Gundog Society Of Wales

Gundog Society of Wales 16/10/2024

Bracco Italiano

It is always a pleasure to judge my breed. I had a fairly representative entry with both docked and undocked dogs, from UK and European Kennels.

It is essential when judging this breed to re-read the standard; to prevent any personal bias or preference influencing decisions. Heads are important in the breed and it must be remembered that the standard allows for both straight and arched muzzles – either is acceptable. The breed has a significant height variation of almost 4 inches – bitches can be taller than dogs – with a weight range of 25 to 40 kg. I was looking a balanced Bracco, neither too tall or short in the leg, with substance in proportion to size. In my main winners there was a range of sizes, but I hope that overall balance and similarity in type was consistent to the observer.

The ring was quite narrow which seemed to prevent some dogs from getting into their stride – there was quite a lot of erratic movement unfortunately, and this did cost some dogs a higher placement on the day. Tail set and carriage continues to be an issue and needs to be taken into consideration when breeding.

I was pleased to have a student judge in the ring with me, and I thank the exhibitors for their support and engagement in this process.

Minor Puppy Dog (3,0)

I enjoyed this class of young puppies.

1st Bracciano Never Walk Alone with Piccorino (Cllr J Rose) headed a class of promising puppies. He has a typical head for his age, long and lean with sufficient depth of muzzle, a soft expression and supple ears. At this age he was shorter coupled than 2nd with stronger pasterns and neater feet. He had tight elbows with good depth of chest and balanced angulation. He moved steadily. Best Puppy Dog.

2nd Canemamans Two Timer (Mr I Sladden) another with a good head, long and lean with emerging divergence. Slightly longer in loin that 1st but good depth of chest and moving well. Handled to get the best out of him. I am sure these two will change places regularly as they mature.

3rd Appassionata Belisario (B Derrett) I liked the 3rd placed dog but unfortunately he was rushed into the ring after being delayed in traffic, finding it difficult to settle. I hope his owner/handler persists as he looks to be a nice type.

Puppy Dog (1,0)

1st Bracciano Never Too Late (Mr T & Mrs F Doyle)

An upstanding male, litter brother to 1st in Minor Puppy Dog, with a lean and angular head, strong neck into good shoulders, sufficient forechest. A little long in loin but has balanced angles. He moved on a lengthy stride but needs to tighten in feet and pasterns. Nevertheless a promising young pup.

Junior Dog (2,1)

1st Piccorino Pheasant Plucker (Cllr J Rose)

I liked this young male very much and he was considered for top honours. He is mature but balanced and not overdone. A very typical head – long and angular with correct divergence. Super neck and shoulders with well developed forechest. Very smart in outline, deep in chest and short in loin. Good topline, underline and tail carriage, although his dock is a little short. Good oval bone, excellent feet and pasterns. He moved a little erratically. before settling into a lovely lengthy stride. One for the future.

Novice Dog (1,1)

Post Graduate Dog (3,0)

1st Braccorions You Can Conquer (Ms A.l Pearson) Variation in type in this class. 1st is very strong all through, perhaps needing more length of leg for overall balance. A masculine head, arched muzzle, divergent planes, good in eye and ear. He has a text book front assembly, strong neck into good shoulders, excellent oval bone, good pasterns and feet. Strong and deep through body. Good tailset and carriage. Moving well in profile.

2nd Gunsyn Hotrod at Rydonmist JW (Miss D Beecham) A little rangier and taller than 1st. Good overall assembly – angles are balanced and he moves well coming and going and in profile. Head is lean and angular with chiselling at the zygomatic arches, a little pendulous in lip.

