Bath Canine Society

BATH CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

24 MAY 2024

FINNISH LAPPHUNDS

JUDGE: MARINA WHITE

What an honour and pleasure to judge this breed at one of my favourite shows for the first time. With a fantastic flat and grassy large ring, perfect for seeing dogs in full stride. I’ve been watching the breed for the past 15 years or more and temperaments were outstanding being lively, willing to please and watching their owners with bright and intelligent expressions. I found pleasing heads, correct scissor bites and enough width between the forelegs and firm level toplines. Far too many were overweight, carrying too much over the withers and across the ribs, for a working dog capable of being a ‘galloping’ dog working with reindeer and other livestock, I doubt some would last very long doing their day job. Also, please ensure you groom your dogs right down to the skin, it was slightly concerning to find a few who were lumpy in undercoat with a perfectly brushed outer coat. On the whole I was pleased with my top winners.

VD (1,1a).

MPD (1) 1 & BPD. Lahetyaby Joulukoriste by Oberitz (Mrs N J Allison). Just six months and put on a good performance for one so young, good breadth and depth to skull at this stage with a definite stop, well placed oval shaped eyes that were dark in colour and neat pricked ears, straight forelegs and good width to chest, a nice demeanour when moving, well off for bone, needs a little more confidence when being gone over. Carrying his tail well over back on the trot.

PD (1, 1a).

JD (2,1a) 1 Tabanyaruu Christie Alvi (Mrs V Ellis). A very appealing head on this one, with good strength to foreface, slightly tapering muzzle, definite stop and ears set well apart and ears were mobile in used. Looking a little leggy at this stage and needs to drop into his chest, lovely tail set and carriage, firm topline which was held on the move, good turn of hock, trots out well out and back, carrying the correct amount of weight over the ribs.

PGD (3, 2) 1 Ansalfrose Weikko JW (Miss G & Mr C Small & Thompson). Very compact dog in full coat with a pleasing mane and dark eye, high set ears to finish off the picture. Of a smaller mould, very handsome head with a short tapering muzzle. High tail carriage in stand and on the move, strong rear quarters when moving away. Oval shaped feet which were well-cushioned. Gave his handler a bit of a hard time as he was more interested in smelling what was on the floor but a nice exhibit.

LD (4) 1 & RCC Kaijartuu Ihmissusi JW (Mr A Lee). Another very masculine dog with a well furnished mane, strong, compact and well-built in body, firm back, well arched toes, slightly sloping pastern, medium bone, of correct weight and groomed all the way through, sound on the move with good drive from the rear. A little longer in the muzzle than I’d like but eyes are oval in shape, well set apart and are framed with high set triangular ears that were moving all the time. Showed his heart out for his handler. 2 Oberitz Kaamoksen Ruhtinas JW (Mrs N J Allison). Very different to 1. Gave him BPIS 2.5 years ago when I judged a breed club open show. He’s grown on to be a handsome lad with a lot of breed attributes, his coat is thick and in clean condition, well set ears, lovely neck and shoulder, carrying correct weight. Feel he still needs time to mature. 3 Limishka Vainamoinen (Miss K L Anderson).

OD (5, 3a) 1 & CC Ch Power Logan Du Domaine D’arinella Bianca Ww23 (Mrs S Ménard). Great footfall on this well-built and striking male, the most attractive head giving that soft and friendly expression, well balanced with strong tapering muzzle, good pigmentation round the eye rims, with snow nose, deep brown coloured eye which was oval in shape, medium sized triangular shaped ears which were set well apart and excellent depth of chest and width of front with straight forelegs, well cushioned pads, good spring of rib, well-muscled up under his profuse coat. A steady but accurate mover, holding a high tail carriage which was furnished with profuse coat, his rear action was particularly good and tracks up and down very accurately. Delighted to award him the CC, well done. 2 Ch Arianrhod Black Sun Aeon at Muzoku (Ms T & Mr E Forsey). Medium sized male in a very well presented double coat, good bone for his make and shape, liked his ear set and shape, would prefer a slightly ‘softer’ expression, accurate out and back on the move with good drive, brisk and lively on the move. Carrying too much weight across his ribs for my preference.

