Wirehaired Dachshund Club

The Wirehaired Dachshund Club Championship Show

29th March 2026

Standard Wirehaired Dachshund Critique

 I would like to thank the committee of the Wirehaired Dachshund Club for inviting me to judge your Championship show, it is always an honour to judge a club show for any breed and even more of a compliment when you are invited as a non-specialist. I would also like to thank my steward Janet Kay for her help and support on the day.

Dachshunds are by far my favourite breed to judge outside of the breeds I own, and few things give me greater pleasure than judging a class full of Dachshund puppies. This was my first time awarding Challenge Certificates in this variety, and I felt quality was overall excellent with most entries in very good condition with plenty of good harsh wire coats. Temperaments were very good and other than a couple of slightly overawed youngsters, I did not come across any nervous or aggressive dogs.

I am always very mindful of the purpose of a breed when judging and how this is reflected in the standard. The standard asks for a moderate, compact hound with length to height proportions of 2:1 and enough ground clearance. These proportions varied within the entry with a few slightly longer bodies, with length coming from the loin in some, and some who could do with a touch more leg to allow better ground clearance. Heads were overall very good with plenty of super expressions and good underjaw. I did have a couple of level bites and I’m afraid these were penalised as I cannot accept an incorrect bite in a breed which rely on their mouths for work. Hindquarters also need watching as some had slightly too much angulation.

I had some top-quality exhibits overall however, and in both sexes had several who I feel are CC or RCC worthy. I was delighted with my main winners in both sexes, and all dogs were new to me. I was delighted to see my Best of Breed and Best Veteran go their respective Best in shows, under a respected breed specialist. Thank you to the exhibitors for your wonderful entry, I had a very enjoyable day.

Baby Puppy

What a lovely start to my judging, two delightful baby puppies!

Entries: 4 Absentees: 2

1st. Dollydash Liberty of The Sea at Carcorn (Mr N & Mrs C Corner). 5-month-old bitch with lovely head and expression, nice almond eye. A very good front with good forechest and enough length of rib with nice strong loin and good hindquarters. A good coat that’s still coming through but overall, most together on the move holding her topline well. Best Baby Puppy.

2nd. Fenwires Regulus (Ms L Stockdale). Young male with a masculine head and good expression. Well-made front with good bone and feet. Rib could be a touch longer and not as together on the move as the winner, nice harsh jacket however and one with nice potential.

Veteran

Entries: 7 Absentees: 2

1st. Ch Royal Pepper's Vice Versa (Imp Fin) (Mrs V Phillips). Quality male who I considered for higher awards. Head proportions overall very good being masculine with good underjaw however would prefer a more almond eye as very slightly rounder. Excellent front with very good feet and good prominent forechest. Well ribbed up with good strong loin and balanced strong hindquarters. Very sound on the move with good drive and an easy winner of this class. In super condition with an excellent harsh jacket.

2nd. Derdledash Moon Beam (Miss S A E Eldred). 7 ½ year old bitch with lovely head and expression, well placed shoulders and good return of upper arm. Good length of rib however a touch longer in loin giving a bit more length than I prefer. Well angulated hindquarters and a lovely mover.

3rd. Stanegate Billy The Kid at Sonham JW (Mrs A D Matthews)

Special Beginners

Entries: 10 Absentees: 3

1st. Cloudside Xena (Mrs K Buxton). Quality 8-month-old bitch puppy who has a super head and expression with correct almond eye and balanced muzzle to skull proportions. Very good front with well laid shoulders and a good forechest and good feet. Balanced body proportions with good length of rib, strong loin and good ground clearance with a super topline. Well angulated hindquarters which she used well on the move giving plenty of drive. Super attitude and head carriage with a sense of arrogance about her! A promising puppy who for me today had the type and balance not only to win this class but take Best Puppy Bitch and Best Puppy in Breed over her litter brother. I shall watch her show career with interest.

2nd. Drakkina Dragon Song (Mrs Zoe Sirrell). 13-month-old bitch with super head and expression and a very good front, feet and forechest. Good length of rib with strong balanced loin and super coat texture. Balanced hindquarters and another very sound mover. Lots to like.

