Welsh Kennel Club Championship Show – 16/8/24 Wirehaired Dachshunds
It is 8 years since I last judged Wires, so all the dogs were new to me and it was interesting to be able to compare them with the 2 other standard varieties I had judged the week before at Bournemouth. I was delighted with the number I had entered, as it was a weekday show in the middle of Wales. Thank you for bringing your lovely dogs for me to evaluate. As always, type and quality are very varied in this variety. There are big ones, small ones, long ones, shorter ones, low ones and taller ones. This makes judging with any consistency difficult, however, it is probably of benefit to the breed as a whole because in theory there are enough different types out there to choose from when breeding.
As usual in Wires, poor fronts with forward placed, upright shoulders coupled with short upper arms were much in evidence. On the plus side, there are also those that are correctly constructed in front with well laid shoulders and consequently good, prominent breastbones with correct forechest. Hindquarter construction is also a point of concern that is mentioned in the Kennel Club Breedwatch and I can certainly see why. Viewed in profile, the incorrectly made ones move under themselves with the rear pasterns almost touching the floor as they step forward. They are unable to complete their stride properly by extending behind. Viewed going away, there are lots toeing in and rolling from side to side at the hips. The breed standard states: ‘Stride should be long, with the drive coming from the hindquarters when viewed from the side. Viewed from in front or behind, the legs and feet should move parallel to each other with the distance apart being the width of the shoulder and hip joints respectively’.
Toplines were also not great, some dipping behind the shoulders and others running up behind. As other judges have mentioned in their critiques, bad mouths are a real concern in this variety and I was shocked to find so many borderline and actual level bites and horrified to come across one that has been awarded top honours that was undershot. The breed standard is unequivocal on this: ‘upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth’. This problem needs to be addressed by breeders.
On the plus side, there were plenty of correct, harsh coats, however, all the black and tans I judged had incorrect single coats with no undercoat. Temperaments on the whole were good, but there were a few edgy ones who were not entirely happy on the table and some were affected by the constant loud barking reverberating off the walls and roof in the enclosed building. Oh, to be outside on the grass as we always were at the this show until the last couple of years.
Minor Puppy Dog (1)
1st Beagrie’s Feldhund Moonlight
Wildboar with excellent texture harsh coat. Elegant overall outline with well proportioned head and alert expression. Good length neck runs into reasonable shoulders, although he could have a longer upper arm. Moderate hind angulation. At present he is running up behind, but at just 8 months, there is time for his topline to settle with maturity.
Puppy Dog (4)
1st Rowe’s Boloria Goodnight Mr Tom
Lengthy light wildboar with eye-catching profile outline and a firm, level topline which he holds well in stance and profile movement. Attractive head and expression which has immediate appeal. HIs neck flows into well laid shoulders and he has a pleasing forechest as a consequence. Well angulated hindquarters. Super, confident temperament and this shines through on the move where he strides out feely, with self-assurance. I hope his hind movement going away strengthens with maturity as he is not moving parallel behind at the moment. Best Dog Puppy.
2nd Sanders’ Knottsrose Olaf
Another self-assured pup with a super, harsh-textured coat which is beautifully presented. He is of larger size with a good amount of ground clearance and rangier outline than 1st. He is a shade straight in shoulder and short in upper arm in comparison to 1st, but he does move parallel up and back. Topline in profile needs to settle. Good bone and substance throughout.
3rd Beagrie’s Feldhund Moonlight
Junior Dog (2)
These two dogs were of totally different type and both were somewhat unsettled and edgy today. I don’t think the noisy conditions in the hall helped. A difficult class to judge.
1st Coverley’s Aventine The Poacher
Correct size, compact dark wildboar of desired 2 to 1 proportions. Well-balanced outline with lovely firm, level topline which he held in stance and profile movement. Attractive head with dark eyes and alert expression. Moderately angulated at both ends and holds his shape well on the move. Sound up and back. Just wish he had more confidence, as he greatly appealed to me for overall type and size.
2nd Pughe’s Stanegate Stefan At Bystock
Beautifully presented, harsh-coated dark wildboar with super bone and substance throughout. He is longer and lower in comparison to 1st. Strong, masculine head. Reasonable shoulder placement, but not quite standing true in front. Pronounced arch over his loin and falls away slightly over the croup which affects his hind movement in profile.
