On to my entry, the males were a bit of a let down, the phrase " Cherry Picking " springs to mind. However because people choose to keep bitch's more, numerically there were more to choose from, and of course that is where the quality was, but some of these lovely bitch’s must have lovely brothers somewhere too?? Temperaments I found impeccable, with only one backing off me slightly, all were presented clean, although many were suffering from the affects of the dreaded Dally Rash, and although this is a temporary thing, it is a dog "show", although I tried not to penalise for the odd bit here and there, in some dogs who had it worse, it did affect the odd placing . Mouths, i found 4 males with a level bite ,and one bitch, and while this is not a horrendous fault, it has to be watched. Tails ,many are far too low set, and in males especially some of the tail carriages I can only refer to as "Flag Poles" I don't like it, it spoils the overall picture when a nice dog is moving out well ,however its not a deal breaker . Short upper arm is a phrase you will have seen written about, please look at the points of a dog and familiarize yourself with the upper arm, its why we have such stilted movement, they cant reach forward and eat up the ground if they have a bone which isn’t designed to let them do so. Spotting I never get too hung up on, yes, I like a nice spotted dog, but I prefer the construction to be correct, then hopefully if everything is where it should be, good movement will follow on, and to me this is the crux of what a Dalmatian should be about- it is a moving breed. I hope my exhibitors forgive me for moving you all so much ,especially as we had a rare treat, sunshine and heat. I didn't want a race, movement is assessed better at a nice and steady pace, it shows up tracking ,and width of fronts ,as well as close rear movement.
You all accepted my decisions so gracefully, even although some of you I could tell were disappointed , and you made my first assignment so much easier. Thank you all . My main winners I was delighted with, the dog taking BOB, and later Group 2 in esteemed company, the bitch winning her first ticket, I'm optimistic she will be made up before long.
Minor Puppy Dog (2,1)
1. Foster – Chizzmic Chilli Chocolate, just 6 months who is already well grown ,he has good pigmentation ,and is the correct colour of liver. Decoration is even and consistent .Liked his head, good proportions, reachy neck, which flows into a tidy and smooth wither which then runs onto a level topline, his tailset is just a tad too low .Loin of medium length. Movement could have been better , but this was mainly due to his over exuberance ,and I’m sure as he ages ,he will settle to the job in hand.
Puppy Dog (3,1)
1. Whincup – Tamilanda Panther Lilly.Res CC & BPIB Absolutely gorgeous black spotted 10 month old. He is all male , well grown, and he really filled my eye. As I approached him my thoughts were ”WOW” His head was probably the best of the day, so balanced ,good width to skull, correct amount of stop and good length of muzzle ,correct scissor bite. Dark brown eyes, he used his spotty ears so well to frame his handsome face. Reachy neck into clean defined wither, which flowed onto a level topline and complimented the picture finishing in his well set and carried tail. Really good front assembly ,with correct front and rear angulations. Deep chest, good spring of rib, smooth sweeping underline which gave him the overall look of athleticism. Well off for bone, wonderful tight cat feet. To top it all off his spotting is even in size and distribution he was one of the few in the males who was in sparkling coat, with no hint of rash. On the move he did not disappoint either, long flowing strides, just going about the job without any fuss. I know he’s still in puppy, but I would have been a fool to deny him his well deserved res cc. A star for the future.
2. repeat of 1st in MPD
Junior Dog (3,0)
1. Whincup & Sibson – Tamilanda Vintage Pink. From the same kennel as the Res cc winning puppy dog. Same stamp. Beautiful rich liver spotting on a blistering white coat. In top class condition, About his head, my notes say exquisite. Lovely reachy arched neck, defined wrinkle free wither, glorious topline and correct tailset. Good width and depth of chest,well sprung ribs, moved out very well, with powerful rhythmical even strides, he does tend to carry his tail a little proudly on the move ,like many young dogs do, but this was easily overlooked as the total sum of his excellent attributes far outweighs this one niggle. Easy class winner, and I had him in mind for top honours , but unfortunately in the challenge the sun came out and a few wilted in the heat, and I was so disappointed that he gave up when it really mattered the most, but this was only one show, and he will have tickets awaiting him very soon I’m sure.
