Crufts

Crufts 2025 – Japanese Spitz

This invitation came as a huge surprise and one which I was extremely honoured and delighted to accept. I attended my first Crufts in 1995 and I still find it as magical as I did then. The privilege to judge at Crufts at this stage in my judging career is not lost on me and I am thoroughly grateful to the Crufts committee for the opportunity and to the wonderful exhibitors for supporting my appointment with such a quality and numerical entry. I had some large classes with tough decisions to make and worthy exhibits had to leave empty handed.

I found all the dogs to be happy and friendly with only a couple slightly fazed by the experience. Exhibits were well schooled, handled and presented in lovely clean condition and I was pleased to see much cleaner teeth than when I last judged. Movement continues to be an area of concern; unfortunately there were exhibits that drew the eye and impressed on the stand but could not match their counterparts on the move, with some close behind, untidy fronts and upright shoulders producing high stepping fronts.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day and thank you all sincerely for accepting my decisions in a sporting manner and making it such a lovely and memorable day. Final thanks to my very efficient and companionable stewards Richard Kinsey and Robyn Burnett for ensuring the ring ran like clockwork and looking after exhibitors and me with such a pleasant and warm manner.

DCC Ch Llwyni Rock N'roll Star JW (Mr L & Mrs J Ward)

RDCC Ch Llwyni Perfect Illusion for Owlander (Mrs K & Miss E Armstrong)

BCC Ch Charney Santa's Cupid (Mrs S Bliss)

RBCC Ch Charney Fine Design at Tartiko (Mrs P Bambridge)

BOB Ch Llwyni Rock N'roll Star JW (Mr L & Mrs J Ward)

BP Kaiaki Angel Eyes (Mrs A Gibson)

BV Ch Glamglows Bowl Me over at Midaras (Mrs D & Mr I Serginson)

VD (4 0)

1. Serginson: Ch Glamglows Bowl Me over at Midaras 7.5 years-old, presents a pleasing outline standing and on the move. Balanced masculine head of correct proportions, with good pigment. Neat ears if a touch wide set. Well boned, straight front, a little low on pastern. Strong well muscled hindquarters. Firm in body of correct proportions, well plumed tail correctly set and carried. An easy free mover, presented in pristine white coat and good condition. BVIB

2. Jones: Ch Llwyni Simba Stop N'stare JW ShCM VW ShCEx A very typy male of 9.5years-old full of quality. Handsome head of good proportions, excellent pigment, neat well set ears, and dark eyes, staining slightly spoiling expression. Not quite holding his tail spoiling his outline. Moved very well if a fraction close behind. Presented in super coat and condition.

3 Bliss: Charney Tamotsu

PD (2 0)

1. Sandells: Snowshoes Macaroon for Shawmut 8.5 month-old raw puppy with promise. A touch longer than ideal at this stage, he is well boned and was presented in good coat and condition. Head is developing nicely, he has dark well shaped eyes, good pigment, and well shaped ears. Pleasing expression. Had the tendency to crab on the move although demonstrated a steady flowing sidegait.

2. Roper: Kessaku Bugatti for Tokosha 10-month-old giving his handler a challenge on the move as he was more interested in sniffing the floor today and another that had the tendency to crab fore and aft. Preferred his outline to 1, being more balanced in body proportions at this stage and carrying a nicely plumed tail which is well set. Has correct shaped neat ears, would prefer slightly darker eyes and a bit more width to muzzle for head balance. He has plenty of time and with a bit more experience will yield a different result.

JD (3 0)

1.Cobb: Camylaw Midnight 18-months-old. Very handsome head of ideal proportions. Dark eyes well set, excellent pigmentation. Good shaped ears could be set on higher. Well boned, firm in body, though a fraction longer than ideal. Strong straight front and matching rear hindquarters. Well plumed and carried tail. Clean both coming and going with a flowing sidegait.

2. Bliss: Charney Talk of The Town. 14-month-old. Smaller than 1, excellent for breed type and preferred his outline. Masculine balanced head, eye could be a tad darker. Presented in lovely coat and good condition, with well plumed and carried tail. Standing a little wide in front and crabbing on the move, which made way for the maturity of 1 on the day.

