Crufts

Crufts 2026

Tibetan Mastiff – Judge Lyn Hall

Many thanks to the Crufts committee for my appointment, to the exhibitors for giving me such a big entry and to my hard working steward for keeping things moving.

As far as my overall impression of the breed is concerned it was pleasing to see that the really dreadful movement that was commonplace 15-20 years ago appears to be a thing of the past. I did feel, however, that there was not the depth of quality one would expect from an established breed. Yes, there were several nice dogs and some very good ones, but not that many really outstanding dogs and it’s telling that three out of the four green cards came from the veteran classes. So there’s still a way to go.

I feel I should mention colour. The UK standard calls for rich black, slate grey, or rich golden. Unlike the FCI standard it doesn’t mention sable. There were some dogs that didn’t meet the UK standard regarding colour, but I didn’t penalise on this alone and if they were placed down the line, there were other reasons too.

I was thrilled to see my BOB take the working group again this year. He really is an excellent ambassador for the breed.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog – no entries

Puppy Dog – no entries

Junior Dog (4,0)

1ST Big Boss Education Kennel (Mr A Pop) 12 months B/T. Attractive head, correct proportions, moderate and balanced angulation. Sufficient bone. Moved very well, showing reach and drive and maintaining a level topline. Coat more profuse than I would expect at this age.

2ND Tamdrin's Qinghai at Icebreaker (Mr J N Springham) 15months, lovely rich gold. I liked his head and expression, well angulated front and rear, good pasterns. Good bone and correct proportions. His movement was positive and ground covering, but a bit bouncy. One to watch though.

3RD Don Diego Bears from Masovia (Mrs Lucie Haasova)

Post Graduate Dog (4,0)

1ST Callowdale Drummer Boy (Mrs C & Mrs D Lowes & Jackson) 2yo black. Pleasing head and expression, masculine without coarseness, well put together and correct proportions. Sound enough movement, looked good in profile as well as out and back.

2ND Don Diego Bears from Masovia (Mrs Lucie Haasova) 15months B/T. More slightly built than most here and also out of coat which didn’t help the overall appearance. Nicely angulated and correct proportions resulting in sound movement. Kind expression and nice tight eyes. Still very much a baby and it will be interesting to see how he matures.

3RD Kentwone Apus (Mrs S Drinkwater)

Limit Dog (2,1)

1ST Kentwone Apus (Mrs S Drinkwater) 4yo gold. Big lad, but correct body proportions. Good bone. Head a bit narrow for length giving a somewhat mournful expression. Moved quite well but pasterns are weak.

Open Dog (7,0)

1ST Dzhozias Viking (Mr V Molnar) 3yo B/T. Super head and expression, good bone, good and balanced angulation, correct proportions, strong pasterns, good coat. Movement was excellent, so sound and smooth, power together with elegance. He looked as if he could go on all day. Presented to perfection. CC, BOB and thrilled to see him get G1.

2ND Int Ch Aham Asmi Senge Ca-Ba Cunu (Mrs Linda Klecka Vodickova) 6yo B/T Another very nice dog, well angulated, balanced, good bone. Attractive masculine head. Moved very well but not with the ring presence of 1.

3RD Pl Ch/pl G Ch Charlie Wesley Valhalla Pride (Miss PM Marlewska)

Veteran Dog (3,0)

1ST Ch Richearon Palden VW (Mr R Hollifield) 10yo B/T. Clear winner of this class. Attractive masculine head, good bone, moderate angulation front and rear. Very sound on the move, striding out well, belying his age. Pulled out all the stops in the challenge. RCC.

2ND Int/cze/pol Ch/cze GCh Bonbon Cerny Krasavec (Mrs Lucie Haasova) 7yo gold. Strong head, excellent bone, proportions and angulation okay, pasterns a little weak. Moved well but without the drive of 1.,

3RD Fr Ch Chenporewa Wado Wangdu (Mrs S Haeffele)

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch (1,0)

1ST Ch Wangdak Cherry of Baarnayotms (Mrs H & Miss R Asquith) 1st Asquith’s Wangdak Cherry of Baarnayotms. 7yo B/T. Not the biggest, but within the standard. Attractive feminine head and expression. Correctly proportioned and has excellent and balanced angulation. Super movement, with reach and drive. RCC

Puppy Bitch – no entries

Junior Bitch (4,1)

1ST Geldasworld Amala (Ms GJ Doran) 14month B/T Pretty baby. I liked her head and expression. Angulation is good front and rear and once she got going, moved very well indeed. Still has a lot of maturing to do but one to watch.

2ND Petro-Prestige Vera at Magnificus (Mr G Stafuzza) 15months B/T. Attractive head. Shoulder not as well angulated as rear which affected movement. Looks a bit too long for her height at the moment but still has some growing to do. Very immature so much could change over the next few years.

3RD 1704 - Vanessa Mae Fortunately Tibet (Imp Pol) (Ms Md Major)

Post Graduate Bitch (2,0)

1ST 1694 - Callowdale Tibet Tira at Diamoneo (Miss S Hind) 2yo B/T Nice tight eye and lips but head a little strong, good bone, correct proportions, balanced angulation. Moved a bit close behind but looked good in profile.

 2ND Coco Chanel Mademoiselle Fortunately Tibet (Imp Pol) (Ms Md Major) 2yo gold. Pretty head and expression. Too narrow all through but length to height proportions correct. Weak pasterns and hocks making movement untidy.

Limit Bitch (3,0)

1ST Tamdrin Rinchien (Ms GJ Doran) 4yo B/T This one has really come on since I last saw her. Attractive feminine head and expression. Good bone and correct proportions. Angulation is good and balanced front and rear. Moved very well, good in profile and out and back.

2ND Callowdale Dixie Rockin It at Sagrael (Mrs J Bailey) 3yo B/T Close decision between 1 &2. Another attractive bitch well presented. Correct proportions. Good angulation front and rear. Sound movement with reach and drive, just not quite so fluid as 1 on the day.

3RD Withheld

Open Bitch (4,1)

1ST Pol Ch Quinella Fortunately Tibet (Mr M Kuczera) 3yo Gold. Liked her head and expression. Good angulation front and rear. Good bone. Excelled on the move, very sound showing reach and drive.

2ND 1699 - Ch Power of Love from Gom Khyi at Callowdale (Imp Pol) (Mr T D & Mrs C M Lowes) 3yo B/T. Nice head although a bit stronger than I would like for a bitch. Good bone. Excellent angulation and correct proportions. Sound movement. Close decision between 1 and 2.

3RD 1682 - Swiss Ch Thinley Wushu Kha-Li Du Domaine De Toundra (Mr F Concha)

Veteran Bitch (2,0)

1ST Ch Callowdale Easy Street (Mr T D & Mrs C M Lowes) 8yo B/T. Top quality bitch. Overall impression of power combined with femininity. Attractive head, good bone, excellent angulation, correct proportions. Sound and smooth movement with reach and drive. CC, BVIB

2ND 1679 - Ch Wangdak Cherry of Baarnayotms (Mrs H & Miss R Asquith) (see GCB for critique)