Crufts

CRUFTS 2024 - DOBERMANNS

Thank you to the Crufts committee for the honour of being invited to judge my breed at this prestigious show, to my stewards who kept the ring running efficiently and lastly to the exhibitors for the lovely entry, some classes made for hard decisions but I was pleased with my final line-up in both sexes and very pleased to see my BOB shortlisted in the strong Working Group. Temperaments were generally good, however, I found numerous mouth faults across both sexes, which is concerning as the last time I judged, the number was nowhere near this. Some exhibits need more strength in the rear, the breed standard says “ When trotting, should have strong rear drive, with apparent rotary motion of hindquarters”. The power of the Dobermann’s movement comes from the rear, from this strong rotary action. I was delighted to see 5 entries in Veteran dog and 15 entries in Veteran bitch with 11 present, the 2nd largest class of the day.

1582. Dobermann - Veteran Dog Entries: 5 Absentees: 0

Lovely class of veterans.

1ST 10104 - Woodbriar Fix Up Look Sharp JW ShCM ShCEx VW (Ms T A Stansbury) 8.5 yrs black/rust. Standard sized smart dog of square appearance with sufficient bone and substance, slightly straight in upper arm but has just enough depth to brisket. Head is wedge shaped with an almond shaped dark eye and deep muzzle. Firm slightly sloping topline, nice width of second thigh, hocks well let down and tight feet. Moved out straight and true.

2ND 10102 - Supeta's Pandemonium at Korifey (Mrs J, Mrs L & Mrs S Snell, Jones & Mycroft). 9Yrs black/rust, larger dog all round than 1 with good bone & substance. Deep muzzle and dark eye, could be tighter in the throat area, brisket down to elbows, slight slope to topline, correct tailset and nice sweep of stifle, feet are tight. Didn’t move quite as well as 1st.

3RD 10053 - Lateagain Satisfaction JW ShCEx (Miss J A & Mrs S & Mr I Groves & Lafford & Lafford)

1583. Dobermann - Minor Puppy Dog Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST 10013 - Virsco Vagabond (Mrs L & Mrs R Edyveane & Hunt).8 mth brown/rust, well up to size for his age, Fair head with flat skull, lips could be tighter but muzzle is deep, correctly shaped eye in tune with his coat colour, would like better layback of shoulder but has firm topline with correct tailset, tight feet. He is only a baby and needs time to grow into himself.

1584. Dobermann - Puppy Dog Entries: 5 Absentees: 1

1ST 10077 - Tuwos Notorious (IKC) (Mrs C & Mr B Parker & Henderson) 10 mth black/rust puppy with sufficient bone and substance. Correct head on this pup with dark almond shaped eye and length and depth to muzzle. Shoulder is quite well laid back, evident forechest,and brisket is just down to elbow. Needs to develop in second thigh but hocks are well let down and feet tight. Rear movement needs more strength but he is only a pup. Gave his handler a bit of a hard time! BPD

2ND 10124 - Shalissa’s The Godfather (Mrs E & Mr S Harper-Jefferies). 10.5 mths black/rust taller pup than 1. Good head with slight stop and dark almond eye, ears a little large. Fair angulation on this pup with forechest and enough depth. Topline slopes to correct tailset, long stifle and tight feet. Moved OK but a little close behind.

3RD 10070 - Tuwos National Hero (IKC) (Miss E Moore)

1585. Dobermann - Junior Dog Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1ST 10002 - Jojavik Shaken Not Stirred JW (Mr D & Mrs S Brown) 13 mth black/rust strong young male of good bone and substance, wedge head with deep muzzle and dark eye which is almond shaped, balanced angulation front and rear, brisket to elbow and apparent forechest.. Well set body, gentle slope to topline and correct tailset. Moved out well, handled well.

2ND 10023 - Manzart Excalibur at Izralight JW (Miss P Gallagher) 15 mth black/rust.This lad needs time to develop and mature on. However, he is square, sufficient bone and substance, long wedge head, parallel planes, dark almond eye and deep muzzle. Topline is slightly sloping to correctly set on tail, .Needs to drop in brisket. Would like more width to second thigh and strength in the hock which would give stronger rear movement, hopefully will come with maturity.

3RD 10037 - Evalesco Ego Boost (Mrs C & Mr A Hickling)

1586. Dobermann - Yearling Dog Entries: 7 Absentees: 0

1ST 10130 - Pursang Shimmy Shimmy Ya JW (Mrs D A Wilson). 21 mth br/rust. Square well-boned dog of substance. Long head with depth to muzzle and correctly shaped eye which is dark enough for a brown. Well-angulated front giving depth and plenty of forechest, topline slopes to correctly set on tail, and tight feet.. Strong hocks, moved out well and straight with reach and drive.

