Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

Group and BIS critiques Darlington 2024

What an outstanding show this was! Quality from start to finish and with that all important attention to every detail that sets a great show apart from the rest. First rate organization from the invitation onwards, the very best hospitality and a very friendly atmosphere.

Judging all groups bar one and then best in show was a great privilege and made sure that the final line-up consists of dogs that I considered outstanding representatives of their breeds. The six finalists chosen by myself were joined by a beautiful Wire-haired Dachshund chosen by my husband.

Many thanks for this great privilege.

Best in Show

was the Welsh Terrier Ch. Perrisblu The Phantom

Brilliant dog. Not only an impressively spectacular show dog with a great temperament, but even more important a lovely representative of his breed, excelling in breed type, outline and proportions, workmanlike and compact. He is strong and masculine, ideally combined with plenty of quality. Lovely, masculine head with a flat skull, ideal stop, excellent ears. Keen expression from his correctly quite small, dark eyes. Strong neck, well set. Short backed and well ribbed. Balanced angulation both ends. Small, well rounded feet. In a perfect jacket and excellent colour. Most importantly, he powered very impressively around the ring, at all times keeping his shape and balance.

Reserve BIS to the Bichon Frise Ch.Ashoka Blaze of Glory at Keunnevek

An instantly attractive dog, quite spectacular and excelling in proportions and neck to give him an outstandingly eye-catching outline. I particularly appreciated his excellent length of leg which I find often lacking in the breed. Well proportioned head with correct length of muzzle. Dark and round eyes, well spaced, making the typical triangle with his well pigmented nose. Moderate halo. Moderate, but definite stop, straight nose bridge. Well set and carried ears. Outstanding neck of excellent neck, well crested and at all times holding his head proudly. Deep chest, enough forechest, well ribbed. Excellent firm topline, ideal body proportions and typical underline with a good tuck-up. Well set tail. In an excellent coat of excellent structure and perfectly presented. He moved soundly and easily, striding out very well at all times keeping his balance and carriage.

Terrier Group

This was a very strong terrier group and a delight to judge. Selected, but not placed were the Bedlington Terrier Ch. Conekesheved Too Shy, the Cairn Terrier Ch. Pendley Seafarer, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Ch. Cloverwood Here Comes Lulu and the West Highland White Terrier Ch. Burneze Mad About the Girl.

1. Welsh Terrier Ch. Perrisblu The Phantom

See Best In Show

2. Parson Russell Terrier Ch. Heythrop Task Master For Alncroft

Another truly outstanding dog. He has everything the standard calls for, the outline and the proportions, the construction and quality in abundance. He is strong and masculine without any lumber, ideally combining substance with quality. Strong, masculine head with excellent proportions and a lovely, keen expression. Ideal body proportions. He is spannable and has the most outstanding neck into shoulders. Perfectly balanced angulation. Excellent coat. An excellent mover from all angles, I do not think the breed comes any better than this.

3. Smooth Fox Terrier Ch. Kanix Quickstep

A lovely bitch, full of quality and a great show dog. She is well up on legs without exaggeration and with a corresponding short and firm back, still covering ground and standing so very firmly over her legs and feet, always on the tiptoe of expectation which the standard so appropriately calls for. Feminine head of pleasing length, clean cheeks and a correct very slight stop. Excellent eyes and a typical, friendly, fearless, intelligent and alert terrier expression. Muscular neck, well set. Typical angulation both ends, well balanced. Bone as strong as befitting a bitch. Excellent feet. She is a sound and efficient mover from all angles, at all times keeping her outline and her alertness.

4. Border Terrier Ch. Otterbob Tolson

A most typical representative of his breed and sex, he excels in overall balance, proportions and outline. Very typical otter head with a strong and short muzzle and correct width of skull. Dark eyes giving him a keen terrier expression. Moderately thick ears, well set and shaped. Well set neck, correctly moderately long. Well balanced angulation both ends. Body of optimal width and depth, easily spannable. Strong loin, overall an excellent topline. In a very good harsh and dense coat and the thick skin typical of the breed. An excellent mover from all angles, if at times a little proud of his tail.

Working Group

I was overall not very impressed by this group, but were pleased with the dogs that made the cut, including those that were not placed: Bouvier Des Flandres Ch. Bouvpilot Sullenberger, Canadian Eskimo Dog Ir.Ch. Qimugtz Judas By Akna, Great Dane Ch. Garsak Summer Days At Mintrex and Portuguese Water Dog Belleville Salva Vidas.

