Crufts

Portuguese Water Dogs – Crufts 2024

A lovely entry with a number of impressive representatives of the breed coming from many countries of the world. This is a breed I particularly enjoy judging, having had the privilege to judge many large entries and having developed a set of priorities based on the breed standard, including the size clause. Even if there were at least ten dogs that I would have found worthy of BOB in lesser competition, it was a great experience to be able to put my own priorities to use. Thank you to the exhibitors for the privilege.

Veteran Dog (1)

1. Ch.Am.Can.Ch. Rarjo Quicksilver

A great start of my day, a highly typical Portuguese Water dog from the top drawer. Strong, masculine and athletic. He has a very typical head with a very good skull, correct stop and eyebrows and excellent strength and width of muzzle. Well set ears. Strong neck, not too long. Well angulated in front. Just slightly rectangular in his proportions, he has a strong back and excellent, balanced angulation behind. Well set and carried tail. Correct coat, wavy. He moved soundly and efficiently from all angles and with strength and purpose, at no time giving away his age. Very well handled. ResCC.

Puppy Dog (2)

1. Rarjo Captain Curl Macduff

At seven and a half months old, this dog has come a long way in body and substance and overall excellent balance. His head is still puppyish and needs to go on developing as can be expected. Excellent strength of neck, superb forechest and excellent layback of upper arm. Very good bone. Strong topline, correctly set tail. Strong hindquarters, well angulated. A sound and purposeful mover from all angles. Best Puppy.

2. Belleville Addicted To You

Another very attractive puppy, I liked his proportions very much. Masculine head with good width of skull, could do with some more stop. Deep chest, excellent topline, very good tailset. Moderate angulation behind. Very sound in movement coming and going, carrying himself well from the side. Lovely coat and temperament.

Junior Dog (3)

1. Obey Your Gay Nadarium DK JCh, NJW-23, NJUBJV-23

A very strong powerful male, very mature for his 17 months old. I may worry that there could be too much of him on maturity, but as judged on the day – as I should and did, he looked really lovely. Excellent head with strong skull, correct stop and correct length of muzzle. Strong neck, well set. Excellent front. Slightly on the longer side in body, deep and capacious chest, very well set and carried tail. Strong hindquarters, well angulated. In a full coat. He moved soundly from all angles, at all times keeping his outline, carriage and pride.

2. Belleville Salva Vidas

Ain instantly attractive, well balanced dog, looking much younger and ganglier than the winner. He has a well shaped and proportioned head. A strong neck , well set. Firm topline. Excellent body proportions, well set tail. Strong rear, well angulated. He looks younger than his age and needs go gain some more substance with maturity. A truly excellent mover, keeping his outline and so very well co-ordinated. I predict an excellent future.

3. Rarjo The Great Wave Macduff

A seven months old puppy, strong and masculine. He has a strong masculine head, well balanced, slight roman nose. Strong neck. Firm topline, excellent depth of chest for his age. Looks very much the puppy that he is in this competition. His tail is rather high set. Moved well especially from the side and in front, can perfect his going away. Another with a possible excellent future, but he will need time.

Post Graduate Dog (2)

1. Auldhelm Charmed One

A dog at the lower scale of the measurement, still masculine. He could do with some more strength all the way and some more length to his front legs for optimal balance. His head matches his body and is well proportioned. Correct neck. Firm topline, well set and carried tail. Well angulated behind. He has a profuse coat and I would not want any more of it, but it is of excellent structure and immaculately groomed. Moved reasonably well from the side, quite soundly coming and going. Well presented.

2. Micador Will I Am

A tall, rather rangy dog who gives a too elegant overall impression for the breed. He has a pleasing skull, but could do with a stronger muzzle. Rather long in neck. Firm topline, quite well set tail. I would prefer a stronger rear and more soundness going away. Not in optimal coat condition.

Limit Dog (3,1)

1. Ricci José of Joseiki

Masculine dog of very pleasing type and quality, almost square in his proportion and with enough length of leg. Strong skull with well spaced eyes, dark in colour. Typical rather short neck. Strong topline, well set tail, well carried. Balanced angulation behind. In a typical coat. He moved well from the side, but could do with some more carriage and could be more stable in his front movement. Still a very useful dog.

