CRUFTS 2011
FINNISH LAPPHUNDS
Video of Crufts class winners.
Critique by Mrs T. Jackson (Elbereth)
First my thanks to the Crufts’ committee for entrusting me with the great honour of awarding the first set of Challenge Certificates in the Finnish Lapphund, a breed which has been dear to my heart for some 20 years. I was very pleased with the entry of 69, and thank you to the exhibitors for bringing your dogs. I feel I must stress a number of general points which are crucial to our breed; I was very disappointed with how few of the dogs exhibited actually demonstrated the correct expression for the breed, the breed standard says “soft and friendly”, the Finnish judges handbook stresses teddy bear like, all the head proportions are rounded and well filled, and the eyes are oval and dark brown. As I moved through the classes I actually noted in my judge’s book that I would have to forget expression and eye shape as so many of the dogs and perhaps even more of the bitches had big round bug eyes, often pale in colour, giving a wild staring expression, so alien for the breed. I implore breeders to look at the breed standard and then be honest in appraising their own breeding in this respect; it would be a real shame to alter this key feature of the breed. A number of exhibits were lacking in bone and substance, being more akin to collies in substance, I was especially concerned by some of the youngsters who were very poor in this respect. I was also shocked at the number of dogs which carried far too much weight, whilst the breed should be strongly built this is from substantial bone and coat, not fat! Looking at temperament, the standard asks for intelligent, brave, calm, faithful dogs, so how can we have dogs which are too timid to be handled in the ring, the breed is probably by design one of the friendliest most gregarious breeds of dogs, and I have seen less timid dogs in the ring in Finland in 12 years of visiting than I saw in the ring today, this saddens me that so many lacked the confidence to be handled by a judge, some were reluctant to be handled at all, others showed a demeanour which implied they were only tolerant. I was delighted that both my best dog and best bitch were friendly and responsive to my voice, wagging their tails, showing the correct temperament of the breed. My last generalisation concerns neck length and front angulation, the breed standard calls for a neck of medium length, and shoulder and upper arm of equal length, I found a number of the exhibits lacking any neck at all, and many had very short upper arms, the result was dogs moving with stilted movement in front, in an attempt to run round the big ring, the front legs on many seemed to be going 19 to the dozen, if these dogs were trying to move in deep snow they would soon be exhausted.
VD (4, 1) 1. Crowhurst’s INT CH LAPPLYANS KING OF MUSTANG, very strong compact built dog, excellent bone and coat, latter being harsh and weather resistant. Excellent head, strong and masculine, broad between ears, which are neat and set on wide. Short broad muzzle, well defined under jaw and good stop and gently rounded skull, lovely dark eye soft expression. Short firm back, giving near square proportions, strong loin and broad across rump. Good angulation front and rear, moves very soundly and effortlessly albeit has tendency to bark. Tail very well set and carried on high. 2. Short’sINT/FIN CH GLENCHESS REVONTULI, compact male not quite in full coat and tail furnishings were little lacking which spoilt overall balance. Not quite as strong in bone as winner but had adequate for his size. Lovely shaped head, good width of skull, strong rounded muzzle and jaw, dark eye but a little rounded. Rather deep in chest. One of the better movers, very free and easy over the ground. 3. Foster’s IR/INT CH CARLACOT ERIN, male of good size and well angulated behind. Masculine in type and bone. Not the coat of the 1 &2 and found his head not quite broad enough, like many was rather round in eye, ears set a little high and were rather big. Firm back and good proportions moved well.
Spec PD (3, 0) 1.Moy & Dyer’sSAMBREEZE VEIKKO VELI, mature puppy, ok for bone. Attractive head shape developing well, good breadth with well placed ears, eyes are round and rather pale which gives harsher expression than I would like. Well developed body and in good coat. Stands well, creating good profile. Would prefer more angulation to give more positive movement from rear, BP. 2. Dean & Chilton’sINFINDIGO TUISKU USKO, good size male in excellent coat, short strong back, quite immature needing to broaden in skull and chest and body. Another with very round pale eyes, which hardens expression. Good angulation and neck. Would prefer higher tail set. Was very erratic on the move, seemed reluctant to trot. 3. Aristides-Pickard’s SAMBREEZE VALKOISETSUKAT, very raw baby, needing to broaden throughout. Head still to develop and broaden, rather large ears, and another with round eye. Not the coat and development in body as litter mate heading the class. Would prefer more angulation. Lovely friendly nature and enjoying his time on the green carpet.
