WELKS (Ch - 28/04/2006)

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Critique

KLEIN Rather than put in a litany of things I found in particular dogs, I will try and summarise them. The last time I judged, some reading my report wanted me to spell out exactly what was wrong with some dogs and their particular features. That is not my job! If you want to consider a dog as a potential stud for your bitch, check them out yourself! Now, only two pushed up the measure, but I wished I had brought along my minimum measure with me as well, because I think there were two that would have been hard pressed to meet the minimum measure. The standard also calls for ‘good bone’ and in the quite a few, the type and quality of bone wasn’t up to the standard I was looking for…. far too fine in bone. The usual problems with shoulder placement are still with us, but you will find that in any breed these days, unfortunately. Please, please please consider your dog’s overall health and fitness when selecting your potential breeders for the future. I found not only too many dogs with bone too fine, but also patella that slipped in and out, when I re-set some dogs on the table. Some of you may have noticed the subsequent action, so I will say no more.

The German Spitz club used to have a recommendation for breeders at that time (back in late 1980s), which had to do with the testing for slipping patella on all breeding stock. I do hope you consider this as it affects not only your dogs’ chances at winning, but also the innate health of it and its offspring. Mouths still are a problem, and I was rather surprised to find specimens that I had judged previously, having a bite change or tooth displacement. I tried as much as possible to consider breed type and soundness. If bites are changing, then it needs any breeder to be aware of it and to try to breed away from it. Head patterns were all over the place. It was difficult at times to find the true spitz wedge shaped head.

Some had muzzles that were far too short and either too snipey or too broad, so that the flow from skull to muzzle was too abrupt or not enough. Heads veering towards the Pom style head are still in abundance, not surprising, given the genetic history of the breed. Ear set needs to be watched, too many with ears set at “10 to 2”. This spoils the expression. Coats were actually quite good, feet fairly even across the board. Tail sets ranged from excellent to low set, but I was surprised at the increasing number of lower set tails. The tail set can be spotted literally at birth, so do keep this in mind. Body development: well by know people know how much I prize a good body with ribs well back and a short strong loin. I did find quite a few, but the shelly, thin, slab sided bodies were also in too much evidence. Coats are not the be all and end all of this breed, and should not disguise any lack of body. You can breed a better coat, but if you ignore what is under it, you do so at both your own and the breed’s peril! Thank you for the sporting manner in which the awards were accepted by the ringside.

PD (4,1). 1 Flacten Domino, Metcalfe. 9 month, most typical in class for outline, substance, proportions of body length to height; good bone, coat is coming along well; ears and tail well set. Best Puppy. 2 Oberitz Dolofor All Wissend, Holmes. 10 month old, has many positive virtues, chiefly construction, expression from correct spitz head, eyes, and ear set., as well as excellent coat texture. Unfortunately is decidedly rectangular in shape and was not happy to be showing at all, so did not exhibit the usual Spitz happy spirit. 3 Biddle Double Top, Reynolds.

JD (4). 1 Lusam Davey Dingle At Ulmarra, Stannard. 16 month with preferred front construction, excellent head and expression with desired proportions and shape to skull and muzzle, dark oval eyes set slightly on the oblique, excellent ear set, body still needs time, but has level topline, compact square body and Excellent tail set. Excellent gait in all directions. One to watch for in the next 12 months when he matures. RCC. 2 Tymy Tymajusting, Serman. 14 month old with fairly square outline is a tad longer in loin than class winner and not his forehand either. Excellent head and expression, well set ears, dark oval eyes, not as positive in action as class winner. 3 Desaria Skylark Mit Dunbrook, Parden.

PGD (5). This class was difficult due to the many problems encountered in upright shoulders, too far forward placement of the shoulders, very short ribs coupled with too long loin. Some of us do go under the coat, so one can’t always rely on what one sees. 1 Runfold Kestrel At Sheldamar, Penwarne. 20 month with attractive outline, spitz expression, correct pigmentation for chocolate coat colour. Excellent coat texture and tail set. Good bone and moves ok. 2 Desaria Skylark Mit Dunbrook, Parden, was 3rd in junior class, really strides out with pleasing side gait, has attractive head attributes but would like more oval eyes and slightly longer muzzle. Excellent bone and coat and well ribbed back. 3 Kismet The Maestro, Morgan.

