Siberian Husky Club Of Great Britain

Really pleased with the quality entry I received at our breed club (Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain) show/RKC building, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry. Initially I was a little concerned about how I would get through the day after some extensive surgery but thankfully it all went well and I was still smiling when I finished the judging with Barbara. 

After assessing the dogs presented on the day I noted a few concerns for breeders to consider. There were a number of dogs with flat and splayed feet. Tight feet are fundamental for a working breed like ours along with a well cushioned foot. Both are vitality important as they have to absorb a lot of impact when a dog is on the move in the show ring or on the trail and if these problems are evident they can cause pastern problems and potential shoulder injuries.  

There were also a few retained and floating testicles on the day. It clearly says in our breed standard that they should be descended. So top awards are likely to never be given to those dogs unless they were present from birth and removed for health reasons. 

I also want to mention the lack of slope on the croup which affects rear movement and influences how the dog's tail is carried and on the day some were carried almost flat across their backs. 

There were a few niggles for me in relation to handling on the day as people just weren't giving their dogs enough lead and this stifled their beautiful movement and yes I can be as guilty of this as the next person but it's something to be mindful of and handlers also need to remember they should never obscure the view of their dog from the judge at any time. 

Finally before I go into the individual critiques I would like to just take this opportunity to thank my two wonderful stewards Erica and Joe for their support during the day and for keeping me on track with the judging and my timing, etc. 

SVD (5/1)

1 Coldfeet's Hero (Mr P & Mrs K Jones)

10 years almost 11, grey and white boy with brown almond shaped eyes, attractive masculine head, excellent ear-set, firm topline, very well muscled, correct croup and tail carriage and moved exceptionally well on the day for an older dog. Matured very nicely and extremely well handled by his owner. DCC, BVD, BOS

 2 Ch Icebex Tolya (Mrs H & Mr A Lightfoot)

10 years old almost 11, grey and white with blue eyes, good ear set, well made, not very engaged on the day with his handler who did everything they could to draw the best out of him. 

3 Niflheim Gambit at Ashtrax (Mrs H J Snelson)

10 years old, blue eyes, red and white, very well handled on the day as he went around the ring but it should be noted he was a little low on his back end and running slightly wide in the rear. Possibly needs a little tweak before his next day out?

 VD (8/0)

1 Arctictreks Spook's Trick at Targatrail (Mrs J S, Mr L J & Miss V L Nicholls)

8 years old, blue eyes, grey and white boy, very, very nicely constructed, well muscled and looked great from all angles. An understated dog, who was well handled and shown on a loose lead and must add was a real contender for top honours. Really liked this dog a lot!

2 Snooperz Newton at Losttrail (Imp Deu) (Miss E L Johnston)

8 years old, lovely blue, almond eyes, black and white (with markings that can be very deceiving), in full coat, moved really well but preferred the movement of 1 on the day. 

3 Trailhunters Devon Rock at Keriquel (Mr R & Mrs S Sargent)

9 years old, grey and white, brown oblique set eyes, nice depth of chest and ratio of leg length to body, good croup and tail carriage. Handled really well to show him off to full advantage as a veteran.

MPD (2/0)

1 Pocketsibes Sierra Nevada for Tsaritsa (Mr & Mrs Biddlecombe)

7 months old, grey and white, brown eyes, nicely construction, good lay of shoulder, a little unsettled on the move initially but handled well to regain the puppy's confidence. BPD 

PD (4/0)

1 Whitepeak Kinder Scout (Ms S Gibson)

9 months old, red and white, blue eyes almond shaped eyes, well handled, sure on the move for a youngster with well balanced construction, just needs time to mature but much to like about him. Definitely a prospect for top honours in the future.  

2 Forstal's Mikasi (Ms S, Ms S & Ms A Leich, Leich & Koops)

10 months old, red and white, beautiful head, great ear set, lovely almond eye, good lay of shoulder, balanced profile from the side, thinking he just needs to be moved a little quicker to show off his lovely stride. Seriously lots to like about this boy and very unfortunate to meet 1 today.  

