Crufts (Ch - 10/03/2018)

View Critique

Judges can email German Spitz show reports/critiques (down to however many placings they wish) for inclusion on this site by clicking here
Please include name and date of show

Critique

I was delighted to be asked to do this breed at this event, they are one of my favourites and I was very flattered by the excellent entry. I found this size slightly more difficult than the Kleins, perhaps because there does seem to be a split in type, many have a truly typical head and then there are a fair proportion of others that seem to have a somewhat longer muzzle and narrower skull which does not have the same appeal for me. Those that goose stepped were penalised where I could. Temperaments and overall presentation were very good.
VD (4) 1 Wilson's Nickila Silver Sovereign. Super coated Black/Tan of 7 years. Masculine in head with good eyes and ears. Decent front construction, well boned and has good shaped feet. Level topline, well set tail and moved nicely. Rather stylish. 2 Garbutt's Nixtev Polarize. This almost 8 years old cream was also good on the move. Pleasing in head with good bone but feet not quite as nice as the winners. Well made in body and high set tail. 3 Lord's Ch Nixtev Phoenix AW(G).
PD (4) 1 Saich's Lindcoly The One An Only. Very well made particolour with a lovely head which has to be viewed closely as his mask disguises his nice muzzle shape. Good width of skull and neat ears. Pleasing in front and well developed in body with a good tailset. Moved very well in both directions. BP. 2 Garbutt's Nextev Zeventis. Well grown black, which is a month younger than one, at 10 months. In excellent coat and pleasing in head. Stands on well boned legs and good feet. Nice level topline and well carried tail. Moved out ok. 3 Mountain's Hocombewood Jailhouse Roc.
JD (5) 1 Saich's Lindcoly The One An Only. 2 King's Gronw October Moon Of Grizwold. At 17 months he is well developed and masculine in the head with lovely muzzle shape and correct skull. His ears may be a tad big though. Well laid shoulders with correct angulation, super bone, level in top line and tail is high set and well feathered. Moved nicely in both directions. 3 Henry's Musique Zirkon.
PGD (4) 1 Rogerson & Mulholland's Fisherbloo Black Shaman With Nosregor. Beautifully presented quality dark coloured coat of correct texture. Nice type head with excellent pigmentation and correct eyes. Super shoulder and upper arm angulation, well sprung in ribbing and has level topline and good tailset. Excellent legs and feet and moved really well in both directions. 2 Heslop's Flamuna Zetes. Jet black coat of nice quality with a nice outlook but I found his stop a little steep. Bodily he is nicely made and he has good bone. Tailset could be a bit higher. Moved satisfactorily. 3 Bridle's Sirchray Ampel Time.
LD (5, 1) 1 Hewett's Spellcast Talk Tidee. 2 Heslop's Flamuna Arktouros. It was splitting hairs to separate these two which is rather surprising as they do not come from the same lines. My notes say almost identical just second is slightly longer in muzzle. Good heads, pigmentation, ears and neck. Toplines, ribbing, tailsets and legs and feet all good. Nice depth of body and lovely temperament on each. Both moved out in typical fashion covering the ground easily. They would undoubtedly change places on a regular basis. 3 Caldow's Flynn's Fly'ing Scotsman Over Livlandean.
OD (14, 2) This was an impressive class but the winner stood out both for quality and type. Just had to be admired and I considered him the most typical Mittel I have seen in a long while. 1 Garrein's Multi Ch Lotus A Little Grey Cloud Lux JCh B JCh. When he came into the lineup I thought he would be the one if I found all the right things on examination and he did not disappoint. Attractive sable colouring in full correct texture jacket which stood off in proper fashion. Lovely head with perfect mouth, dark eyes and small ears well set on his lovely skull of correct shape. Beautifully constructed with best of fronts, good ribbing and strong adequately angulated hindquarters. He stood on lovely legs and feet and on the move did all the right things, no deviations from the norm and was extremely stylish. CC & BOB. 2 Cook, Clayton & Clayton's Ch Studholme Moon Orbit. Another super exhibit in beautifully marked quality jacket which was well presented. Loved his head and style. Well made throughout but not quite as positive in front as the winner. Certainly deserved his place here in this very strong class. 3 O'Leary's Ch Ir Int Ch Amoyalois Rufus For Cadasaro Jun Ch.