Post Graduate Dog (4)
1st Christie’s Cloudside Valentino at Decalleigh
This harsh-coated wildboar boy has improved markedly over the last month or so and has matured into a high quality exhibit. Eye-catching, balanced outline with correct length to height ratio. He has a strong, masculine head with keen expression. Correct length neck flows into very well laid shoulders and he has a good length of upper arm to match and as a consequence has plenty of forechest. Good spring of rib and overall body shape with good bone and substance throughout. Correctly angulated, unexaggerated hindquarters complete the picture. He is confident and animated on the move and strode out freely, with a ground-covering stride, holding his outline well. Pleased to award him Reserve CC.
2nd Jackson’s Elderkine Special Brew
Impressive, high quality red of slightly larger size. Sturdy, well boned boy with appealing, well proportioned head and dark eye. Has a well balanced, unexaggerated overall outline and firm topline which he holds in stance and on the move. Not quite as well angulated as 1st. Has reasonable shoulders, but would benefit from a longer upper arm. Moderate hind angulation. Moved true up and back.
3rd Matthews’ Sonham Fire Cracker
Limit Dog (5)
1st McPherson & Patterson’s Ambiesque Avant
Beautifully presented, harsh-coated dark wildboar on the smaller side of the size spectrum which accords with my own personal preference. His correct texture coat extends all the way down his legs to his feet and there is literally not a hair out of place! He is confident with a calm and steady temperament and holds his lovely well-balanced outline at all times in stance and profile movement. Elegant overall type, with well-laid shoulders, firm topline and hind angulation balances his forequarter construction. Moves true up and back.
2nd Apps’ Calicoe Just Me
Elegant, well presented light red, also with an appealing overall outline. Well proportioned head with correct shaped, dark eyes. Good reach of neck flowing into a level topline which he held in stance and profile movement. Reasonable shoulders, but would benefit from a longer upper arm. Good overall body shape. A little untidy in hind movement going away and was unsettled on the table in the noisy hall.
3rd Shaw’s Tendrow Will I Am
Open Dog (6, 1 abs)
1st Robinson & Howlett’s Skyswift Tennessee Honey
Compact, correct size, lower type light wildboar with harsh coat. Everything fitted together well with his overall conformation as he is so well-balanced and my hands just flowed over him on the table. Attractive head with an expression I am used to seeing every day as he is sired by our old chocolate boy Ch. Sunsong Whisper A Promise and I daresay, subconsciously, this is how he caught my eye as he closely fits my interpretation of the breed standard. He has well laid shoulders, good prominent breastbone, well sprung ribs and super overall body shape with correct bone and substance throughout. His quarters are well angulated with a good bend of stifle, correct set of pelvis and flow over the croup. He has short rear pasterns and stands true. He moved out proudly, with confidence, holding his shape in profile. For perfection I would like a bit more daylight underneath. Close decision between him and the Post Graduate Dog winner, but his smaller, more correct size just edged it. Pleased to award him the CC.
2nd Chambers’ Ch. Cishelvine Just A Kiss With Hototo
Easy to see why this classy, larger sized red dog of quality is a Champion. One I have admired from the ringside as he is so well put together, especially in his forequarter construction. He has textbook shoulder layback and a good length of upper arm, which consequently gives him the desired forechest with dimples either side of his breastbone. Masculine, well proportioned head, carried proudly on a good length of neck. Firm, level topline with good length and spring of rib. Moderately angulated hindquarters. Holds his outline on the move and is true up and back. Sadly, although beautifully presented, he was out of coat today.
3rd Ord & Ainsley’s Cloudside Sebastian of Marnadee
Special Beginners Dog (2)
1st Sanders’ Knottsrose Olaf
2nd in puppy dog.
2nd Russell’s Collidach Russell Leeves
Larger size red with a good coat. Sadly he has a fault I could not overlook. Attractive head with dark eyes. Good length neck, reasonable shoulders, firm topline but just rising slightly behind in stance and on the move. Toeing in slightly going away.