3 Vikerkollen's Ff Vidar for Inneska (Imp Nor) (Mr J & Mrs D Mcinnes)

12 months old, wolf grey, brown almond, obliquely set eyes, well presented and handled, good bone, well balanced profile, liked him a lot but preferred breed type of 1 & 2 today.  

JD (6/1)

1 Arctictreks Jekyll and Hyde (Mrs J S, Mr L J & Miss V L Nicholls)

12 months old, black and white, blue almond shaped eyes, great ear set, lovely shoulder with nice width on chest, understated with a well balanced profile and good extension on the move, sensitively handled.

2 Vikerkollen's Ff Vidar for Inneska (Imp Nor) (Mr J & Mrs D Mcinnes)

3 Alepenkye Holyrood House to Uriakin (Mrs C Anderson)

 Wolf grey boy, lovely head with dark eye, loved his overall outline with lovely drive from the rear, extremely well presented and handled by his owner and is a real credit to her. 

YD (7/0)

1 Icynights Mist A White over Kedalita (Mr D, Miss R V & Mr C Tapper & Leyland)

19 months old, white. has blue eyes (one parti), loved his masculine head, sweet expression, extremely well constructed with very fluid movement for a young dog, great length of stride and in tune with his handler, much to like about him. He was also another contender for the cards on the day and will no doubt go all the way to being made up to champion. 

2 Aurora's Dream Black Jack of Forstal (Ms S, Ms S & Ms A Leich, Leich & Koops)

22 moths, bi-eyed, lovely breed typical head, needs more time to mature and grow in confidence, lovely overall proportions but needed to be given a little more lead to stride out and show off his lovely movement. 

3 Nativespirit's Dopinder (Mrs P Prior)

23 months, dilute black/white, brown almond shaped eyes, needs to grow into his head a little more as the ratios of length of muzzle to head width seem imbalanced at the moment, sure this will all come together as he grows into his himself and matures, well turned out and handled well. 

ND (6/1)

1 Icynights Mist A White over Kedalita (Mr D, Miss R V & Mr C Tapper & Leyland) 

2 Wightflight Mallachie (Ms J D Platt)

5 years, beautiful head, dark almond eye, lovely ear set, classic grey and white, overall side profile was balanced, maybe a tad light in bone, extremely well handled, much to like about him, seemed a little unsure of himself but he did move like a dream and pushed 1 hard for first place. 

3 Icynights Devil in Black (ai) (Mrs S Jones-Coia)

1.5 years old, black and white dog (litter mate to 1) has a beautiful head, bi-eyed, great pigment, moved confidently on the lead, well constructed, good lay of shoulder, just seemed a little unsure of the going over initially but settled quickly.  

PGD (8/1)

1 Forstal's Sprig (Ms S, Ms S & Ms A Leich, Leich & Koops)

3 years, grey white with lovely dark almond eye, great head, typifying breed type, in lovely coat on the day, understated boy, loved his side profile and noted he had great feet which were well cushioned, moved out well on his lead and was another serious contender on the day without his owner actually realising it. Think he will get made up very quickly to champion under the right judges. 

2 Zawkkast Reaper's Finn (Mr T & Mrs S Hart)

22 months, blue eyes, dilute black and white, good overall construction and slow maturing which isn’t a bad thing, loved the dogs overall proportions and he was sensitively handled on the day to bring out the dogs confidence on the lead. 

3 Trailhunters Beaden Tor (Miss N V & Miss R March & Smith)

24 months, bi-eyed, dark grey and white, needs more time to mature and fill out, on the day a little reserved which wasn’t a concern, noted he was handled sensitively which really gave the dog more confidence on the move and he really did cover the ground well. 