2ND 10034 - Supeta's Scorchio (Mrs Lj & Mr Rw Hart). 22 mth br/rust, another square young dog of good bone and substance. Well-proportioned long head with level planes, deep muzzle and dark almond shaped eye. Front and rear assemblies are balanced with gently sloping topline to correct tailset. Hocks well let down, tight feet. Brisket just to elbow. Didn’t move quite as well as 1st

3RD 10047 - Korifey Reckless JW (Mrs Jm & Mr Mw & Mr Am Kent & Kent & Sutton)

587. Dobermann - Post Graduate Dog Entries: 13 Absentees: 2

1ST 10021 - Sacaria Whisper of Hope (Mrs E Fletcher) 2 yr br/rust male. Compact square dog with plenty of bone and substance. Angulation is balanced front and rear, belly tucked up. Head planes are correct, eye shape is almond and dark enough for a brown. Short coupled dog, body is well-set, topline and tailset are correct. A little loose around the throat area. Overall a nice young male, handled well and moved out straight and true.

2ND 10105 - Maighread’s Ben Nevis (Miss P M Strachan) 2.5 yrs br/rust, Close up to 1 in many respects, head is not as strong in muzzle as 1st but has level planes, slight stop and almond shaped eye. Balanced angulation and pleasing shape to body, with depth to brisket. Topline and tailset are correct, tight feet, would like a little more bend of stifle however, he moved out well.

3RD 10014 - Amazon Showtime (C & N Evans)

1588. Dobermann - Limit Dog Entries: 12 Absentees: 0

Good class

1ST 10093 - Cockneyoka Dire Straits (S & D Robertson) 3.5 yr black/rust male of bone and substance with well-planed wedge head and darkest of almond shaped eyes. Deep muzzle. Well-laid shoulder, correct upper arm giving forechest and depth to brisket. Balanced rear angulation, good width of second thigh and sweep of stifle, hocks are well let down, tight feet. Moved very soundly, would like to see him with a tad more animation on the stack but he is a sound moving dog.

 2ND 10039 - Tuwos Mr Majestik Vonsallate (Mr G & Miss M Hunt & Flitcroft). 2 yr br/rust. Another compact square dog with bone and substance, long head, level planes, deep muzzle with evident underjaw and alert expression, eye dark enough for a brown. Body is short coupled, front and rear assemblies are balanced, firm topline has slight slope to correct set on of tail. Well-filled front with depth to brisket. Very well handled, moved soundly, different style of dog to 1st, just preferred the head and width of 2nd thigh of the winner.

3RD 10063 - Manzart Zebedee JW (Mr R P & Dr R J Massey & Mcgeoch)

1589. Dobermann - Open Dog Entries: 12 Absentees: 2

Excellent class of males

1ST 10020 - Ch Manzart Wise Guy (Mrs A J & Mr N D Everley & Hughes). 4 yrs quality black/rust male. This dog typifies the breed standard - elegance with bone and substance. A compact dog, not overdone in any way. Well-planed wedge shaped head with the darkest of almond-shaped eyes, equal skull to muzzle ratio and deep muzzle. Neck flows through into firm, sloping topline to correctly set tail. Front and rear angles balanced, plenty of depth to brisket and evident forechest, short coupled, good width to second thigh, strong hocks and tight feet. Moved soundly with reach and drive, holding his topline, with precise footfall, at one with his handler. Pleased to award him the CC, BOB and to see him shortlisted later in the Wkg Grp. Well done.

2ND 10046 - Ch/lux Ch Korifey Vanquish (Mrs A L & Ms I Jones & Ushakova). 3 yr black/rust stylish male, slightly smaller build than 1, long head with level planes, very dark almond shaped eyes with depth to muzzle. Another with balanced angulation, front is well-filled with depth to brisket. Long stifles, low hocks and tight feet. Firm topline slopes to correctly set on tail. A quality dog of clean lines, expertly handled and moves soundly. RCC.

3RD 10060 - Aritaur Invincible at Teuschon (Mrs J & Ms J Mclaren & Kershaw)

1591. Dobermann - Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog Entries: 4 Absentees: 2

1ST 10118 - Grafmax Oberon at Camperdown (Mrs S Verrall). Unplaced in a good limit class. 3Yr black/rust male, good bone and substance but would like more spring of rib. Masculine wedge shaped head, with dark eye of almond shape. Balanced in angulation, brisket,to elbow, ample forechest, correctly sloping topline and tailset. Nice sweep of stifle.Tight feet, moved OK.

