Welsh Kennel Club

Otterhounds, Welsh Kennel Club 2025

I was delighted both with the numbers of dogs entered, but more importantly with the quality. The breed is doing very well.

Junior Dog (2,1)

1. Olphae Governor

A very athletic dog and an excellent mover. At 14 months old, there could be some more of him, and he needs to grow on. He is however very well balanced and constructed. Typical strong masculine head with very pleasing expression. Ears could be longer. Very good neck into shoulder. Well angulated both ends. Excellent topline. In a very good coat quality. Medium large feet, well webbed. An outstanding mover from the side as well as coming and going.

Limit Dog (1)

1. Ottaryx Vandal

Masculine dog, well proportioned. He has a strong head, could do with some less width of skull. Pleasing head profile. Moderate neck and shoulder layback. Deep and capacious body. Big feet. Firm straight topline, well set tail. In a good coat, interesting colour black and tan. A sound and efficient mover even if he tried to seek the ground more than ideal.

Open Dog (2)

2. Ch. Teckelgarth Ingot

A very impressive masculine dog with an excellent outline standing. He is well up on legs and covers excellent ground. Typical head with excellent length, very good ears. Long neck, well set into shoulder. Excellent angulation both ends. Big feet with very good webbing. Firm topline. Typical coat with some oiliness in it. He was a rather inconsistent mover today, when getting into a pace, but he is not easy to get out of it. At his best, he is a sound and efficient mover, but could often times use his tail more actively on the move. Big feet. CC.

3. Ch. Olphae Charman

A dog that really impresses on the move. He is strong and masculine enough. Not quite the head or the ear of the winner. Strong neck, well set. Pleasing front angulation. Firm and strong topline. Could do with some more angulation behind. In a pleasing coat. Scored heavily in his movement, very athletic and presenting a very pleasing outline with his tail well carried. ResCC.

Veteran Dog or Bitch (2)

1. Teckelgarth Zsa Zsa

Super bitch, very athletic. She has a delightfully feminine head, long and folded ears. Lovely expression. Well set neck into shoulder. Balanced angulation both ends. Plenty of coat, could be a little harsher in her topcoat. Well angulated behind. She is an exceptional mover from all angles. Big and webbed feet. I liked her a lot and was happy to learn that she has just recently become a champion. Well deserved. ResCC and Best Veteran.

2. Ottaryx Quinevere

Another very attractive bitch, feminine and well balanced, if not quite the substance and bone of the winner. Another with a very attractive head and expression. Well set ears. Good length of neck. Strong topline. Balanced angulation both ends. Another athletic mover, if not covering quite as much ground standing or moving as the winner.

Puppy Bitch (1)

1. Ottaryx Chaos

Another very athletic bitch with lovely movement from all angles. She still needs to grow some more substance and bone, but then she is only 10 months old. She stands so very firmly over her legs and feet. Feminine head with lovely expression even if her eyes are not among the darkest. OK ears. Good neck into shoulder, Already has a pleasing forechest. Not the biggest feet. Firm topline. Well set and carried tail. Moderately angulated behind and needs to drop into her angulation there. Still balanced very well indeed on the move and moved with lovely strides around the ring, sound coming and going. Very good coat coming out. Best Puppy.

Junior Bitch (1)

1. Olphae Gladys For Dorinor

A very friendly bitch with a great temperament. She is strong enough, if on the compact side. Very friendly if somewhat staring expression, would have preferred darker eyes. Quite good ears. Very good neck. Quite good front and rear angulation. Depe and capacious body. Pleasing coat and colour. She moved quite well from the side and in front, could be cleaner going away.

Post Graduate Bitch (1)

1. Olphae Fleur With Ottateck

A lovely bitch, the type I prefer. She is well grown and covers ground very well. Typical head with excellent length and expression. Pleasing ears. Long neck, well set. Still not fully developed in her forechest. Quite big feet. Excellent topline, well set tail. Balanced angulation behind. A big mover from the ide, she opened up very well indeed. Can still perfect her coming and going. Coat under development, but of good structure.

Limit Bitch (2,1)

1. Ironquest’s First In All Things At Ottaryx

Compact feminine bitch with just enough length of leg. She has a feminine head, well made and proportioned and fitting the rest of her. Lovely expression. Moderate neck. Strong forechest. Deep and capacious brisket. Well angulated behind. Her topline firms up on the move. Good feet. In a pleasing coat on the day. She moved well from the side, Ok coming and going.

Open Bitch (2)

1. Ch. Conestoga And Crossroads English Dream At Otterslade

What a beautiful bitch. She is tall, but still feminine. Beautiful, well proportioned head, excellent expression and pigmentation. Logn, well-shaped ears. Very good neck into shoulder. Moderate forechest and return of upper arm. Excellent topline. Balanced angulation behind. Big feet. She is quite an exceptional mover from the side, very good coming and going as well. Very well handled and most athletic. An outstanding representative of her breed and sex. CC & BOB

2. Ch. Teckelgarth Jovial

A strong bitch with a beautiful head, expression and pigmentation. She is well angulated both ends and has a very well developed body. Strong topline and excellent tailset. Big and webbed feet. In plenty of coat on the day. Another who used her legs very well on the move, but was slightly higher behind than in her front, especially in the move.

Espen Engh (Norway), judge