The Scottish Kennel Club 2011

Dachshund (Smooth-Haired)

DACHSHUND - SMOOTH HAIRED

This variety at one time  was probably the hardest to gain any success, such was the strength and depth  of quality, with its wealth of dedicated talented breeders who constantly  produced top flight smooths' who could always compete at Group level and take  Best in Show awards. I personally feel those days have long gone, I feel that  the smooth Dachshund has somewhat lost its way and the faults I found in  today's entry are worrying.  Heads of  all shape and sizes, i.e. short narrow forefaces, apple heads with fruit bat  eyes! Goose stepping in front movement, some exhibits today, actually in  profile, were square and hocks are getting far too long, resulting in exhibits  standing cow hocked. I base these observations on today's entry. Despite this I  was happy with my class winners and my major awards.

PD (1) 1 Hunt,  Cwmdarhian Hogans Hero at Carpaccio B/T. Quality youngster with plenty of potential.  The best of heads, true conical shape which has excellent balance with strength  in jaw, excellent eye and expression, correct in front assembly, shoulders  good, spot on in top line, very well ribbed, good under line, excellent  quarters with a well angulated stifle, hocks ok. On the stack he has a super  outline, on the move he is correct but does need to strengthen up. This should  come with maturity. As usual from this stable he was presented in super coat  and condition. In the line up I was thoughtful of his youthfulness but for over  all breed type he ticked a lot of boxes. BPIB and the RCC. One lucky owner to  have acquired this exhibit from Wales!

JD (2,1) 1 Tite, Rijobeau Hot On  Ya Heels B/T. Has plenty to admire and ticks lots of boxes. Excels in head  qualities which is masculine and of the correct shape. Good eye and expression,  lovely arch in neck, clean in shoulder.   Kept his elbows in, correct in ribbing which has depth and is carried  well back. Keeps a good top line with a correct underline.  Some may say he is a full measure, well up  to size. He moved with attitude on the out and back, however did carry his tail  too high which spoiled his outline on the ago around. This for me was what  prevented him going any further. Will have fans I'm sure, presented in  excellent condition.

PGD (3,1) 1 Gatherall-Graham, Phaeland Screw  Driver, red. Love to know what the thinking behind this name means? Top draw  individual, most handsome in outlook, loved his well balanced head of true  conical shape, excellent eye and expression. Scores in front assembly, super  ribs, level top line with a good under line. Excellent bone with correct  feet.  His rear angles are to die  for.  Excellent hammy quarters which  lead to strong parallel hocks. On the stack his outline is "A1". On the move he  is so precise, just felt that if he was allowed to go up another gear his true  potential would be for all to see. I found him exciting nevertheless.  CC today, hope he does not have to wait to  long for his rightful crown! 2 Norton, Matzell Man of the Moment, red. Liked  this exhibit for over all breed type. Masculine well shaped head, excellent in  front assembly, strength in neck, very good length in rib, level firm top line.  When stood looked superb however not the front extension as the winner and also  could be more positive behind.   Presented in excellent condition.

LD (2,1) 1 MacDonald, Bensarka  Phoenix Sun, red, who has plenty to admire, however I would prefer better  balance in head and a better expression. Having said that standing alone he had  nothing to beat! He does impress in neck and forequarters and his general  outline is very good.  He is well ribbed  with a good underline, his top line is good which in turn leads to a well  angulated rear. His bone and feet are also good. Moving he held his outline but  could be firmer in hock going away.

OD (3,1) 1 Hunt, Ch Lauralee Living  Daylights at Carpaccio. Worthy champion with plenty to admire. Excellent head  qualities, so well balanced of the correct conical shape.  Good eye giving off a noble expression,  super neck and fore chest.  Very good  ribbing which is carried well back. Firm in top line with a good underline. He  is sound on the out and back and holds himself well on the go around. However  for the full package would prefer better feet. Presented in excellent condition  as usual from this exhibitor. 2 Tite, Ch Rijobeau Caught Red Handed red.  Yet another worthy title holder. Correct in  head of good balance and conical shape, very good eye and expression, neck good  but found him to be slightly over muscled in his shoulder which in turn  detracts from his outline. Topline level and well ribbed, quarters well  angulated, correct in bone and feet.   Would prefer more positive rear action but did hold a good outline on  the go around.