1. Dobermann Ch. Sacaria Whisper of Hope

A strong, muscular and very masculine dog, excelling in strength and substance. Typically square in his body with very good length of leg and short, strong body. Strong, masculine head with parallel head planes, flat skull and good stop, very good depth of muzzle, I would not want a stronger head than this. Almond shaped eyes, moderately deep set and as dark as consistent with his coat colour, giving him an alert expression. Strong neck, very well set. Plenty of forechest. Balanced angulation both ends. Strong and firm topline, typically sloping slightly backwards. Compact and well arched feet. He was a sound, active, enthusiastic and well balanced mover.

2. Russian Black Terrier Evrussky Black Widow

A lovely, feminine young bitch. Very well proportioned, well up on legs and her beautiful neck makes her very eye-catching. Typical feminine head, with a correct flat skull. Darkest of eyes gives her an excellent expression. Lovely long neck, crested and well set. Very good forechest and depth. Excellent topline and tailset. Balanced angulation both ends. She is very dynamic, athletic and well balanced in movement from the side and moved quite well coming and going as well. An excellent representative of her breed and sex.

3. St. Bernard Ch. Chandlimore Boys Night In

Substantial, masculine dog, combining strength with quality. Attractive head with a typical broad and slightly rounded skull, typical brows, short muzzle, flat cheek and deep lips, but without exaggeration. Abrupt stop and straight nose bridge. Healthy eyes. Muscular neck with pleasing length. Well angulated in front and strong bone. Still young and not yet quite fully developed in his body, but has good spring of rib and a firm topline. Compact, large feet. Sound hindquarters, well muscled. He is a very positive and well balanced mover from all angles, rarely sound for his breed. One to watch in the near future.

4. Bernese Mountain Dog Ch.Fortonpark Valentallina

Top class bitch in her prime, she combines being typically compact and sturdy combined with quality. She was a little distracted when being examined, but quickly regained her pose. Head as strong as befits a bitch with a flat skull and a well-defined stop and a straight and strong muzzle. Lovely expression from very healthy, dark, well placed and almond shaped eyes. Typical medium long neck, strong and well set. Well angulated in front with correct slight spring of pastern which many in her breed are lacking. Typical body proportions, just slightly longer than high, excellent depth and volume of body. Strong and firm topline. Round and compact feet. Excellent coat and brilliant colour. A no nonsense sound, balanced and efficient mover.

Pastoral Group

This was a good group, and I consequently selected quite a few. The ones that made the cut, but were left unplaced were: Bearded Collie Int.Swed.Fin.N.Pol.Dk.Ch. Farmarens All In, Belgian Shepherd Dog Groendael Ch. Hawksflight Pure Envy With Domburg, German Shepherd Dog Ch. Desjiem Van De Herdesfarm, Hungarian Pumi Breezelyn Ear Sumut Special and Norwegian Buhund Ch. Koromandel Tusen Takk.

1. Welsh Corgi Cardigan Waggerland Kissimmee, a young bitch of exceptional type and quality, very eye-catching, much due to her dramatical outline caused by her lovely neck and her long and strong topline. She is active, alert and sturdy, if not yet fully developed in body and head, but the frame is there for sure. She has a very feminine head, flat between the ears and with correct stop and eyebrows. Lovely well set, large and somewhat rounded ears, the base of which forms the start of her outstandingly beautiful neck, long and crested and very well set. Excellent shoulders and a typical wrap-around front. Body covering plenty of ground with and excellent, firm and level topline. Well sprung ribs. Very well set and carried tail. She is an outstanding mover, particularly as viewed from behind and from the side, fair from the front. Lovely!

2. Hungarian Puli Ch.Porgeloci Bobe at Peluche

Lovely, feminine bitch, typically square and sturdy and without exaggerations. Typical small head, in perfect balance with the rest of her. Excellent short muzzle, correct stop. Typical lively expression from her dark brown eyes of medium size. Well set and carried ears. Neck not too long, contributing to her lovely balance. Very good layback of shoulder. Straight frontlegs. Firm topline and a short, muscular loin. In excellent muscular condition and very well ribbed. Well set and carried tail. Already at quite a young age, she is in an outstanding full coat. Typical quick and rather short-stepping movement, keeping her shape and balance.

3. Samoyed Int.UK.Ir.Nl.Bel.DK.Ch.Vandreeem Imperial Kazhiya

A handsome, striking dog, very well balanced and proportioned, strong, active and combining masculine substance with grace. Very typical wedge-shaped head with a flat skull of excellent width and a muzzle of correct medium length. His almond shaped, well set and slightly oblique eyes and very good pigmentation contributed to the typical smile on his face. Well placed and slightly rounded ears of correct length. Excellent rise and arch of neck which makes a difference and adds to his attraction. Excellent length of leg, not long in body and with a strong loin. Balanced angulation behind. Excellent coat quality, not overcoated and with an attractive cream colour. A sound and efficient mover from all angles.