2. Lamb – Liver dog much smaller made than 1. Nicely spotted and his décor is even but unfortunately he is a casualty of this horrid wet summer we are having as he had the dreaded dally rash. Lovely spotty face, good head proportions, he has nice clean lines and he makes a good picture standing, however I would prefer a better tailset. On the move he was ok in side profile but he did move rather close behind.
3. Talbot – Dalpetro Declan at Leaveslake
Graduate Dog (1,0)
1. Taylor & MacKinnon – Frankish Hope and Glory. Black dog who was well up for size, 2yrs old and fully mature. Liked his very distinct spotty face and head very much. Good eye colour, nice and dark. Good length of neck which was nicely arched, would prefer him to have more length in body ,and he rises too much over the croup, but he is a really sound dog who moves out well with a good rhythmical stride.
Post Graduate Dog (2,1)
1. Casey – Moyglass Professor Plum JW ShCM Black spotted boy who reminded me so much of a famous champion dog ,Jakes Dream, from over a decade ago. Smaller made than most of the other dogs in the eventual challenge, but I do not mean this as a negative in any way, I liked him a lot. Balanced all through from his head proportions, to his arched neck, great topline and gentle rise over the croup, good tailset, but he does however carry it proudly when on the move. He was one of the best muscled and his width and definition to his thigh ,means he could no doubt endure plenty of excersise. He is a very balanced dog, with good angles front and back, and his profile movement is so eye catching, long powerful ,rhythmical , just how I like them, unfortunately he was not wearing his best jacket, and in the challenge this did factor into my final decisions.
Limit Dog (8,0)
1. Webb & Chrystal – Dalleaf Devil in Disguise at Jemblewood. A smaller dog all over, but a good one nonetheless. Beautiful black decoration on pristine white coat ,of even size and well distributed. Plainer head which has the elegance that so many males lack, beautiful broken ears which are carried perfectly to frame his face, good dark brown eye, he has a good reach of neck ,which leads onto a well defined wither and level topline complimented by a good tailset and good carriage. His movement is above average, covers the ground well, and he is so eye catching that I could not deny him his class. His day will surely come.
2. Munro – Tanstar Sea the Stars Taller than 1 .Plain head, which was pleasing for balance, ok for eye colour. He has a fair reach of neck ,and has a good topline and tailset, but another who is proud of his tail on the move. He moves well enough, although he does move a little close behind, coupled with that he is recovering from dally rash meant he had to loose out to 1.
3. Todhunter Robinson – Millbelle Young Gun JW
Open Dog (4,1)
1. Alexander – Ch Offordale Chevalier.CC , BOB & Group 2 Well, where do I start. He is drop dead gorgeous. Only 2 years old but has already made a name for himself. Much has been written about this dog, and every accolade he has had I can now fully appreciate. He is the real deal. He has every ingredient one could ever want in a show Dalmatian. His head is very balanced, male, but not overdone, good width to back skull, good chiseling to his face, tight clean lips, no looseness or baggy flews. Correct length of muzzle which is powerful and correct scissor bite. Dark brown eye colour. Neck is perfectly arched and good length, into defined withers ,and carries onto level topline and perfect tailset and carriage. The more I judged him, I realized, this dog is amazing. Fit ,hard and in wonderful coat, he shone for me. Good round bone, and excellent cat feet. He is longer cast than we normally see in the ring, but he is all the better for it, remember the Dalmatian is a rectangle, not a square. On the move, I wanted him to move a bit slower than his handler normally takes him round at, and I feel it was really to his advantage, it gave the impression that he floated, he is light on his feet for a dog of his size, he is not a tall dog, but there is a lot of him. His extension was really impressive, and he has the drive to propel forward, he is controlled power. It was so joyous for me to watch that I have to confess I made his owner run and run and run, he is an object lesson in what we should all be striving for in our own breeding programmes. What more can I say, I love him, and I am very happy at my first appointment to have a dog of this caliber show for me. In the group he took 2nd place, and I am sure Group 1 beckons in the near future, and with any luck , he deserves to be known as a BIS winner. He really is that good.
