I truly enjoyed judging this breed, however, I must say that fronts concerned me as this is a problem within the breed, mainly from weak pasterns, I think tails have improved slightly, topline still need to be watched, & some run with their dogs as if it’s a race, this breed is a moderately angulated dog & as such its reach should display this, we are not looking for the reach or speed of a German shepherd, what amazed me was both CCs & RCCs winners are all bred with sires from the Snoquest line, with three of the dams all having the same mother, which was my Bitch CC winner at Crufts 2009. Could that be judging to type? You be the judge of that!

Why do people in this breed have to keep feeding food to these dogs while a judge is trying to look into their mouths? If I wanted a dog to stand like a statue, I would go & by one from a stall at the show. Please don’t feed dogs food at this time, you are only encouraging the dog to possibly be competitive where food is concerned and this could lead to a dog biting a judge, not through aggression but through competition for food. This is not fair on the dog.

MPD (3)
1 Murray & Whyman’s Fine N Dandy Tailfly Shamanrock, smart dog who looked the part, had a good steady gaiting action for one so young, nice developed head for age, very good bone & feet, good ratios, well prepared & presented;
2 Pollock’s Kaskami Stormcatcher, nicely proportioned dog who was only 6 months & you could tell, very steady mover in both directions. I think it is very difficult to win at such a young age as they need to grow on a little as three months in a puppies live is a lot to give away, but nothing offended here, just needs time to mature.

PD (12)
1 Cochran’s Blaiddeira Its All About You at Malamaison, very well put together dog who catches your eye for many reasons, super topline, tailset & carriage, all male head with a good expression, strong neck, good bone & feet, nice ribbing, good on the move & held his topline at all times;
2 Cawthera’s Chayo Pulling Power at Lireva, unfortunate to meet 1, the split hairs between these was only tail & topline, & I was nit picking, but that’s what you do with good dogs. In superb order, you could not have done more. These two could and possibly would change place at times. I think he needs to settle more on the move, maybe outdoors this will correct?

JD (7)
1 Dolan’s Ishjamani Hey Joe, very nice upstanding youngster who asks you to look at him, good type, lovely tailset & carriage, very good head that pleases in the right way, strong neck, plenty of bone, good ribbing, strong rearquarters, moved out well, good condition;
2 Davey & Greenway’s Snobruk Spirit Of Fire, thought this young man had an excellent head with correct proportions which gave him the expression, strongly necked, good in forehand although he needs to strengthen in pasterns to give a more positive front action. In good order;

PGD (12)
1 Plant & Stanyer’s Catua Dark Side Of The Moon, nice finish to this dog, thought him quite handsome with good strong head, pleased in front assembly, firm ribbing, nice topline, covered in a good jacket both in colour & texture, well prepared & presented;
2 Raby’s Snowolf Black Ice Striker at Icemoon, did like this dog for his overall balance & good length of foreleg, although a bit out of coat, but you could see what you were getting. Nice head, good pigment, excellent timbers, good rearquarters, moved well;

LD (12)
1 Coman’s Chayo Fortune Comes to Wintalakes, good sized dog who could give more behind on the move, good head with good ears & eye, strong neck, good front assembly. Needs to strengthen more in pasterns. Good topline at times;
2 Robb’s Under Icewolf’s Star Inditarod, really like this dog for his honesty & his wonderful front. However, I would have like him a little bigger & he was a touch out of coat. Very good balance with a good head & expression to match, pleasant ribbing with good tailset, positive mover both ways, very calmly handled;

OD (10)
1 Ellis’ Ch Chayo All Eyes On Me, this critique is for the both of these dogs as they are litter brothers, I have previously criticised 1 for being too big, but here back in the breed he did not look out of place, could I have been wrong with my previous observations? I’m sure someone will tell me I was wrong! However, I loved him for his strength & quality, you could argue that the second has a touch more finish, & I would not disagree, however, in the end as these two are extremely difficult to separate it had to be on the move, whereupon 1 just had the edge on holding his shape fractionally better than his brother, I would have been happy to sign a CC for both these fine specimens. CC & BOB;
2 Whittaker’s Ch Chayo Vanquish. RCC;

VD (2)
1 Isherwood’s Tuvaurat Akimarug Amani, at 9 years this dog did not belie his age, very good mover, nicely headed with good expression, good firm body & well proportioned head, in good jacket quite harsh to the touch.