3rd Owlspoint Loads of Trouble at Heberhouse JW (Mrs V & Mr A Warburton)

Limit Dog (4,0)

1st Braccorions Xclusively for Piccorino (Cllr J Rose) This is a super dog who fits the general appearance description so well – being strong, well balanced almost square, deep in chest and short in loin. Excellent oval bone and good feet. Perhaps not always appreciated as his facial markings can make him appear a little plain. However his head is nicely balanced, lean and angular with plenty of work in it. Ears are good and he has a lovely eye – fairly large with a soft expression. He moved well on a lengthy stride. Close up to the Open Dog winner – his time will come. Pleased to award him the RCC, congratulations.

2nd Teverlarni Stick to Ya Guns (Miss S & Ms L Smith) My BPIB the last time I judged and he has come on well – another good dog. Strong all through and well balanced with excellent oval bone. His head is a little overdone for me –deep in muzzle and heavier in dewlap than I was looking for. He moved well in profile and was well handled.

3rd Braccorions Quick to Judge (Mrs L E Cotton)

4th Titano Della Casa Di Lombardo at Rydonmist (Imp Fra) (Miss D Beecham)

Open Dog (5,1)

1st Ebano Dell'oltresavio at Canemamans (Imp Ita) ShCEx (Mr I Sladden) This dog is smaller all through than many here and is sometimes overlooked in favour of bigger, stronger dogs. But he is slap-bang within standard, and retains a masculine profile without coarseness. He has a balanced outline and was exactly what I was looking for in the breed. It is no surprise that I like him – I have used him at stud – but he had to pull out all the stops to beat the Limit and Junior winners today. He is super for type – with a classic well-balanced, quality head – super proportions, lean, angular, narrow at the zygomatic arches, a soft expression from a good eye and well placed ears. For me, the best head of the day. He is deep in body, broad in chest, and has the correct underline, topline and tailset. Good angles all through which he used well on the move, carrying his tail well. In profile he had an elastic gait showing the breed specific movement I was looking for. I was very pleased to award him the DCC, his third I believe. Congratulations.

2nd Braccorion Quick Look of Callaiscroft (Miss E J Longman another typy male, strong and powerful with good substance. Head is masculine, long and lean, arched muzzle giving a noble expression. Strong oval bone, good pasterns and well arched feet. Good strong neck into well-muscled shoulders. Deep in body, a touch flat in topline today, and needs to develop in second thigh. Well-handled to get the best out of him.

3rd Valentino Rossi (Imp Ita) (Ms L Smith)

4th Allegro Nord Bohemia Sheram at Rydonmist (Imp Cze) (Miss D Beecham)

Veteran Dog

1st Grafskoe Gnezdo Arlo (imp) (Miss D Beecham) I judged this male as a youngster and he has come on well. At the top end of the standard but he has substance to match. His head has matured with foreface of good width, a pronounced occiput and slight stop. He has correct divergent head planes with a straight muzzle, large eyes and ears of good length, supple and folding inwards – all combined to give him a soft expression. There is strength and depth to body, although he is a little longer than tall, good topline and underline. He moved well with a long stride – I was pleased to award him BV, congratulations.

Special Beginners (1,0)

1st Bracciano Never Too Late (Mr T & Mrs F Doyle) see 1st Puppy Dog. Best Special Beginner In Breed, congratulations.

Minor Puppy Bitch (3,1)

1st Bracciano Now or Never (Mrs M Critchley) Two typy puppies. Both have very typical heads which are developing well, sufficiently lean for their age, with plenty of work in them, well chiselled beneath the eyes. 1st placed puppy had plenty of strong oval bone, good feet and pasterns, she was well developed in body with correct topline and underline. She moved very well for such a youngster, composed but displaying the correct extended fast trot, carrying her full tail correctly. A very promising young bitch. I was very pleased to award her BPB and BPIB. Congratulations.

2nd Bracciano Never Again at Brevathos (Ms Se Atherton) Litter sister to first placed. Another well balanced puppy which is full of promise. Strong in bone with good pasterns and feet. Not quite as mature or developed in body as her precocious sister, but her time will come. She moved very well on a lengthy stride.