3rd. Drakkina Dragon’s Eye (Ms L Palmer)

Minor Puppy Dog

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1st. Cloudside Xaiden at Decalleigh (Mrs E & Mr C Christie). Quality Dog puppy with a super head with balanced muzzle to skull proportions, almond eye and well-set ears. Strong neck going into well laid shoulders with a good forechest and balanced return of upper arm, and very good feet. Well, ribbed up with a good topline and plenty of ground clearance. Well angulated hindquarters with super sound mover and another with lots of attitude. A lovely puppy who is still got a lot of maturing to do, however a close decision between him and his sister for best puppy as both have similar qualities. Today pipped to the post, but happy to award best Puppy Dog.

Junior Dog

Entries: 3 Absentees: 1

1st. Drakkina Dragon’s Eye (Ms L Palmer). Promising youngster with a super head and expression and well-set ears. Particularly good almond eye. Very good front and feet with nice prominent forechest and good length of rib. Strong loin and hindquarters with an excellent topline and super wire jacket. Lovely sound mover and an easy winner of this class having been third in a competitive special beginner’s class.

2nd. Blue Bayou (Mrs P Rodwell). Masculine head with good eye shape. Good front but still needs to come together on the move. Good length of rib, with a good topline and ground clearance. Moved OK, not particularly enthusiastic today.

Yearling Dog

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1st. Tendrow Down to The Wire at Bramdach JW (Mrs C Akehurst). I preferred the head and overall proportions of this dog to 2nd. Masculine head with a good eye shape, super neck and front with well laid shoulders and balanced return of upper arm, good forechest and plenty of rib. Very good topline when he stood himself properly with well-made hindquarters giving good drive on the move. Promising young male with plenty to like.

2nd. Atahira Finale (Mrs C Davies). Red male with a very good head and eye shape, and nice low set ears. Well laid shoulders but a touch shorter upper arm. Slightly longer body proportions to 1st and not the ground clearance however held his topline well on the move and was sound.

3rd. Carcorn Chrissy's Legend (Mr N & Mrs C Corner)

Post Graduate Dog

Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1st. Harry M Windsor V H Ruwielse Land for Nasiriyah (Miss G Lowe). Super young male who has the most wonderful head and expression, balanced skull to muzzle proportions, excellent almond eye and well-set ears. Lovely strong arched neck going into well laid shoulders, with balanced return of upper arm and good strong forechest. Well sprung ribs of good length and depth giving plenty of heart and lung room, with a strong balanced loin and going into strong hindquarters. Super sound mover in excellent condition and well handled. Excellent topline and ground clearance and I loved his overall proportions. I was delighted to award him the Reserve CC in this quality entry. Still a young dog, I will watch his career with interest.

2nd. Serengarth Bear with Me JW (Mrs L Adams). Red dog who although is compact in body would like a touch more ground clearance. Loved his head and expression with a very good front and feet. Ribs of good length with a strong loin and sound mover overall. Very good topline, not as strong in hindquarters as the winner but overall, plenty to like.

3rd. Cairparavel Hartnell (Mrs S J Clayton-Smith)

Limit Dog

A challenging class to judge made up of quality dogs of differing type.

Entries: 10 Absentees: 2

1st. Calicoe Just Me (Mrs S Apps). Quality Red male who I felt offered the most balance in this class. Loved his head and expression with balanced muzzle to skull proportions and super almond eye. Well laid shoulders going into a very good front with excellent forechest and very good feet. Balanced rib to loin proportions with strong hindquarters and excellent topline and ground clearance. A sound and workmanlike male who was super to go over with excellent harsh coat.

2nd. Feldhund Moonlight JW (Mrs A J & Mr A Beagrie) Another quality male with a masculine head although slightly rounder eye than the winner. Very good front and forechest with excellent feet. A touch longer in body and not as strong in hindquarters however presented in super coat and condition and another quality dog.

3rd. Ellesophia Fly Me to The Moon JW (Mrs L Adams). Another quality male who I loved for size and type with a super head and expression, very nice proportions and good topline and hindquarters. A close decision between 1,2 and 3.

Open Dog

Five quality males, I would happily award any of the first three a CC and hopefully all will gain their titles in time.

