Crufts

Smooth Fox Terriers

Crufts Dog Show 2025

It is quite hard to believe that it is now almost 35 years ago that I travelled to Crufts Centenary Show, the first at the NEC, with my uncle, the designated judge of this beautiful breed. It is always an honour to judge the gentleman of the canine race, but even more so at this the greatest dog show, and I thank the Crufts Committee for the invitation. Many, if not most of those familiar faces, from that centenary day are no longer with us, but they certainly weren’t forgotten to me today. The last 34 years have not been overly kind to this wonderful native breed, and I really do fail to see why they fare less favourably than other breeds, there is nothing better to behold than a good smooth fox terrier. The quality therefore has changed with time, and that classical type with that classical headpiece are less often found or indeed remembered. Therefore, it was with a little apprehension that I approached this appointment. However, I needn’t have been too concerned as there were some exhibits of top drawer quality and I was very happy with my principal winners. On the whole movement is improved and all exhibits were in good hard condition. The main issue I felt within this entry was repeatedly poor ears. Without the correct ear the whole expression of the smooth is detrimentally altered, far too many were heavy, or without sufficient lift or both and some were lower set. Poor ears did affect some placings and breeders really need to watch this important fault.

Veteran Dog. 1. Zetamaz Just Inked (Miss D Nichols). Alone but a nice start to the day. B/W/T. Quality male. Pleasing head of fair length with keen good eye. Nice sized ears although a little more lift would be ideal. Good neck and shoulder. Typical front assembly Good bone and feet. Well ribbed. Moved well in both directions although could have a little more drive from the rear. In A1 order.

Puppy Dog. 1. Kanix Stafford (Mrs K S Wilberg). T/W. Good sized youngster. Won here on his overall make and shape. Very correct outline with lovely length of neck, short back and enough behind the tail. Clean front with little fore chest which is correct for this breed. Moderately angulated rear with well let down hock. His head is of good length and is lean and clean in back skull. Has good dark eye and is nicely chiselled with decent underjaw. Another who would benefit from more lift to his ears. If I am being critical he could have a tighter forefoot.. Moved well with tail on top and in super hard condition. Should do well. 2. Lizoni Trailblazer (Miss E Morgan). Heavier marked T/W. Longer cast than 1 and not the width in front. However, has many attributes including a very pleasing head of good proportions and he is nice through the neck and shoulder. Level topline. Decent spring of rib and well ribbed back. Good hindquarters with good second thigh. Moved well. Just flying his ears at this stage. 3. Lizoni So Much for Subtlety (Ms Paj Feltham)

Junior Dog. This was a very difficult and good class. The first two are both youngsters, and both of super quality and type. It took some deliberation to place these two and was my hardest decision of the day. I am sure both will carry their title with time. 1. Flea Market Da Quinta Do Pasto (Dr N Pereira). Litter brother to BOB. He immediately took my eye. He is by no means a small dog and well up for size. However, his virtues outweigh this and his outline is super with a good length of neck, short backed, plenty behind the tail, and with a good set on. He has an excellent head of good length, and which is lean and of ideal skull width. Strong muzzle. Nicely chiselled. Well set and well used ears. Good for bone and good feet. Good depth to his chest at this age, and well sprung. Nicely angulated hindquarters. He could be a little more positive going away but has the most lovely front action with correct pendular action moving well out at the elbow with feet close to the ground. In good harsh coat which is well put down. The consummate showman. RCC 2. Umberto Tozzi Du Manoir Saint Adrien (Mrs J & Mrs M & Mr R & Mr D I Thornton & Breton & Bebbington & Anderson-Watt). B/W who pushed 1 hard indeed here. Better for size than 1, he is a well-made smooth of the highest merit. Correct head with clean skull and lovely dark eye. Has that desired varminty expression. Could have used his ears to a little more advantage however. Super correct forehand. Excellent bone and good feet. Good length of neck into excellent shoulders. Short backed with strong loin. Nice moderate hind angulation and well let down hock. Moved soundly and is so good behind. Just needed a fraction more enthusiasm today. Put down as one would expect from this kennel in highest order and in A1 coat. Unlucky not to have higher honours today. 3. Foxindean Press Rewind (Ms A S & Ms K Kettle & Davies). Another nice one.

