Crufts

Crufts Hound Group 2024

The day finally arrived for judging the Hound group at Crufts, six and a half years since the invitation arrived in a green envelope, the appointment being postponed due to the cancellation of the show in 2021. For me stepping onto that legendary green carpet was a wonderful experience, indeed worth the long wait. Many thanks to all involved for the honour and the pleasure.

The job description from The Royal Kennel Club included keeping strictly to a time schedule and selecting only eight dogs. Following the latter instruction afforded me the time to send those selected eight around for a final look, to me a necessity when judging hounds. Circumstances permitting, I would have been pleased to additionally select the Deerhound and the Hamiltonstövare.

The eight selected were the Basenji, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, the Standard Wire-haired Dachshund, the Miniature Smooth-haired Dachshund, the Greyhound, the Pharaoh Hound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback. Among these, only the greyhound had been sent through to the group by a breed specialist while the other seven had been judged by experienced “all-rounders”. A coincidence, or not?

There are four placement and consequently four of the selected dogs remained unplaced. These were the Rhodesian Ridgeback Multi.Ch. Just Like A Dream of Luanda, a bitch of truly remarkable type and beauty, but not performing quite to her very best on the day. The other three were outstanding specimen of the breed, showing their heads off, and I would have been very happy to award them group wins in less eminent competition. They were the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Ch.Am.Ch.M and M’s Stellar Mayhem and Madness, the Miniature Smooth-haired Dachshund It.Ch. Gran Peresvet Casta Diva and the Wire-haired Dachshund Ch.Aikton Alexander at Stanegate.

Group 1: Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen Ch. Forget-Me-Not V Tum-Tum’s Vriendjes

What a star! He has everything that defines the breed - a happy and outgoing, strong and active dog who seems just tireless. Excellent proportions with perfect length of leg, body and tail. He is masculine without any lumber. His head is long and of ideal width all the way from his well developed occiput and his domed skull to his elongated nose with a slightly roman profile and a good beard. Dark eyes of pleasing size and a friendly expression. Long, well folded ears. Few if any breeds have such beautiful heads as exemplified by this dog, contributing to such an aura of nobility and quality. Lovely long and crested neck, so smoothly set into his withers, perfect forechest and layback of upper arm. Excellent bone and strong pasterns. Firm and level topline. A beautiful tail, ideally set and of correct length, he used his tail to the full. A very well balanced, synchronized, sound and energetic mover, he retained his stunning outline at all times. I would not mind if the owner would leave a bit more coat on him, but his coat structure is excellent. Overall an outstandingly beautiful dog.

Group 2: Basenji Int.Ch. Naslediye Etera Atlas Holding the S

Another very beautiful dog, close on the heels of the winner. He is a masculine, still characteristically gazelle-like and finely boned dog, well up on legs and with an intense quality about him. His head has a flat skull of medium width, a slight stop, typical wrinkles and a muzzle slightly shorter than his skull, in all making a very pleasing head, if still not his crowning glory. Obliquely set eyes with an expression not easy to interpret as befits the breed. When alert, he used his small, erect and hooded ears well. Long, strong and crested neck, well set and affording him a beautiful carriage. Very good layback of shoulder, long forearms, strong and flexible pasterns. Short and level back and loin and a good tuck-up. A high-set and perfectly curled tail contributes much to his attraction. Lovely coat and colour. He can for sure move, indeed the more he moved, the better he looked and on that final go-around he took my breath away – just lovely.

Group 3: Greyhound Ch. Sobers Geraldine

Having spent almost every day of my life in the company of this wonderful breed, I feel confident in stating that this red bitch is an outstanding representative of her breed and sex. She ticks all the important boxes and exemplifies being truly upstanding and of generous proportions. This is not an easy combination to achieve, but this bitch is a lesson not only in proportions but also that all important combination of substance with elegance. She has a classical, beautiful head with plenty of chiselling and quality, lovely expression. A very long and still strong neck with an attractive nape, so well set into her withers. She stands on excellent legs and feet. I would give her just slightly more arch of loin for perfection. Excellent coat quality and in superb muscular condition. Amply angulated behind, but she can for sure use it to her advantage. She is an outstanding mover, at all times retaining her balance, very sound coming and going and with plenty of energy and will to go. I would recommend to anybody wanting to learn about greyhounds to use this bitch as a template

Group 4: Pharaoh Hound Bazinga Make Love Not War

An elegant young bitch with star quality, above all she excels in overall balance and a totally typical outline for the breed, graceful, clean-cut and of ideal proportions, well up on legs without exaggeration and a perfectly matching length of body. She has a feminine head with parallel planes, a slight stop and a lovely expression from her oval shaped eyes. Well set, erect ears, continuing into a beautiful, well set and crested neck. Ideal topline and underline for the breed and not overly curvy, unlike many other top winners of her breed. She has balanced angulation both ends, illustrating the typical moderation called for in the standard. Excellent coat and bright red colour with just the characteristics small white star on her forechest and the white tip of her tail. She was full of life and humour, jumping over any markings in the carpet, but immediately getting back into her stride and balance. She is a lovely mover, free, easy, well coordinated and sound, holding her balance and outline perfectly on the move. Still youthful, she still has to reach her full potential, but with a few more months and with that a touch more bone, she will indeed be hard to beat – as she is already.

Espen Engh, Norway (judge)