Bournemouth Championship Show 11/8/24 – Smooth-haired Dachshunds
I last judged smooths in 2018 and if this entry is at all representative of the breed at the moment I was a little disappointed in comparison. My main concern was the number of exhibits with nervous temperaments that became all too obvious on the table examination. I even had to dismiss one for baring its teeth at me twice and growling constantly. This is not acceptable and potentially puts the judge in danger of being bitten as the dog, having shown it is not happy being touched by a stranger, has only one line of defence left if the judge persists in trying to handle it, and that is to bite. Several backed off on the table, leaned to the side to get away from me and one leapt off the table as I tried to go over the shoulders. I had to penalise this behaviour as the breed standard is quite clear in this respect – ‘faithful, versatile and good tempered’. The dachshund should also be ‘courageous to the point of rashness’. Breeders please bear this in mind when planning your next litter, especially as most pups end up as family companions. It was very disappointing to have my eye taken by a couple of exhibits on the initial circuit of the ring, then to have to adjust my thinking and come to a different decision after trying to examine them on the table.
Puppy Dog (2)
1st Heels’ Daxanory Menacing Dennis
Slightly longer than ideal clear red with good bone and substance throughout. He had well placed shoulders and displayed a good forechest, level topline and flowing underline. Good hind angulation. His overall good quality of conformation enabled him to stride out freely and cover the ground well. Just a little erratic in hind movement going away at times. With a little more training he should be able to make the best of himself in future. Best Puppy in Breed.
2nd Halsall & Hughes’ Scipsar Just Give Me A Reason
Smaller, lighter boned and more up on leg dark brindle. I suspect he has some European, working breeding behind him as he is more ‘continental’ in type, being shorter in body. Completely opposite type to 1st and much less mature. He had a super temperament, however. Moderately angulated in fore and hindquarters. Moved freely, but running up in topline at present. He is only 7 months, so time is on his side.
Junior Dog (2)
1st Ashby’s Rayol Dallas Cowboys At Jaxinorydax
Shaded red with an attractive head and correctly shaped eyes. He has well placed shoulders and a pleasing forechest. Good overall body shape and firm topline. Reasonable hind angulation, although both he and 2nd were moving under themselves in profile with their rear pasterns almost touching the ground, which is incorrect. He seemed distracted by his chain, constantly shaking his head on the move, so may be worth considering a different type of show lead.
2nd Wyeth’s Rayol Texas Rangers
Litter brother to 1st, also red and very similar in type and overall construction. Slightly nervous and was crouching on the table due to his temperament and his sickle hocks. Moved under himself with rear pasterns touching the ground in profile movement like his littermate.
Post Graduate Dog (4)
1st Jones’ Cwmdarhian San Antonio At Adnerb
Quality dark red of larger size, who is well boned and has plenty of substance throughout. Masculine head with keen expression, good reach of neck, flowing into well placed shoulders. He has a good forechest, overall body shape and spring of rib. A shade longer overall than ideal. Well angulated hindquarters complete the picture. He moved freely in profile and displayed parallel up and back movement.
2nd Chapman-Reith’s Havenhund Hunky Dory
Elegant black and tan of totally different type to 1st, presented in gleaming condition. Attractive head with arch to muzzle and keen, dark eye. He has well laid shoulders, good amount of forechest and is well angulated in hindquarters. Just has a shade too much arch over his loin, which just disrupts his topline slightly in both stance and profile movement. Strode out with verve and free stride, covering the ground well. I see he is sired by my dog CC winner in 2018, Ch. Lauralee Nicholas Nickleby and has inherited many of his qualities.
3rd Ratsey-Woodroffe & Rippon’s From Eversden Dachs Heart of Gold For Preziosa
Limit Dog (4)
1st McNaughton’s Cedavoch Rohan
Beautifully constructed black and tan of quality. He has good bone and substance throughout and really comes into his own on the move, where he powers round the ring covering the ground with a free, lengthy stride. He has well laid shoulders, good forechest, overall body shape and well let down quarters. Holds his outline in stance and profile movement and is sound in up and back movement. Pleased to award him the Reserve CC. He made a perfect pair with his litter sister who also won the bitch RCC. Must have been a lovely litter.
2nd Rycroft’s Jacksondax Hornet Hurrah At Trisensara
Compact, moderately angulated black and tan of completely different type to 1st, being more up on leg with more daylight underneath. I see his dam is a Ukrainian import which explains the difference in type. He has an attractive, masculine head with keen expression. Holds his shape well in profile movement and is not too big.
3rd Hunt’s Carpaccio Red Knight
Open Dog (8)
I was spoilt for choice in this hotly contested class. Lots of different types to choose from, each with their own merits and they could easily change places on another occasion. Thank you for bringing them all.
1st Williams & Moes’ Ch. Cwmdarhian Super Mario
Compact, royally bred, well balanced clear red with textbook forequarter construction and well angulated hindquarters to complement. I would prefer a stronger, more masculine head, however, that aside, he is beautifully constructed with well placed shoulders, good length upper arm and consequently correct forechest. Good overall body shape with flowing underline and good spring of rib. Well angulated hindquarters. Stands completely true in front and behind on the table. His overall quality of conformation translates into powerful, free and ground covering movement in profile and he has parallel movement up and back. Pleased to award the CC and BOB.
