Lagotto Romagnolo Association

LAGOTTO ROMAGNOLO ASSOCIATION CH SHOW – 18TH MAY 2024

I was honoured to be given the opportunity to be the first breed specialist to award CCs for Lagotto and I can only thank the exhibitors who supported the historic first Breed Club CH Show. It has been a long time coming for the breed but we got there.

My thanks especially go to the Lagotto Romagnolo Association Committee who worked so hard to make the day enjoyable for myself and exhibitors alike.

I’d like to say a few generalisations about the breed in the show ring and it’s important that exhibitors read the breed standard occasionally to appreciate exactly what a judge is looking for in presentation, conformation and especially movement. Balance and soundness.

Being a coated breed it’s important, for first impressions, that the coat is presented correctly appropriate for the show ring with visible curl and texture and without overdone styling in keeping with the rustic characteristic of the breed. A coat that’s been clipped off needs to grow back in sufficiently and those recently bathed are too soft, and too much coat is also not desirable. A few exhibits were wanting in that respect.

One the whole, conformation was acceptable, with no exaggerations. Again, breeders and exhibitors alike, need to understand what the breed standard indicates with regard to body shape, proportions and correct angulation. Shortcomings become instantly obvious when dogs move around the ring and it’s all too easy for an inadequacy to become inherent and difficult to breed out.

On a positive note, exhibit temperaments are greatly improved and there were no incorrect bites.

I was delighted that my main winners were excellent representatives of the breed.

LRA CH SHOW - 18 May 2024 - DOGS

MP - 1 1 Mrs Allen’s VINCENZINO AT AMADAR - Brown. Stood alone but could not be denied his win. Obviously at just 6 months there is still a lot to balance out and grow into but the foundations are there as there are no exaggerations. Good head and neck proportions for age, level topline, correct croup, Obviously coat needs to develop as there was only a hint of a potential curl and texture.

PD - 2

1 Mrs Whitworth’s MAD MAX MADIBA OF FREEWORTH (imp ITA) BEST DOG PUPPY  Orange & white, Correct head proportions with a strong muzzle and a gentle intelligent expression. Square and balanced outline with level topline and correct croup. Straight front and moderately angled front and rear. Chest needs to develop with maturity. Curls already evident but as if often the case with white coats, texture still to develop. Was a bit excitable on the move but a free mover with plenty of drive.

 2 Mr Lightfoot’s RAJO DEL CARPINO NERO Brown & white. Immature youngster. Juvenile head shape with slightly long muzzle, stop quite pronounced and ear set lower. A little shallow in body and leggy at this stage of development. Would have benefited from a better presented coat to enhance his features. Level topline and correct croup.

JD - 4

1 Mrs Whitworth’s MAD MAX MADIBA OF FREEWORTH (imp ITA)

2 Mr Bell’s IL GRANAIO DEI MALATESTA DICK DASTARDLY OF PENDLEBRIER (imp iTA)  Brown. Robust and maturing nicely. Good head proportions, muscular neck of reasonable length. Level topline and correct croup. Would have preferred slightly more front angulation which may develop with maturity. Well defined rear angulation which allowed plenty of drive. A balanced square outline. Good coat and presentation

 3 Mesdames Nelson and Snowdon’s ROZEBOTTEL’S MARIO TONTI

YD - 1

1 Mr Pragg & Miss Willott’s ARCTICBREEZE ON VACATION Brown Roan. Pleasing youngster. Correctly proportioned head and muzzle. Good length of neck into level topline. Good front angulation and eventually when stood correctly moderate rear angulation which showed when moving correctly. Balanced and square outline.

ND -1

1 Mrs Whitworth’s MAD MAX MADIBA OF FREEWORTH (imp ITA)

PGD - 1

1 Mrs Stenning’s BEDESLEA BISHOPS TIPPLE White. Good head but a shorter in neck which he tends not to extend when being free stacked. Square outline. Level topline and correct croup. Coat and presentation reasonable despite staining on legs. Moved OK.

LIMIT - 1

1 Mesdames Mangham, Young & Duigenan FOOGEL ROBERTO AT ONYXRO Brown & White. Not quite a square outline as shorter in back. Good head shape under a mass of coat which made him appear short in muzzle. Would have preferred less styling as body curl was lacking. Level topline and correct croup. Good front angulation but rear angulation slightly less which reflected in movement

OPEN -3

 An interesting class to consider as there were similar attributes and it came down to movement

1  Mrs Ferguson’s TRUFFALUSA NOVEMBER MOON FROM MIZANI Brown Roan  CC & BestoppSex Clearly a mature dual purpose dog. In excellent muscular condition and correct rustic coat in presentation. Stood four-square attentive with his handler. Typical head proportions and strong neck flowing into a level topline. Squarely built without exaggeration. Front and rear angulation as required which allowed for a free, smooth and tireless movement with plenty of drive as per the breed standard. He held his topline and balance on the move. Personally I would have preferred less weight but this didn’t affect movement.

 2 Mesdame, Ward, Adkins- Fray & Norbury’s KAN TRACE VIKING INVADER RES CC   Brown & White. All the physical attributes of the winner and on another day the result may reverse. However, was very lively with his handler today and less together on the move

 3 Miss Nelson’s MIZANI DIORO OVER SAVIO

VET - 2

1 Mr Grantham’s MIZANI DOROCCO RAFFAELE BEST VETERAN Brown Roan. A swansong for this 9 year old as being retired. Carrying too much weight but I forgave his portly movement as he moved true. Typical head, level topline, sightly high croup. Front angulation a little lacking. A good coat presented correctly.