SPB D/B (2) 1 Tabanyaruu Borealis Bliz (Miss K & Mr M Ellis & Crosby). Very well presented and handled, tail set high and carried over the back and furnished with plenty of good quality coat, very alert and responsive with those neat triangular ears, well placed eyes with a brown that matcher her coat colour, tapering muzzle, a little longer in body than desired and carrying a fraction too much weight across the ribs. 2 Tabanyaruu Christie Alvi (Mrs V Ellis). 1st in J.

VB (2) 1 & RCC Ch Kaijartuu Hopea Noita JW (Mr A Lee). Judged her 2.5 years ago at the club open show where she was BIS and she is still a smashing exhibit, now into her veteran years. So sound on the move, coat is presented very well, in hard condition throughout, superb high tail set and carriage and with super furnishing on her tail. Stands so four square with minimal fuss from her handler and moves true out and back with correct brisk action, driving from the rear. Worthy Champion and a credit to her owner. 2 Glenchess Nulikka at Ansalfrose (Mr S & Mrs A Stanley). Smaller and finer bitch overall than 1 and rather compact, dripping in coat and a happy mover and wanted to please, using her ears at all times. Carrying too much weight which makes her look a little stuffy in neck.

MPB (1) 1 & BP Samerajerna's Zaluda of Morval (Imp Swe) (Mrs S & Mr R Moore). What a promising young baby who looks full of mischief and was sympathetically handled, the prettiest of heads, could look at her all day! Tracks up so true out and back holding a firm topline and carrying her high set tail right over the back in an appealing fashion. Straight forelegs and one of the few I found that actually had a forechest. Just needs a little more confidence which I am sure will come with time. I will watch this sweet girl with interest.

PB (2,1a) 1 Samerajerna's Zaluda of Morval (Imp Swe) (Mrs S & Mr R Moore). 1st in MP.

PGB (2) 1 Ansalfrose Wivi JW (Mr S & Mrs A Stanley). Pretty b dark eye and very responsive, built on a smaller frame, would like a little bit more of her overall. She makes a pleasing picture in profile on the side gait, with driving motion, strong rear quarters, groomed well all through and with a profuse coat. 2 Tabanyaruu Borealis Bliz (Miss K & Mr M Ellis & Crosby). 1st in SPB.

LB (2) 1 Oberitz Tumma Ruhtinatar (Mrs N J Allison). Great profile on this black and tan with excellent strength of neck and layback of shoulder, medium bone, her body correctly slightly longer than height, with a level back, strong loin and tail set on high. Always keen to go into the characteristic gallop but in the trot she showed an excellent brisk stride to reward her with the class. 2 Tabanyaruu Zini Kukki (Mr D, Mrs S & Ms L Croft & Mowatt). Attractively marked medium sized girl with the darkest of pigment on eyes, nose and lips, short strong tapering muzzle, eyes could be more oval so giving a slightly harder expression than preferred. Moved briskly round the ring. Just not giving the best account of herself in the stand.

OB (5) 1 CC & BOB Ch Limishka Kareitar JW (Miss Kl & Mrs S Anderson & Nardone). Judged this stunning b as a puppy 2.5 years ago and she was RBPIS, I said then I couldn’t wait to see her when she’s older and today, she stood out. She’s developed into everything I was looking for, gorgeous head and expression with eye colour matching her coat, great length to body for height, good layback of shoulder with matching return of upper arm, strong and short in the loin, good spring of rib, so accurate out and back and holds a firm level topline on the move and freestands four-square with no handler assistance. A real brave show girl of quality, but wouldn’t want anymore weight over the ribs. Well done and it was lovely to judge her again all grown up. 2 Ch Morval Salainen Haave JW (Mrs S & Mr R Moore). A very nice bitch who incredibly is in her veteran years, but she can still hold her own in open class with ease, slightly longer cast, with the best of fronts, moderate rear angulation, oozing quality, substance and type, in glorious coat and condition, with an extremely appealing expression, handled to get the best from her. 3 Ch Aegirsson Rainbow Phoebe Jww'21 Jew'22 (Mrs E & Mr C Wendling & Fedeli).