Finnish Spitz Club

Finnish         Spitz Club Championship         show - 15th June 2025 - Critique

Firstly         I'd like to thank the         Finnish Spitz Club for supporting me and giving me the         opportunity to award my         first set of CC's in the breed at such a prestigious show where         the very small         but dedicated committee work so hard to make the day so         successful (I also need         to mention the exquisite cake made by John Stokes and also to         Dave & Angela         Cavill for sourcing such a lovely judges gift), secondly my ring         stewards -         Clare Masters and David Knights for keeping the ring moving so         smoothly and for         their assistance throughout and lastly - undoubtedly most         importantly - the         exhibitors for bringing their dogs for my assessment.

We were         very fortunate with the         weather so I was able to judge all of the dogs outside and my         apologies to the         exhibitors for making them go round the ring so many times, but         I find Finnish         Spitz show better after allowing them the opportunity to truly         settle on the         move.

       Having been         away from the breed         for a few years - I believe all the dogs I judged today were new         to me.

       Temperaments         are definitely         improving and only 1 that wasn't overly keen to have their teeth         handled but I         managed to see enough to be able to award the place and no         aggression was shown         by any Finns in the ring to other dogs or myself.

       June is         never a good time for         coats and a number of both dogs and bitches were not in their         best coats - but         this also meant there was nothing to hide. There were a number         of dogs that         would benefit from better conditioning and as always a number         that would         benefit from more ring training but to be honest - I am just         grateful that         people still enter their dogs and give up their time (and money)         to take them         to shows and help keep the show scene alive.

         All had good bites and all males were entire so I have not         included those         details in individual critiques.

Unfortunately         there were no         youngsters entered, which is sadly very indicative of the breed         as a whole and         there have been no puppies registered for nearly 18 months,         though I hope /         believe that will soon be changing.

PG (1,0)         1st : Slaters Valokki         Lakritsi 3 Year old Dog who is at the top end of the standard in         height but         ideally needs to fill out, especially in front to be more         balanced. He has a good         eye shape and size (for preference I would prefer slightly         darker eye) with         well set and good sized ears. His muzzle is a little heavy for         me and therefore         loses some of that typically spitz shape but this is also not         helped by the         dark shading around his chin and muzzle. He is very square in         outline, with a         good neck and topline which leads into a super tail in both set         and length. His         coat is of a good texture and colour. He has nice bone with good         feet. Moves         very well in all directions. Very well schooled

       Limit         (1,0)1st & Res DCC         Quinsees Sukunimi Sametti. 4 year old at the lower end of the         standard but with         still enough of him to see that he is male. His head –         especially when viewed         in profile is of a very good shape with correct ratio of length         / width and         with a moderate stop. Combined with well set and sized ears this         created a good         typical expression. Good bone for his size, adequate front and         chest which led         into a good tuck up. I would like a tiny bit more angulation on         the rear but         this certainly did not affect his movement. Not in his best coat         today but what         he has is of great texture and a great colour throughout. Good         tail which he         carried well most of the time.

       His         movement was very good in all         directions but he especially impressed me in side profile.

       Open (3,0)         1st CC &         BIS Rolfes CH Enkelini Hopeinen Ukkonen Despite the lack of coat         – it is         easy to see how this dog is currently winning as much as he has.         He is square         in outline and I particularly like his length of leg. He has a         good typical         head with good eyes and I particularly like his head planes, and         tapered muzzle         giving him a very typical expression. Good ears leading into a         well muscled         neck onto a straight topline which he held at all times. Well         off for bone but         not overly exaggerated and with a good depth to chest leading         into a good tuck         up, A well set tail which he kept up at all times. There is very         little to         dislike about him, though he doesn’t always do himself justice –         and could         perhaps be a little more “spirited” but I imagine his sweet         temperament is much         nicer to live with! A credit to his owner / breeder.   2nd         Piearces CH Sukunimi Tongariro very different in type to 1 but         no mistaking he         is male. He is ultra square in profile with a super neck and         rough. I preferred         the overall head / expression of 1st place but could         very much         appreciate his lively and especially alert expression and he has         super ears         both in shape and set. He has great bone for his size, his chest         is deep and         his front straight. This leads into a good tuck up and his         hindquarters are not         overdone. As seems to be the case from this kennel – he has very         good side         profile movement. A worthy Champion who pushed for the res CC. 3rd         Saisaaren Salmiakki Via Valokki (IMP FIN) This dog has a super         temperament and         was very adaptable to different handlers. Again on the bigger         side, he still         stands very square and moved well when settled. Good leg length         and topline.         Good tail set which he kept up at all times.

         Novice (1,0)1st Piearces Sukunimi Ali – She appealed         to me as soon         as she came into the ring and I just prayed she would settle         into herself –         which she mostly did. She is sound throughout and whilst I would         like a touch         more of her all over (only a small amount) she exudes a lot of         very good breed         type. Her head shape, eyes (shape, colour and set) and ear set         were probably         the best I saw all day. She has a good neck which leads into a         very nice front         down to very round feet. Good in topline – though slightly         longer in loin, as         to be expected in a bitch lead on to a well set tail. Her         movement was very         good in all directions and light and springy as required by the         standard when         she settled.  Pushed her         older kennel         mate for the CC all the way.

         Post Grad (2,0) 1st Piearces Sukunimi Ali 2nd         Schroeders         Saisaaren Leija Through Valokki Unfortunately she was seriously         out of coat and         lacking in body condition so it would be interesting to see her         again in the         future. She is very feminine throughout and whilst her head         shape is good, her         ears could be set higher to help her expression. A very good         temperament and         very lively on the move. She is very square in profile and has a         nice tail         which she carried well at all times.

         Limit (2,1) 1st Quinsees Sukunimi Pippi – not quite 3         this bitch         still needs some time to fully come into herself and fill out a         little         especially in front. A great eye shape but again, I would like         her a little         darker in eye. She was also in good condition but not yet in         full coat.

         Open (2,0) 1st BCC & RBIS Piearces CH Sukunimi         Tiger Belle A         very honest bitch who appealed to me on outline straight away. A         pleasing head         shape with moderate stop and well-shaped eyes of good colour.         Good neck and         shoulders led into good ribs and topline though slightly longer         in loin (as one         would expect in a bitch). In good coat for the time of year         which was of good         colour and texture. She had an excellent side gait and moved         typically and         briskly maintaining her outline throughout. 

2nd Hacks         Valokki Kastehelmi a         10 year old bitch who was rather disinterested in her day and         this affected her         movement, topline and tail carriage. A very feminine head of         good shape with         well set ears and dark eyes, though slightly rounded as seems to         happen with         older Finns. Longer than 1st though again the tail         set / carriage         seemed to exaggerate this and would benefit from losing a few         pounds.

         Special Beginners (1,0) : Schroeders Saisaaren Leija Through         Valokki

         Special Veteran (1,0) 1st Slaters Valokki Sata TAF This bitch is         the top end of         the standard but her outline is very nice overall. She has a         good chest and         front and moved very well. A good head with great eyes both in         shape and colour         set into good ears, well set and not too large. Good neck and         ribs led into a         great tail of good length and set. Needs some time still to come         into her own.

Judge         Hannah Thompson