Crufts

Crufts 

Russian Toys

It was exciting to be given the chance to judge this enchanting breed on what was (officially, if not in practice) their debut in their own breed classes at Crufts. I appreciated the generous support from home & overseas, in both quantity & quality - many far longer established breeds, including plenty with CC status, must envy what RT breed enthusiasts have achieved within a relatively small timescale in terms of type & conformation. I was hoping to find the elegant, long-legged, fine-boned square appearance that epitomises the breed, topped off by a small refined head & large well carried ears, & a high proportion fitted the bill. A few tended a little too much towards a Chihuahua look. Most had well made hindquarters, with no patella issues obvious to this layman; the main issue would seem to be a tendency to loose elbows which I’m sure you’ll manage to breed away from. Temperaments with one exception were good, a few needing a shade more confidence which should come with experience. In general, congratulations to breeders on what you’ve done so far - good luck for the future & I hope ‘tickets’ aren’t too far away.

PD (2) 1 Berrington’s Pappersley Basil Fawlty, thought this b/t was rather promising, elegant but still masculine, quality head, well set ears, fine bone, oval feet, straight front legs, the right overall balance, settled to move out with considerable style for such a youngster; 2 Poxon’s Lazurniy Bereg, blue/t smooth, correct bone, shapely body with good tuck-up, moderate angulation, well set ears, preferred skull & muzzle of 1 & not quite so true in front at this stage. 

JD (4) 1 Żabowska’s Zorian Z Kuzikolandii, classy red with black overlay, liked his head, expression & ear carriage, fine bone, stylish square outline with correct leg length, strong hindquarters with OK angulation, reasonable stride retaining his topline; 2 Austin’s Garnox Damien at Mairichis, slightly heavier type b/t, masculine head, good ears, OK bone, good hindquarters, not quite as firm in front as 1 whose leg length I preferred; 3 Krissinel’s Amor Felicitas Yummy Darling Amedei, small refined brown/t smooth, elegant outline, balanced angles, typical expression, good top & underlines, winners scored on the move today. 

PGD (8) 1 Codling’s Shishalee’s Sex Bomb, high quality red with black overlay, beautifully proportioned head, clean cheeks, well set eyes & ears, elegant neck into straight backline, sound hindquarters, matching moderate angulation contributing to a striking outline, in good coat & fringes, moved true with a balanced stride. Liked him a great deal & not surprised to find he’s a son of my BD, one to watch; 2 Leach’s Kinas Budda Oggy at Moyadacha, excellent type red with black overlay, balanced overall, elegant outline, enough neck, perhaps not quite so refined in head as 1, good front standing but could be a bit truer coming towards me, however has a very brisk stylish side gait, another I liked a lot; 3 Craig’s Daveys Artful Dodger, red with black overlay, quality head in proportion to body, good fine bone, level topline & strode out well going round, a shade wide in front. Not quite such an elegant outline as 1 & 2 but still has a classy look. 

OD (6) 1 BD, Orchard & Holyland’s Cze Ch Vivaprima Turmalin Royal, red with black overlay, such a handsome dog with so much to like and little to criticise, particularly liked his overall balance & proportions without any exaggeration, enough coat & fringing, quality head without any hint of Chihuahua, lean muzzle of the right length, nicely arched neck into straight backline, well carried ears & tail, just enough bone, correct feet, steady free mover making a stylish picture going round, plenty more to come from this one I have no doubt, see he’s proving a good producer too; 2 RBD, Krissinel’s Be/Nl/Fr/Hr/De Ch Anitas Pride Antonio Banderas, red with black overlay, such a glamour boy, good male head, correct set of eye, beautifully fringed ears, the right amount of bone. Really looked the part going round with great self-assurance. Not an easy decision here, could have carried a shade more body & slightly wider in front than 1, but I loved his overall type & proportions; 3 Dieter’s Am GChS BMZ’s From Santa With Love Kaleidoscope, red with black overlay, slightly smaller dog of a lovely type, so refined with an air of quality, the right amount of bone, good feet, correct body shape. Just preferred expression and topline of winners but well worth his place in a tough class. 