2. Micador Will I Am

Open Dog (11,2)

1. Ch. Belleville Anjo Negro,

A lovely dog, very close to my ideal for the breed as he excels in proportions, balance and breed type. Compared to some, he may look on the smaller side, but he is decidedly masculine and in reality his size is closer than his competitors to what the standard calls for, and I appreciate him even more for that reason. Excellent head proportions with very good width of skull in balance to the rest of him, a pleasing stop and ideal length of muzzle. Very good neck, well set and not long. Matching bone for his size. So very well balanced angulation both ends. Excellent topline and tailset. He is a truly outstanding mover from all angles, sound, athletic, energetic, perfectly coordinated and balanced and very much in synch with his handler. Just fabulous! I was delighted to award him the CC & BOB

2. Ch.Int.Ir.Ch. Gemson Alfamar of Oldeely

Another very attractive dog, very well balanced and proportioned, strong and masculine and another outstanding mover from all angles. He has an excellent head with very good width of skull, a full muzzle which is correctly shorter than his skull, excellent stop. Strong, firm topline, just marginally longer than the winner, but well within the limits. Well angulated both ends and generally very well constructed. Lovely coat in ship shape condition. Another who came into his own in movement, sound, energetic and athletic from all angles.

3. No.Se.DK.Fi.Pt.Es.Gi.Ch. Aquafortis Robel The One

Instantly eye-catching and impressive dog, it is difficult to take one’s eyes off him. He is very strong and masculine, scores heavily in breed type and construction. Excellent head, neck and topline. Strong bone. Immaculately presented for muscles, coat and handling. Very sound and efficient mover, at all times keeping his balance. For me there is more than enough of him and having another good look at him I decided that “less is more”.

Good Citizen Dog (5)

1. Ch.Int.Ir.Ch. Gemson Alfamar of Oldeely

2. Pt.Ch.Lunalah Mr Happy

Another attractively proportioned dog of very pleasing type, well coupled and masculine. He has a very good neck. Strong, firm topline, very well ribbed and very good depth of brisket. Could do with some more angulation behind and could more more accurately as viewed from behind. Pleasing tail set and carriage. Very lovely coat and brown colour. Very well presented.

3. Jonatan Rarach Z Kasetek

Another attractive, but somewhat longer cast dog. Reasonable head. Strong neck, well set. Firm topline. Rather flat in croup which adds to his length and contributes to a high set tail. Moved well, guided by a very young and clever handler.

Veteran Bitch (5)

1. Se.No.Dk.Fi.Pt.Int.Ch. Aquafortis Inc Aquatass

Beautiful bitch of excellent type, quality and size, making a lovely overall impression and totally defying her age. Very typical head, well proportioned and with correct stop. Typical neck, not too long, well set and carrying her head proudly. Well angulated both ends. Not the shortest of bodies, but well within the limits. Lovely coat and presentation. She moved soundly and efficiently, at all times keeping her lovely balance, making a particularly impressive picture going around and as seen from the front. CC and Best Veteran

2. Ch. Belleville Anjo De Noite

Another very attractive bitch, an amazing mover and in fantastic condition for her more than 12 years of age. She is somethat larger than I prefer, but is perfectly constructed and has ample substance, depth and bone. Excellent neck, topline and tailset. Still a great mover, she has the look of a great brood bitch which she proved by producing the BOB-winner. Impressive!

3. Ch.Int.Ir.Ch. Auldhelm Xquisite ShCM

Another very attractive bitch of very pleasing breed type. Very typical head and expression. Excellent neck and topline, if rather flat in croup. Well angulated behind. Moved effortlessly. In excellent coat condition.

Puppy Bitch (3)

1. Belleville Snooze You Lose At Submaroo

A bitch who has come a long way for her age and with a lot to like. She is compact and collected, almost square. Typical head with a very good stop. Typical rather short neck which she used to her advantage in the move. Strong topline, well set and carried tail, Balanced hindquarters with good angulation. In a very good coat. Typical feet. She moved very well indeed from all angles for one so young.

2. Rarjo Macduff Making Waves witih Megulcie

At seven and a half months this bitch has also come a long way and is very well constructed. Typical head with a pleasing skull and stop, but I would not want a longer muzzle than this. Excellent eyes and expression. Strong topline. Excellent bone. She moved very well from the side, but tended to side track coming and going.

3. Belveduse Over The Rainbow of Joseiki

An elegant young bitch with some maturing to do to present a sturdier appearance. Feminine in head. Does not need a longer neck. Firm topline, correctly set tail. Moved OK, but not up to the winners.

Junior Bitch (2)

1. Berglungens Charming Heroes Anna, HuJrCH.

Bitch of very attractive type. She has very good length of leg and an attractive head and expression. Correct neck. Needs to gain some more volume to her body which would make her look more compact. Very good rear, strong and well angulated. Well set tail. She could use her tail more consistently on the move, but when she does use it, she looks very good indeed in movement. Lovely coat, well presented.

