Wirehaired Dachshunds – Bournemouth 2024
This was an appointment I approached with some trepidation. Over the past couple of years, I have despaired seeing so many exhibits with nervous temperaments and completely incorrect hindquarters. Some judges have also commented on mouth faults but, today, this was not a major issue from what I could see. It is true that many Wires do not have the same degree of overlap in their scissor bite that we see in the other Dachshund varieties, but they are not edge-to-edge. As for temperaments, there were well-constructed dogs in the entry today who were penalised for not having the required bold, outgoing temperament. Thankfully, none were nervous to the extent that I thought they should be excluded.
One of my biggest concerns for the breed is the incorrect hind angulation which has become widespread. Primarily, the lower thigh is too long and the dogs cannot stand unaided with their hocks perpendicular to the ground. Their handlers continually have to fiddle with them on the stack as they cannot support themselves. On the move they have a rolling gait and, in profile, they are sickle-hocked (tummy-tapping) with a complete lack of rear drive. Combined with flashy handling and running to give an appearance of a well-made dog, some judges fail to spot the correctly made, more moderate, dogs in a class where the majority are faulty. This is a Breed Watch point of concern that judges should be aware of.
Puppy Dog (4 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: ADAMS, Mrs L D Serengarth Bear With Me. Beautiful red puppy of just 7 months with a lovely top line held at all times. Good amount of forechest and well-angulated front construction. Really happy temperament. Good bend of stifle and he moved parallel going away from me. I came very close to awarding him the RCC. I gather he was shortlisted in the Puppy Group as well. One to watch! Best Puppy.
2nd: BEAGRIE, Mrs A & BEAGRIE, Mr A Feldhund Moonlight. Wildboar of longer type and not so level in the topline. Very good amount of forechest. More upright in the shoulder than 1 but a very good reachy neck. Moved with enthusiasm but slightly close going away from me.
3rd: HERBERT, Miss Sarah Bixadicroise Caramel
Junior Dog (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: PUGHE, Ms H M & FRASER, Ms C Stanegate Stefan At Bystock. Slightly longer type and not the best topline when stacked. Good elegant reach of neck and really good amount of forechest. Good ground clearance. Moved parallel going away and true coming towards me. Turned out to perfection.
2nd: COVERLEY, Mrs L Aventine The Poacher. More compact type than 1 and a lot to like about him but he appeared somewhat nervous on the move which cost him first place. Good amount of forechest and he had better layback of shoulder than 1. Held a firm topline and was absolutely parallel going away.
3rd: CLAYTON-SMITH, Mrs Suzanne Joy Cairparavel Hartnell
Postgraduate Dog (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: JACKSON, Mrs Susan & JACKSON, Mr Roger Elderkine Special Brew. Red dog who could do with losing a bit of weight to show him off to more advantage. Really well constructed in front and he held a lovely topline. Overall, quite a compact type which I prefer. Could have a bit more hind angulation. Really good length of ribbing and tidy underline. Elegant reach of neck.
2nd: MATTHEWS, Mrs Alison Sonham Fire Cracker. Wildboar with good reach of neck and prominent forchest. Not quite the ground clearance of 1. Slightly loose in the elbow on the front left leg. Good bend of stifle. Tidy underline. Moving closer behind than 1, going away from me.
3rd: CLAYTON-SMITH, Mrs Suzanne Joy Cairparavel Hartnell
Limit Dog (6 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: APPS, Mrs Sarah Anne Calicoe Just Me. Compact red dog with really good front construction. He really stepped out with drive and front reach. Elegant reach of neck running into a correct topline which he held at all times. Looks lovely in profile stacked and on the move. Parallel coming towards me. Nothing exaggerated. A good honest little dog and I was pleased to award him the RCC. Interested to see he is a son of my BOB.
2nd: MCPHERSON, Mr S A & PATERSON, Mr P C Ambiesque Avant. A more continental type with a super harsh coat. Really good prominent forechest. Good reach of neck but slightly more upright in shoulder than 1. Really good bend of stifle but moved slightly close going away from me. Held his topline at all times.
3rd: ADAMS, Mrs L D Ellesophia Fly Me To The Moon JW
Open Dog (4 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: PHILLIPS, Mrs Valerie Ch Royal Pepper’s Vice Versa (Imp Fin). It’s easy to see how this dog has done so much winning. Well-proportioned wild boar with good amount of ground clearance. Very steady on the move at a good pace. Good parallel movement coming towards me and absolutely parallel, with correct width, going away. Lovely reach of neck and a super head. Adequate amount of forechest. Kept a really good topline in profile. Dog CC and BOB.