Veteran Bitch (1)
1st Rowe’s Ch. Boloria’s Trick Or Treat
This compact and feminine light wildboar has really come into her own since she has become a veteran. Obviously a slow maturer. Correct size and proportions. Has good bone and substance throughout, yet retains femininity. Eye-catching outline which she holds in stance and on the move. Attractive head with keen, mischievous expression. My hands flowed over her on the table as she has a high level of quality of construction . Reachy neck flows into well-laid shoulders, lovely overall body shape with good spring of rib and flow of underline. Well angulated hindquarters. She comes into her own on the move, striding out with animation and verve. Half-sister to my Best of Breed as they are both sired by Ch. Fransin Brasillian TP Panettone, who was my Best of Breed last time I judged in 2016. He was also the sire of the limit dog winner and is obviously proving his worth as a sire. Pleased to award this quality bitch Reserve CC and Best Veteran in Breed. Delighted to see she was later Veteran Group 3.
Minor Puppy Bitch (7)
All these young bitches need to settle in topline, which will hopefully happen as they mature. This made judging this well-filled class a bit of a headache as I had to make a lot of compromises to come up with a decision.
1st Howlett & Rowe’s Boloria Oh Darling
Another lovely one from this kennel and is of similar stamp. Compact, dark wildboar with excellent texture harsh coat. She had the best overall outline in this class. Attractive head with immediate appeal. Dark, well shaped eyes and keen expression. Well placed shoulders with plenty of forechest for her age. Good spring of rib and flow of underline, but as already mentioned, her topline needs to firm up. Well angulated hindquarters. Moved freely and with confidence, holding her shape quite well. Still teething at present.
2nd Dickenson’s Derdledash Skyfall At Dakotadax
Correct size, well presented light wildboar with good coat and reasonable overall outline, although at present she is running up a shade in hindquarters. Feminine head with good reach of neck. Not quite the layback of shoulder or return of upper arm of 1st and was toeing in slightly coming towards me. Kept her shape well in profile, moderate hind angulation. Needs time.
3rd Ellis’ Vixendax Make Me A Winner
Puppy Bitch (1)
1st Moore & Downes’ Romanchi Night At The Opera
Elegant dark wildboar of quality, with lovely overall outline and excellent firm, level topline which she holds in stance and profile movement. Feminine head with correctly shaped dark eyes. Lengthy neck flows into well placed shoulders. Good body shape with correct 2 to 1 proportions. HIndquarters still need to strengthen slightly. Her coat is of good texture, but just needs a bit of a tidy up. She strode out freely around the ring, holding her lovely outline. Best Puppy Bitch and her more compact overall proportions influenced my decision to award her Best Puppy in Breed over the longer-bodied dog pup.
Junior Bitch (7, 1 abs)
1st Howe’s Bramalodge Baby I’m Yours
Compact dark wildboar with what I consider to be the perfect type of coat. She has a harsh, weatherproof top coat and the harsh hair extends all the way down her legs to her feet. She also has good furnishing on her jaw which is difficult to achieve with this type of coat. This breed is meant to be suitable to work and with this type of coat they are well protected to enable them to do the job they were intended for. She has a balanced overall outline with attractive head, carried proudly on a good length neck which flows into well laid shoulders with good forechest. Good bone and substance throughout. Overall body shape is good and her hindquarters are well angulated. Super temperament which she showed by happily wagging her tail on the table examination. Covered the ground well in profile, holding her outline.
2nd McCalmont’s Silvae Kitemark
Royally bred wildboar of completely different type to 1st, having a longer body and more daylight underneath. She will be slower to reach maturity. Good coat which was beautifully presented as always from this exhibitor. Attractive head carried on reachy neck which flows seamlessly into her well laid shoulders. Rock solid, level topline. Well angulated hindquarters to complete the picture. Her action up and back was absolutely parallel, which I preferred to 1st, however, she was a little unsettled on the table and probably needs a bit more show experience to make the best of herself, so this was the deciding factor in splitting 1st from 2nd in this class.
3rd Chambers’ Hototo’s Village Gossip
Post Graduate Bitch (7, 3 abs)
1st Lucas’ Boloria Wild And Naughty
Correct size, compact light wildboar with good coat texture. Well presented. Feminine, well proportioned head with appealing expression. She had the best shoulder placement in this class, which was what clinched 1st place. Good overall body shape with well sprung ribs. Well angulated hindquarters to complete the picture. Free, exuberant mover in profile. Looks to be a bit of a handful to show!