PB (2,1) 1 Dalgety, Thundergay Bebop A Lula. Attending  her first show and coping well with the weather conditions.  Sweet feminine head of correct conical  shape. Lovely eye and expression. Good general outline, top line ok with a good  under line. She has good bone with neat compact feet. Moved out correctly for  one so young. With normal progress should do well.

JB (4,1) 1 Tite,  Rijobeau Done N Dusted B/T. Litter sister to junior dog winner. Over all  picture she has quality and ticks lots of boxes.  Excellent shape in head with a good eye and expression. Scores in  neck and fore quarters, excellent ribbing with a good underline. She has  quality in bone with the best of feet. However for a bitch I thought she was  well up to size.  Hopefully she will  refine down in time. Moving she is sound and has excellent attitude, this  however resulted in her being a little too proud of her tail. Presented in  stunning coat and condition.  I do  however suspect she will reach the top. 2 Bennett, Hacienda Outrages Fortune  (Imp Mal) red.  Pretty exhibit, head  needs more development, neck and fore quarter ok.  Body outline ok does need too mature, moved positively on the out  and back, well presented. 3 Dalgety, Thundergay Delta Dawn.

PGB (3,1) 1  Gatheral-Graham, Phaeland Special Duty, red.   Litter sister to postgraduate Dog winner.  Ticks lots of boxes, head ok, neck and forequarters excellent.  Good over all body length, excellent bone and feet. She is well ribbed, top  line and tail set good. Today however carrying too much weight. Moved technically  correct. 2 Dent, Phaeland Starla Dancer, red.   Again has some good breed points. Head ok with a good eye, correct oval  front, good ribbing which is carried well back. Quality in bone with good feet.  Moved out soundly both ways and was presented in good coat and condition.

LB (4,1) Good class to judge. 1 Henningsen, Bensarka Sunkissed Sky, red. I have to  hold up my hands up here at this point and say I am not a fan of the American  influence that this variety has been subjected too. It's the disruption in  heads that really concerns me, but to be fair they have had a good influence in  other departments! If you want to throw   superlatives at an exhibit here she is. This exhibit however breaks the  mould. Stunning I thought when she entered the ring and I was not disappointed.  On inspection copy book head, eye and expression, fabulous neck, shoulders and  fore chest. Excellent ribbing with good body length. Her general outline is to  die for.  She has quality in bone with  the best of feet. It's her free flowing movement that put the issue to rest for  me along with positive rear parallel drive and good forward extension holding a  super outline on the go around. I dare say dear "Alf" would be proud of this  one. Presented in gleaming coat and condition.   CC and BoB.  Surely will wear her  crown in the nature future. Good luck. 2 Turner, Marictur Moulin Rouge, red.  Over all body proportions ok but not the head qualities of the winner.  Good in rib and top line with a well  angulated rear. Used herself fairly well on the out and back. Presented in ok  order. 3 Tite, Rijobeau Innit to Winnit at Cwmdarhian.

OB (8,1) So many  different types here all with different claims. 1 MacDonald, Am Ch Hampdach  Classic Gold at Besarka. Yet another red! Plenty to admire about this individual  and very much an eye catcher. Feminine head of good balance, excellent eye and  expression. Well developed for chest with good front angles, correct top line  and underline, ribs are carried well back. On the stack she gives off a good  profile and used herself to good advantage on the out and back showing positive  rear drive and forward reach. Luck owner to have two very nice bitches. RCC. 2  Norton, Ch Matzell Mildred, red. Has all the attributes of the winner, correct  in head which is of the correct conical shape.   Lovely eye and expression, good reach in neck, very good length in rib,  correct in bone with neat feet. Held her outline at all times showing positive  rear drive. Presented in excellent condition and well handled to gain maximum  output. A worthy "Ch" indeed. 3 Hunt, Ch Lauralee Miss Chokkey Wokey at  Carpaccio.

    Martin Sanders