Crufts

Finnish Lapphund

I would like to thank the Royal Kennel Club for inviting me to judge at Crufts. It was such an honour. A special thank you to my very efficient Stewards. Also my sincere thanks to all the exhibitors who entered 90 dogs from the UK and across Europe including many Champions. The quality of most dogs was exceptional. I did find a few with short necks and upright in the shoulder. All were extremely well presented and dentition correct.

Veteran Dog 8 (3 absent)1st & BVIB Cooper, Cooper & Critchlow’s Ch Pavoskas Aly Arttu JW, ShCM, ShCE, VW. W/s 9 years old but looks much younger. Lovely masculine head of correct proportions. A decent neck and good ribs and depth of chest. Good front and rear angulation. Hocks well let down. Strong bone. Good brisk movement keeping his top line level. He certainly enjoyed his day out 2nd Samuels Oberitz Upponalle. Another lovely quality dog, 9 1/2 years old, who pushed the winner all the way. A good strong dog of correct proportions and length to height. A lovely head with muzzle slightly shorter than skull. Lovely brisk movement but just a little unsettled in this busy environment. 3rd Critchlow & Sheridan’s Pavoskas Charleston.

Puppy Dog 1 (none absent). 1st & BPD Allison’s Oberitz Valonvaltias 9 ½ months and having a real growing spurt. His head is of correct proportions, but needs to broaden in skull and muzzle needs to fill. Neck of good length but is a bit narrow in the chest, again this will probably broaden as he matures and his movement needs to tighten up.

Junior Dog 3 (none absent) 1st Van Renswoude Kaurahattu Olle. I loved this brown & tan dog as soon as he came into the ring. He has the most super friendly temperament and just wanted to be loved and cuddled. Almost 18 months old. He has an excellent head and his eye colour harmonises with his coat colour. Good ear set. Lovely neck and lay of shoulder, Good depth of chest, strong back and level top line. Good rear angulation and strong hocks. Strong bone. To start with he played around on the move, but he eventually settled and had good brisk movement covering the ground very well. I seriously considered him in the challenge. A quality dog. He needs more schooling but must have a bright show career ahead. 2nd Lloyd’s Arianrhod Havukruuna (AI), 14 months old dog. Smaller than winner and not as much coat. He had a good head and front angulation. Correct length to height and good hind quarters. He moved well coming and going. 3rd Crowhurst’s Lappviken Safiiri of Manu.

Post Graduate Dog 10 (1 absent) 1st Herbert & Jakel’s O’Khelyara Uilos Lebennin Fr/Lux, Be JCh. What a super black & tan dog. Just coming up to 21 months old. Correct proportions and beautifully balanced especially on the move. His movement was a joy to watch. Very masculine head, broad skull and well filled muzzle. Well off for bone. Good chest, neck and strong back. Lovely front and hind angulation. Another lovely dog who should soon become a Champion. Unfortunately, today he was entered in 3 classes and didn’t quite have the maturity to win the open dog class. 2nd Whyman & Murray’s Lappviken Keltanien of Manu JW. Just under 18 months old. Lovely young dog who is coming together very well. He has a good head and neck. Not quite as strong in body as the winner, but has a good shoulder and upper arm and strong hind quarters. Moves briskly and very attentive to his handler. 3rd Upshall & Mowatt’s Tabanyaruu Yosmo Rukankoti

Limit Dog 14 (3 absent) 1st Herbert & Jakel’s O’Khelyara Uilos Lebennin Fr/Lux, Be JCh. Repeat. 2nd Critchlow & Francis-Christie Pavoskas Forest JW. Just under 4 years old and not in his best coat today. Maturing nicely. He has lovely head proportion’s and correct ear set. Good depth of body and width of chest. Good front assembly and correct length to height. Strong hind quarters. Moved very well 3rd Small & Thompson’s Ansalfrose Weikko. JW.

Open Dog 20 (1 absent) a very strong class with 11 Champions. Some tough decisions to fill the first five places. 1st, Dog CC & BOB Forsey’s CH Arianrhod Black Sun Aeon At Muzoku black & tan dog 5-year-old dog strongly built. Excellent front and rear angulation. Adequate neck & back strong. Good depth & width of chest. He comes into his own on the move and is very sound. Maintains his top line and moves effortlessly and briskly. I would just prefer a little more length to him. Pleasing head. Dark oval eye and medium ears well set. He was carrying a wealth of coat. A worthy winner and represented the breed very well in the group. 2nd & Res Dog CC Menard’s Int/BA/LU Ch Power Logan Du Domaine D’Arinella Bianca WW23. 5-year-old Domino. He has a lovely masculine head of good proportions, oval eye. Larger than the winner but has strong bone and good substance. Correct length to height. Well angulated front and hind quarters. Chest well developed. Very sound and balanced on the move. Just lost out as he needed more length of furnishing’s to complete the picture. 3rd Herbert & Jakel’s O’Khelyara Uilos Lebennin Fr/Lux, Be JCh

Good Citizen Dog 6 (none absent) 1st Cooper, Cooper & Critchlow’s Ch Pavoskas Aly Arttu JW, ShCM, ShCE, VW. Report in Veteran Dog. 2nd Brache’s Jsy Ch Elbereth Oreokeksi At Lappiness Lovely dog only 22 months old. Unplaced in the very strong open class. Beautiful head with classic face marking. Dark oval eye. Good front quarters and depth of chest. Strong neck and back. Correct length to height. Tail set correct. Strong hind quarters. Moved briskly. Just needs to come back into coat to make him look more balanced. 3rd. Crowhurst’s Lappviken Safiiri of Manu.