Entries: 7 Absentees: 2

1st. Covellyn’s Cecil at Silvae (Imp Che) (Mr D C & Mrs K D Mccalmont) Quality male with a super head, balanced muzzle to skull proportions, excellent eye shape and slight convex muzzle. Nicely arched strong neck going into an excellent front with balanced return of upper arm and excellent forechest and sternum. Balanced rib to loin proportions, with well angulated hindquarters and s super top line and ground clearance. Still a young dog and although I considered him for top honours today, I felt the winner of Champion and Post Grad were both more finished examples. An exciting prospect and one I’m sure has a promising future.

2nd. Silvae State Secret (Ms C A Norman). Another quality male with the most exquisite head piece and expression. Strong arched neck going into a very good front although not quite the return of upper arm of the winner. Excellent length of rib with strong loin and super top line and ground clearance with strong sound hindquarters giving plenty of drive at the rear. A touch springy in front on the move today but held his topline well and in super harsh coat and condition.

3rd. Cloudside Vincent (Mr W Moore). Lovely compact proportions although would like a touch more ground clearance for preference. Love his head and expression, super almond eye and strong neck going into an excellent front and good close-knit feet. Excellent coat texture and super topline and another sound moving quality dog.

Champion Dog

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1st. Ch Silvae Bystander (Mr D C & Mrs K D Mccalmont). A superb example of this variety and the dog to beat today! Excellent head with super almond eye and expression, balanced muzzle to skull with good underjaw and strong well arched neck. Excellent front with well laid shoulders, balanced return of upper arm and plenty of forechest with super bone and feet. Ribs of correct length with balanced strong loin and excellent top line. Good ground clearance and super coat texture and condition. Strong hindquarters and a lovely sound free mover with good drive at the rear. I struggled to fault this dog today and feel he is a textbook example of a top-quality Dachshund male with super 2:1 proportions, excellent breed type and a real Dachshund attitude. I was delighted to award him the CC and Best of Breed and thrilled to see him take Best in Show under a respected breed specialist.

2nd. Ch Tendrow Will to Succeed (Mrs V Phillips). Another quality male who I considered for the RCC. Super head and expression with strong underjaw and excellent neck and front. A touch longer proportioned overall however good length of rib with excellent topline and strong hindquarters. Lovely sound free mover and a very worthy Champion.

Minor Puppy Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 0

1st. Cloudside Xena (Mrs K Buxton). Winner of Special beginners.

2nd. Cloudside Xari (Mr W Moore). Litter sister to the winner and best puppy dog and another quality puppy. Loved her head and expression with super muzzle to skull proportions and strong underjaw. Very good front with well laid shoulders and excellent feet. Good length of rib with strong loin and well angulated hindquarters. Super coat texture and excellent topline. Not quite as confident as her litter sister on the move today however very little between them both for type. A quality litter.

3rd. Bulldaxit's Wildest Dream (Mr G & Mrs J Cox)

Puppy Bitch

Entries: 2 Absentees: 1

1st. Bulldaxit Like A Dream (Mr G & Mrs J Cox). Very promising puppy with good head proportions and a nice eye shape. Lovely strong neck going into a very good front and super feet. Excellent length of rib with balanced loin and lovely topline and ground clearance and good coat texture. Good hindquarters and very together on the move.

Junior Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 2

1st. Drakkina Dragon Song (Mrs Zoe Sirrell) 2nd in Special Beginners.

2nd. Something Audatious among Clanwillow (Mrs S B & Mr K R Jones) Promising bitch with lovely head and eye shape and a very good front. Tending to dip slightly in topline when stood. Good feet and nice harsh coat texture with sound hindquarters moving well.

3rd. Drakkina's Gift of Dragon's (Ms J V Hunt)

Yearling Bitch

Entries: 4 Absentees: 1

1st. Drakkina's Gift of Dragon's (Ms J V Hunt). Most balanced of the three in this class with lovely head and eye shape, good front, feet and forechest. A touch longer in loin than I’d prefer but overall good length of rib and a good topline and ground clearance. Nice strong hindquarters with good coat texture and moved well.

