Lagotto Romagnolo Association

Lagotto Romagnolo Association Open Show (17/05/25)

My sincerest thanks to the committee for inviting me to judge at your club show. I always consider it a special privilege to be invited to judge a breed club open as a non-specialist. I thoroughly enjoyed this appointment, having first taken an interest in the breed when I attended Milan for the World Dog Show back in 2015 with over 140 entries.

Dogs

VETERAN (0,0)

MINOR PUPPY (1,0)

Sikama Stargazing. Despite being only 7 months, this chap presented a most pleasing first impression for me. I liked him for his size and proportions, he is definitely square. His head is the correct shape when viewed in profile but, as expected, needs to develop more width with maturity. Excellent eye shape/colour and big open nostrils. Correct length and shape of neck that flows into a moderately angled forehand with some width in front and proportionate oval bone. Liked his body depth to leg length proportions with enough body for age, topline slightly sloping with wide hindquarters and good length from hip to hock. Decent tail carriage with time to settle. Impressive mover for one so young, being firm in elbow & hock while maintaining his shape. Correctly textured coat but would benefit from being trimmed down, RBD & BPIS.

PUPPY (0,0)

JUNIOR (3,0)

Bedeslea Prada Milano. Another who greatly appealed for his medium size and robust appearance. Liked his head proportions very much with correct stop, eye shape and strong jaws. Excellent shape and length of neck into a moderate forehand, just needs to develop a bit more fill in front with age with compact feet. Enough spring of rib for age with time to develop further. Strong hindquarters with good length through his thighs and firm hocks, would perhaps prefer a touch more bend of stifle for overall balance. Easy mover from all angles with good footfall but needs a bit more training to further channel his enthusiasm! Excellent coat texture and quality.

Spencer Tracey. A very different style to 1 but with lots of appeal. I really liked his leg length, strength in bone and firmness in body all through. Excellent width of skull and proportions of skull to muzzle with large open nostrils and almost round eyes. Such good flow of neck into a correctly angled, moderate forehand, straight front limbs. Well sprung ribs behind the elbows with slight tuck up. Definitely long from hip to hock with breadth over his pelvis. Not entirely settled today on the move, did show glimpses of a free and easy action from the side. Would like to see him when he’s more relaxed and in a bigger ring where he can get into his stride.

Bedeslea Prada Paradoxe.

NOVICE (1,0)

Bedeslea Prada Paradoxe. 3rd in the previous class, a taller male overall who's going through an inbetween stage. Liked his head proportions in profile but felt his skull needed to develop further. Moderate angulation in front but needs to develop more width of chest and depth of brisket. Decent tuck up. Strong topline and correctly set on tail. Good length of first and second thigh. Slightly close going/coming but demonstrates a very smooth side gait with correct carriage. In good coat.

POST GRADUATE (3,1)

Mad Max Madiba of Freworth (Imp Ita). A bigger dog overall but with excellent body proportions and obvious breed-typical balance. Liked the size of his head with excellent proportions of skull to muzzle but would prefer him wider between the ears. Super forehand with correct width in front and compact feet. Well developed ribs from behind the elbows with a firm topline and short loin. Croup is a shade rounded but the tail is well set. Definitely long from hip to hock with an unexaggerated bend of stifle. Very good mover from all angles demonstrating pleasing overall carriage and firmness.

Arcticbreeze On Vacation. Really liked him for type and size. Loved his head shape and width of skull with big nostrils and super eye shape. Correct moderate length of neck and angulation of forehand but would prefer a bit more length of leg for correct breed-typical balance. Well developed ribcage with sloping topline. Correct length from hip to hock with decent bend of stifle. Prefer more width on the move going/coming but holds his shape well from the side. In excellent coat and well presented.

OPEN DOG (1,0)

Truffalusa November Moon from Mizani. The first line of my notes reads ‘honest, robust and no exaggeration’. Loved his overall make and shape being absolutely square with each element flowing seamlessly into the next. The best head of the male entry today with correct proportions of skull to muzzle, super width between the ears combined with the most appealing eye shape and expression. Correct length and shape of neck that flows into a moderate forehand with correct length of shoulder and upper arm. Straight limbs with adequate width of chest. Really liked his body depth to leg length proportions. Mature through his body with a strong topline and short loin. Excellent length of bones in the rear with a correct bend of stifle and firm hocks. On the move he displays excellent balance and carriage from all angles while maintaining his shape. In super coat and hard condition. Could not be denied BD & BIS!

