Standard Smooth Dachshunds – WKC 2024
It’s a highlight of the show calendar coming to Builth Wells, and I was looking forward to judging the Smooths. They are the definitive Dachshund variety and what you see is what you get. The Breed Standard now specifies a requirement for not less than 25% ground clearance when measured from the withers. I was looking for dogs that did not have excessively short legs and too deep a chest. The Breed Standard also describes them as requiring a “compact well-muscled body”. Inevitability, in some classes, I had to compromise on my expectations. Temperaments were, generally, not too bad but it cannot be a kindness to show dogs who are clearly not enjoying the showing experience or those that must be held in a vice-like grip in order to stand on the table. My 2 top-winning males were of very different types, both of which have merit. My 2 top-winning bitches were much more similar in type, and I really appreciated their correct size and lovely outlines. Finally, I would like to thank those very sporting exhibitors who generously applauded the winning dogs.
MPD (1 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: HALSALL, Mrs J & HUGHES, Mrs Paula Scipsar Just Give Me A Reason
Red brindle dog with a good amount of ground clearance and he had very good length of ribbing. Tight, bunchy feet. Slightly fine in the head but the correct conical shape with good ear set. Lovely reach of neck. Held his topline at all times. He was parallel going away from me. A very promising youngster.
PD (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: HINWOOD, Mrs Melanie Longmel Courvoissier Truffle
Handsome red dog with correct proportions. Not too heavily built. Good amount of forechest and ground clearance. Conical shaped head with reasonably dark pigment and eye. Tight bunchy feet. Tidy underline, not cut up at all. Held his topline in profile movement and moved parallel going away from me. More confident than 3.
2nd: HALSALL, Mrs J & HUGHES, Mrs Paula Scipsar Just Give Me A Reason
3rd: HEELS, Miss Kerry Daxanory Menacing Awesome
JD (3 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: 2152 WYETH, Mrs Jackie Rayol Texas Rangers
Red dog who was rather nervous on the table. Larger and longer-bodied type. Super front construction and he moved absolutely true coming towards me. Good reach of neck. Would prefer more length of ribbing. Very long in the lower thigh so he was moving slightly tucked under in profile movement.
PGD (4 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: JONES, Mrs & Miss Brenda & Candice Cwmdarhian San Amtonio At Adnerb Impressive red dog with good overall type and balance. A little long in the lower thigh for my liking. Adequate amount of ground clearance. Good reach of neck and super head. Lovely front construction with layback of shoulder and tightly fitting elbows. Moved parallel coming towards me. Tidy underline; not cut up.
2nd: CHAPMAN-REITH, Mrs H A Hayvenhund Hunky Dory
Slightly more compact type than 1 and didn’t have as firm a topline. He also moved slightly closer behind moving away from me. A really happy dog, clearly enjoying his day out! Lovely head shape and proportions with a Roman nose. Good reach of neck. Not over-exaggerated in the forechest but slightly short in the keel which spoilt his underline.
3rd: MCNAUGHTON, Ms Lesley Cedavoch Calenhad
LD (5 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: RYCROFT, Mrs S Jacksondax Hornet Hurrah At Trisensara JW
Compact black and tan dog with good amount of ground clearance. Correct size. Lovely type and well presented. Tightly fitting elbows and good layback of shoulder. Good reach your neck. Held a firm topline at all times. Moved out really well in profile and he is not over-angulated behind. Another very happy, outgoing and confident dog. Pleased to award him RCC (his 3rd) and he’s up against some strong competition in the males.
2nd: HUNT, Mr J E Carpaccio Red Knight
Red boy with a really prominent forechest. Good reach of neck. Slightly loose in the right elbow. Tidy underline and his ribbing comes well back. Not quite as bold and outgoing which is why he was placed behind 1. Overall, another quality dog with the correct proportions and size.
3rd: JONES, Miss Teigan Abigail & MOES, Mr Christopher Cwmdarhian Gordon Ramsay
OD (5 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: WILLIAMS, Mrs R & MOES, Mr C J Ch Cwmdarhian Super Mario
Handsome red dog who really moves out with so much more elegance than many of the others. He was lapping the ring well ahead of them. Correct 2:1 proportions. Reachy neck. Not over-exaggerated in the forechest. Lovely topline held at all times. He is slightly longer in the lower thigh than I would prefer. Really good feet. Neat, tidy underline. Dog CC.
2nd: ARMSTRONG, Mr Morris & ARMSTRONG, Mrs Judith Lauralee St’marks Basilica
Another lovely red boy who was slightly deeper in the chest than 1. Topline well held at all times. Tidy underline and ribbing comes well back. Really good bunchy feet. Slightly more compact type than 3.
