Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

BRITTANYS

Thank you so much to Darlington Dog Show Society for the honour of the opportunity to judge at this wonderful venue. A big thank you to all those who entered under me and for travelling the distance. Sadly, there were a few absentees, but still a lovely day was to be had, and ample choice between some quality bitches.

I was really looking for the classic breed type, refined head and Breton expression across the overall dog, not just a square, cobby body and correct angulations, but to have the full picture. Although as the exhibitors may have noticed, at times I did have to make a couple of more difficult choices on the day and on another day the results may have switched around. 

Although ensuring that typical clipped gait is important, handling is not my absolute priority, however, I still needed to be able to assess movement and to see a few strides of true, straight movement. I noticed some dogs’ hocks were almost crossing on the move. Our HPR breed needs to be “fit for function” so I do like to see a waistline. Aside from that, I was pleased there were many Brits with excellent ribcages and plenty of heart room, short loins and good croups with rounded buttocks that helped provide the true “cob” image. I was thrilled with my Best of Breed.

DOGS

Veteran Dog (0,0)

Puppy Dog (0,0)

Junior Dog (2,1)

1st – Nicholls’ Minama Unforgettable at Stonesview (IKC)

O/w roan, soft expression, slightly slanting eyes, head has the correct 3:2 skull to muzzle length ratio, tight lips and lovely, well-set ears, just missing out on the RDCC due to a broader cheek and zygomatic arches than I would like. At just 15 months old, he already has a deep chest and excellent cobby body with quite a barrel for age, although slightly wider in front than the RDCC too, he has a well-set neck into strong shoulders and a slightly sloping topline, and what a fantastic croup and hindquarters, nicely rounded and “cob”, a good amount of bone and length of leg, into neat feet with a moderate bend of stifle. Moved well in front but toed in at the rear on the day.

Post Graduate Dog (1,0)

1st – Taylor’s Jassendue Ula

O/w roan, 18m with a lovely soft expression and attractive head of the correct proportions and a moderate stop, lovely high set ears, tight lips and wedge shaped muzzle through to skull, not too chunky which was pleasing. Although I would prefer him less tall, he has incredibly long legs and a little anxious on the move, roaching his back slightly at times. Despite his height, he is square with a deep chest and excellent front, he had moderate angulation, well set elbows, moderately sloping shoulders, a slightly sloping topline and nicely rounded rear quarters, overall a good spring of rib - which will be further enhanced with maturity, he has a lot of feathering already for a young dog, would prefer slightly rounder, neat feet, but that’s being fussy! Less anxiety should help his movement, but he has time and age on his side. RDCC.

Limit Dog (0,0)

Open Dog (2,1)

1st – Cook’s Sh Ch Highclare Only One Avec Tailliside

O/w clear mature boy who obviously loves the show ring. Well placed oval eyes with an alert quizzical expression, high set small ears – used to advantage. Correct length of muzzle to skull ratio, the muzzle proportions and flews are a little heavy for me, being picky, I would prefer a more refined muzzle with tighter lips, he has a clean neck set into strong shoulders with excellent bone, deep chest and what an incredible spring of ribs, very cobby and square in outline, a little wider in front than RDCC, slightly sloping topline to croup into nicely rounded hindquarters, although broader thighs would bring a complete balance to the picture and match the power in the shoulders, excellent angulation in front and rear, good length of leg and moved with the typical clipped gait that makes the Breton so unique in the gundog group, well feathered and nice goaty, dense coat. Well-handled and moved to advantage to take the DCC.

BITCHES

Veteran Bitch (1,0)

1st – Naylor & Naylor’s Lily de Passemarais (Imp Fr)

8 year old o/w roan, typical and very feminine bitch, prettiest of heads with lovely refined and slightly tapered muzzle, tight lips and beautiful chiselling around the cheek bones, tiny little high set ears – used to her advantage, cobby and square with excellent topline, super short in loin, good bone, excellent angulations in both front and rear, deep chest and excellent front, strong rounded rear quarters, however, carrying more weight than I would like… was close but just missed out on RBCC, she managed to show enough of her excellent straight rear movement with a typical clipped gait. BV.

