Canadian Eskimo Dog Club of Great Britain

Canadian Eskimo Dog Club of GB Open Show – 06.06.24

My sincere thanks to the CEDCGB for inviting me to judge one of my favourite breeds at their club show. Although not the biggest of entries today I was delighted to find it a case of quality over quantity, with no dogs lacking in condition or type,

sound temperaments throughout and plenty of character (because that is undoubtedly half the fun of assessing a primitive spitz breed)!

VD (1, 0)

1. BVIS. Baileys’ Akna King Peak*

9 year red & white at the top end of the standard, absolutely in his prime and all male from his head to his toes. Handsome expression with broad skull and good strength to muzzle without losing that typical spitz wedge. Nicely shaped eye and thick, heavily muscled neck leading to a strong, level topline. Deep chest with well sprung ribs and not too much tuck up . Plenty of bone throughout and stood on lovely, deep feet. Moderately angled in shoulder and well muscled in thigh leading down to super strong hocks. Not the most pronounced coat of the day but stand off, and super harsh. Has that – not untypical – tendency to set off wide but shows plenty of rear drive, both out & back and in side profile, with good ground cover and a determined, workman-like pace. Just preferred the overall type of my winners today, so conceded in the dog challenge but a deserving Best Veteran In Show.

JD (1, 0).

1. Baileys’ Akna Panda*

13 month sable & white (although this description doesn’t do justice to his striking markings) who though physically appearing mature for his age is very much still a baby in his demeanour. Such an attractive head with the most lovely, oblique set eyes and a kindness to his expression, already showing good strength to skull. In side profile gave such a balanced picture, pleasing length of neck, nice level topline with a well laid back shoulder and good upper arm to balance. Well boned legs, with strong pasterns in front and well let down hocks in the rear, complimented by a good turn of stifle. Chest coming on well for age, wearing the most fabulous, profuse coat with evident cape and a lovely texture. On the moved showed a pleasing front action, clean coming toward and plenty of extension in side profile, but unfortunately just did not want to settle in rear action today so not giving the balance in motion his construction would suggest. I kept looking back at him in the challenge but he could not compete with the movement of the older competitors on this day, however certainly one I will watch with interest.

LD. (1, 0).

1. RBD & RBIS. Baileys’ Akna Run Silent Run Deep**

2.5 year, red-sable & white who just screamed Inuit Dog in type. A medium sized lad, not as broad in skull as some of his competitors but absolutely in proportion to the rest of him, wedge shaped and with the most appealing expression possessing a dark, oblique almond eye and well positioned ears. Enough width to chest viewed front on, although more to come still I am sure, and bone proportionate. Moderate in every way you would ask for, his angulation was balanced in side profile, although with his fabulous profuse mane it is hands on or in motion you better appreciate his length of neck, strong level topline and good length of loin. Sturdy pasterns on all four corners and one of the best coats of the day as well as good muscle thoughout. His overall balance very much showed on the move when he settled, giving that brisk, “on-a-mission” gait that said he could go all day. This and his overall type is what captured my heart, and although I recognise as still young with more maturity to come I just couldn’t deny him Reserve Best Dog and then Reserve Best In Show in the final challenge.

OD (1, 0)

1. BD & BIS. Baileys’ IR CH Qimugta Judas By Akna

Just shy of 4 year black & white and an absolute showman who catches the eye with his easy free stand & wagging tail. Masculine head piece with good width to skull and a lovely shape of eye, with a very cheeky expression. Medium in height but plenty of substance throughout. Good length of neck, well muscled, leading to a level topline. Plenty of heart room on this lad, with well spung ribs and a nice breadth to chest. Shoulder laid back well, with a matching turn of stifle in rear, giving him a balanced profile. Good muscling throughout and with sporting a fabulous, harsh, stand off coat. Stood true from all angles, without any fussing, it was this sound conformation that pushed him to the top spot both on the stand and on the move, tidy on his out & back and showing an efficient, tireless sidegait that didn’t wane from challenge to challenge. A fabulous breed representative who, having been awarded Best of Breed by myself when I last judged at Birmingham National Championship Show 2 years ago, I was delighted to today award Best In Show.

PB (1, 0)

1. BPIS. Baileys’ Akna Interstellar**

6 month white & black and very much a baby who I initially thought a little overawed on the day but soon concluded was just a typical, stubborn spitz. Super feminine head, the narrow wedge you would expect at this age in a bitch, with a lovely oblique eye. Good length of neck and pleasing overall body proportions, as feminine on the stack as in skull. Plenty of filling in to do but overall balance in angulation shows plenty of promise. Medium bone, proportionate to size, and still moving from her puppy coat but stand off with feathering coming through. Good tight feet. Assessing her in motion was a challenge today, as she was determined to give her handler a hard time opting for a gallop over a trot, however in the moments of co-operation I got glimpses of an easy, balanced sidegait, and certainly enough that I was happy to award her Best Puppy In Show.

OB (2, 1)

1. BB & BOSIS. Graham’s Akna Voorhees**

4 year white & grey who has really matured since I last judged her. A moderate girl, with a feminine headpiece and fabulous oblique eye, just enough strength to skull to give the wedge I was looking for. Sensible length of neck leading into a strong, level topline. Bone proportionate to size, with enough width to chest and a particularly pleasing shoulder and good length of leg to body proportions. Broad thigh and well let down hocks. Strong pasterns, front & rear and although not the biggest of coats, was still dense and stand off. Her overall balance showed on the move, giving her an efficient, clean action from all angles, holding her shape well and no hesitation in awarding her Best Bitch. It was a very tough call in the RBIS challenge, and she certainly didn’t make my decision any easier, not putting a foot wrong throughout, however the type of the male captivated me today and so she conceded to Best Opposite Sex in Show.

2. RBB Bailey’s Asiaq Valkery For Akna

4 year, sable girl who I now see is dam to my Reserve Best In Show winner and certainly shares plenty of his type. Feminine throughout, although has the most fabulous and profuse coat for her gender which strengthens the overall impression she gives. Pretty headpiece, another with that lovely obliquely set eye and well muscled neck leading into a level topline. Good depth to chest and scored well in front construction with strong, well boned forelegs – in fact plenty of bone all through – and a well laid back shoulder. Developed muscle in rear and good turn of stifle she had a lovely, natural free stand. Not as settled on the move today, unfortunately, and although she showed more than enough moments of a balanced footfall in sidegait didn’t have the consistency in motion of her classmate however had no hesitation in awarding her Reserve Best Bitch in the challenge.

Alanna J Blaney (Fenrirkin)