GCD (3) 1 King's Ch Grizwold Loki. This bright red boy has won a CC from me before and he fills my eye for breed type and balance. Well made and shows beautifully. He has a lovely head, perfect mouth, well shaped eyes and neat ears. Good neck, ribbing and tail set. Stands very square and moves out correctly in both directions. Supreme showdog. Res CC. 2 Wilson's Nickila Silver Sovereign. The winning veteran. 3 Lord's Ch Nixtev Phoenix AW(G).
VB (5, 2) 1 King's Druitz Cariad Bach Of Grizwold ShCM. 8 years old bright red which is coming back into a full coat. This girl has been before me previously and I liked her on that occasion. She stands square, uses her neck to advantage and has a lovely head with good eyes, well set ears and great pigmentation. Forequarters are lovely and she is well ribbed in both depth and length. High carried tail and moving beautifully. 2 Moir's Ch Nixtev Liberty At Jansanleis. At almost 12 this one is still full of herself. Maybe a shade on the fine side but oozes quality. Good mouth, darkest of eyes and shapely in the body. Beautifully presented full jacket. Moved nicely. 3 Saich's Ichmoran Primrose Polka.
PB (2) 1 Chapman's Clarmers Little Banshee With Kitsune. Well grown black in good coat, ten months and developing nicely in body and has a really good front. Liked her head and ear set. Well set tail, stands on good legs and feet and was efficiently handled by her young handler. Once she relaxed the dog went nicely. 2 Roberts' Bullbo Star Attraction At Cwrtafon. This one did not please quite as much in the head. She has a balanced outline and high set tail but as she is carrying a bit too much weight her front movement was spoilt, ok at the rear.
JB (3) 1 Williams & Williams' Dulais Moonlight Over Paris At Trebettyn. A lot to like about this one, smart in outline, good head with best of pigmentation. Nice depth to body and good legs and feet. Short coupled and with high set tail. She moved better going away than coming. 2 Drechsler's Longsdale's New Addition. At just over the year old she has time to put on a bit more length of leg which would benefit her overall outline. Very pleasing head type, nice bone and feet and level topline with decent tailset. Not too positive on the move today. 3 Taylor's Clarmers Mischief Managed Under Tispitza.
PGB (8, 2) 1 Rolleston & Hall's Kelham Love Is In The Air. Well presented full coat of good quality. Extremely swift on the move which made it quite hard to assess her action but it did improve as she settled down. She seemed to lack expression but this is not saying her head is not correct. Well sprung in ribbing and correct body shape supported on nice legs and feet. 2 Mountain's Hocombewood Touch Of Mink. This one was a real fidget but I liked her for type. Nicely made throughout and moved ok but when standing was inclined to be a bit untidy in front. 3 Purves' Bulabs Blonde Lady.
LB (6, 2) 1 Andrew's Dagsljus Against All Odds At Claran (Imp). What a showgirl. Lovely type with the best of heads, good bite, dark eyes and ears set in the correct place. Lovely legs and feet with good angulation, excellent tailset and well developed in the body. Moved very well indeed and was pleased to award her the CC. 2 Thomas' CLarmers Talking Mischief With Kelmore-Spitz Lux Jr Ch BJWLU-17. I liked this one very much too, she is still very young and needs to drop in the body and then surely she is going to trouble the best. Beautifully made all round, lovely head, bone and ribbing and moved really well, pushed quite hard for the Res CC. 3 Purves' Bulabs Leading Lady.
OB (9, 3) 1 Moir's Ch Jansanleis Envy JW. Very pretty cream and sound as a bell. Good head, shoulders, topline and excellent well feathered tail. Still under two and has a bit more maturing to do but she stands square and moves the same. I know that the breed has to be lively but I found this one's enthusiasm a bit over the top. Res CC. 2 Garrein's Lux Ch Our Dream Fiona A Little Grey Cloud JCh B, JCh BNL, JCh LUX (ATC AU00438BEL). Another lovely exhibit from the same kennel as the BOB. Great for type, moved really well and very nicely made in every way. Stands over just a tad more ground than I would like and her feet could be tighter. 3 O'Leary's Ir Ch Utopia Aus Dem Norden At Cadasaro (Jun Ch).
GCB (2, 1) 1 Hughes & King's Zephon Akane. Another nice sound b of quality type. Coming up six years old and has a pleasing head with good muzzle to skull ratios but could have smaller ears. Liked her balanced outline and well set tail. She moved really nicely in both directions. Well presented.
Mrs S. L. Jakeman