Post Graduate Dog. 1. Switch On The Light De La Treviniere (Mrs Mc Hiverneaux). Almost all white. He is a nice male who won this class on his overall type. Dramatically handled which at times detracted from the dog. Good head and lovely eye. Could have a little more length of neck and a little thinning out of coat might also help here. Nice front with good bone. Very good rib. Strong loin. Very sound mover. Correct jacket. 2. Thunderclap Maccoist at Finleric (Mrs E Henderson). T/W. Nice for size and overall outline and has substance. Good head although preferred the overall expression of 1. Lovely through neck and shoulder. Short backed. Enough behind the tail. In good hard condition. Moved well. Not putting all in today and not using his ears as I have seen him do. 3. Fox Rebell Ricochet (Mr F & Miss C Martin & Lamoureux)

Limit Dog. 1. Abadene Geronimo (Mr M Puig Lizarraga). Loved this young 20 month old dog for overall type. Good head and correct expression. Clean neck into well laid shoulders angled well on a correctly short upper arm. Short backed. Well let down chest, well ribbed and short and level. Good well-muscled hindquarters. Super bone. Moved very well. If I am to be very hypercritical, he could have a little more leg length for perfection of his proportions. 2. United Du Manoir Saint Adrien avec Foxindean (Imp Fra) (Ms A Kettle). Another lovely for his type and who is promising. Ideal width of skull with well-placed ears, although a fraction more lift would complete the expression. Clean through his neck and shoulder. Clean front. Slightly longer cast than 1 he is still well ribbed back. Level topline. Tail on top. Moved very well and well handled. Just preferred the chiselling on 1. 3 Chelines Sugar Daddy (Mr C Martinez Oses)

Open Dog. 1. Ubble Du Manoir Saint Adrien at Byzantine (Imp Fra) (Ms J Peakin). Almost all white male. Nothing flashy here just a sound, well sized, smooth of substance yet without cloddyness. He was an easy winner for me. This dog has to be gone over to appreciate his virtues. First you come to his head and he is classical ‘old style’ smooth, super small ear of correct thickness set correctly and folded correctly with no hint of manipulation. Small dark keen eye. Elegantly chiselled with good strength of foreface. Clean in front and of sufficient bone. Clean neck of good length into well placed shoulders. Well ribbed. Short enough with strong loin. Very correct hindquarters and well muscled. Moved soundly fore and aft. In good condition. Just the right amount of weight. Coat is of correct texture and well prepared. Tail on top. I really liked him and was delighted to give him his third CC which I am told gives him his crown and his owners first smooth title holder. I must mention that this kennel figured highly in my placings today with dogs excelling in typical heads, impressive. 2. Wilhelm One V D Schonen Bergen (Mr F W Schoneberg). B/W. Different in style to 1. Pleasing in size and outline. Good neck and shoulder. Good front and good cat feet. Well ribbed. Level topline. Moved well. Not the expression of 1. 3 Lanyons Prime Suspect (Mr P A Julian)

Veteran Bitch. Forgevale Quadrille (Mrs M Hughes). T/W. Eight year old bitch who is in great nick for her age. Pleased for size and overall shape. Quality head with good length and no sign of cheekiness. Good dark keen eye. Neat ears which she could have used a fraction better. Decent length of neck into good shoulders. Correct spring of rib and well ribbed back. Clean front. Tail well set. Short backed. In good condition and carrying just the right amount of weight. Moved well and so well handled by her young handler to whom she is the elder. They both richly deserved the huge applause they both received. Well done.

Puppy Bitch. 1. Bisquit Vd Bismarckquelle TAF (Mrs J & Miss J Dolman). T/W Slightly longer cast than others in this class however her overall attributes outweigh this. This bitch is of good substance and bone. She is a very feminine bitch in head yet there is no loss of strength with this femininity. Head is of good overall length and correct proportions. Excellent length of neck which is strong and leads into well placed shoulders. Clean front. Well ribbed. Level topline. Enough behind the tail. Moved well fore and aft. 2. Iberfox Nippy Sweetie (Mr I Martin). Different to the first bitch. This bitch certainly has inherited her sires head and expression. Lean head with clean skull, neat small ears and super keen dark eye affording her an expression that appealed to me. Good length of neck, into decent shoulders. Short enough. Well ribbed. Enough behind the tail. Moved well. I just preferred the front on 1 and would benefit from a denser coat, although this may simply be due to recent preparation. Nice prospect. 3. Eastfox All or Nothing (Miss S L Goodley)