2nd Matthews’ Sonham Twice As Nice
I just love the temperament on this animated light wildboar who is full of the joys of life. Another one who is probably a bit of a handful to try and show, but this wasn’t an issue for me as I prefer to judge the dogs on the move because this is more informative than staring at them posed, and this one can certainly move! She too, has an attractive head, carried on a good length of neck. Her shoulders aren’t quite as well laid back as 1st, so she has less forechest. This was what decided 1st and 2nd place in this class. Viewed head-on, I would just prefer straighter forelegs as she has quite a pronounced crook. Firm, level topline, retained in stance and profile movement.
3rd Hunt’s Drakkina Wirenth
Limit Bitch (8)
This well filled and hotly contested class was both a joy and a headache to judge! Lots of thinking to do while I was assessing each of these quality bitches, who could easily change places on another occasion. The first three, I consider to be of Champion quality and I hope they will all achieve their titles in the future.
1st McCalmont’s Silvae Best Kept Secret
Elegant, well presented dark wildboar with classic outline. Well proportioned head carried on lengthy neck which flows into well laid shoulder and she has a good length of upper arm. Firm, level topline which never falters in either stance or movement. Good body shape and well angulated hindquarters complete the picture. She moves freely in profile with a lengthy stride and is parallel up and back. I preferred her ground clearance which was what placed her ahead of 2nd.
2nd Hutchings’ Collidach Raynee Day
Beautiful well-boned red I have admired from the ringside so was pleased to have the opportunity to judge her. She is of totally different type to 1st being longer and lower, but is of equal quality. Attractive head with mischievous expression and lovely dark eyes. Excellent lay of shoulder and correct forechest. Built on flowing lines with pleasing body shape and spring of rib. Well angulated quarters. Another who was full of enthusiasm on the move.
3rd Moore & Dean’s Brontillow Canterbury Bell To Diefiur
Open Bitch (5)
Another hotly-contested class of quality bitches which was a pleasure to judge. Thank you for bringing them.
1st Hanney-MItchell & McCalmont’s Ch. Silvae Time After Time At Bronia
Beautifully constructed wildboar with a stunning outline, held in stance and on the move. Confident and calm demeanour and is able to be shown free-standing which indicates both correct construction and good temperament. Everything about her conformation fits together seamlessly. She has an attractive feminine head, carried proudly on a reachy neck which flows into textbook front construction with correctly placed, laid back shoulders with good return of upper arm and consequently correct forechest. Firm, level topline and correctly angulated hindquarters. Stands absolutely true in front and behind. Covers the ground with a lengthy, effortless stride in profile and has absolutely parallel up and back action, as described in the breed standard. Well presented coat of good texture. For perfection, I would prefer her to be the same size as my Dog CC winner as for me, she is a little on the larger side. Pleased to award her CC and Best of Breed.
2nd North Row & Martin’s Ir. Ch. Sail On Sailor To Full Circle
Attractive red of totally different type to 1st, being smaller and lower-stationed. She is of the correct size and is very well balanced with a lovely outline in stance. Feminine head with alert expression. Everything fitted and flowed together so well when I examined her on the table. She has very well laid shoulders and a good length of upper arm with correct forechest. Lovely overall body shape with flowing underline but is not quite as firm in topline as 1st viewed in profile on the move. Well angulated hindquarters. I would perhaps like to see her with a bit more bone for perfection as this is a sturdy, working breed.
3rd Rowe’s Ch. Boloria Nice ‘N’ Spicy
Special Beginners Bitch (2)
1st Sieminski’s Wyldetarn Genesis
I was really impressed with this quality dark wildboar with the correct 2 to 1 proportions and ideal size. She has a good texture, well presented coat, well laid shoulders and firm topline which was held on the move. Moderately angulated hindquarters.
2nd Jackson’s Hototo’s Speculator
Larger size dark wildboar with good coat. Longer in body than 1st and not quite holding her topline as well in profile movement, as she is running up slightly behind. Good bone and substance throughout with moderate angulation. Well presented and handled.
SUE SEATH (Judge)
