Beauceron Club UK

Judge’s Critique – Beaucerons

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the committee for the honour of inviting me to judge, and to all the exhibitors who entered their dogs under me. It was a genuine pleasure to assess such a pleasing selection of Beaucerons, and I greatly appreciated the sporting manner in which my decisions were received.

Overall, I was encouraged by the quality of the exhibits, including several particularly good examples of breed type, attractive heads and sound construction. As a breed developed to work in demanding conditions, the Beauceron should combine strength, balance and structural soundness with efficient, functional movement and the distinctive characteristics that define the breed. While there were areas that warranted attention, particularly topline strength and hock length, I was pleased to find many dogs demonstrating the qualities required for both type and purpose.

My principal winners were especially pleasing and represented many of the attributes I value in the breed. They combined quality and breed character with sound construction, balance and effective movement.

I would like to thank the club once again for the opportunity to judge, the exhibitors for their entries and for accepting my decisions so graciously, and everyone who contributed to making the day such an enjoyable and memorable occasion. It was a privilege to be entrusted with the appointment, and I am grateful for the warmth and sportsmanship shown throughout the judging.

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DOGS

Yearling Dog (1)

1st – Mrs T. L. Phelps’ Hope’s Yikes Sykes Chez Pebbleena du Regard Mordant (Imp Bel)

A substantial 12-month-old male and a sound, honest example of the breed, with pleasing balance throughout his structure, a lovely neck, correct head planes, well-placed oval eyes and a correctly carried tail. He has many qualities to appreciate. Once settled, he moved with good reach and drive. At only a year old, he has plenty of time to mature and develop further. A promising youngster at the start of his showing career.

RBD and RBIS

Post Graduate Dog (1)

1st – Miss E. Price’s Pebbleenas Empire Apple

A substantial four-year-old male with a pleasing masculine head and good eye shape, would have preferred darker eye colour. He has good spring of rib and pleasing proportions, particularly in his height-to-length ratio. His well-angulated hindquarters contribute positively to his movement, giving him good, positive drive.

Limit Dog (1)

1st – Mrs J. Barnes’ UK Tallowah Only One Ommage des Monts du Lac (Imp Fra)

A large male with a strong, masculine head, well-balanced head planes and nicely shaped eyes. He has a good, strong, well-placed neck, moderate hindquarter angulation and pleasing depth and length of brisket. His tail reaches the hocks. A balanced exhibit with many admirable breed characteristics.

Open Dog (2)

1st – Mr I. Preddy’s Royales Adventure Yosemite with Overhill (Imp USA)

A quality, masculine male with an attractive head and excellent eye shape. He has a lovely forehand, good depth and spring of rib, and pleasing length of body, complemented by strong, well-developed hindquarters, which I particularly admired. He stands straight and strong through the forelegs, with straight hocks and feet behind. He moved well around the ring, presenting a very pleasing overall picture.

BD and BIS

2nd – Mrs K. Harrell & Mrs K. Branciflower’s Titan des Ramparts Castels with Beaukita (Imp Fra)

Another quality exhibit with a good, masculine head and pleasing neck length. I would have preferred a slightly more oval-shaped eye to more closely meet the breed standard. He has moderate, balanced angulation in front and behind, reflected in his reach and drive on the move, and presents a strong balanced overall picture. He stacked with slight toe-out behind and this ultimately influenced my placings.

Veteran Dog (1)

1st – Mrs F. White’s Overhills The Midas Touch for Beauceanto VW

An almost 11-year-old black and tan dog. He has good head planes and a well-balanced head, with an appropriate depth-to-length ratio. He has a good, strong, masculine neck, although it is a touch short, together with good body length, a pleasing underline and strong hindquarters. His tail is of adequate length. He moved soundly overall, converging slightly in front on the down-and-back, which is understandable for a veteran of his age moving down a slight slope. Presented in excellent tone and condition, and a credit to his owner.