MLD (4/0)

1 Komaksiut's Glen Devon Av Ratatuyak at Ceannabeinne (Imp Nld) (Mr H H & Mrs J M Wakker)

3 years, dilute black and white, brown almond shaped eyes, gentle expression, good overall proportions, nicely angulated front and rear, in great condition and in lovely coat, related well to his handler on the move and who really drew the best out of him on the day, 

2 Elleonia No Matter What (Miss S J Grice)

5 years, grey and white, dark brown eyes, another with a very gentle expression, lovely outline and sensitively handled, great overall condition and much to like about this boy and on the day he really moved out well and pushed hard for the class. The best I have ever seen him.

3 Forstal's Drifter (Ms S, Ms S & Ms A Leich, Leich & Koops)

5 years, white, dark almond eye, lovely lay of shoulder, well muscled condition and well put together, lovely outline, good leg length and correct bone. Holding good weight but seemed to lack confidence on the day and he needed to be moved out a little quicker by his handler to show off his lovely side movement.  

 LD (9/0)

1 Podricals The Gambler by Glenbranter JW (Mr D & Mrs P Carmichael)

4 years, grey and white, loved his head and gentle expression, carrying lovely weight and had a lovely connection with his handler on the day in the smaller ring where he didn’t put a foot wrong to win his class. Much to like about him and another contender on the day for the green cards. Sadly in the challenge we were all transferred to the larger ring and he just didn’t open up enough in the challenge sadly to go on any further in the cards on the day. 

2 Forstal's Pingo (Ms S, Ms S & Ms A Leich, Leich & Koops)

4 years, grey and white, lovely outline, lovely shoulder angulation and firm topline, covered the ground well on the move, light footed and sound front and rear, needs a bit more weight across his frame. Unfortunate to meet first placed dog today.

3 Trailhunters Mr Tor (Miss N V & Miss R March & Smith)

2 years old, another dog that needs time to mature, again a beautifully constructed dog, good ratios of leg length to height and well balanced on the move but didn’t seem to light up on the end of the lead sadly to place higher in the class.  

OD (9/0)

1 Charoite Wyatt (Ms M Hannam)

4 years, grey and white, bi-eyed boy, everything about this boy was moderate and understated, my eye kept being drawn back to him in the line up and he was in well muscled condition and carrying good weight, he really opened up on the move showing his ground covering gait in the ring and kept giving and giving in the larger ring later and couldn’t be denied the RCC on the day. RDCC

2 Forstal Xans Ruadhan (Ms S, Ms S & Ms A Leich, Leich & Koops)

7 years old, grey and white, brown eyes, attractive head with good ear set, another dog holding good weight and overall condition. Presented and handled well and in super well-muscled condition. Lots to like about him but unfortunate to meet first placed dog who was very strong competition on the day.

3 Elleonia Unbreakable Heart (Miss D E Seward)

4 years, wolf grey, blue eyes, in great coat and carrying the right weight as well, correct bone, firm topline, nicely angulated with correct tail carriage. Confident light footed movement, knows what’s required of him by his handler and demonstrated reach and drive from the rear.  

CD (2/0)

1 Ch Azgard Bolivar at Whitepeak (Mr G & Mrs S Fletcher)

6 years, piebald, brown eyes, superbly handled to get the best out of this boy another that knows what is required of him in the ring. Certainly has real presence in the show ring and as always in such tip top condition. Hard to ignore and carries such perfect weight across his whole frame. Moved effortlessly around the ring and seemed to know the outcome of the class even before it was decided. 

2 Ch Hushwing Wezztlee with Keriquel (Mr R & Mrs S Sargent)

9 years, black and white, brown oblique set eyes, classic head, lovely ear set, beautiful side profile, nicely proportioned, has won almost every award there is on offer in our breed but today he wasn’t as sure on the move as 1 on the day and looked a little disinterested with the proceedings on the day. 

Pauline Amphlett