British Briard Club

The British Briard Club Open Show

What an honour to judge at The British Briard Club Show. Thank you to the Committee for this super invitation and the wonderful hospitality. Thanks too to my excellent steward, Joanne. I had some lovely dogs here and was particularly impressed by the puppies – some future Champions here, I’m sure! Much of the entry did struggle with the ring and couldn’t really get into their stride to show of that typical Briard movement. Many also brought their tails up rather high, which I’m sure they don’t normally – so I made allowances for this. I was very pleased with all my winners and thoroughly enjoyed my day – thank you!

Puppy Dog (2,1)

1st: Parry’s Stormymoon Is Enough. A very nice start to my day. Head is developing well with correct proportions to the skull. Muzzle is square and he has correct head planes. Stop is clearly defined and he has a large square nose. Eyes are horizontally placed and well open and dark enough for his age. Ears set on high and of correct size. Neck is of good length and he has well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Body is slightly longer than height at the withers. Back is firm and level. Well bent stifles and firm hocks. Double dew claws present. Tail reaches to hock and has some presence of a hook and is well set. Coat texture and colour to develop on more. Really displayed a very nice gait within the limitations of the ring. A very promising, typey young boy indeed. BPD

Post Graduate Dog (1,0)

1st Rack’s X’Walter Des Etoiles Taquinantes (Imp Bel). I felt this dog was a very nice shape overall with a definite ‘rugged’ appearance. Strong, masculine head. Correct head proportions. His muzzle is square and he has a clearly defined stop and big black, square nose. Eyes are good for shape and set and dark in colour. High set ears of good size. Neck is moderate in length - could perhaps have slightly more arch for me. Moderate angulation fore and aft. Deep, broad chest. Good bone. Firm, level topline. Just long enough in body. Good coat texture. Double dew claws present. Moved soundly when he settled but did pace on occasions.

Open Dog (3,0)

1st: Biddlecombe’s Chavell European Secret (AI). 2 years and still lots of maturing to do. I loved his head which is masculine has the correct head planes, slightly rounded skull and very well proportioned. Really gave the impression of strength and he certainly has a very rugged appearance. Eyes are horizontally placed and ok for colour. Big black nose and had the correct moustache, beard and eyebrows! Neck could be a tad longer with a touch more arch for perfection. Shoulders are quite well laid and upper arm returns enough. Deep chest of correct width. Medium spring of rib. I feel he could be just a shade longer in body for ideal balance – but I’m nit-picking. Moderate bend of stifles. Double dew claws present. Tail is well set and carried and has some semblance of a hook. Correct coat texture and nice colour. Moved very soundly indeed, and with enough scope for the small ring he faced. A lovely typey dog who really screamed ‘Briard’ and shows lots of potential to have a great future. BD & RBIS

2nd: Funnell’s Ch Jandade Reach For The Stars with Hartswelin. Handsome boy who also had a very good head with excellent head planes and proportions. Lovely dark eyes which are well set. Ears are high set. Neck is perhaps a shade short. A little more upright in shoulder than 1st. Upper arm is correct for length and angles back enough. Deep, broad chest. Well proportioned body. Firm topline. Croup slopes slightly and tail is set and carried ok. Tail could have more of an upward hook. Moderate turn of stifles. Double dew claws present. Coat has correct texture. Sound but felt he needed a larger ring to show off his full potential.

3rd: Challis’ Kastobri Midnight Dreamer. Again, very masculine but could be stronger in underjaw. Well-proportioned skull. Square, black nose. Dark eyes which are well placed. Ears are reasonably well set. Moderate angulation all through. Deep chest with enough width. Has a tendency to stand a little bum high. Strong bone. Lovely coat texture. Moved soundly in profile.

Veteran Dog (2,0)

1st: Parry’s Ch Stormymoon Untamed Irish. One I have judged and liked very much before. Great breed type with a super head. Strong muzzle with good underjaw and very well-proportioned skull. Large, horizontally placed eyes which are lovely and dark. High set ears of correct size. Large, black nose. Nice arch to neck giving him a proud head carriage. Well-angulated all through. Deep, broad chest. Firm topline. Well-proportioned body. Lovely bone. Slight slope to croup. Tail reaches to hocks, is well set and carried. Could have slightly more of an upward hook. Double dew claws present. Great coat texture and bone. Such a handsome, quality dog. Super sound and did show glimpses of his normal super flowing gait. Had to give way to the Open Dog who just coped with the ring a little better. RBD

2nd: Smith’s Jandade Baloo L’bear. What a handsome veteran. Really nice breed type and well put together overall. I felt he had a lovely typical head with super expression. Moderate length of neck. Deep, broad chest and firm enough in topline. Correct tail set and carriage. Good bone. Double dew claws present. Lovely coat for length and texture. Sound but didn’t move as fluidly as 1st and was a little stilted behind.

Minor Puppy Bitch (2,0)

1st: Trimnell’s Vallonne Magical Flame. Really cracking baby. Eye-catching and feminine yet with strength for her age and a real rugged look! Wonderful head for age showing good balance and proportions. Super eyes for shape and set. Good square muzzle and black nose. Well set ears. Moderate length to neck which she holds proudly. Nice balanced construction. Chest is developing well. Firm topline. Slight slope to croup. Tail reaches to hocks and has good set and carriage. Could have a more upward hook. Double dew claws present. Coat developing and colour ok for age. Super effortless mover. Very promising indeed. BPB & BPIS.

