of the placed (and unplaced) dogs felt more motivated to show.

Most exhibits were in good condition, although quite a few sets of teeth could have done with a good clean. The bites themselves were largely correct. There were quite a few dogs with short muzzles, which is not a welcome development, and should not be rewarded.

PD (9 1) 1 Walker M & Walker N Big Mcintosh Seven month old sable puppy dog in high spirits, loved his breed type and size, just slightly off square with very nice tail carriage, typical expression with dark eyes, nice muzzle with enough space for correctly set teeth, good substance for one so young, really held his own against some older and more mature puppies. Very, very promising and I am excited to watch him mature. BPIB 2 Thorne’s Bailemos Piano Man At Dyffrynsands Ten months old B&W parti dog, already quite masculine, lovely proportions and substance, very nice quality coat, melting expression with dark eye rims and perfectly set ears, well developed topline with the typical arched tail. A handsome dark eyed boy, pushed hard for first place and I was torn between him and number 1, but he didn’t move with as much enthusiasm as I would have liked today. I had the impression that he would have been happier moving at a faster pace to fully show off his qualities. Definitely one to watch.

JD (3 1) 1 Frear Elperrito Fire Cracker Thirteen months old B&W Parti dog, full of Cuban style with an unmistakable outline, head and expression, substantive muzzle, in full coat of correct texture, well built with a good forechest, moderate neck, correct topline with slight rise over loin, moderate tuck up, correct tail carriage, very typical movement without exaggeration, really a very special boy with star quality. RCC 2 Walker M & Walker N King Sombra Seven months old quality puppy, litter brother to BPIB winner, a little longer than his brother but still correct proportions, lovely head with a nice dark eye, typical expression, good substance, presented well and moved nicely with his handler. Overall a very nice puppy.

PGD (2 0) 1 Cheshire Be Cooper Novi From Hearmean Nineteen months old gold & white male in excellent and well maintained coat of lovely texture, correct head, correct muzzle and a good scissor bite, typical outline, his free movement showed his happy disposition. 2 Read Heronsbridge Energumene Two year old B&W dog, I liked his size and proportions with just off square, typical head and lovely dark eye, correct bite, moderate neck, good spring of ribs, correct topline, typical movement. Was out of coat today, but overall a sound and typical dog.

LD (4 0) 1 Miles & Kobe Velvet Story ‘N Bada-Best Hurricane Tricolour dog of just under two years old, quite mature for his age, confident, friendly disposition. Typical outline, moderate throughout, in full coat of correct texture. Nice masculine head with not a hint of coarseness, velvety expression, correct muzzle with a sound bite, good width and depth of chest, correct topline and tail carriage, eye catching movement. Dark and handsome. 2 Gunn Newtonwood Crazy For Love At Harvahope Three year old mature male, well kept dark grey and white coat, lovely typical head and expression, scissor bite, correctly set ears with typical folds, good bone, sound front, good spring of ribs, moved with ease, liked him a lot but preferred topline on number 1.

OD (5 1) 1 Gunn Janabear Dance O’ The Knights Six year old cream male of wonderful type and quality, I have admired him from afar for several years and he did not disappoint. Typical balanced outline, in full, well presented coat of correct texture, beautiful head with correct proportions and a typical, dark eyed melting expression, substantive muzzle with correct bite, chest of good depth and width, straight front legs with moderate bone, well laid shoulder, good spring of rib, leg length in proportion to body, stable topline with slight rise over the loin, correct tail set, sound rear assembly. Moved with the typical springy Havanese step with no exaggeration. Lovely boy- DCC, RBOB. 2 Tarff Immeleon Artimis At Havredemer Six year old red & white male, whom I have also liked for a long time and who has matured very well, carried himself with confidence today and showed off his Havanese type and beautiful coat. Strong masculine head with great pigment and dark eyes, correct bite, his built moderate and in proportion, with sound front and rear assembly. His topline held well on the move, gaited with spring in his step, in tune with his handler. A good example of the breed.

VD (1 0) 1 Woolcock Kenquince Big Guns Alphapups Vw Nine year old cream male, smaller in size and just off square in outline, lovely outgoing Havanese temperament. Typical head, his dark pigment looked striking against his light coat, muzzle a little shorter to stop that stop to occiput but still looked quite balanced. Good substance, good depth of forechest, correct topline; loved his tail carriage on the move- one of the best on the day. Moved freely with his handler.