2ND 10047 - Korifey Reckless JW (Mrs Jm & Mr Mw & Mr Am Kent & Kent & Sutton). 16 mth black/rust male, 3rd in Ylg. Standard size young dog, just enough bone & substance but would like more width through the body. Compact dog with short hard topline and correct tailset. Head is wedge shaped, correctly shaped dark eye. Evident forechest and brisket just to elbow, rear angulation balanced to front, long stifles and tight feet. Well handled, would like more of him overall for a male, but he is not yet mature.

1592. Dobermann - Veteran Bitch Entries: 15 Absentees: 4

What a fabulous class of lovely veteran bitches

1ST 10055 - Ch Ashlain Trypiti JW ShCM VW (Mr T J & Mrs Le Lainchbury) 9 yrs young, bl/rust. Feminine head, good planes, dark eye and deep muzzle, neck flows into slightly sloping topline and correct tailset, angulations are balanced front to rear, still retains her underline, nice sweep of stifle, low hocks and tight feet.. Handled very well. Moves soundly for her age still retaining the energy and drive of a much younger bitch BVIB

 2ND 10015 - Ruzuna Fabulous Frankie at Amazon JW (C & N Evans) Almost 9 yr black/rust bitch. Feminine head with good planes, short compact body, front is well-angulated with forechest and depth, rear is balanced, topline has slope to correctly set tail tight feet, another who moved well for her age.

3RD 10044 - Ch/lux/nl Ch Korifey Treasure JW ShCM (Miss S Jones)

1593. Dobermann - Minor Puppy Bitch Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1ST 10128 - Virsco Velocity (Mrs M & Ms R White & Hunt) 8 mth black/rust, promising puppy, nice size for her age, square in outline with sufficient bone and substance. Head is feminine, flat skull good head planes,and lovely dark eye, Balanced angles front and rear, has depth to her brisket, tight feet and moved quite well for a youngster.

2ND 10088 - Virsco Va Va Voom (Mrs J & Mrs R Revell & Hunt) litter sister to 1. Taller and not as much substance as her sister but with lovely reach of neck, head planes are yet to settle but her muzzle is deep and eye is dark and almond shaped. Good topline and tailset, again angles are balanced showing obvious forechest, moved well.

1594. Dobermann - Puppy Bitch Entries: 9 Absentees: 1

1ST 10036 - Tuwos Never Walk Alone RAF (Mr W Henderson) 10 mth black/rust puppy, well up to size for her age with lots of bone and substance. Lovely well planed head with deep muzzle and dark almond eyes. Clean neck flows through to correctly sloping topline and tailset. Well-angulated shoulder and return of upper arm giving forechest and depth to brisket. Rear angulation is balanced with the front. She has strength through the loin, presented and moved out well. BPB & BPIB

2ND 10083 - Shalissa's Hot Toddy at Whizzbean (Mr N & Mrs J Pollard) 10 mth black/rust puppy. Not as substantial as 1st but a well-constructed puppy if somewhat fidgety on the day! Head is correct and in proportion to her body, shoulder is well laid back with return of upper arm which gives evident forechest and depth to brisket. Nice rear angulation and sweep of stifle, tight cat-like feet. Moved well and handled patiently.

3RD 10098 - Jodaseen All of My Heart (Mrs L Burnham)

1595. Dobermann - Junior Bitch Entries: 7 Absentees: 0

1ST 10119 - Perardua Amaris (Mr S & Mrs J Wall)15 mth black/rust, much to like about this young female of substance, wedge head with slight stop and dark almond eye, neck flows through withers to correctly sloping topline and tailset. Shoulder is laid back with return of upper arm, well-filled front and depth to brisket. Has strength through the loin, underline rises gently to correctly angulated hindquarters, good round bone and tight catlike feet. Competently handled and moved soundly.

2ND 10068 - Korifey Sweet Child of Mine JW (Mr P Merrett) 15 mth black/rust. Elegant and smart in outline, just enough bone and substance but I would prefer a little more. Having said that,she has a long well-planed head and dark eye, clean muscular neck, well set body, correct tailset and slope to firm topline held on the move. Would prefer a better return of upper arm however she moved accurately, handled well..

3RD 10082 - Aritaur Yennefer (Mr P & Mrs C Plummer)

596. Dobermann - Yearling Bitch Entries: 7 Absentees: 1

1ST 10018 - Amazon She Is Adored (Mr R Evans) 20 mth br/rust. Of standard height square and compact in build .with enough bone and substance. Feminine head however planes not quite parallel. Eye is almond shaped and dark enough for a brown. She has strength through her body with good angulation fore and aft, evident forechest and depth to brisket, firm topline and tailset correct. Moved very well, handled quietly and competently.