2. Hartley & Griffiths – Ch Creaganbrec The Favourite at Miragua JW. 5yr old black dog ,in his absolute prime. He is so handsome, masculine head which is very attractive, due in part to his beautiful spotty face. Good arch of neck, into a good topline, slight rise over the croup into a perfect tailset, which he also carries well on the move, well muscled and in good condition. His spotting is jet black ,even in size and evenly covered. He is such a happy dog, and it shows in the relationship he has with his handler, it was a privilege to judge him, however, we had one of those rare days where it was a mini heat wave , and it really affected him, I felt he was flagging on the move, and to some extent he just gave up, it was the reason I never recalled him to challenge for the res cc. He was very unlucky to meet 1.
Minor Puppy Bitch (2,0)
Two really lovely little girls. 1. Haywood & Ridgeway – Luccombe Strawberry Dream. BPB. She was a little dream, so beautiful and so well schooled for 6 months. Beautiful even black spotting on whitest coat. Her head is gorgeous ,and her expression would melt the hardest of hearts. She is still obviously developing, but at this stage everything is looking good for a rosy future. Her topline and tailset were very good. A little gem for the future I feel.
2. Hernandez – Dalminshi Mystic Star. She was so unlucky to meet 1, and to be fair there wasn’t much between them, many of the same comments apply to her as well. 1 perhaps has the edge on spotting, but that doesn’t particularly fuss me, but I struggled a bit to separate them, I may only have had 2 in the class, but they are both from the top drawer, I wish the owners of both bitch’s every success with them.
Puppy Bitch (5,2)
1. Page – Winflash Elle’s Belle’s .Black Indeed everything to like about her. She is the correct size, very pretty to look at and she can move well. What more could you want, good head proportions, enough reach of neck, good topline, although she does slope over the croup slightly, but I am being picky here. She has enough bone, and good tight cat feet. Correct tailset, and carried well on the move. Unfortunately she didn’t come wearing her best jacket, and at this level it did matter, or she would have been at least BPB, but she was still good enough to edge ahead of her class mates to take first place.
2. Fillingham – Tamilanda Blue Water Lilly . Black , a really hard decision between her and 1. Different type but equally as good, and she was in fabulous coat. She is more grown, and at this stage just needs a bit more body on her, but that will come in a few months. Beautiful head, seems to be a trademark of this kennel, who seem to produce a lot of good one’s. Lovely reachy neck, great level topline and tailset. The reason she lost out to 1, and I know how silly this may sound, she was so happy and outgoing, when she was on the move she wagged her tail so hard that she wagged her whole bottom, and it threw her movement off somewhat, however when her owner gets her settled this one is going to trouble you all.
Junior Bitch (9,0)
1. Lamb – Dalpetro Diva JW 15 month old black bitch .Lovely balanced head with a sweet expression. Would prefer a darker eye, good arch of neck, good topline and tailset. Shorter coupled . She is such a steady mover, sound as a bell, she just gets on with the job without any fuss, and does what she came to do. To woo the judge ,well it worked on me, because I thought she was a really lovely ,honest type ,she was an easy class winner, but I felt in the challenge she wasn’t as switched on as she had been in her class, another one who I think was feeling the heat a bit, shame, for I did consider her for a higher award. Her time will come.
2. Page – Winflash Born To Be Wild. Well actually she was a bit wild, she was naughty on the move, I think distracted by her playmate at the side of the ring who was barking, unfortunately it did cost her. That said, she is a quality bitch who can move with Joie De Vivre , ok, she is a little bit straight in front, but she has plenty of other positive attributes that outweighs that one thing. Beautiful head, good reach of neck, lovely level topline, good black spotting, good feet, the list goes on. A brilliant show personality which means she doesn’t get overlooked, she does make you look at her this one.