SBD (1 0) Spicer Thistlesweet Delaware The Third Eight months old sable puppy dog, friendly temperament, nice soft expression, correct head, moved well with his handler, more settled in this class than in PD. Will be nice to see him mature.

PB (7 0) 1 Clements Hugentobler Beatrice Six months old red sable bitch puppy, smaller size, very pretty head with a lovely expression, coat already quite full, well put together with correct proportions for her age, friendly disposition, moved very well and quite settled with her handler. She was in a class of seven lovely puppy bitches and managed to charm her way to first place. Well deserved. RBPIB 2 Krzyszkowski Corrandula A Star Is Born Six months old B&W Parti bitch, full of type, also a smaller size, shorter frame just off square, I liked her overall proportions and particularly leg length. Typical head with a beautiful expression and wonderful pigment. Lovely temperament, full of beans, and overall, a very sound puppy. Looking forward to seeing her mature.

JB (6 1) 1 Day Immeleon Peppermint Latte In Cubadias Fourteen months old cream and white bitch, caught my eye on entering the ring, very feminine, lovely quality full coat, typical head with lovely dark eyes and pigment, correct muzzle with scissor bite, correctly set ears with the typical fold, very nice front with medium bone, nicely sprung ribs, typical topline, free movement with spring in her step. Another one I’d like to take home. 2 Young Newpark Alice In Wonderland Fifteen months old B&W parti bitch, quite a show girl, again a very charming, feminine head with a soft expression and a dark eye, well put together with medium bone, correct topline and tail carriage, typical outline, very nice on the move. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this was another very close call!

PGB (4 1) 1 Day Immeleon Peppermint Latte In Cubadias 2 Young Newpark Alice In Wonderland as above

LB (4 1) 1 Smith Elperrito Sheer Delight Two year old B&W parti bitch with Cuban flair, so typical and balanced in all aspects. Loved her size and outline, correct head with a soft, feminine expression, stunning pigment, correct front and forechest, medium bone, typical topline, and lovely, expressive tail, carried correctly arched over the back on the move. Light footed, springy movement, showed very well. A Delight indeed. A well deserved RCC. 2 Newpark’s Crème De La Crème Jw Three year old creme and white bitch of substance, well kept coat of correct texture, nice dark eye and pigment, good front, typical outline, topline with slight rise over loin, moved well with correct tail carriage.

OB (9 2) 1 Russel Dyffrynsands Destinys Day To Claravi Six year old gold bitch, eye catching, in full, good quality coat, very typical, a nice mid range size with correct proportions and enough leg, balanced and very well constructed, with enough substance but no coarseness, beautiful head with dark eyes and pigment, correct muzzle of good width with correct bite, forechest and front legs flawless, medium neck flowing into a well laid shoulder and a well sprung rib cage, typical topline and tailset, moderate tuck up, good width at the rear, really stole the show on the move. Definite champion quality and fully deserved the BCC and BOB. 2 Harper-Dediu & Kobe Velvet Story ‘N Bada Best Bura Two year old B&W Parti bitch, lively and friendly, smaller size with nice proportions and outline, full coat in excellent condition, typical head and expression, well put together front and rear, correct stable topline and typical tail carriage on the move, quite the show girl who has developed well since I watched her from afar as a puppy.

VB (4 0) For me the hardest class of the day, with four exhibits of very high quality. 1 Fitzgerald Mybeards Valentina Vw Nine year old sable bitch whom I’ve liked in the past and who still remains one of my favourite Havanese. Moderate in all aspects, of medium size and bone with good leg length, lovely soft expression and nice pigment, typical ear with fold, correct head proportions, good forechest and nice width at the front, straight legs, typical topline with rise over the loin and a correctly set tail, good width at the rear. Didn’t disappoint on the move, she’s still got it. BVIB 2 Dence Starlight Charm From Mypons Ten year old gold parti bitch, very feminine, in great condition and would easily pass for a much younger girl. Superb head with lovely dark eye and pigment, correct bite, well constructed front, moderate neck length, well sprung ribs, correct topline and tailset, lovely well maintained coat. Typical gait with spring in her step. Beautiful girl who was only beaten by a whisker!