Spec JD (4, 0) 1. Thyer’s PAVOSKAS TIMO, very good sized male – masculine throughout, strong bone, good coat, well schooled and handled in the ring. Excellent angulation and reach of neck, which contributed to fluid movement, best mover in the class. Broad well developed skull, short strong muzzle, lovely small well set ears. Eye a little rounded but not bug eyed. Dentition could be better, but as a herding breed the ability to cover ground easily and soundly must be considered more important. 2. Short’s GLENCHESS IKI-IHANA, attractive body profile, strong bone and good coat. Has strong muzzle but head is not yet broad enough to balance and give a true wedge and expression not helped by large ears set high, eye of good colour but very round. Head will improve as it broadens with maturity. Also needs to develop in chest, moved ok. 3. Holtman’s LAPINLUMON NASTI, rather pretty boy, not in best of coat but what he has is well presented. Soft expression, but not as masculine as would like, broad skull gently rounded and excellent stop, another who would benefit from oval rather than round eye. Still to broaden in chest and would benefit from more front angulation, he is rather short in upper arm, which means he has rather pitter patter action in front.
PGD (8, 1) 1. Short’s GLENCHESS ILOLAS, lovely type of dog, excellent head, broad skull, defined stop. Would prefer darker oval eye to complete the picture. Very mature for age, good depth of chest – correct length of leg and body proportions just off square. Well boned and in good coat. Correct angulation and medium neck, giving free movement. 2. Hollister’sINFINDIGO MONTA RAUHAN, very attractive in profile, good size, well angulated, not in best of coats today. Head is broad correct wedge, to strong rounded muzzle, neat ears. Very round eyes rather forward facing. Not as broad across loin or developed in rear, so not as positive behind on move. 3. Patch & Pritchard’sPAJEANT BE A BARACUS, good size male, masculine through, and excellent coat and bone, Attractive broad head, still to fill under eye to complete wedge shape, good shape of eye. Well angulated, moved very positive behind but has tendency to paddle in front, as he looks up at handler.
LD (4, 0) 1. Moore & Etches’MORVAL FIRE KRACKER, taller male, but in very good proportion, masculine and excellent bone. Very well angulated and good reach of neck, producing by far the most positive effortless movement of the class. Head is broad and rounded, with correct oval eye of good brown colouring giving the right expression. His muzzle is a shade long. Well developed in chest and loin, excellent muscle and body condition. Excellently schooled & presented. 2. Stanley’s IVYDALE AAMUKASTE, more compact dog, in excellent coat and with very good bone. Another who is well put down and handled to get the best out of him. Strong head, excellent stop and strong rounded short muzzle, just found high set ears and round eye spoilt the overall expression. Good loin and broad rump, just prefer a little more width the chest. Not the length of stride of the winner 3. McCarthy’s INFINDIGO TAITO, very masculine dog of excellent size and bone. Strong made head good breadth to head and rounded skull neat ears. Found eyes rather round and closely set. Not as positive on the move as 1 &2.
OD (6,0) 1. Holtman’s INT/NL CH FIDELIS DUURI, heading the best class of the day, smaller sized male well balanced in body length and height, just longer than tall. In excellent coat and beautifully presented, very attentive to handler and with lovely friendly nature. Very classic head pattern, broad skull, good stop and strong muzzle. Neat ears set apart and lovely soft dark brown oval eyes, lovely teddy bear expression. Broad chest reaching above elbow, firm short loin and well developed hind quarters, high set tail furnished very attractively. Very good angulation and neck, well muscled, and moved effortlessly around the ring, is so positive on move when viewed from all angles. BOB and pleased to see him shortlisted in the group. 2. Miettinen & Friman’s FIN CH LUMITURPA OTSO, another one with so many excellent breed qualities. Excellent harsh coated dog lovely strong bone. Attractive broad head good stop, and very well set neat ears – though reluctant to use them, lovely soft expression. Well angulated and another who moved very fluidly around the ring, and very sound coming and going with good drive from muscled hind quarters. On checking the catalogue I see he will soon be a veteran, he was just not as animated as the younger dog, maybe feeling the heat, so had to settle for res CC.
3. Mill’s PAJEANT AUBENEDICT SHCM, very impressive red sable, masculine cobby dog, excellent bone and in very good coat. Lovely strong broad head, well defined stop, and strong short muzzle, with good underjaw. Exquisite pigment defining facial features, eye rather round. Excellent ear set and size. Short firm back, broad rump, ok for angulation. Powerful moving behind but not the reach and length of stride as 1 &2.
GCDS D (1, 0) 1. Weetch’s YPREAU ALEKSI, good sized young male, not yet fully matured, so still to broaden in skull, very good dark oval eye and correct stop, ears rather big and pointed. Developing well in body and very good angulation, would prefer slightly higher tail set. Very unsettled on the move in earlier class but better in this class.
VB (3,1) 1. Allen’sGLENCHESS MUSTA SAMETTI, lovely shaped bitch, of excellent bone yet still feminine. Eye of excellent colour, a shade round. Gently rounded skull, good stop, head just flattened slightly under eye, as sometimes happens with older dogs. Firm strong back, little round in body! Well developed rump and excellent tail. Very positive moving in front but weight causing her to move little close behind. 2. Weetch’s HILDREK SISKIN D'YPREAU, longer cast bitch, not as balanced in profile. Broad skull and dark eye, muzzle just a shade long and ears rather large. Good bone for bitch, excellent muscle, well angulated, moved ok.