2nd. Carcorn Chrissy's Girl (Mr N & Mrs C Corner). Feminine bitch with lovely head and expression and good neck. Very good front and feet and balanced rib to loin proportions with well angulated rear. Excellent coat texture and moved well enough, just lacking the confidence of the winner.

3rd. Hopewood Dream Come True (Mrs Zoe Sirrell)

Novice Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 3

1st. Something Audatious among Clanwillow (Mrs S B & Mr K R Jones). 2nd in Junior.

2nd. Hazelglade Harriet (Mrs K Buxton). Promising bitch with a super head and expression, lovely almond eye and a good neck. Good front and feet and nice topline. A touch longer proportioned than I prefer but overall good ground clearance with a nice strong back end. Lots to like.

Post Graduate Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 3

1st. Dakotadax Check Mate JW (Miss S A E Eldred). Very good head and expression with a good front and feet. Excellent coat texture with strong hindquarters and a good topline. A touch longer in body than I like but overall, most together on the move in this class.

2nd. Clipperdown Vivien Leigh (Ms A & Mrs M Hepner Theodorou & Hepner Chapman). Red bitch with very nice head and eye shape and a very good front. Overall, very good proportions with nice strong hindquarters. Not as together on the move as the winner today.

Limit Bitch

A quality class. The strength of a breed is in their bitches and if this class is anything to go by, the breed is in a good place. I would happily award any of these five bitches a CC or RCC and it made it a challenging class to judge.

Entries: 7 Absentees: 2

1st. Elderkine’s Austen (Mr A & Mrs T Arthurs) Superb bitch of excellent breed type. Loved her head proportions, almond eye and true rash dachshund expression. Lovely strong underjaw and correct ear set. Strong neck going into well laid shoulders with balanced return of upper arm and good prominent forechest. Excellent well-knit feet and good bone, being substantial but retaining femininity. Excellent length of rib with good heart and lung room and strong loin giving an excellent topline. Super balanced proportions and good ground clearance with strong well angulated hindquarters and excellent coat texture and condition. Lovely sound free easy mover with good drive at the rear. I really loved this bitch, and it was a close decision between her and the Champion bitch winner for the CC. I felt today the Champion had more attitude in the challenge and had to settle for the RCC. I was informed after she is on two CCs, her title surely cant be far away.

2nd. Feldhund Show The Way JW (Mrs A J & Mr A Beagrie). Another quality bitch. Preferred the expression on 1, but overall, another excellent head and neck with super front and feet and balanced compact body proportions. Strong well angulated hindquarters and lovely sound mover.

3rd. Derdledash Skyfall at Dakotadax JW (Miss A Dickinson). Again, another excellent bitch, super breed type and excellent head and eye shape. Excellent front and super harsh coat. Lovely topline and balanced hindquarters and another super mover. A very close decision between the first three in this class.

Reserve. Boloria Wild and Naughty (Mrs T Lucas)

Very Highly Commended. Boloria Wild Spice JW (Mrs J A & Mr A Graham)

Open Bitch

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1st. Silvae Hallmark (Mr D C & Mrs K D Mccalmont). Naughty bitch who was a bit unsettled on the move today. Good head and eye shape with balanced muzzle to skull proportions and good underjaw. Nice neck going into well laid shoulders and super sternum. Balanced rib to loin proportions with ribs going well back and a good topline and balanced rear. Nice movement when settled but really playing her handler up today, definitely not one lacking attitude!!

Champion Bitch

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1st. Ch Silvae Fan The Flames (Mr D C & Mrs K D Mccalmont). Quality bitch of the highest order and litter brother to my DCC winner. Super head and eye shape, with balanced convex muzzle, strong underjaw and well-placed ears. Super strong neck going into an excellent front with well laid shoulders, balanced return of upper arm, prominent forechest and excellent feet and bone. Well ribbed up with strong balanced loin and super top line and ground clearance. Excellent strong hindquarters and super free, easy movement with good drive and being sound in all directions. This bitch had real style and attitude which I struggled to get past today and was delighted to award her the CC in this quality entry. I felt the male had the edge in the challenge for best of breed, but the pair are a testimony to their kennel’s quality and breeding and were an honour to judge.

David Knights (Lelaps)