4. Australian Shepherd Dog Shepherds of Paradise Tango Hillarious

Another excellent dog, combining being strong and masculine with quality and correct moderation of bone. He has a very typical, masculine head, clean cut, well proportioned and in balance. Typical stop. Expressive eyes. Typical triangular ears of medium size. Balanced neck of moderate length and clean. Balanced angulation both ends. Firm and strong topline, I would not want him any longer than this. Lovely blue merle coat in ship shape condition as was his musculature. An outstanding mover, athletic, balanced, free, easy and true.

Toy group

A very good group containing some highly typical dogs. The following were selected, but not placed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Ch.Ellemich Good Trouble with Gleniren, the Long-coated Chihuahua Ch.Flickan Figurine, the Smooth-coated Chihuahua Beaulamey Show Me The Money For Taravish, the Coton de Tulear Mopseyscoton Fanci Fizzi and the English Toy Terrier Ch. Witchstone Black Hawk At Amalric.

1. Bichon Frise Ch.Ashoka Blaze of Glory at Keunnevek

See ResBIS

2. Lowchen Ch. Jameneli Whirlwind

A fully mature male with quality to spare, he is unusually instantly attractive, the words gay and active sums him up. Typical skull, almost flat. Excellent ratio skull to muzzle, well defined stop. Excellent pigmentation. Round, dark and very expressive eyes. Pendant, well set ears. Long and arched neck, well set. Balanced angulation both ends. Excellent short and level topline, correct tailset and tail carriage. Fabulous coat quality with a distinct silky structure and the best of presentations. A stylish, very well balanced, synchronized and free mover from the side, excellent going away.

3. Griffon Bruxellois Ch. Zilcan Monky Business

A truly outstanding representative of my own breed, he has just about everything to look for. A top notch dog from any angle, strong and powerful without any lumber. He is very well balanced and proportioned, square and cobby. Excellent skull and a very well placed, big nose. Very good ears. Good upturn of underjaw. Strong neck, well set. Firm and absolutely straight topline and with a matching underline, perfectly set and carried tail. Well balanced angulation both ends. He has a full body with depth and width and shortness of body. He is full of character and personality, terrier-like and tough. In excellent coat condition and well trimmed. Excellent red colour. A well balanced, efficient and sound mover from all angles. Griffons do not come much better than this, he has it all. Not on his very best performance and concentration in the group, but could not go unrecognized.

4. Italian Greyhound Ch. Artmeis Raise The Stakes

Highly typical, very elegant, feminine bitch, not small, very well up on legs and with delicious smooth curves in just the right places. She has a head of excellent length, perfectly set and carried ears. Eyes could be darker, but blends in with her coat colour. Her very long neck adds a lot to her overall look of quality, the neck being typically sharply set into her withers. Excellent body proportions and lovely curves to her topline and underline. Well set tail at all times carried perfectly. Excellent coat and colour. An unusually sound mover coming and going, she carried herself with elegance and pride at all times and never missed a step.

Gundog Group

A very mixed group with some lovely dogs, but also quite a few that left me worried. The following were selected, but were not placed: the Hungarian Vizsla Oakswarren Magic In Mind, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Sh.Ch. Schindow Junior Cowboy With Cresthengan, the Cocker Spaniel Cossom Merrilegs, the English Springer Spaniel Ch. Trimere Time Fly’s, the Sussex Spaniel Sh.Ch. Eald Dances With Wolves Among Nyliram and the Welsh Springer Spaniel Sh.Ch. Ferndel Water Mark.

1. Gordon Setter Hernwood Gin Fizz JW

A very stylish, highly typical bitch from the top drawer, fitting my interpretation of the standards call for galloping lines and combining strength with quality. Skull with good depth and correct width for a bitch, slightly rounded. Defined stop, excellent length of muzzle to length of skull and excellent lipline. Correct bite. Lovely outgoing temperament and a kind and welcoming expression from her dark brown, well shaped eyes. Long and arched neck, well set into withers. Well angulated front with elbows close to body, not always the case in this lovely breed. Strong, level topline, ideal depth of brisket, and combined with very good length of leg made an impressive outline. Excellent coat quality with shining coal black colour, if not the richest of tan. Sound, steady and energetic mover with plenty of drive, at all times keeping her outline and balance. Loved her!

2. Clumber Spaniel Sh.Ch. Vanitonia Soloist

A long, well balanced, strong and masculine dog with plenty of quality and style about him and a particularly impressive mover. A lovely character, dignified yet very friendly and happy. Masculine head, typically square with well defined occiput and brows. He excels in the balancing act of combining breed type and soundness. Clean, expressive eyes. Well set ears. Powerful neck of pleasing length. Well angulated both ends. Body covering plenty of ground, firm and deep and with well sprung ribs. Low hocks, balanced angulation behind. Well set and carried tail. Coat of correct silky structure. He moved with plenty of energy, animation and drive.

