Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

Hovawarts

Thank you to the committee of Darlington for their kind invitation to judge my beloved breed the Hovawart and I must mention my two stewards Graham and Caroline who had a long day and kept my ring flowing and helped adjust our ring for the challenge due to the unforeseen change in the weather. An entry of eleven, all present with all three colours represented. Temperaments were great, all being open and friendly and thank you to the exhibitors for the support ringside and accepting my placings with sportsmanship, you’re a great bunch.

PD/B (0)

JD/B (0)

PGD (2) Both litter brothers and splitting hairs between them. 1 McLure’s, Pines Mansion at Kanukalos. 20 month old B&G who is what you would expect at this stage of development. Has an attractive head with good balance, kind dark oval eyes and his correctly carried ears gives that typical breed expression. Clean scissor bite, pleasing length of neck into a good forehand. Chest still developing and pleased with the height to length ratios, standing on legs of good bone, rear moderately angulated and tail reaches hock, has correct round tight feet and in profile his movement was free with his handler getting the best from him, kept his level topline on the move, well marked gold markings and his jacket was deep black. Pleased to award RBD, lost out in the challenge to a more mature exhibit. 2 Johnson & Niblock’s Pines Lord Sheraton, B&G has the most attractive male head piece with correct ratios and parallel head planes, masculine dark eye of correct shape and that lovely kind intelligent expression with correct ear carriage. Clean scissor bite and tight lips. Has a lovely reach of neck into a pleasing forehand, has good depth of chest, another with good bone, standing on straight legs with tight compact feet, gives an impression of balance when stacked, like his litter brother moderately angulated rear. Has a long tail which goes past the hock and correctly set. Well defined markings against his black shiny jacket. Just lost out to his litter brother on movement today, but both these boys could change places easily and are very promising.

OD (2) 1 White & Whitmore’s, Johan Hovi-Raj of Driftingsky (IMP Svn ). 3 years, six month old B&G who is coming into maturity, of a good size and has an eye catching profile when stacked. Clean head with good ratios, correctly placed and carried ears, dark oval eyes giving that kind expression, clean scissor bite, has correct body ratios to length and height, has good length of neck into well angulated shoulders, has depth to chest reaching elbows although would prefer a tad more width between the front legs. Good bone on straight legs with round compact feet, moderately angulated rear with a flowing back line into croup and tail set which is carried correctly on the move. Jacket of good quality and texture with clearly defined markings of medium blonde. On the move at one with his handler who got the best of his profile movement and well presented. Pleased to award BD.2 Tyerman & Challoner’s, Farmwatch Snow Shadow. 7 years, six month old B&G who is another that is at one with is handler. Mature and in great condition, head of correct proportions, medium eye of correct shape and to finish correct ear carriage, giving the head a lovely balanced appearance, tight lips and clean scissor bite. On the stack gives an impression of being rather compact, would prefer more layback of shoulder, has medium bone and of medium type, has a good depth and breadth of chest, straight legs and correct round compact feet. Backline straight into croup and correct set on of tail which is correctly carried on the move and reaches to hock, well feathered. Coat of correct colour with well defined gold markings of medium blonde , coat slightly open over rump. Excellent temperament. Moved well with his handler but preferred the reach and drive of first.

PGB (4) 1 Lee’s, Enormous Viva La Vida. 5 years, 7 month old Blonde who had the most beautiful of outlines. Lovely feminine head with correct proportions, correctly carried ears and a medium dark oval eye with the darkest of pigments giving that intelligent expression, has a lovely length of neck into good shoulders with a straight topline into correct croup and tail set which was carried correctly on the move. Gives a balanced picture with good bend of stifle, on straight legs and tight feet and to finish a medium blonde jacket of correct shading with correct texture, on the move won the class with ease however in the challenge for Best Bitch was unsettled with her ears back and tail down due to the noise of the down pour of rain on the marquee. Was pleased to award RBB.2 McLure’s Hightimbers Ticket To Dream at Kanukalos, 5 years, 6 months B&G, well handled girl who has such a feminine head and typical kind expression with a dark eye and correct head ratios and carries ears correctly, clean scissor bite, has a good length of neck. Balanced angles standing on straight legs with good bone and tight feet. On the stack would prefer a stronger topline, tail reaches the hock which is carried correctly on the move. Today her movement gave a laidback impression, would have liked a bit more drive. Such a kind steady temperament and currently wearing a shorter jacket which has well defined gold markings.3 Robinson Brown’s, Hightimbers Oreo Cookie. 3 year old B&G, my notes say very feminine and well schooled with her handler getting the best out of her, such beautiful medium dark oval eye giving that kind intelligent expression, head ratios in proportion, would prefer better ear carriage to finish off the head piece which sits on lovely neck of good length into a nice forehand with straight legs of finer bone on good compact tight feet. When standing today her rear angulation was complementing her forehand with tail reaching the hock and gave a lovely profile picture although would prefer a tad more level topline to finish it off. Moved lovely in profile around the ring wearing a deep black jacket with middle blonde markings to finish it off.

OB (3) I really enjoyed judging this class, three quality girls.1 Hemsworth’s Hightimbers Travel Tickets. 7 years, six month Black. One who I judged 3 years ago and gave RBB too, but today went one better to collect BB and then BOB, BV, which was well deserved and I couldn’t deny her the top spot. I repeat what I said before in that she is beautifully balanced with a lovely head, dark oval eye, correct ears giving that alert kind expression, into good neck, strong topline which remained level, balanced angulation standing on straight legs, good feet and was lovely to see her profile movement with reach and drive and correct tail carriage. Another who’s handler gets the best from their dog.2 McLure’s Kanukalos Burletta VW. 10 years, six months and today just gave way to youth and another who has done well under me in the past with a BOB. This team is at one with each other and what I said in my critique the last time still stands, scores on a beautifully balanced head, with medium dark eye of correct shape and correct ears which finishes that beautiful breed expression into a correct neck and good forehand, standing on straight legs of good bone and tight feet, has a good level topline for age and gives a pleasing profile of balance and to finish in a jacket of deep black with medium blonde markings, Moved well for her age, just lost out on the rear drive today. 3 Lee’s Ameya Alma Lu. 6 years, seven month B&G, most attractive head with a beautiful dark oval eye, correct ratios and ear set with clean scissor bite with lovely middle blonde markings which finish off the head sitting on medium neck going into good shoulders with good depth of chest and breadth, topline level giving a correct profile on the stack, wearing a full jacket of correct texture, moderate rear angulation and tail reaches hock, standing on straight legs of moderate bone. Was steady on the move and I am sure placings could be different on another day.

Craig Hosie ( Hosarvar )