West Of England Ladies Kennel Society

West of England Ladies Kennel Society (24.05.26) - Japanese Akita Inu

My opening thanks must of course go to the committee of WELKS for the invitation to judge one of my favourite breeds at their 2026 show. To say I was delighted with my entry is an understatement and the quality seen in every class is a testament to the dedication of the breeders and exhibitors who have progressed the breed to, in my opinion, well deserved CC status. Temperaments were sound throughout, with no dogs lacking sufficient type and handler presentation top class. We were blessed with dry weather and a good sized outdoor ring, albeit with some of the usual Malvern undulations to contend with, which gave me the opportunity to really look for that sound, moderate gait the standard asks for. My sincere gratitude to every exhibitor for accepting my decisions on the day and for bringing me such lovely dogs to assess (even if it did make for some challenging decisions) – it is very much appreciated.

VD (1,0)

1, BVD & BVIB. Hasaki Team Nobu Meiho (Imp Srb) (Mr E & Mrs N Duffield)

9 year red, larger framed male and an absolute showman. No doubting his gender with good length of leg and plenty of substance all through. Lovely dark pigment with broad skull, well developed cheeks and thick, well pricked ears used to advantage. Muscular neck leading into a well developed chest. Viewed front on stands strong with good width of chest and lovely straight forelegs. Nicely proportioned in side profile with moderate, well balanced angles both ends and no sign of weakness in pasterns even as he approaches double figures. Good coat texture, high set tail and nice tight feet. On the move he was super sound from all angles, at one with his handler, showing no signs of tiring and it was this movement that pushed him to BV in the challenge.

PD (2,1)

1. Arashikensha Rei No Senshi (Miss M Rayner)

9 month old red with plenty of promise. Attractive head, still maturing but showing good proportions with dark, obliquely set eyes and lovely thick ears. Chest still to broaden but plenty of time for that and enough substance for his age. Gives a nice compact appearance in side profile with a moderately laid back shoulder & short hocks with a well held, level topline. Adult coat starting to come through promising to be harsh and dense. Super tail set and carriage. On the move he showed a balanced side gait when settled, although still with a bit of puppy looseness on the out and back which was the deciding factor in the BPD challenge against his more mature competition but certainly one I will look forward to seeing with more maturity under his belt.

JD (2,0)

1 & RBD. Tsoyu Wakahiko Go Breezelyn (Mrs J & Mrs A Pike & Carter)

17 month red, already starting to look more man than boy. Masculine headpiece with a lovely dark almond eye, well developed cheeks and thick, well set ears. Plenty of substance all through and good width of chest for age. Nice length of neck leading into a strong, well held topline. Very pleasing in side profile for overall balance, with well laid back shoulder and good upper arm, compact loin with good tuck up and well developed thigh with strong hocks. Dense, richly coloured coat of good texture with a beautiful tail. On the moved he showed purpose and a lovely rhythmic gait from all angles that really caught my eye. Even against more mature competition, simply couldn’t deny him RBD in the challenge.

2, BPD & BPIB. Fujin Go Daruma Kensha (Mr R Gioffre)

11 month red with the most charming, slightly cheeky expression. Good overall head proportions and one of the best eyes of the day, dark, correctly shaped and set obliquely. Fantastic set of ear leading into a well arched neck. Stands true viewed from the front and gives a shapely outline in side profile with good layback of shoulder, short loin and broad thigh, possessing enough turn of stifle to maintain balance in the rear. Correct tail set and another with a lovely, rich coloured coat. He showed a free, easy side gait covering the ground well and pushing his classmate all the way even with the maturity gap but felt first had the edge on rear movement today. Nonetheless, delighted to award BPD & ultimately BP in the subsequent challenges.

YD (1,1)

PGD (0,0)

LD (0,0)

OD (3,0)

A strong class where I have no doubt the cliché “could swap places on another day” is applicable.

1, BD & BOS. Multi Int Ch Seijitsu Amafumi Go Tsoyu Dw'24 An Ch'25 (Miss S Bennett)

5 year red, handsome lad (and I rather think he knows it) who is absolutely in his prime. All male in head with a lovely broad skull, super dark pigment and well placed, almond eyes giving that breed typical, slightly arrogant expression. Fantastic ear set and shape leading into a well arched neck and firm topline. Loved his side profile, shapely with good length of leg, pleasing spring of rib, defined tuck up and well balanced in angles at both ends. Vibrant coat of good texture, plenty of substance and nice length of leg. Shown in good hard condition with lovely tight feet. Nitpicking would like a touch more breadth of chest but this certainly didn’t show through in his movement with a sound out and back, covering the ground well on the go round in side profile. A well deserved BD who certainly gave my BOB a run for her money.