Spec PB (2, 0) 1. Asquith’s SAMBREEZE SUKLAA TRYFFELI, nice balanced shape in profile, good sized pup, but would prefer more bone all through. Very feminine, head still to develop and broaden correct oval eye. Good width to chest, and firm top line. Erratic on move. 2. Grimmett’s SAMBREEZE PIRU PIMEASSA, very small pup, is very cute and well coated, but not enough of her in height or substance. Broad in skull, but large round eyes change expression. Compact body, but erratic on move.
Spec JB (3, 0) 1. Mowatt & Smith’s TABANYARUU FIIA, lovely sized bitch of good bone and attractive in profile. Skull very promising, broad, with rounded forehead, good stop and strong muzzle, eye rather round and could be darker to soften expression. Ears set well apart. Alert and attentive to handler and very well schooled. Tail set on high and has adequate angulation and good reach of neck. Just needs to broaden in chest. Promising bitch. 2. Bond’s TABANYRUU KAIJA, litter sister to winner, but not the substance. Very pretty and feminine but rather long cast in body and narrower than the sister in chest and rump. Needs little more ring practice to be more settled on the move. 3. witheld.
PGB (12, 3) 1. Grimmett’s SAMBREEZE TAIMI OF WYCHEWOLF, lovely bitch of excellent size and bone, strongly built yet very feminine. Rich brown tricolour, good strong coat, with thick undercoat and attractively marked. Head is broad, with good stop and strong muzzle, like many her eyes are rather round which gives a slightly quizzical expression, but I forgave this for her other excellent qualities. Friendly happy disposition. Good angulation front and rear and reach of neck, moves freely, Res CC. 2. Drake’s MILLERMEAD DOVE OF PEACE TO MARYMEAD, smaller sized bitch but well proportioned, well angulated front and rear, firm back and well developed loin. Broad skull and good stop, neat well set ears, eye could be less round. Broad chest, good loin, moves freely and soundly – just would like a little more of her. 3. Cossey’s PAJEANT BIRGHITTA, pretty wolf sable of good size, and well proportioned height to length ratio. Firm back, good angulation. Pretty head, good shape to skull, which is broad and she has a strong muzzle, but very round eye. Rather lacking ring training so did not give her best on the move.
LB (8, 1) 1. Cossey’s GLENCHESS UNELMA, brown wolf sable, excellent bone and substance, strongly built, but still very feminine. Broad chest, good depth to above elbow, firm loin and good topline, tail set could be a little higher. Excellent angulation and reach of neck. Well coated and presented well, lovely friendly nature, pleasing to see her wagging her tail. Stands very well four square, and never looked wrong or unbalanced. Lovely head excellent width to skull, softly rounded to definite stop and strong short muzzle, good under jaw, nothing snipey about her head. Would prefer oval eye. Moves very soundly, powerful behind and good reach in front. 2. Dickson’s BERNAVIA TAIKA KIPINA, very feminine bitch, well balanced in height and length, not quite in full coat, but has lovely shape and muscle. Excellent tail set and alert and attentive to handler. Firm strong back good rump. Attractive head, broad skull good stop and good strength to muzzle. Ears set a little high on head. Moved with good length of stride just a shade close behind. 3. MILLERMEAD DOVE OF PEACE TO MARYMEAD.
OB (9,2) 1. Allison’s OBERITZ ONNETAR, lovely balanced bitch, correct size and well boned in excellent coat, very well presented. Firm back, good strong rump and very good tail set and correct depth to chest. Well angulated and with good reach of neck, moves freely. Head is attractive, but could be a little broader in back skull. Neat ears and correct dark brown oval eye. Strong contender for top honours but appeared a little tired in challenge, not showing quite the sparkle that won her the class. 2. Chetwynd’s CURDELEON PAIVATAR, one of my favourite bitches who I have done well before, sadly not in full coat today. Lovely head, excellent breadth to skull and good stop to full muzzle, but rounded eye. Mature in body little broad in chest. Firm back of correct length for height. Good angulation, but moving a little close behind today. 3. BERNAVIA TAIKA KIPINA.
GCDS B (2, 0) 1. Witheld. 2. Adam’s SAMBREEZE PIENI MERENNEITO, litter sister to the res BCC, and similar type and quality but unfortunately very over weight, which had a detrimental affect on her movement, costing her first place. Strong attractive head, good breadth and well set ears. Good stop and strong muzzle. Would prefer little more neck, and less loading over shoulders. Stands very wide in front. 3. HILDREK SISKIN D'YPREAU.