2nd Graham’s Marvale Chancellor At Ravold
Larger size black and tan of different type but also of super quality. Commands attention on the move where he holds a lovely outline and strides out steadily with confidence. Pleasing to go over on the table with appealing, masculine head and expression, good reach of neck, well laid shoulders and pleasing overall body shape. Slightly more moderate hind angulation than 1st. That and his larger size was why I placed him 2nd.
3rd McNaughton’s Ch. Cedavoch Struuann
Special Beginners Dog or Bitch (1)
1st Ratsey-Woodroffe & Rippon’s From Eversden Dachs Heart of Gold for Preziosa
This shaded red Bulgarian import is of European type, being smaller, finer-boned and more compact with good ground clearance. He has a level topline which he held on the move and is completely parallel in fore and hind action coming and going. Well handled to get the best from him.
Puppy Bitch (2, 1 abs)
1st Rycroft’s Chidax Sahara Sand By Trisensara
Shaded red with pleasing head and expression. Moderately angulated in fore and hindquarters. Slightly narrow all through. Moved freely in profile, but is running up slightly at the moment which can happen with puppy bitches of this age. Hind movement is erratic going away which can also be a consequence of her young age.
Junior Bitch (5)
This class presented me with a real headache as all bar my 1st place bitch were showing nervous behaviour on the table and I had to discount a couple of bitches that appealed on the first circuit of the ring.
1st Higgins’ Empetthounds Galatians To Leveliss
Ultra-confident, happy-go-lucky dark chocolate presented in gleaming condition. Stood rock solid on the table and moved out freely with confidence round the ring. Feminine head with pleasing expression, good reach of neck running into well placed shoulders. Well sprung ribs and flowing underline. Would prefer slightly more hind angulation.
2nd Stark’s Gobannium Made Of Honour
Larger, longer red with a bad false pregnancy at the moment. Attractive head, good length of neck, well placed shoulders, good topline. Moderate hind angulation. Moved freely in profile, but needs more confidence.
3rd Ashby’s Rayol Pumpkin Pie
Post Graduate Bitch (2, 1 dismissed)
Sadly in this class one had to be dismissed from the ring for bad temperament.
1st McNaughton’s Cedavoch Lothlorien
Black and tan litter sister to my dog Reserve CC winner and is basically a feminine version of him. They are like peas in a pod. She is well boned, but retains femininity. Has a good reach of neck, well laid shoulders, good overall body shape with pleasing spring of rib and flowing underline. Well angulated hindquarters enabled her to power round the ring with ease, holding her shape in profile. Pleased to award the Reserve CC.
Limit Bitch (4, 1 abs)
1st Cox’s Bulldaxit Sooner Or Later
Correct size, feminine and elegant black and tan with a super, confident temperament. Moderately angulated at both ends. Carries herself well on the move, holding a firm topline and striding out with assurance. Sound up and back movement.
2nd Chapman-Reith’s Hayvenhund Hissy Fit
Another elegant black and tan presented in gleaming condition. She too, has a lovely temperament and is very similar to 1st, also being well constructed throughout with balanced angulation fore and aft. She is slightly longer in body than 1st and also strode out well round the ring with confidence and verve. Just carrying her tail a little bit high on the move.
3rd Stark’s Adnerbs Won Vision Of Gobannium
Open Bitch (3)
1st Williams, Moes & Stark’s Gobannium Gladys Friday
Eye-catching clear red who commands attention on the move. Beautifully constructed throughout with reachy neck, well laid shoulders and plenty of forechest. Firm, level topline and sweeping underline. Good overall body shape and spring of rib. Well angulated hindquarters complete the picture. Stands true in front and behind. Her overall quality of conformation translates into sound, powerful and ground-covering movement and accurate up and back action. Pleased to award the CC. I see she shares the same sire as my BOB and they made a well matched pair in the challenge, being of very similar type and style. The dog is slightly more compact in outline which was the deciding factor.
2nd Gentle’s Craimose Freesia
Correctly sized, compact and elegant and feminine black and tan with super conformation. Attractive head, good reach of neck flowing into well placed shoulders. She has a firm topline which she holds in stance and profile movement. Well angulated behind. Unfortunately she is currently suffering from a bad false pregnancy which marred her underline and was a little bit unsettled as a consequence.
3rd Norton’s Matzell Martinella
Veteran Bitch (1)
1st Wand’s Wanderhund California Girl
I am surprised this beautiful black and tan bitch isn’t a Champion as she is so well constructed, has a super, confident temperament and is completely sound with fantastic parallel up and back action. She holds her shape well in profile movement and strides out with verve and freedom. One of several of my winners sired by Ch./Am. Ch. Brownwood’s Best Gift V Diagram, who is obviously proving his worth as a stud dog. Close up in the challenge. Best Veteran in Breed.
SUE SEATH (Judge)