3. Roper: Kessaku Bugatti for Tokosha

PGD (2 0)

1. Turner: Mayumi's Limited Edition 19 month-old with a pleasant head, well placed ears and dark pigment. Dentition could be better. Movement was a little untidy away and back but good in profile. Well boned, he has a correct well carried tail and was presented in good coat and clean condition.

2. North: Kessaku No Diggity 22-month-old cheeky chap who had plenty to say for himself and gave his handler a hard time. Loved his attitude and he was presented in pristine coat and firm condition. Good overall body proportions but not quite the head or bone of 1st and couldn’t match him on movement today.

LD (5 0)

1. Warren: Kessaku Hugo Boss Almost 5-years-old, with a well-proportioned masculine head, good eye shape and set though could be darker. Good for bone and overall size which ensured a pleasing outline. Straight front and good rear, moved okay away and towards and had a flowing sidegait. Well plumed and carried tail. Presented in good coat and condition.

2. Potier: Patome Wonderful Kazuhiko 22-month-old with correct wedge shaped head, with lovely dark eyes which could be smaller, good ear shape. Balanced outline and firm in body with good bone for size. Nicely coated well plumed and carried tail. Straight front, correct hindquarters and moved out very well.

3. Turner: Mayumi's Rough Diamond

OD (11 0)

1. Ward: Ch Llwyni Rock N'roll Star JW. Just 2-years-old this handsome lad of super breed type stole my heart. He is very pleasing for overall size and bone and presents a most typical outline. Hands on did not disappoint and I found him excellent to go over, such a correct well made dog. Attractive masculine head of balanced proportions, densely pigmented, well placed dark eyes, and the neatest ears. He is firm in body with proportionate bone and is very well muscled. Straight front and good hindquarters ensuring he moved soundly from all angles. He was presented in glamorous coat and excellent condition with a well plumed, carried and set tail. The nerves of his novice handler were evident meaning he wasn’t always handled to advantage, but his qualities could not be ignored and I was delighted to award him DCC & BOB. Congratulations to his family on such a memorable first Crufts; as you gain more experience you will be a formidable duo. DCC & BOB

2. Armstrong: Ch Llwyni Perfect Illusion for Owlander Another lovely quality male of excellent breed type, almost 6-years-old, with many of the same qualities as 1. Handsome masculine head, neat ears, well shaped eye though could be a tad darker. He was presented in pristine coat and condition, stands on straight front, neat feet, and has good hindquarters. He has a pleasing outline, was very attentive and handled to advantage which almost tipped the scales in his favour over 1. RDCC

3. Chester: Tawvale Fubuki at Camylaw

GCD (3 0)

1. Cobb: Camylaw Midnight (Winner of JD)

2. Warrington: Sakkaku Cloud Dream Weaver 3.5- years-old, larger sized dog, with a well proportioned handsome head, neat ears, well shaped and correctly placed eyes and excellent pigment. Profuse coat would prefer more uniform colouring. Correct well plumed tail, well set and carried. Moved out very well from all angles and with a steady flowing sidegait to take this placing.

3. Warren: Kessaku Scooby Doo

VB (4 0)

1. Jones: Ch Llwyni Sky's The Limit JW 8-years-old, pretty headed with dark eyes a touch full, good shaped well placed ears and dense pigmentation. With her balanced body she presents a pleasing outline being proportionate in bone and of good overall size. She was presented in excellent coat of good condition, had a well plumed and carried tail. Straight front and good hindquarters allowing her to demonstrate excellent movement from all angles. Every inch the title holder, she knows her job and showed it to win this class.

2. Turner: Melinas Viva La Vida at Lilryecontye 10-years-old smaller than 1 overall but very much in proportion. Feminine balanced head, neat ears, pigment fading slightly. Balanced in body, with good outline, tail well held and carried correctly. Presented in lovely coat and condition. Gained this place on her correct steady movement.