Puppy Bitch (0,0)

Junior Bitch (3,2)

1st Piccorino Per Piacere to Juhua (Miss R L & Miss P A Steel) A nice bitch with some maturing still to do. She has a feminine head, with a good eye and soft expression. Strong neck, good length of upper arm, deep in chest and well developed in body for her age. Strong oval bone, however she could have a little more second thigh. Moving out well, holding her topline and tail correctly.

Novice Bitch (2,0)

1st Bracciano Now or Never (Mrs M Critchley) See 1st Minor Puppy Bitch

2nd Bettina (Imp Ita) (Mr L & Mrs T Fisher) Lots to like about this bitch. She has a good outline, sufficient bone, almost square, correct underline but a little short in upper arm and needs to drop in chest - but she is still young and there is plenty of time. She lacked a little in forward reach, but she was very neat up and back on the move.

Post Graduate Bitch (5,3)

1st Gunsyn Hotpants (Mrs L & Mr P Thomas & Taylor) Nice outline on this bitch, well balanced with good forehand, well laid back shoulder, good bone and neat feet. Depth in body with correct topline and rear angles. Not as typical in head as 2nd, being a little plain with deeper set eyes. She strode out well and was well handled to get the best out of her.

2nd Bettina (Imp Ita) (Mr L & Mrs T Fisher) See 1st Novice Bitch

Limit Bitch (5,1)

1st Braccorion’s Piccorino Pick Me (Miss E Towns) When she came into the ring I thought she would be my ticket winner. Just what I look for in a bitch – she has substance but is also feminine. She has a cracking outline, balanced angles and is deep and mature in body. She has an excellent forehand, neck and shoulders, strong oval bone and neat feet. Her head is well balanced, foreface of good width, slight stop and prominent occiput, slightly arched muzzle and good depth of flew. Nothing overdone or exaggerated. She move out well with good forward reach and drive holding her tail correctly. I was pleased to award her the RCC. Her time will come. Congratulations.

2nd Teverlarni Secret Dreams (Miss S & Ms L Smith) Another typy bitch – with substance but not overdone. Feminine head, long and lean with divergent planes. Strong neck with unexaggerated dewlap, well laid back shoulders. Very good in outline – strong and mature in body, good front and feet. Moved well in profile.

3rd You Can Crown The Queen (Imp Hun) TAF (Mrs A & Miss N Hurst)

4th Withamfriary Lush Blossom at Heberhouse (Mrs V & Mr A Warburton)

Open Bitch (5,0)

1st Sh Ch Braccorion's Va Va Voom JW (Miss L J Coghlan) My surprise of the day. I have always admired her from the ringside, but had thought her a little strong all through for a bitch. Today she was carrying just the right amount of weight and looked a picture in profile. She is so well balanced, there is nothing really I would change in terms of her outline – almost square, excellent forehand, neck and shoulders. Her topline, underline and tailset are just right. Her head is a little strong for a bitch but it is very typical and clearly she is all Bracco. On the move she comes alive and is just breathtaking. The best mover of the day and it was easy to forget this was a very awkward shaped ring. Her out and back was accurate and in profile she flew around the ring with a breed typical, extended fast trot. I could not deny her the top spot and I was thrilled to award her the BCC and BOB. Congratulations.

2nd Braccorions You Win Again at Brevathos (Ms Se Atherton) Another quality bitch who was very unlucky to meet the first placed bitch. Another with a breed typical outline, feminine but with substance. Balanced in head, showing divergence, lean cheeks, slight stop and pronounced occiput. Well develop in body with correct topline and tailset. Moving well.

3rd Sh Ch Braccorions Never Say Never JW (Mrs M Critchley)

4th Elfrindew Kinky Reggae (Mr S Kelsey)

5th Teverlarni Cama Da Rosas (Mrs C Bond)

Veteran Bitch (0,0)

Julie Frost

(Bushwacker)