Junior Bitch. Similar to junior dog this class was hotly contested. 1. Femme Fatalle Da Quinta Do Pasto (Dr N Pereira). B/W, a new one to me, and of the highest merit. If one is able to forgive a few minor flaws and maturity, here you have a smooth bitch who should give pleasure to the specialist connoisseur and also appeal to the non-specialist alike. She immediately appeals for her overall outline and has all the attributes of type, balance, quality, and soundness. Lovely long lean head with flat skull and neat small ears well placed and used well. Beautiful dark eye which is well set and gives that desired varminty expression that is not found often enough. Correctly chiselled and good strength of underjaw. Lovely length of neck which flows well into well placed shoulders. Correct length of upper arm which affords her that lovely clean front. Enough bone for a bitch and good feet. Well ribbed and short backed. Good set on with plenty behind her tail. Well angulated rear with good length of thigh. Moved with correct action and never stopped showing. Still has a fraction maturing to do and indeed will be better for it. Although I hadn’t expected at this show to go down the line, I was delighted to put the first feather in her cap. Showed well in the group and her gained further admirers. CC and BOB. Well done. 2. Borovale Jazzmin (Mr J & Miss E Hannar). This T/W bitch has caught my eye on a number of occasions, and I was hoping to have the opportunity to go over her. She does not disappoint on further inspection. She scored here on her overall balance, quality with substance and excellent hard condition. Good length of head with clean back skull and well chiselled. Lovely eye. Good sized ears if slightly heavy. Super length of neck into well laid shoulders. Correct front with little fore chest and well off for bone with neat feet. Short backed and strong in loin. Correct set on and plenty behind the tail. Nice hindquarters with correct turn of stifle. Moved well. In good coat which was well presented and ideally for me a beautifully clean tan. Today she scored over the winner in maturity and in some way substance but would not use her ears. Brought back to challenge for the RCC but again would not use them which cost her, apart from this I really wouldn’t change much. Another environment and she will do well, and I hope with fair play she gains her crown.

Post Graduate Bitch. 1. Una Storia Du Manoir Saint Adrein (Mr P Tricqueneaux). T/W. Not the smallest and if I were critical I would like her a fraction smaller overall. However, I could not deny her for her overall quality and type. This bitch is well balanced and scores in her overall outline. This bitch has the length of head, reach of neck, shortness of back and well angulated hindquarters. She does as is required stand like a cleverly made hunter covering plenty of ground. Good lean head with neat ears and good eye. Good spring of rib and well ribbed back. Good stern. Moved soundly. In super condition. 2. Ultra Douce Du Manoir Saint Adrien avec Enjakay (Miss N & Mr D Ketley & Gash). From the same kennel as 1 although a little different in style. Typical in head with good dark keen eye. Neat ears well set and used. Clean front with little fore chest and good bone, longer cast than ideal. Good rib. Good hindquarters which are well muscled. Moved very soundly although gave her handler a hard time. 3. Chipstead Royal Dawn (Mrs R & Miss F Marston)

Limit Bitch. 1. Zetamaz Drama Queen (Mr A J & Mrs M Brookes). White bitch of excellent quality. Ideal for size. Head is very typical and oozes breed type. Has length, exact amount of chiselling, is clean back and with good dark eye. She really has a lovely expression, although another who would benefit from a little more lift in the ear. Very typical clean straight front. Good leges and feet. Well ribbed. Short. Good width at the loin. Well angulated rear. Moved very well. Young bitch still and when fully mature, with fair play, should do well. Best I have seen from this kennel. I wish her well. 2. Chipstead Petal (Mrs R & Miss F Marston). Pleased her for her size and proportions. Pleasing head and expression, keen eye, good ear. Nice neck and shoulder, although could be a little stronger in topline. Well ribbed. Good turn of stifle and well let down hocks. Moved well. 3. Llyunamill Domino Dancing JW Ir Jch (Mrs R M Turley)

Open Bitch. Yoxella Well in Touch (Ms J Griffiths). I awarded this bitch the RCC in very good company at the National Terrier show from puppy some 3 years ago. I felt that she would go on and mature into a quality bitch. Therefore, I was very happy to see her again and fulfilling that early promise. I wrote then that she had a very typical head, long and lean with lovely keen dark eye. I was pleased to say that this has only improved with age with no signs of coarseness. Lovely neat ears which she uses very well. Super neck into correct shoulder placement. Correct fox terrier front assembly. Good bone and tight feet. Correct spring of rib and well ribbed back. Pleasing hind angulation. A sound steady mover in both directions with typical action. Not quite as animated in the challenge. A good honest smooth bitch. I was delighted to award her the RCC, the second from me.2. An-Katlen Vd Schoenen Bergen (Mr F W Schoneberg). Different to Well in Touch in style. Heavier marked bitch, whose leg markings do her no favours. Pleasing head and expression with a super dark, well set keen eye. More lift to her ears would be preferred. Good neck and shoulder. Clean front with correct length of upper arm. Decent bone and feet. Good spring of rib and level topline. Well set on. If I were to be hypercritical I would like a fraction more length of leg for better balance. Moved ok. Lizoni Hoochie Coochie (Miss A Richardson).

Dr Ian H Gabriel