2ND 10078 - Dobshangrila X Factor at Ottia (Mrs D Parsons). 17 mth black/rust. Another standard sized female with feminine well-planed head. Slight stop and dark eye. Shoulder could be better laid back but return of upper arm gives forechest and depth, tailset correct, stands on good round bone with tight feet, not as steady on the move as 1st

3RD 10075 - Supetas Smokin Hot (Mrs S & Mrs J & Mr J Mycroft & Kelly & Kelly)

597. Dobermann - Post Graduate Bitch Entries: 16 Absentees: 2

1ST 10061 - Teuschons Mirror Force (Mrs S Marflow)2 yr black/rust. Nicely balanced young female, short coupled and square in appearance. Head has level planes and dark almond eye. Sufficient reach of neck into topline which slopes slightly to well-set tail Well-angulated at the shoulder, brisket is down to elbow, rear angulation balanced with the front, tight catlike feet Sound and steady on the move, handled well.

2ND 10108 - Krieger's in Style JW (Mrs F & Mr K & Miss L Taylor & Stracey)2 yr black/rust. Stylish female not quite as substantial as 1st.and slightly longer in body Long head with depth to muzzle and dark eye, clean muscular neck of good length leading into sloping topline and well set on tail. Balanced angulations, straight parallel legs and tight feet, nice sweep of stifle. Moved and handled well.

3RD 10029 - Maighread's Bonnie Rosheen to Mianna (Mr P & Mrs D Goodall)

1598. Dobermann - Limit Bitch Entries: 12 Absentees: 1

This was a good class.

1ST 10017 - Amazon Just Let Me Adore You (Mr R Evans) 20 mth black/rust. Quality bitch, litter sister to ylg winner, not as compact but has better head planes. Feminine head with depth to muzzle, level planes, eye is almond shaped and dark, clean neck of good length running into sloping topline and well set tail. Shoulder and upper arm correctly angulated giving forechest and depth to brisket. Underline runs up to good rear angulation and sweep of stifle. Moved effortlessly, handled very well.

2ND 10038 - Jojavik Express Yourself at Virsco (Mrs Hunt) 3 yrs black/rust. Taller than 1 but with similar attributes, well planed head with slight stop, dark expressive eye of almond shape. Good length of neck, topline and tailset. Shoulder is laid back, upper arm could have better return. Feet tight, moved OK

3RD 10069 - Tuwos Macy Gray at Mattacane (Mr G Daniel)

1599. Dobermann - Open Bitch Entries: 14 Absentees: 1

An excellent class of quality bitches

1ST 9995 - Ch Krieger's Highland Fling JW (Mrs J Bisland)2.5 yr brown/rust. Strong bitch with bone and substance, my notes say power and elegance. Head of length, eye is dark for a brown but planes not quite parallel. Clean, muscular neck flows into sloping topline and correct tailset. Well-laid shoulder with return of upper arm giving forechest and depth of brisket. Rear angles match the front, underline rises to with depth through the loin, lovely sweep of stifle. She moves out so well with drive, vigour and accurate footfall. This girl is a handful on the move! BCC and BOS

2ND 10057 - Ch Supeta's Echoes of Love for Langlore JW (Mrs L S Luther) 2.25 yr brown/rust. Lovely head on this bitch, level planes, slight stop and depth of muzzle with underjaw. Angles front and rear are balanced, with depth to body and sweep of stifle. Clean in neck, shoulder is laid back, topline and tailset correct. Stands on well-boned legs and tight feet, moved and showed well. RBCC

 3RD 10048 - Aritaur Vespers (Ms J Kershaw)

1601. Dobermann - Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch Entries: 5 Absentees: 0

1ST 10114 - Kitado Ever So Special (Mrs M, Mrs J & Mr S Thompson, Shaw & Evans) 2.5 yr black/rust standard sized square bitch with just enough bone and substance, nice well-planed feminine wedge head with dark eye, correct balanced angulation front and rear with evident forechest and depth to brisket, tight feet, moved freely, handled well.

2ND 10054 - Lateagain Wild Heart avec Sariandobes JW (Mrs S & Mr I Lafford) 2 yrs brown/rust, taller than 1st. Stylish bitch of pleasing appearance with enough bone and substance not quite as compact as 1st. Head has level planes, eye dark enough for a brown, angles are balanced front and rear, evident forechest. tight feet Moved and handled well.

3RD 10097 - Lux Ch Vivat De Vinko Vendetta for Korifey (Imp Rus) Lux Jun Ch (Miss R E Robinson)

Judith E Balshaw (Judge)