VD (2) 1 BV, Orchard & Holyland’s Multi Ch Fiesta Show Russian Pride, ultra typy 7 years b/t, superb outline, elegance personified, the right amount of bone, quality male head, super ears, excellent hindquarters, looked the part going round retaining his topline; 2 Casey’s Russiandream Cody Fleming for Shamal, 7 years red with black overlay, one I admired as a youngster, so sound with a super front, shapely body, stylish mover, just a shade heavier now (I’m a fine one to talk!) compared with 1.

GCDSB (1): 1 Austin’s September Song of Mairichis, pretty feminine brown/t , quality head, eyes perhaps a shade prominent, well carried ears, nice size, good topline & hindquarters, slightly loose at elbow, fine bone, perhaps could be a shade leggier. 

PB (1) 1 BP, Berrington’s Pappersley Sybil Fawlty, red with black overlay, sister to Basil & equally promising, lovely outline & balance, super body shape, correct top & under lines, true front with the right bone, feminine head. A shade reluctant standing at first but really came into her own going round & looked lovely, just outmoving her brother in the BP challenge. 

JB (6) 1 Holyland’s Ollarena Fire Fox, red with brown overlay, another sired by the BD & she does him great credit, a really lovely type with a gorgeous elegant outline, just the right matching moderate angulation both ends, long straight front legs with correct feet, such a pretty head with well set ears, moved as you’d hope for from her conformation, quite the showgirl. Put up a strong challenge for RBB and when her coat develops should have a great future; 2 Krissinel’s Amor Felicitas Yummy Sparkle Mariebelle, eyecatching brown/t, admired her head, eyes & ears, good reach of neck, straight front legs but could be slightly firmer at elbow, super topline, moved freely with great enthusiasm, winner a shade squarer in outline; 3 Holyland’s Ollarena Saffi Ari, red with black overlay, litter sister to 1, pretty & feminine & full of quality, squarely built with correct bone & feet & shapely body. Took her time deciding whether or not to move but once she did she looked lovely, with proud head carriage & retaining her shape. Marginally preferred heads of 1 & 2. 

PGB (6) 1 Holyland’s Ollarena Velikaya, red with black overlay, dam of the two lovely sisters - with parents like that they have a head start in life! See she’s a granddaughter of the BV - quality certainly breeds on. An excellent type all through with a quality head, good skull to muzzle proportions, typical ears, enough neck, super body shape & I felt was the best balanced in this class. Moved out smartly. Could be slightly firmer in topline on the move; 2 Craig’s Tilly Tattycoram, red with black overlay, daughter of BV. Small & feminine, refined head type with no coarseness, excellent front & feet, looked the part standing, not quite so stylish on the move as 1; 3 Wakefield’s Shishalee’s Glamour Girl, red with black overlay, sister to LD winner so yet another by the BD, another with a quality look, true front standing, typical head, well chiselled with correctly set ears, liked her body proportions, could have put more into her movement today. 

OB (14) Wow, what a class, really made me think! 1 BB, BOB, Urbonaitė’s Multi Ch Vilhelmina Murray Rosia Montana, this striking b/t caught my eye on the first go-round, a real Russian aristocrat full of glamour & elegance, held herself so beautifully going round, loved her head type, superbly fringed & well carried ears, the right angles both ends, neck flowing through clean shoulders, super tail carriage, strong hindquarters with the correct angles. In the final challenge she just put that little extra into her side gait to clinch the deal; 2 RBB, Leach’s Swiss/Cze Ch Moyadacha Good Golly, red with black overlay, another real star with everything to admire plus that little extra style & showmanship, neat, feminine, so sound with super front & feet & a typical head. Splitting hairs here, winner perhaps a fraction leggier; 3 Klymenko’s Ua/Md/Rom Ch Unique Z Kuzikolandii, red with black overlay, had to be full of quality to earn a place in this sultry competition, loved her refinement & legginess, particularly feminine in expression, marginally less outgoing than 1 & 2 but still held her own. 

VB (2) 1 Haider’s Multi Ch Magic Touch of Yorkside, 8 years red with brown overlay, a touch chubby today but one could still see her quality, particularly good in neck & topline, true front & every inch the showgirl; 2 Leach’s Ayla at Moyadacha, 8 years red with black overlay, good general type with feminine expression, fine bone & well made, not the enthusiasm of 1 today.

SIMON PARSONS