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME (2,0)

Bedeslea Prada Milano.

Bedeslea Prada Paradoxe.

Bitches

VETERAN (1,0)

Sweet Riverdance Noble Hearted Nerissa. 11 years young and what a delight she was! Loved her square body proportions and obvious balance of angulation. Prettiest of heads with dark eyes and strength through her muzzle. Short neck with correct lay of shoulder. Good strength in bone for her size. Correct croup and tail set. Moved steadily once her enthusiasm was channeled. Loved her temperament, BVIS.

MINOR PUPPY (2,0)

Byphar Havana Club. A very eye-catching young bitch with plenty of leg. Ultra-feminine head with pleasing proportions in profile, just needing to develop over her back skull with age. Correctly shaped neck into a moderately angled forehand with a long upper, correct oval bone and some width to her chest. Loved her topline and underline with good width over her pelvis for age. Excellent rear assembly with longer bones from hip to hock. Impressive mover from all angles and coat is rustically presented. Just preferred the more compact body proportions of the dog in the challenge, RBPIS.

Sikama Starlight. Litter sister to my BPIS winner who shares many similar qualities. Liked her body proportions and overall balance. Pretty head and eye with well set ears. Good overall body shape in profile with width through her quarters. Demonstrates a very easy side gait but not quite as firm on her elbows coming towards as 1.

PUPPY (0,0)

JUNIOR (2,0)

Bedeslea Casa Di Prada. Very nice size and type with decent body proportions. Liked her head shape and width between the ears with correct strength through her muzzle and big nose. Correct angulation both fore/aft but just needs to settle through her middlepiece both standing and moving. Liked her balance and carriage on the move from all angles, in excellent coat.

Bedeslea Prada Linea Rossa. Litter sister to 1 and more developed in body but did not show herself to advantage by dropping her head on the move. Excellent head and neck with correct width in front and length of leg. Correct topline and underline with a slightly sloping croup. Really liked her length of first and second thigh bones with an unexaggerated bend of stifle. Sound and true going/coming. Another in excellent coat.

POST GRADUATE (4,1)

Lamese Lucia. This young lady presented a very typy and honest picture being most definitely square. Loved her head with very good width through her skull and muzzle of correct proportions with almost round expressive eyes and big open nostrils. Excellent neck and forehand with decent width. Excellent length of leg, good spring of rib behind the elbows with a breed-typical topline and underline. Correct rear angulation but felt her croup was a touch steep. Steady and balanced mover from all angles, in excellent coat.

Il Granaio Dei Malatesta Valeria Velez of Pendlebriar (Imp Ita) JW. Another typy exhibit with lots of appeal but presented much heavier than I’d prefer. Pleasing width and shape of skull with dark eyes and a big nose. Moderate neck and forehand with good depth of brisket, would prefer more length of leg. Correct topline that flows to a typical rear assembly. Liked her movement from all angles being easy and sound. In good coat with ultra-rustic presentation.

OPEN (3,2)

Havana King Of The Truffles to Byphar. So taken with the style of this bitch on the move, clearly demonstrating the breed-typical smooth and easy action which is hard to ignore, aided by her muscular body condition. Head is ultra-feminine of good size and overall shape. Liked her neck and flow into forehand with correct angulation of shoulder and upper arm. Excellent maturity through her body with a strong topline and underline. Breed-typical hind assembly with width over her pelvis and firm hocks without exaggeration. Coat is of good texture and she was presented to perfection. Could watch her gait round all day. It was a close run thing between her and the dog but just preferred his overall squarer body proportions, BB & RBIS.

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME (1,0)

Mizani Sebio Iola. Absolutely spot on for breed type and body proportions. Such a beautiful head with correct width/shape to back skull and strong muzzle. Her eye shape and ear set contribute to such a captivating expression. Super neck and forehand with oval boned, straight limbs and compact feet. Enough leg for correct balance, super ribs and loin. Excellent length of bones in the rear but felt the length and shape of the croup was not that of the OB which meant she did not quite produce the same amount of drive. Sound mover from all angles, presented in excellent coat and hard condition, RBB.

Judge: James Newton (Patamoke)