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BITCHES

Yearling Bitch (1)

1st – Mrs K. Harrell & Mrs K. Branciflower’s Beaukita’s Ava’s Endeavour

A beautiful, feminine youngster with a pleasing expression. I would have preferred a little more muzzle length. Nicely angulated in front, with particularly pleasing hindquarters and well-set, strong, straight hocks. She has a good underline, although her topline would benefit from a little more strength. She did not settle sufficiently on the move today to show herself to her best advantage, which was a shame; however, she was well piloted throughout. A youngster with much to admire, and one I look forward to watching as she matures.

Post Graduate Bitch (3)

1st – Miss A. Dandridge’s Beaukitas Hyde Park Cot 3 NHAT CSAU

A feminine head with a kind expression. Nice overall balance, with moderate angulation in front and behind. There was slight softness in the topline today, but she moved in a balanced, steady manner. Shown well and in good condition.

2nd – Mr & Mrs H. Springham’s Tallowah Galadriel

A very attractive head and eye, with a lovely length of neck. Good forehand and hindquarter angulation. A little longer in body than my ideal proportions, with slightly taller hocks than I would prefer, but she has many pleasing breed qualities.

3rd – Mr & Mrs C. Fox’s Vin Rouge for Slyone du Regard Mordant (Imp Bel)

Limit Bitch (3)

1st – Mrs C. Rollason’s Cezarblue Meniko with Dywgweyth

A black and tan bitch with a feminine head, pleasing oval eyes and a gentle expression, flowing into a well-set neck of lovely length. Correct forechest and a balanced outline, although just a touch upright through the forehand. Whilst I would have preferred a fraction more length to the upper arm, she has a strong, level topline, pleasing spring of rib, good length of loin and a gently sloping croup, finished with well-set, powerful hocks. Presented in excellent muscle tone and hard condition, giving a very pleasing overall picture with much to admire.

2nd – Mr D. M. & Mrs C. M. Thrower’s Pebbleena’s Tutti Frutti

A nice, feminine head with balanced forehand and hindquarter angulation and good bone. I would have preferred a little more stop. Her coat was not at its best on the day, although it retained the correct harsh texture. She carried slightly more brisket than my ideal; however, she moved out well and presented an outline with strong breed character.

3rd – Mrs T. L. Phelps’ WY Malarkey Chez Pebbleena des Faux Argentes (Imp Bel)

Open Bitch (2)

1st – Mrs K. Harrell & Mrs K. Branciflower’s Beaukita’s McCrory Park Cot 3 NHAT CSAU

A lovely, feminine head and expression, with a pleasing eye and adequate stop. I admired her well-set neck and moderate, balanced angulation throughout. Good length of body, nice spring of rib and adequate loin. She moved with pleasing reach and drive and held the stronger topline in this class.

BB

2nd – Mrs T. Phelps’ Strudel Avec Pebbleena des Bergers du Vent

A substantial bitch with a pleasing amount of substance. More upright in front than my winner, with a shorter neck that affected her reach on the move. A little longer in outline than my personal preference, but she showed well throughout. Good tail set and carriage completed an otherwise pleasing picture.

Veteran Bitch (2)

1st – Mr C. & Mrs C. Fox’s Quintine du Regard Mordant Avec Slyone (Imp Bel)

A substantial veteran female with plenty of strength and substance, perhaps slightly more than my personal preference, but nevertheless strong in breed type. She has a wonderful head with pleasing oval eyes, a strong topline, good forehand and hindquarter angulation, and correct forechest, finished with well-set hocks. I would have preferred slightly shorter hocks and a little less body length overall, but she presented a balanced picture, particularly on the move, and these qualities ultimately secured her the class.

RB and BV

2nd – Mr D. M. & Mrs C. M. Thrower’s Pebbleena’s Cascabel Avec Tallowah

Another beautiful female with a nice, breed-typical feminine head and expression. I would have preferred a little more stop and a stronger topline, but she has balanced forehand and hindquarter angulation, with pleasing hock placement. Once settled, she moved particularly well and made the most of her many virtues.