2nd: Trimnell’s Vallonne Magical Illusion. Sister to 1st and many of the same qualities. Again, she has a super head with well-proportioned skull, and square muzzle with good underjaw. Good head planes. Eyes are well set and her ears are well placed. Not quite as well balanced in angulation as 1st and standing a little bum high. Tail is well set. Not so secure or precise on the move as 1st. Another promising baby.

Puppy Bitch (2,0)

1st: Parry’s Stormymoon Limited Edition. An upstanding bitch with rugged look and excellent head for age. Well balanced and proportioned skull. Square muzzle and black nose of correct size. Horizontally placed eyes. High set ears. Lovely expression and head furnishings. Arched neck. Excellent angulation fore and aft. Chest developing well and super body proportions. Firm topline, but she was stood under herself a little which was making her topline slope off. Double dew claws present. Slight slope to croup. Well set tail. Just a little hesitant in this hall. Super sound and I could see she has real scope to show a lovely effortless ground covering stride. Coat developing and colour ok for age. Another super prospect for the breed.

2nd: Southron’s Vallonne Magical Trick to Kastobri. Sister to 1st & 2nd in MP. Larger than 1st but still feminine with strength and super rugged look. Nice head with good balance all through. Dark eyes which are well set. High set ears of correct size. Moderate length of neck. Well angulated fore and aft. More mature in body than her sisters and showing decent depth and width to chest. Well-proportioned body. Well set tail. Could have more of an upward hook but reaches to hocks. Coat texture developing and colour ok for age. Sound but didn’t move quite as well as 1st. Promising.

Post Graduate Bitch (2,0)

1st: Harris’ Jasmine Pink Bezy Bezy Sirrahirgram (Imp Pol). A tall bitch with many qualities. Big head with strong features, good skull and square muzzle. Could perhaps be a shade more feminine. Lovely dark eyes and high set ears. She has a lovely shapely body showing the desired length and proportions. Nicely arched neck leading to well laid shoulders. Excellent return to upper arm. Deep, broad chest. Topline just dips slightly behind the withers. Moderate turn of stifles – just needs a shade more for ideal balance. Strong hocks. Double dew claws present. Tail is well set and carried. She has a slight upward hook and tail reaches to the hocks. She was really playing her handler up, but I did see a very nice movement when she got going. What a personality!

2nd: Taylor & Back’s Chavell Secret Affair (AI). I felt this bitch had a nice head with good skull and muzzle and head planes. Dark eyes which are set horizontally. Ears are set high and of the correct size. Smaller and stockier than 1st. Rugged in look, but not quite the flowing lines I was looking for. Moderate angulation fore and aft. Upper arm could return more. Ok for bone. Chest is deep and broad. Standing a little bum high. Tail is well set, reaches the hocks and has a slight upward hook. Double dew claws present. Great coat texture. Sound enough but not as free as I prefer.

Limit Bitch (2,1)

1st: Ryan’s Fostebrie Pure Binoche or Badgerhurst JW. I felt this was a very nice bitch for size. Her head is in proportion to body but I wasn’t so keen on her expression. Skull could be more rectangular to match muzzle. Large, black square nose. Eyes are horizontally set. Ears ok for set. Lovely arched neck. Well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Deep, broad chest and strong topline and loins. Well bent stifles. Firm hocks. Double dew claws present. Well set and carried tail which reaches to the hocks. Upward hook present. Coat of good texture. Super mover when she settled.

Open Bitch (2,1)

1st; Webb’s Ch Barronoaks Etta Bagel ShCEx. Her shape and outline immediately caught my eye. Everything is in perfect balance. Rugged but feminine with the desired strength. Great proportions through the skull and muzzle is square enough, though, for me, underjaw could be just a tad stronger. Large, square black nose. Great head planes. Horizontally placed eyes which are of a lovely dark colour and expressive. High set ears which are of the correct size. Excellent head furnishings. Proudly arched neck. Well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Ideal bone for size. Deep chest with enough width. Firm topline. Ribs carried well back. Slightly longer than tall. Slight slope to croup and very well-set tail with a slight upward hook at the tip. Firm hocks. Double dew claws present. Great coat texture. Super presentation. She moved with great soundness and style with correct tail carriage but needed a bigger ring to really show off her full scope. Super condition and stood out for me here. Top quality. BB & BIS.

Veteran Bitch (2,0)

1st: Coleman’s Ch Jandade Shooting Star To Hartswelin JW. A leggy bitch with quite a bit of daylight under her. Another with such a super shape, being slightly longer than tall. Loved her head which has super head planes, slightly rounded skull and is definitely composed of two equal rectangles. Typical head furnishings. Strong muzzle. Large black nose. Well set eyes of good shape and colour. High set ears of correct size. Super neck and shoulders. Upper arm angles back to set legs well under her. Deep chest. Super firm topline and muscular loins. Well-turned stifles and strong hocks. Double dew claws present. Slight slope to croup and well-set tail that reaches the hocks. Could have more of an upward hook. Full of personality and moved very well when settled. Another who needed a larger ring. Coat texture good. Another that screams ‘Briard’ at you!

2nd: Barber & Gasnik’s Shezmo Lady Midna. A super attractive bitch. Head is ok for proportions. Square muzzle. Eyes are well set and of good colour. Ears are high set and of correct size. Neck is a little short and could have more arch. Moderate angulation fore and aft. Dipping in her topline today. Correct bone for size. Deep chest. Tail reaches to hocks. Double dew claws present. Good coat texture. Moved very soundly but not quite with the verve of 1st.