2. Barqueiro Avela

A decidedly square bitch, well up on legs. Typical strong head and short neck. Strong topline, deep chest, excellent volume. Her tail is not her fortune as it is too tightly ringed which tends to spoil the overall impression. Wooly, puppyish coat. Moved reasonably well from all angles.

Post Graduate Bitch (3)

1. Majesixs Flaming Hot

A very typical bitch, at two years old she still needs to body up a bit to make an even more compact overall impression. Typical head with good width of skull and a pleasing stop. Strong enough in neck. Firm topline. Moderate, but balanced angulation both ends. Above all she is a very sound mover, parallel coming and going and opening up well from the side, retaining her balance.

2. Auldhelm Miss Marple

A bitch of excellent size and very feminine, I would still like some more substance to make her sturdier. Typical head with good width of skull and correct length of muzzle. Moderately angulated in both ends. Pleasing depth of body. Could do with some more angulation in front. Moved light on her feet with a well carried tail.

3. Oldeely Leal Cascata

Brown bitch, very feminine and of very pleasing size. Quite good head. Correct neck. Would prefer her to be firmer overall, especially on the move. A happy, if rather loose mover. Pleasing coat quality.

Limit Bitch (6)

1. Boia Felicidade Kristal Amarela Da Beleza

I liked this bitch a lot. She is very feminine, has the optimal proportions I am looking for, correct size and an excellent balance overall. Typical head with correct length of muzzle. Typical neck, well set and using it to her advantage. Strong and firm topline, squarish in outline. Balanced angulation both ends. She has excellent carriage on the move and is very coordinated, if at times a little busy. Still not fully mature, she is one for the near future.

2. Winterkloud True Thinkin

A strong bitch of a brood bitch type, very sound and well constructed, if somewhat on the long side in her body. Strong head with correct stop. Brown with dark eyes for her colour. Strong neck. Balanced angulation both ends, deep and capacious body, well set and carried tail. Strong bone. A sound and efficient mover from all angles. Well presented.

3. Belleville Crazy In Love of Belezaflor JW

Strong and substantial black bitch with an excellent width of skull. Would prefer slightly more length of leg for optimal balance, even if she is quite a tall bitch. Very strong body. Moved with normal soundness from all angles.

Open Bitch (14)

I would like to comment on the bitch who was placed fifth in the class. Very much “my type”, she really filled my eye on the stack, but did not use her tail to her advantage on the move.

1. Hun.Rom.Ch. Bella Ortipo Black, SK.Hr.H.JrCh.

A compact bitch of excellent type and quality, sturdy, and still feminine. She has a lot of coat, which in my eyes detracts rather than adds to her appeal, but there is a really lovely bitch underneath. Typical head with a good stop and a short muzzle. Short neck which is typical of the breed, but I would not want it any shorter than this, but then she used what she had very much to her advantage. Deep and capacious body, but not overly deep when you feel for it, indeed she is also very well proportioned as for height to length. Strong, firm topline. Balanced angulation behind. Huge coat of excellent structure. When the handler was persuaded to move her at a reasonable speed, she moved very well indeed from all angles, athletic, synchronized and sound. Unfortunate to meet the veteran bitch. ResCC.

2. N.S.Dk.Ch. All The Single Ladies Nadarium, JHUBV-23

A very well constructed bitch with a particularly good front. Excellent head and expression. Strong neck, well set, I would not want it any longer. Strong topline, again slightly on the longer side, but she made very good sense and balance. Well set tail. Strong hindquarters. She moved soundly from all angles. Wavy coat of excellent quality and amount, very well cared for.

3. Ch. Belleville A Song For You

A strong bitch, excelling in substance, without being too strong and retaining enough femininity. Excellent head with optimal balance and a lovely expression. Strong neck. Excellent construction, very strong bone, she has a brood bitch look about her, which to me as a big positive. Excellent coat. She moved soundly, but a bit heavy footed.

Good Citizen Bitch (2)

1. Oldeely Hope And Glory

One of a pair of similar bitches, they would have made a very attractive brace. Perhaps not surprisingly they turned out to be mother and daughter. The winner is quite a tall bitch, but certainly feminine, making a near square in her proportions. Typical head. I would not like a longer neck. Firm topline, well set tail. Nice and easy on the move, but could show some more carriage.

2. Ch.Int.Ir.Ch. Auldhelm Xquisite ShCM

Espen Engh, Norway (judge)