3. Benoist: Kumotta Double Trouble

PB (2 0)

 1. Gibson: Kaiaki Angel Eyes 10-month-old old puppy bitch at this stage of her development appears a little tall in the leg. Her head is well proportioned and will develop nicely with maturity; she has expressive dark eyes of good shape and neat ears. Well proportioned in body, she has a straight front and good hindquarters and moved out well, though was reaching a little on front. BPIB

2. Ferry: Silberstras Elischeba Tula for Ferrybelle (Imp Nor) 9-month-old raw puppy bitch with plenty of scope for future development. At the moment she appears a little stretched in body proportions. Pretty feminine head which is still developing, lovely dark eye and neat well set ears. She moved out steadily but isn’t the straightest in front standing or on the move at the moment. Well schooled and presented in good coat and condition.

JB (11 2)

1. Bambridge: Charney Calista. 17-month-old, pretty headed girl, with pleasing dark eye, good pigment and neat well set ears. She stands straight in front, has good hindquarters, balanced body proportions and is well boned. She moved out well although could firm a little in her rear action. Shown in good coat and condition, with well plumed tail, correctly set and well carried. Presents a pleasing outline standing and on the move. Loved her for breed type. Considered for RCC.

2. Moineau: Cleopatra Bella Neve 15-month-old with an attractive, well-proportioned and feminine head. Would prefer a slightly darker eye, but shape and position were very correct. Neat, well set ears. Correctly proportioned body with well plumed and carried tail. Presented in good coat and condition, however feet appeared a little stained. Moved out very well.

3. Jones: Llwyni's Magic Touch

PGB (9 0)

1. Whitehead: Glamglow’s Blissful Kiss 2-years-old ultra feminine girl with pretty head, lovely dark expressive eyes, excellent pigmentation and neat well set ears. Very showy and attentive to her handler she presents a pleasing balanced outline, though occasionally standing a fraction long. She has a well plumed and correctly carried tail, balanced straight front and correct hindquarters ensuring she moved soundly from all angles. Liked her a lot, just couldn’t match the maturity of the open winners in the challenge.

2. McPhee: Maihimekai The Temptress 19-month-old and another young lady that I liked a lot. Feminine well balanced head of good proportions, correct ears and dark eyes. Excellent body proportions with good bone, well coated with correctly carried and well set tail. She moved out well though was a little close going away, which tipped the scales in favour of 1.

3. Furse: Loveliwithy Barbie Girl JW

LB (6 0)

1. Furse: Loveliwithy Kiku Tsubaki 3.5-years-old. Feminine well-proportioned and attractive head with good pigment and dark eyes. Coat lacking length today which had a tendency to detract from her neckline. Firm, well proportioned body and good bone, well plumed and carried tail. Straight front with good hindquarters ensuring steady accurate movement from all angles securing this placing.

2. McPhee: Glamglow's Blushing Bride for Maihimekai Not quite 4-years-old of very good overall breed type. Very pretty head with dark expressive eyes and lovely neat ears. She stood slightly stretched in body proportions with good bone. Very attentive to her handler she demonstrated a flowing sidegait though ever so slightly toeing in coming towards. Presented in first class coat and condition, pushed 1 very hard.

3. Church: Sanyinko Chrystmas Angel

OB (11 1)

1. Bliss: Ch Charney Santa's Cupid 3-years-old presented a picture of excellent overall balance and correct type. Exceptionally pretty and balanced head with good ears, dark well placed eyes and good pigment throughout. Excellent body proportions and good bone. Straight front and matching hindquarters. Shown in full immaculate coat and good condition, with high set, well plumed tail all completing the picture. Moved out well in all directions and sympathetically handled to highlight her attributes to advantage. BCC

2. Bambridge: Ch Charney Fine Design at Tartiko 5-years-old and another who presented a very correct, feminine and well-proportioned picture, and many of the same comments apply. She has a pretty feminine head with good well placed ears and dark expressive eyes. Excellent balance in body, in firm condition, with good bone and muscle. Not in fullest coat today she was happy and attentive with an excellent sidegait though a little untidy when moving away which swung the class in favour of 1. RBCC

3. Smith: Ch Snowshoes All That Glitters JW

GCB (1 0)

1. Smith: Kessaku Popping Candy at Yokosaka Almost 4-years old very attractive girl, with slightly round eye of good colour, well place neat ears and dark pigment throughout. Slightly stretched in body proportions, she presented with good bone. Moved out well with typical style.

Judge: Lisa J Moir (Jansanleis)