2. Hr Ch Meiho Kensha Akioshiro Go Sw25 (Mr E & Mrs N Duffield)

2.5 year red, I noted sired by my BV and most definitely his father’s son in style and substance. Lovely dark, almond eye with the thickest of ears, set well on skull leading into a good arch of neck. Lovely straight front viewed head on with plenty of heart room. Another with good length of leg and a nice short loin. Harsh double coat with good bone and a well set tail. Slightly more moderate in angulations than first but maintains his balance which showed on the move, demonstrating a tidy footfall from all angles and a clean gait in side profile.

3. Hitorikko Go Hajimari under Kyuuten (Imp Pol) (Mr & Mrs Grundy)

4 year brindle boy who immediately caught my eye in the line up for his masculine profile and beautiful headpiece with broad skull, well pricked ears and super dark, almond eye. Nice length of neck leading into a strong level topline and well developed chest with good width viewed front on. Good shoulder angulation and nice broad thigh, although would prefer slightly more turn of stifle in the rear. Quality, harsh coat with well defined markings and a high set tail. He was an enthusiastic mover, with a particularly good front action but today just wasn’t as positive in rear movement as his classmates which cost him a higher placing.

VB (2,0)

1, BVB & RBB. Int It/ir Ch Tomoe Towa No Miyako Seijitsu (Imp Ita) (Miss S Bennett)

7 year red with the most charming “look at me” expression. Super dark almond eye, well developed cheeks and small, thick ears, leading into a well arched neck. Compact in profile and plenty of substance without being overdone, viewed front on she showed good width in chest and lovely straight forelegs. In side profile she had good depth of chest and evident tuck up, complimented by a well laid back shoulder, short loin and broad thighs with strong, compact hocks. Thick coat of good colour with high tail set. Lovely tight feet. She certainly didn’t give any indication of her veteran status on the move, giving her a pleasing fluidity in side gait when settled, catching my eye in every challenge. That same enthusiasm did upon occasion make her look a bit less tidy on the out and back but she contained herself enough in the challenge to claim a well deserved RBB.

2. Vladtepes No Hiromi Go (Mrs T Thomas)

11.5 year old red who absolutely belies her age (I did have to double check)! Dark, almond eye with well pricked ears leading into a good length of neck. Of larger frame than first but showing no weakness in topline with age. Fantastic width & depth of chest and moderately angulated with good balance at either end. Presented in excellent condition all through, completing the picture with a lovely dense coat and well set tail. On the move she used her balance in angulation to her advantage, very sound from all angles with an economic sidegait fitting for the breed. An absolute credit to her owner and unlucky to come up against first today.

PB (2,1)

1 & BPB. Hinatsu Go Yamakawa Nite under Kyuuten (Imp Pol) NAF (Mr & Mrs Grundy)

6 month, white baby and what an absolute sweetheart! Fantastic head proportions even at this young age with lovely dark almond eye, and thick, well pricked ears. Good clean front for a youngster with lovely tight feet. Moderately arched neck into a level topline. Chest coming on well, at an appropriate depth for her age, giving her a nice outline in side profile. Well laid back shoulder and a pleasing turn of stifle to balance. Super thick coat with a happy, well set tail finishing the picture. No surprise she is still at that slightly bum high stage in her development, which did show in her rear movement and gave the more mature male winner the edge in the BP challenge, but a most promising young lady and I hope I get my hands on her again in the future!

JB (3,1)

1. Tsoyu Yuizuki Go Breezelyn Bel Jch Bw'25 Dw'25 (Mrs J & Mrs A Pike & Carter)

17 month old brindle who I noted is the daughter of my BOB & BOS and certainly shared their qualities. Lovely wedge head with skull coming on well, darkest of almond eyes and super well pricked ears leading into good length of neck. Pleasing width of chest for age and substance to spare without losing her femininity. In side profile I found her balanced and of good proportions, with a nice short strong loin, moderate angulation and evident tuck up giving a shapely profile, enhanced further by a super thick, well marked coat and nicely set tail. She moved with a steady, meaningful sidegait with no wasted action or excess on the out & back. Considered strongly for RBB though conceding on maturity, with time on her side I have no doubt more is still to come.