Puppy Bitch (0,0)

Junior Bitch (2,1)

1st – Yarrow’s Minama Usher of Bonapartist (IKC)

O/w roan, well matured bitch for age, nice wedge shaped head with correct 3:2 proportions, would prefer a little more chiselling around the for face and slightly finer muzzle for me, lovely little highly set ears with soft expression, clean neck well set into shoulders, excellent depth of chest and spring of rib, good bone and length of leg, strong rounded rear quarters and excellent moderate angulations, with nice broad thighs, just when not standing upright - tended to dip slightly behind the shoulder, very well-handled and moved nicely for owner.

Post Graduate Bitch (1,0)

1st – Holt’s Rochus Starburst

O/w roan, smaller cast with sweet alert expression, slightly round eyes and a little more stop than I would like, but lovely little ears, so highly set, showing that cheeky expression, correct skull to muzzle ratio and feminine muzzle with lovely tight lips, excellent length of neck and shoulder placement, good topline, slightly sloping from withers to croup, lovely square, cobby body, with excellent fore chest and spring of rib, rounded rear quarters, excellent moderate angulation with good front movement, although toeing in slightly at the rear on the day. 

Limit Bitch (3,0)

1st – Gudgin & Finch’s Jassendue Usoa

O/w lightly roaned and well-marked, larger cast, but within standard. What a stunning girl, beautiful feminine head, with tight skin highlighting the gorgeous chiselling and sculpting to her face and cheeks, tight lips and pretty muzzle, high set ear, lovely obliquely set brown eyes, demonstrating a soft but alert expression of the Breton, love her head, very long legs but square and cobby, with well-developed fore chest, excellent spring of rib and brisket reaching elbows, excellent slightly sloping topline and strong, short loin with correct angulation of croup to tail, and excellent angulation of both fore and hindquarters, tight elbows, lovely broad thighs and rounded buttocks, moved well overall. BCC and BOB.

2nd – Anderson’s Rochus Tina

B/w roan, smaller cast than 1, what an attractive, head, with a “look at me” vibe! So alert and her cheeky, mischievous expression with dark eyes made me chuckle, tiny high set ears, very feminine and slightly tapered muzzle, with tight lips, lovely moderate stop and slightly rounded skull, clean neck, good shoulder angulation with deep chest, square outline, slight dip behind her shoulder going into a more level topline, strong loin and rounded hindquarters with moderate bend of stifle and lovely broad, muscular thighs – best of the day, lovely neat feet, moved well, was close but missed out to 1 on topline.

3rd – Lockie’s Tournesol Phreya at Bryantscroft

Open Bitch (5,1)

1st – Trois’ Sprite de la Rivière Ouareau

B/w lightly roaned, well-marked and flashy, a real cob in every way, lovely feminine head in profile, with slightly tapered muzzle, tight lips and a quizzical expression, slightly too domed forehead for me with nice dark, but slightly round eyes, skull of correct proportions to muzzle, tight lips and lovely high ear carriage, clean neck and set well into shoulders, very well developed forequarters and deep chest, lovely ribcage, excellent length of leg and moderate bone, a perfect square, short in loin and excellent topline going into a lovely rounded croup, with very moderate angulations producing her very typical brisk, clipped movement once settled. Although her under carriage was possibly feeling the effects from a phantom pregnancy, aside from that, she really has a fantastic body. RBCC. 

2nd – Anderson’s Rochus Olive (AI)

O/w roan beautiful and leggy, a stunning feminine head with perfect 3:2 ratio and tiny, high set ears, tight lips and tapered muzzle, not over done in any way, I’ve always loved this bitch since judging her as a puppy, such a deep and well developed fore-chest, perfectly square and super short in loin, lovely slightly sloping topline, cobby, very moderate front angulations and rear bend of stifle, excellent length of leg and bone, lovely clipped typical movement, so very close, just would prefer her carrying a little less weight as just took her edge for me.

3rd – Poole’s Bonapartist Temptress at Laurremar

Judge - Jessica Frost

PATOUCHE BRITTANYS