Crufts

CRUFTS 2025

JAPANESE AKITA INU

Firstly I wish to thank Crufts Committee for their kind invitation to judge at this show as well as for the excellent arrangements. I enjoyed my afternoon judging this breed. Type and quality varied a great deal, but the best were very typical representatives of the breed. Many were not in ideal coat which affected naturally a number of the red exhibits. Rears and movement still need improvement. I understand the breed will have its first set of tickets in 2026. Good luck!

VETERAN (1): 1. Bolton’s Hatchi Boy, seven year old smaller male red with white ghostings. I would like him a little more masculine overall. Good head, pleasing dark eye. Well hooded ears. Would like a better front. Good proportions, body and bone. Well carried tail. Rather short stepping movement and close behind.

PUPPY (1): 1. Fiddes’ Awa Ryozogo Jr Majunaga Jp (Imp Jpn), seven month old red with ghostings. Excels in temperament. Very nice head with well set dark eyes and well carried ears. He has a nice front and good body. Very young and now needs to strengthen in rear and in movement. Well carried tail. Best Puppy

JUNIOR (3): 1.Fiddes’ Damion Go di Borakitainu Kensha (Imp Ita), 13 month old red with white ghostings, but rather out of coat. Excels in type and correct proportions and he is soundly made. Masculine head with correct well set eye and well carried ears. Good bone. Enough body. Moved well. 2. Platteau’s Fujizakura Go Fuen No Oka, tall junior male who is too square in outline. Masculine junior with very nice head, excellent eye and expression. Needs a more neck. Good bone. Better angulation fore and aft would improve his outline. 3. Loca & Kardasz’ Shogetsu Tora Go Hajimari

POST GRADUATE DOG (6): 1. Duffield’s Meiho Kensha Akioshiro Go, 20 month old medium sized red dog with ghostings. Would prefer less white on his front. Has a stamp of quality and carries himself to advantage. Excellent head, very typical eye and expression. Good neck flowing into a well-made body. Very sound quarters. Would like better feet. Outstanding mover. Best Dog & Best of Breed 2. Davis’ Ryuukita Burning Talisman at Kasaishiro (IKC), also 20 months of age, red with urajiro, also this one carries a generous amount of white on his front. Masculine head with good cheek and lovely, well set dark eye. Decent bone. Coat not at its best. Decent tail carriage. Moves well. 3. Page’s Aka Kenzou Kashikoi of Mogeki

OPEN DOG (6): 1. Duffield’s Hasaki Team Nobu Meiho (Imp Srb), seven year old handsome and very typical male of excellent quality. Red with urajiro, again I would prefer less white on his front. Has many excellent breed points and is very soundly made. Excellent feet. Well conditioned coat, but on the blow. Excels in movement. I see he is the sire of my Best Dog and they are very similar indeed. Res. Best Dog 2. Thompson & Fowkes’ Hokushou Go Daruma Kensha Wjw’24 (Imp Ita), 19 month old quality young dog. Excels in head and well set good eye and expression. Has many good qualities. Just needs a little more time. Very good bone. Carries himself to advantage. At this stage better standing than moving. 3. Bennett & Thompson’s Ir/NLD Ch. Seijitsu Amafumi Go Tsoyu,

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME (3-1 abs.): 1. Davis’ Ryuukita Burning Talisman at Kasaishiro (IKC), 2nd. in Post Graduate Dog, please see notes above.2. Bolton’s Hatchi Boy, 1st. in Veteran Dog, please see notes above.

VETERAN BITCH (2-1 abs.): 1. Bennett & Thompson’s Int/BEL Ch. Tsoyu Murasaki Go Seijitsu,eight year old pleasing quality veteran female. Her type is very good and she is feminine overall. Soundly made. Quality head with well set eye and good expression. Well hooded ears. Just a shade narrow in front. Neat feet. Well carried tail. Moved well in profile. Shown in newly bathed coat, hence quality is soft. In very good order for her age. Best Veteran.

PUPPY BITCH (2-1 abs.): 1. Thomas’ Kazan No Visis avec Nosferatu, eight month old feminine and pretty puppy. Lovely red with urajiro. Just a shade heavy. Shows very well. Very promising head, excels in eye and expression. Well hooded ears. Very good bone and feet. Sound quarters. A shade low on the leg. Moves very well in profile.

JUNIOR BITCH (No entries)

POST GRADUATE (4-3 abs.): 1.Bolton’s Tsoyu Uramiyakihime Go, two year old female alone in this class. She was shown in minimal coat. Quite soundly made and feminine. Good head with dark eye. Bone appears rather light in this coat condition. Needs to improve in body. A little short stepping on the move.

OPEN (8-3 abs.): 1. Duffield’s Meiho Kawai Hana Go, three year old quality female not in her best coat, but very nicely conditioned. Red with urajiro. Has the breed’s proud carriage. Very soundly made. Excellent head with good cheek, well set dark eyes, typical expression, well hooded ears. Enough Bitch. I see she is a full sister to my BOB, but from an pigmentation. Good bone and body. Very sound and correct mover. Best earlier litter. 2. Rossa’s Kagatomisou Nanase Go Sumbeatora, also three years of age and lots to like about her too. Excellent type. Lovely quality head, excels in eye and expression. Well carried and hooded ears. Very good bone and body. Would like slightly stronger rear and better movement. Reserve Best Bitch 3. Bennett’s It/IR Ch. Tomoe Towa No Miyako Seijitsu (Imp ITA)

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME (3-1 abs.): 1. Buckley & Chapman’s Tsoyu P’Chinko Go Matsukita, five year old pleasing female of very nice type. Feminine head with excellent dark eye. Decent ears. Would like to see better front movement. Good body. Needs a stronger rear. Moved well in profile. 2. Bolton’s Tsoyu Uramiyakihime Go, 1st. in Post Graduate, please see notes above.

Elina Haapaniemi

Judge