3rd: GRAHAM, Mrs S L A Marvale Chancellor At Ravold JW
SBD (1 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: WILLOCK, Miss Gabriella Raajput’s Cosmic Flower
I really liked this compact black and tan boy. Really lovely type and handled so well. Super masculine head. Good front construction with nice tight fitting elbows. A little short in the keel. Moved absolutely parallel going away from me and held his topline at all times. Not too big. I just wish he’d been a little bit bolder on the table but a really good type and he was in contention for the RCC.
VB (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: WAND, Mrs Victoria & WAND, Mr Bryan Wanderhund California Girl
Black and tan. 7 years old. Really good, bunchy feet. Tidy underline but could do with a bit more ground clearance. Not over-exaggerated in the forechest. Reasonable reach of neck. Stronger head than the second one. Good length of ribbing and, understandably for an oldie, not such a firm topline.
2nd: HINWOOD, Mrs Melanie Longmel Special Truffle
Red girl of more compact type and not such good front construction as 1, being slightly loose in the elbow. Held a firm topline in profile and has a lovely, neat underline, with no cut-up.
PB (3 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: RYCROFT, Mrs S Chidax Sahara Sand By Trisensara
Red bitch with good amount of ground clearance. Good forechest; not overdone. Lovely reach of neck. Tidy underline but runs up slightly behind and could do with a bit more bend of stifle. Good feet. Very happy outgoing little girl. Best Puppy.
2nd: HINWOOD, Mrs Melanie Longmel After Eight Truffle
Black and tan girl who was slightly out of coat. More prominent forechest and a slightly longer type than 1. Running up slightly behind in profile movement. Preferred her hind angulation to 1 as she has more bend of stifle.
JB (5 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: HIGGINS, Mr P Empetthounds Galatians To Leveliss
Chocolate and tan bitch with dark pigment, who is a more compact type with good amount of ground clearance. Good forechest running into a tidy underline. Well laid back shoulder and good length of upper arm. Would prefer slightly more bend of stifle. Confident on the table.
2nd: STARK, Mr Md & Mrs Ta Gobannium Made Of Honour JW
Red of slightly longer type, deeper in the body, and not so firm in the topline as 1. Good amount of forechest. Reachy neck with lovely head carriage and shape. Moved well in profile. Front construction put her ahead of 3.
3rd: ASHBY, Miss Elizabeth Rayol Pumpkin Pie
PGB (4 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: GENTLE, Mr & Mrs D & D Craimose Freesia
Black and tan compact bitch of correct size. Super front construction with good layback of shoulder. More ground clearance than 2. Keel could do with going back a little bit further which would improve her underline. Well angulated behind but not overdone. Moved parallel going away from me and very true coming towards me, holding a firm topline in profile.
2nd: MCNAUGHTON, Ms Lesley Cedavoch Lothlorien
Slightly longer type with acceptable ground clearance and a very tidy underline. More angulated behind than 1 with a longer lower thigh. Correct topline on the move in profile. Really super front construction with well laid back shoulder and good length of upper arm.
3rd: CHAPMAN-REITH, Mrs H A Hayvenhund Hissy Fit
LB (6 Entries) Abs: 3
1st: COX, Mrs Jose & COX, Mr Graham Bulldaxit Sooner Or Later
Black and tan bitch of correct size and lovely proportions with a good amount of ground clearance. Nothing overdone and presented in fit, muscled condition. Happy, outgoing temperament and clearly confident on the table and moving, particularly in the challenge. Good front reach and I would prefer a little bit more bend of stifle but she was still parallel going away. Not overdone in forechest. Lovely dark eye set in a good conical shaped head. Preferred her width coming towards me compared with 2. RCC.
2nd: ROBERTS, Mrs E & SMITH, Miss C Craimose Aquilegia For Rayol
This bitch was softer in the topline and a bit milky in the underline. Deeper body throughout. Another very happy, outgoing girl who was wagging her tail all the time. She had more bend of stifle than 1 and went really parallel going away from me.
3rd: 2134 LUCAS, Mrs T Tramardachs Booty Licious
OB (6 Entries) Abs: 3
This was a really strong class and any of them could have swapped places on a different day.
1st: REYNOLDS, Ms Caroline Ir Ch Glenariff Yes Ma’am
My winner was a beautifully presented black and tan who is so elegant and eye-catching. Lovely feet. Super front construction with well laid back shoulder and tightly fitting elbows. Not overdone in the forechest which runs into a really tidy underline. A joy to watch in profile movement with good front reach. I awarded her a Best in Show in Ireland in 2023 under FCI Rules and it was a pleasure to award her first UK CC and BOB. I thought she looked great in the Group competition.
2nd: HANNEY-MITCHELL, Mrs F Ch Bronia Solar Flare
Red bitch with slightly more length of lower thigh and a little bit deeper in the forechest than 1. She has a really good head, held on an elegant neck. Neat, well-angulated front and tightly fitting elbows. Held her firm topline at all times in profile movement.
3rd: WILLIAMS, Mrs R & MOES, Mr C J & STARK, Mrs T & ST Gobannium Gladys Friday
Ian J Seath (Judge)