 2 Mr & Mrs Tollerfield’s GAESTEN TOP TINKER Brown Roan. A little longer in body but overall balance reasonable. Level topline and correct croup. Movement not as true as class winner.

SP BEG -1 1 Mr Pragg & Miss Willott’s ARCTICBREEZE ON VACATION

LRA CH SHOW - 18 May 2024 - BITCHES

MPB – 2 (1 absent)

1 Mr & Mrs Piper’s SOLIPSE L’AMORE VERO AT HEIDSIECK  7 month Orange & white coat which needs to develop curls. Reasonable front and rear angulation. Level topline and correct croup. Balance outline. Lively and erratic on the move and rear movements needs to strengthen.

 PB – 2     (1 absent) 

1 Mr Bell’s IL GRANAIO DEI MALATESTA VALERIA VELEZ OF PENDLEBRIAR (imp ITA)   BEST BITCH PUPPY & BEST PUPPY IN SHOW Brown Roan. Correct proportions all over. Good head shape and length of neck Level topline and gently sloping croup. Straight front and correct front and rear angulation. Correct coat presentation. Was a bit unsettled on the move in her class but OK in the challenge.

JB – 3 (1 absent) 

1 Mrs Van Gemert’s ROZEBOTTEL’S FIGGY PUDDING HCJW-24 (ATC BB32889NLD) Brown Roan. A smaller bitch but balanced throughout. Correct and typical head proportions, level topline, excellent angulation front and rear. Coat curl needs to develop. Moved correctly

 2 Mrs Robinson’s ARCTICBREEZE SECRET AGENT DEL RIGRUNNER Brown Roan

A bit of a fidget and erratic on the move. Excellent rear angulation but would have preferred slightly longer upper arm and length of leg for age. Level topline and correct croup. Coat presentation correct.

YB - 2

Two very different bitches in this class which was decided on movement.

1 Mrs Allen’s AMADAR SWEET CHILD’O’MINE Brown   Good head, level topline and correct croup. Good coat. Would have liked a little more front and rear angulation, Moved correctly but a little bouncy.

 2 Miss Nelson’s NELBEKIO JUST THE TICKET Brown Roan. Bigger, rangier bitch, lacking in coat but with reasonable angulation front and rear. Well proportioned head, level topline, slightly higher croup.

NB -1

1 Ms Hatch’s NELBEKIO ELEITE ELEANORA AT DANATRO Orange & white. Nice head would have preferred a long neck. Level topline and correct croup. Didn’t show to her advantage.

GB - 2

Again two very different bitches, so again class decided on movement

1 Miss Tindall’s GREENBANKS KARA Brown & White.  Nicely presented. Good head and expression. Reasonable neck into level topline and correct croup. Reasonable fore and aft angulation. Had to be given several opportunities to move freely, which she did eventually, which gave her the class.

 2 Miss Wilson’s EMMROCHE DANCER OF SIKAMA Brown Roan Good head proportions but lacking in neck. Level topline. Straight front and carrying a little too much weight which may have caused her to move close behind.

PGB - 3

1 Mrs Lillicrap’s MIZANI SEBIO IOLA Brown Roan  Mature and nicely constructed throughout. Balanced and four-square. Excellent angulation front and rear which showed on the move to her advantage. Good head proportions and correct length on neck. Presented with correct coat.

 2 Miss Heller’s ARCTICBREEZE HOPSCOTCH TO FLOREYDOWN Brown  Smaller bitch slightly shorter in back and leg. Movement affected by front angulation construction. Presented in good coat. Level topline and reasonable croup.

 3 Mrs Langley’s NELBEKIO HIGH HOPES

LIMIT - 3

1 Mrs Robert’s HAVANA KING OF THE TRUFFLES TO BYPHAR (imp SRB) RCC   Mature 2.5 year old bitch. Balanced and four square. Correct head proportions and feminine expression and character. Good neck length and level topline. Moved correctly with drive and front and rear angulation correct.

 2 Mrs Ward’s MAGPIEBLUE CASSIOPEIA White.  Fidgety today and erratic on the move. Balanced and square outline. Excellent head proportions, length of neck into level topline. Slightly greater rear angulation. Excellent curl and correctly presented coat.

 3 MR Grantham’s MIZANI DIORA ROSE

OPEN - 2

1 Mrs Van Gemert’s ROZEBOTTEL’S LOVE OF MY LIFE WW-23, WW22-23,HCW23/24 MULTI JCH (ATC AZ96142NLD) Brown Roan    CC & BEST IN SHOW 

It was an privilege to be able to judge this bitch . She is everything a female Lagotto should be, sturdy but feminine. Presented immaculately and shown to perfection in a free-stand with an attentive expression, at one with her handler. Balanced, square throughout with no exaggerations. Excellent head proportions and feminine expression, correct length and shape of neck, level topline. Dense rustic coat with correct curl, Straight front and angulation balanced fore and aft which was demonstrated in free and easy, outstanding movement. Delighted to award her a second CC - more than well deserved.

 2 Mr Lightfoot’s GAESTEN DANNY’S DELIGHT AT JOYDEN Brown Roan.   Lacking in coat for a CH Show and not presented to advantage which over exaggerated her conformation.

SP BEG - 2

1 Mrs Allen’s AMADAR SWEET CHILD’O’MINE

2 Ms Hatch’s NELBEKIO ELEITE ELEANORA AT DANATRO