Veteran Bitch 8 (none absent) A quality class. 1st Moore’s Ch Morval Salainen Haave JW. Lovely headed bitch with a very humble expression. Good front angulation, deep chest and medium neck. Strong bone, pasterns flexible. Feet well arched. Strong back and excellent hindquarters. Very balanced and correct length to height. Short well let down hocks enabled her to move soundly at all times. A worthy winner.2nd Lee’s Ch Kaijartuu Hopea Noita JW another lovely bitch, very similar in type to the winner. She is beautifully constructed and very balanced. Her head is of good proportions, with dark oval eyes. Medium ears well set. A joy to watch on the move. 3rd Critchlow’s Glenchess Kiuru Over Pavoskas.

Puppy Bitch 5 (1 absent) a very mixed class and some still very raw. 1st & Best Puppy Newby’s Lumikoira Frappuccino w/s. Probably the most balanced and nearest to the standard. Pleasing head pattern, oval eye shape. Front angulation good, medium neck. Correct length to height. Good rear angulation. Just needs to settle on the move. Coat of good texture. 2nd Allison’s Oberitz Valontuojatar, rangier bitch having a growing surge. Head of good proportions, but skull needs to fill. Good neck and front angulation. Needs to broaden in chest and rear movement a bit loose at this stage, but this should come as she matures. 3rd Brown & Wyatt’s Lumikoira Cappuccino.

Junior Bitch 9 (none absent) a trio of lovely bitches headed this class. 1st Moore’s Samerajerna’s Zaluda of Morval (Imp Swe) I have admired this lovely bitch since she arrived in the UK. A very moderate girl but has it all. Gorgeous head with dark oval eyes. Medium neck and good lay of shoulder. Excellent hindquarters. She is so sound on the move. Just out of coat but so beautiful. 2nd Fedeli’s Aegirsson Unicorn’s Vibe. Another beautifully constructed bitch, with a very pleasing head. Very similar in type to winner but slightly bigger. Another out of coat, but it didn’t detract from her quality and soundness. Lovely brisk movement. 3rd. Clark’s Aateli Koira Vakker Yuna At Lumenico (Imp Fra)

Post Graduate Bitch 15 (1 absent) 1st Reynold’s Elbereth Vain Yksi Lisaa, what a super balanced bitch, very moderate but has quality stamped all over her. Excellent front and rear angulation, very sound movement. Her head is beautiful. A natural show girl. She must have a very bright future. 2nd Critchlow & Rudd’s Pavoskas Hiili Helmi, very petite bitch who I wouldn’t want any smaller. A very feminine, but well-proportioned head, medium neck and strong top line. Good front and rear angulation. Moved briskly. 3rd Bayart’s Upendi Kiara Des Terres De Manaly.

Limit Bitch 11 (2 absent) 1st Pavoskas Fuschsia, lovely brown bitch, maturing well now. Quality head and eye colour harmonising with her coat. Medium neck. Correct length to height. Good lay of shoulder and hocks well let down. Moved very well. 2nd Birkbeck & Enderby’s Pavoskas Flora. Litter sister to winner and they were like peas in the pod. Another quality bitch deserving her place. Just found the winner a bit more positive on the move. 3rd Stanley’s Ansalfrose Wivi JW.

Open Bitch 13 (none absent) a lovely class to judge.1st & CC. Fridheim’s Se Ch Samerajerna’s Miami. What a stunning bitch and very sound. She stood out when I first walked round the exhibits. I certainly wasn’t disappointed whilst judging her. Very moderate and has a head of correct proportions. With a very humble expression. Super front and rear angulations. Strong bone. Ribs deep and chest broad. Medium neck and strong back. Correct length to height. Her movement was a joy to watch. In good coat of correct texture. She only lost out for BOB by a whisker. I hope she comes back to the UK again. 2nd & Res CC Anderson & Nardone’s Ch Limishka Kareitar JW. A quality bitch, beautifully constructed. Good lay of shoulder and strong back. Good rear angulation. Her head is of correct proportions. Eye colour harmonising with her coat. Sadly, not in her best coat, but thoroughly deserved her award. Lovely brisk movement. 3rd Jackson’s Ch Elbereth Unisieppari JW

Good Citizen Bitch 7 (1 absent) 1st Critchlow & Rudd’s Pavoskas Hiili Helmi report in Post Graduate bitch. 2nd Cross’s Lappviken Timantti of Manu . Reserve in junior class. Pleasing bitch with good head proportions. Medium size ears. Good front and rear angulation. At this junior stage she needs to drop into her frame as she looks a bit higher over the rear when standing, but it will come. A lot to like about her and she moved out well. 3rd Ellis & Crosby’s Tabanyaruu Borealis Bliz.

Sheila Carlton