MPB (5)
1 Druce’s Koromandel On Strange Tides, the star of the puppies & so well deserved, I thought her rather sweet & feminine, very well balanced with excellent ratios, when it came to her second class on moving her I said I think you have pushed your luck to far in this class, obviously I was wrong again, as in this class her outline was without doubt the best in the class never stop showing, she is a show dog who only needs maturity. BP;
2 Wilkinson & Jelfs’ Lapema Angelo Di Ciel, nice bitch who was unfortunate to meet 1, just needs to come together more. Very good balance. Looked a little raw but she did produce a very positive front action, which impressed me;

PB (12)
1 K On Strange Tides;
2 Henworth’s Wolfraven Rumor’s Nebula, nice bitch who lost her shape on the last set up, but she gave a credible performance but difficult to beat 1 in such form. Well prepared, moved with purpose

JB (9)
1 Lunn’s Monikoona Fabulous Me, this bitch impressed me for her sheer quality & soundness, not expertly or fancy handled, yet she shines out at you for her total honesty, her owner handler came to show her bitch & have a good time, & boy didn’t she have a good time, but now you have hit the big time your belief in your charge needs to change with better handling, I believe this bitch could look quite spectacular if handled better, this is no criticism of your handling, but a helping hand for you to get more from what you already have in your possession, look at the name & believe in her & do you very best for her. CC;
2 Drummond’s Monikoona Fame In Flash, litter sister of 1 & unfortunate here, I also thought she was very nice for many reasons, good feminine head, clean cut ears, ample neck, good front although could firm up a touch more. Nicely ribbed, good rearquarters & presented well;

PGB (10)
1 Mort’s Arcticbreeze Midnite Echo, quality bitch with very good front, pleasing head that has correct balance, feminine expression, good neck, nice deep ribbing, stout loin, purposeful gait in both directions, good jacket, well prepared & presented;
2 Taylor’s Hyteton Iggik for Luponooshka, good type bitch who has lots of quality, quite well balanced throughout giving the impression of strength, good ribbing which was set right back, strong loin, firm topline. Unfortunately out of coat but nothing to hide;

LB (10)
1 Ellis’ Chayo Elise, really nice bitch who was lucky to win the class, but a change of handler did the trick. I thought she was quite spectacular on the move although a touch more covering could have been an advantage to give her the look. In the challenge she gave her all on the move & I could not deign her the RCC;
2 Murray & Whyman’s Tailfly Rainbow Ribbons, another nice bitch who I liked, pleasing proportions throughout, gave a good performance when needed, very feminine to view, pleased in head qualities, nice ears, good eye, good topline & tailset, moved well in both directions, in good clean order;

OB (6)
1 Nawrocka’s BIS/Hr/MNE Ch Monikoona Casablanca, this bitch was one of the best prepared & presented exhibits here, I think an object lesson for us all to admire & possibly emulate. Very good proportions both in skull & body, excellent topline & tailset held on the move, excellent bone with tight feet, first class front construction which produced near perfect front action. However, I thought her rear did not drive enough to compliment her front & was rather close going away, but I can see the beauty in her without doubt & understand why she is a title holder;
2 Ellis Chayo Fortune Cookie, quite a nice bitch but out of coat. Very feminine to view, clean cut head with good expression, strong foreface, ample neck, good bone & feet, plenty of ribbing, good topline, positive mover in both directions;

VB (2)
1 Rivers & Towers’ Polarpaws Naknek Dreamer, very nice bitch who pulled out all the stops to win this class, well put together & did not look out of place in the challenge, very good mover in both directions, pleasing deportment, well prepared & presented;
2 Butler’s Kaytoo Where Legends ‘R’ Born, another well balanced bitch who was feminine with good head & expression, good bodily parts & clean cut outline. Bit sluggish on the move & was out of coat.

Steve Hall