2. Tsoyu Wakamizu Go Anshee (Ms S & Miss Lm O'neill Clark & Pearson)

17 month littermate to my RBD winner and such a pretty girl with the most appealing of expressions. Loved her head proportions, possessing a fantastic, dark, obliquely set eye and thick, well used ears leading into a breed typical arch of neck. Moderate in angulation with good overall balance & proportions in side profile. Ever so slightly longer in body than my class winner but with the length of leg to match and chest just starting to drop. Richly coloured, quality coat and the most fantastic tail. She showed good balance in side profile on the move, but is still needing just a bit more time to strengthen in pasterns coming toward which gave first the advantage today in my final decision; another one who I will look forward to seeing with more maturity.

YB (1,1)

PGB (1,0)

1. Matsukita Satomi to Tsoyu (Mr M & Mrs S A Buckley)

21 month red of lovely type and I noted another daughter of my BD winner. Beautiful eye set and shape, with nice broad skull, well developed cheeks and lovely thick ears. Slightly arched neck leading into a level topline held well on the stand and in motion. Chest now starting to drop, giving the breed typical slight tuck up with a strong, short loin. Very feminine in outline, with enough substance, well coloured coat and a lovely tail. Though still needing a touch more width to her chest, her front construction was particularly pleasing with just enough turn of stifle to maintain balance in motion, giving her a sound out and back and light footed action in side profile.

LB (3,2)

1, BB & BOB. Tsoyu Urakohime Go (Mrs M & Mr P & Mrs A Thompson & Chapman & Carter)

4 year brindle who demanded attention the second she walked in the ring and just got better from challenge to challenge. Strong, striking headpiece, broad in skull without losing femininity. Super dark, almond eye and well pricked ears, used to advantage, leading into a lovely arch of neck and strong topline. Stood true viewed from the front whenever I looked at her, with a lovely lay back of shoulder and balanced in the rear by broad possessing well muscled thighs and complimented by nice turn of stifle and strong, hocks. Plenty of substance all through with good length of leg. Dense, well marked coat with a fantastic tail. While I felt her so well balanced when static it was her fluidity on the move that really caught my eye with an efficient, effortless sidegait that propelled her to Best Bitch & ultimately Best of Breed. Absolutely delighted for her breeder & owners to later hear she gained a shortlist in a quality Utility group.

OB (5,1)

Another strong class.

1. Ir Ch Seijitsu No Bishoujo Cw'25 (Miss S Bennett)

2 year red girl, this time a daughter of my BD & RBB winner and what a lovely blend of both she is, sharing her mother’s feminine expression with her father’s overall proportions. Lovely wedge shaped skull with dark, almond, obliquely set eye and small, thick, well used ears, leading into a nicely arched neck. Nice straight forelegs viewed front on, stood on tight feet. In side profile she gave a lovely shapely outline with pleasing length of leg. Chest just starting to drop but with good spring of rib and slight tuck up. Well laid shoulder with proportionate upper arm and complimentary turn of stifle with strong, compact hocks. It was her movement that won her the class today, enthusiastic without wasting energy, easy in side profile, clean on the out & back and holding her shape at all times. She certainly pushed her dam hard for RBB in the challenge but at just two years of age I am sure only has more to come.

2. Tsoyu Tamashino Go (Mrs M & Mr P Thompson & Chapman)

5 year brindle and such a striking girl, compact & feminine without lacking substance. Super broad skull with dark pigment and almond eye, her expression further enhanced by well pricked ears. Good arch of neck leading into a level topline. Chest broad viewed from the front, with well boned forelegs. Lovely proportions in side profile, with moderate but completely balanced angles. Nice depth of chest and a fantastic tail. One of the best coats of the day, super thick, harsh and with well defined markings. On the move she had lovely footfall both on the go round and the away & back, just didn’t quite hold her topline as strongly as first today but an undoubtedly quality girl.

3. Ir Ch Matsukita Kitiara Go Tsoyu (Mr M & Mrs S.a & Mr P Buckley & Buckley & Chapman)

3 year red, another super feminine girl with the most pretty head piece. Dark almond eye, and broad skull with nice small ears. Stood true viewed from the front and showing pleasing overall proportions in side profile. Moderate angulation in shoulder, with good turn of stifle in the rear to compliment. Thick coat of nice colour with a well set tail. She moved with a ground covering side gait and pleasing footfall, just not quite as tidy on the out and back today so conceded to third place in nice company.

Res. Nara Go Towa No Miyako (Imp Ita) (Miss M Rayner)

2 year red who although not formally critiqued I felt deserved a mention nonetheless for her lovely breed type, possessing a super feminine head, good length of leg and a balanced footfall in motion. She decided to dress for the warmer weather which against such strong competition today gave a less finished picture and cost her a higher placing but was by no means outclassed.

Alanna J Blaney (Fenrirkin)