2nd: MAES-JONES, Mrs E & BATES, Miss V Derochaise Blue Danube. This boy looks lovely in profile and is the correct size. Slightly more prominent forechest than 1. Really harsh wire coat. A more compact type than 3, which is my preference Good amount of ground clearance. Disappointed that he wasn’t more confident on the table.
3rd: ORD, Mr M & AINSLEY, Mr Philip Cloudside Sebastian Of Marnadee JW
Special Beginners D/B (3 Entries) Abs: 1
Both these Wires needed better, more level, toplines and more bend of stifle. Both had a good amount of ground clearance.
1st: HERBERT, Miss Sarah Bixadicroise Caramel. Very happy boy with a super harsh coat and masculine head.
2nd: WHEELER, Mrs Helen Teresa & WHEELER, Mr Paul Boloria Diorella. More prominent forechest than 1 but softer in the coat. Good reach of neck.
Puppy Bitch (8 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: MOORE, Mrs Anne & DOWNES, Miss Laura Romanchi Night At The Opera. Wildboar youngster with the correct, compact proportions (two to one) and adequate ground clearance. Coat looks like it’s quite hard work. Good prominent forechest and easily the best ribbing in the class and short loin. Good tidy underline. Good reach of neck.
2nd: PARKER, Mrs Nichole Vixendax You And Me At Zorionadax. This young girl looks better in profile when moving than when stacked. Good tidy underline and length of ribbing. Feminine head and a good coat.
3rd: WALLER, Mrs Yvette Lallybrook Royale Legacy
Junior Bitch (7 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: HOWE, Miss Emily Bramalodge Baby I’m Yours. Really harsh coated wild boar with correct size, proportions and a lovely topline which she held at all times. Moved like a dream in this class with good forward reach and driving from her well angulated hindquarters. Good reach of neck. Very happy temperament. Good length of ribbing, very tidy underline. I had my eye on her in the challenge but, in the heat, she didn’t quite put it all in.
2nd: PHILLIPS, Mrs Valerie Tendrow Carolina Reaper. Another correctly proportioned girl with a good red coat. Not quite the driving hind movement of the first one but good forward reach. Not so happy in the heat. Adequate amount of forechest. Very good head and a lovely dark eye.
3rd: WALLER, Mrs Yvette Lallybrook Royal Toast
Postgraduate Bitch (6 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: PUGHE, Ms H M & FRASER, Ms C Bystock Blue Orchid. Would prefer a little bit more ground clearance on this one. Really good level topline at all times. Moved parallel coming and going. Very good reach of neck. Adequate amount of forechest. Well angulated behind.
2nd: HUNT, Ms Jacky Drakkina Wirenth. Chocolate Wildboar who is a really happy, extrovert bitch. Slightly longer type than I prefer but moved really well and excellent ground clearance. Good forward reach and good hind drive on the move. She looks far better on the move than stacked. 3rd: GRAHAM, Mrs J & Mr A Anne Boloria Wild Spice JW
Limit Bitch (8 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: COX, Mrs Jose & COX, Mr Graham Hopewood Que Sera Sera Avec Bulldaxit. correct size and correct proportions. Lovely tidy underline. Moved at a good pace despite the heat, with real forward reach and good drive behind. Good amount of forechest. Well turned-out coat. Feminine head and expression on a reachy neck. A lovely picture in profile. Pulled out all the stops in the challenge and I was pleased to award her the RCC; a first, I believe, for this owner..
2nd: MOORE, Mrs Anne & DEAN, Mrs Jane Brontillow Canterbury Bell To Diefiur. Another girl with correct proportions and with adequate ground clearance. Well angulated behind. Super topline on the move. Prominent forechest but not overdone.
3rd: STOCKDALE, Ms Lisa Derochaise Blue Velvet At Fenwires
Open Bitch (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: NORTH-ROW, Miss Emma & MARTIN, Dr Edna Ir Ch Sail On Sailor To Full Circle. I awarded this bitch Reserve Best in Show in Ireland last year, under FCI rules, and was pleased to see her again. Correct size red. Lovely front construction, forechest and angulation. Really good length of upper arm and well laid back shoulder placement. Elegant reach of neck and very feminine head. Good turn of stifle. Tidy underline; not cut up at all. Moved well both coming and going and shone through in the challenge. Delighted to award her the BCC (her 2nd, I believe).
2nd: CLAYTON-SMITH, Mrs Suzanne Joy Cairparavel Kiss From A Rose JW. Slightly larger type than 1 but a quality wildboar girl who looks very balanced in profile and holds a good topline. Good reach of neck. A bit milky in her underline and not quite the bend of stifle of 1.
3rd: KOOT, Mr Maikel & KOOT-VAN OOSTEN, Mrs. Wendy Sebasso’s Ridiculous Elske Edou
Ian J Seath (Judge)