3. American Cocker Spaniel Sh.Ch. Afterglow Impose

A beautifully balanced and proportioned black bitch, instantly attractive for her great type and quality. Beautiful, feminine head with well rounded skull, excellent chiselling, well defined stop and eyebrows and a deep, square and well filled muzzle of ideal length. Eyes dark enough. Slightly arched and well set neck of pleasing length. Excellent topline, slightly sloping standing and moving. Short and compact body, well sprung ribs. Excellent coat quality and just the right amount of coat, showing good daylight under her. Correctly set and carried tail. She retained her balance on the move and at her best moved very well indeed, if not all the time.

4. Pointer Sh.Ch. Sunhouse Banged To Rights

A typically sound, well constructed dog, for sure giving a highly functional and workmanlike impression. Strong and masculine without lumber, conveying the important impression of strength, endurance and speed. Masculine head with a correct medium wide skull, well defined stop and occiput, but could do with some more dishface for perfection. Strong and shapely neck, very well set into withers. Well angulated both ends. Strong bone and well-knit feet. Strong topline with slight arch of loin. Excellent coat. Correct bee-sting tail which he used actively and attractively. A very sound mover from all angles, again giving a functional impression.

Utility Group

Some lovely dogs in this group, they included the following dogs that I unfortunately could not offer a placement in the group: Boston Terrier Ch. Aprika Fargo At Rudino, the Dalmatian Winflash Chanel Paris, the Japanese Shiba Inu Ch. Vormund Xmas Bonus, the Lhasa Apso Corrolls Easy Rider, the Standard Poodle Ch. Atastar And Just Like That and the Miniature Poodle Ch. Volgarus Candid Clara.

1. Miniature Schauzer Ch.Glockens Let It Be JW

Instantly attractive dog of excellent type, proportions and size and very much the type I prefer. Tough, well up on legs, well balanced and smart. Head of ideal length and strength, moderately wide and with correct moderate stop and typical eyebrows. Lovely alert expression from his dark, moderately sized and well placed eyes. Strong jaws. Well set and v-shaped ears. Correct moderately long neck combining strength with elegance, well set into withers. Straight front legs with elbows close to body. Balanced angulation both ends without exaggeration. Square body proportions form with a firm topline, a short loin and a correct slight slope from withers to hips. Very well set and carried tail. Strong hindquarters. Retained his balance and outline on the move and moved efficiently, actively and soundly from all angles. A lovely representative of his breed and sex.

2. Eurasier Int.Swiss.Esp.Ch. Albionspitz Blue Moon

A lovely dog of excellent type and quality and a rarely outstanding mover. Strong and masculine, but with quality to boost. Excellent proportions, very well up on legs and somewhat rectangular, he presented a lovely silhouette. Typical masculine head and expression from his lovely dark eyes. Very well set and carried ears. Excellent rise neck with a crest and very well set. Typical front with moderate, but balanced angulation of shoulder and upper arm. Excellent topline and tailset. Balanced angulation behind. In a good enough coat which enhanced his outline rather than taking away from it. A truly exceptional mover from every angle with the best of timing, very impressive.

3. Shih Tzu Ch. Santosha Silhouette

Sensational bitch, very aptly named as her silhouette and balance is pure perfection. Typically low to ground and sturdy without in any way sacrificing mobility, her type and quality is outstanding and exactly what I am looking for in the breed. Lovely head with a very well rounded skull. Ideally placed, dark, round and very expressive eyes. Well placed nose of ideal length and with wide-open nostrils. Strong neck of ideal length, smoothly set into her firm topline. Her crowning glory is her marvellous tea-pot tail that contributed so much to that stunning silhouette where neck and tail corresponds. Excellent coat of lovely structure. Very attractive colour, which is not really important, but still enhanced her look of quality. From the moment she entered the ring, I thought she would be my group winner, but then she did not enjoy the table too much and lost some of her balance when going over her. Back on the ground she looked brilliant at all times. A lovely mover from all angles and with a highly typical flick-up. Truly a star.

4. Toy Poodle Afterglow Hijack

A very precocious young, black dog with star quality. Upstanding and elegant with excellent length of leg and still well within the correct size. I loved his typical Poodly attitude looking down his nose. Masculine head with chiselling and length. Darkest of eyes with lovely expression. Long and crested neck, contributing to his pure-bred and stallion-like overall appearance. Balanced angulation both ends. Well bodied with an excellent firm topline, short enough. Excellent tailset with a good shelf behind it. In a remarkable coat for a youngster with a great topknot, expertly groomed and presented. Above all he moved with the great carriage and style that defines his breed, light on his foot and with excellent drive. A star in the making.

Espen Engh, Norway (judge)