3. Connolly – Tamilanda Summer Pink at Connomoor
Graduate Bitch (10,2)
1. Alexander – Offordale Catalina Res CC. Litter sister to my BOB. Am I surprised? No, because she has many of the same attributes, but perhaps not the same charisma…….yet! Wonderful size, lovely head ,well proportioned ,and an expression that has an air of regality to it. Good front ,plenty of bone ,tight cat feet, arched neck with definition to her withers and level topline and absolutely first class tailset and carriage. Fit and muscled and in brilliant coat condition. To top it all off, her black spotting is very desirable, dense ,even and of the same size. I have to say she really impressed me and I thought she was going to be the CC winner, but again, she wilted in the challenge with the heat. I can hardly believe I am complaining about the heat, with the summer we’ve had, but for top honours , it did matter, but this one is a true beauty ,and her day will come.
2. Beeston – Olbero One Copper Charm For Sanadal Liver bitch of a different type to 1, but a really lovely honest bitch, she is so sound and steady on the move I really enjoyed watching her, but she is recovering from dally rash, and she was pipped at the post by 1 on her outstanding condition. My only slight criticism would be she needs a tad more weight.
3. Macdonald of Sleat – Bosville Bo Peep
Post Gradute Bitch (9,1)
1. Goodswen – Tamilanda Pink Angel From Alphadal a really lovely black spotted bitch, top quality and I can see a pattern emerging from this Kennel. Her head was the most beautiful of the bitch’s, I felt seduced by her expression, and eye colour to die for. Everything is there in place, reach of neck, topline tailset, width of thigh, she has it all, but, sometimes this bitch is over exuberant when she moves, she tends to rush, she was an easy class winner, but slow her down please
2. Kaal – Caldecacre Celsie Von SchunnikaOk, lets not fool ourselves, this liver bitch is very heavily spotted, and on first inspection, it is a bit off putting. Underneath that though ,is a very good bitch. I have judged her before, I liked her then, and I’ve no reason to change my opinion ,good head ,beautiful eye colour, many good attributes, topline tailset ,front ,width of thigh ,bend of stifle, it is all there. She moves well, no fuss, just does the job, she gave her best off.
3. Vockings & Smethurst – Portunes Enchantress
Limit Bitch (8,1)
1.Thorner – Tolutim Drambuie Sh CM CC. well, what can I say, she was my surprise of the day. A really lovely bitch that I have seen before, and she has been overlooked so many times-but not today, she did everything right and she was so responsive to her handler, they have really gelled as a team, they only have eyes for one another, and it shows, she just wanted to please. She has everything a champion would need, pretty face, decent black spotting, good head ,eye colour ,topline, tailset , it is all there to see. I am just so glad to have found her. She has a lovely steady long stride , she is a very calm bitch. She came and asked, very nicely, for the cc, and I wasn’t going to deny her. A really lovely bitch in my eyes, I hope her title is not far away.
2. Hobbs & Whiting. Black Winflash Loopy Loo. Very much in the same mould as 1. Many of the same comments could apply, her young handler gets the best from her ,and they work very well as a unit. She has good black spotting ,and was presented in good condition, fit and hard, but she is slightly straight in rear angulation, and moves a little close behind, but a lovely bitch all the same.
3. Cheetham – Koroyza Cute as Candy for Dollywood
Open Bitch (6,1)
1. Quayle – Ch Cubalibre Spot On JW Dense black spotting on a pure white background, Good length of neck, level topline and good tailset. Her feet could be better, and I felt she was a bit wide in forechest, a little taller than I like , but a quality bitch.
2. Alexander – Ch.Offordale Sapphire litter sister to my BOB and res bitch cc. I can see the family resemblance , definitely, and she has many good points, but if I’m honest, I felt a bit disappointed by her. She did not have her showing head on ,that said, it was a pleasure to judge her, another day these two could change places. I want to mention she went on to win the Champion Stakes, but her owner tells me she was better under the tent in the main ring, it was much cooler, so well done for that.
3. Fort – Shulune Fantazy On Ice JW Sh CM
1. Addy – Creaganbrec Rosie Cotton JW Sh CM
Mark Dunnachie
Judge