LD (4). 1 Chilite Smokin Joe, Hawker. Excellent construction and body on this boy with wonderful bone, body and muscle, and movement. Correct topline and coat, very good head and expression. Eyes are dark but could be more oval, and I would like to have ears a bit higher set. Pressed for top awards, but not as compact and square as the chief winners. 2 Lusam Tuff Talkin, Trendle. Not the head or expression of the class winner, but when you get behind the head, you have an excellent specimen of the breed to go over. Correct shoulder layback with good length of upper arm, ribs well sprung and well ribbed back, short strong loin, good coat, excellent movement and presents overall a good outline. 3 Tymy Tic Toc, Serman.

OD (4,1). 1 Ch Wychlea Ludo At Stonelight, Kimber & Bridgen. 2 year old black male that shouts quality from every which way you look at him. Has such a typical masculine spitz head with excellent eyes and ears, neck, topline. Profuse coat would like it a shade harsher to be nitpicky, but presented in gleaming condition so that the sun almost reflected off his coat. Excellent topline, tail set, bone and feet. Moves out steadily and non-stop shower. Excellent specimen, DCC/BOB with no hesitation. 2 Terelatim Windy Miller, Allison. The last time I judged, I awarded him the dog RCC. This 4 year old sable excels in his forehand and front construction, body shape, short strong loin, very good tail set, excellent legs and feet. Not the balance in muzzle length to skull length of the class winner, and unfortunately for him, his owner was not able to handle him in the ring and so he persisted in playing up for his handler, a pity. 3 Ricky Vom Chandrapura At Orion (IMP), Wright.

PB (5). 1 Goldritz Sleepflower, Cook. 10 month old girl with feminine expression, excellent pigmentation, dark eyes, small ears but are a shade wide set. Has a profuse coat that is a bit soft in texture, hope this will alter as she matures. Not the forehand or body shape of number two, but gave a far better account of herself in her movement around the ring. Excellent tail. 2 Wychlea Ursula Brown, Bradbury. Excellent quality, but she decided to play up today and enjoy her self on the grass. Excellent expression, high set ears, excellent forehand and body shape. Needs time to come together. 3 Stormavon Shine On Me, Storm.

JB (5,1). 1 Stonelight Octavia, Kimber & Bridgen. 16 month old with very feminine expression, darkest of pigmentation, excellent eye shape and small ears well set on. Good body but needs more time to develop. Profuse coat again a shade soft. Level topline, excellent tail. Outgoing bouncy spitz type personality guarantees a good showing all round. 2 Wychlea Ursula Brown, Bradbury. 3 Lusam Love In The Mist, Morgan.

PGB (5). I found this class another real challenge with decidedly domed skulls, mouth problems as well as poor stifles and incorrect body lengths. 1 Orion Chocolate Brownie Of Terelatim, Allison. 2 year chocolate with best conformation and outline in the class. Bright alert spitz expression and attitude, coupled with a square outline. Eyes correct colour for coat colour but are a shade bold. Very good body, excellent tail set, when she settled to the job at hand, moved well. 2 Oberitz Fiery Fox, Holmes. What I call an honest bitch. Is decidedly rectangular in shape, but has a feminine expression, excellent eye for shape and colour. Ears could be higher set and used, but this may be due to the bitch not really showing herself off to much of an advantage. Tail set could be higher. 3 Breuddwydni Witchcraft, Pontin.

LB (5,1). 1 Rimazet Zephyr, Temple. 3 year old black with excellent body, feminine bright expression, but eyes could be darker. Ears small and well set. Very well angulated in rear with excellent bone and feet. Coat is a shade soft. 2 Chilite Savannah, Hawker. Excellent conformation as I would expect from this kennel. Good expression but her ear set does spoil the overall effect. She did not want to even be in the ring, I suspect, as she just tried to close her eyes and ignore us all, with no improvement forthcoming from her owner’s cajoling, a pity. Excellent body shape and superb muscling. Very good rear and side gait. Would like to see her when she decides to show herself off, I am sure a totally different picture would emerge. 3 Hasweth Shady Lady At Kylecroft, Breen.

OB (8,3). 1 Ch Stormavon Spirit In The Sky JW, Storm. Intense high quality bitch with very feminine head and expression. Excellent pigmentation, a lovely small ears well set complete the picture along with dark eyes. Very good body shape, excellent strong short loin, level topline, excellent rear angulation, and this showed in her true rear gait. Bitch CC. Would like a slightly more spitz type head and this was one of the deciding factors in the challenge for BOB. 2 Wychlea Aimy Vooh, Bradbury. Black youngster who is littermate of BOB. Many of same qualities of brother. Free moving with excellent tail set. True spitz head expression, excellent neck, clean shoulders, very good bone, legs and feet. Overall what I was looking for just needs more time for body and coat. RCC. 3 Dunbrook Bedazzled, Parden.

  Mary Deats