SOMERSET HILLS KENNEL CLUB 4^TH SEPTEMBER 2004.

Judges Critique MASTIFFS Judge DAVID BLAXTER

Thank you to the Somerset Hills KC for this appointment, and to the Garden State Mastiff Fanciers for their support. I consider it a great honour and privilege to judge such a splendid entry at this prestigious show.

A very special thank you to the Club folk who made my trip so memorable, and looked after me so well, Kathy Neumann, Lucy and Chuck Fainsbert, Virginia Wind and Erica Tortorella. I appreciated the opportunity to meet many of the exhibitors on a more casual basis once the show formalities were completed.

My overall impression of the mastiffs was a happy one, there were some super dogs, some good dogs, and only a very few who would perhaps be best left at home. Movement was generally good, some could do with a bit more weight of bone. Heads were of differing types (as usual) but most were very obviously mastiffs. Puppy classes are always a bit difficult, as the rates of growth, maturity and head development can change so much depending on the bloodlines. However, I have to judge as I see them on the day, irrespective of how I think they may end up.

Handling of these sensitive dogs is an art, most were sympathetically handled, although a few tended to crunch up when stacked, but the toplines came out well when moving freely. I do not expect dogs to be statues, and love to see a dog interested in what goes on around it. With temperatures so very high, I am sure some of the dogs felt the heat and were a bit more sluggish than normal, and could have affected a few of the movements.

DOGS

PUPPY 6-9 Mo

1^st Atticus of Springmere, nice brindle youngster, coming along very well, Head has correct proportions, but is still very immature. Would like a little more rear angulation, but this can come. A good all rounder of just seven months.

2^nd Middlecreek’s Semper Fi Maverick, Very immature baby, all round well formed, straight bone, nice feet, head needs lots of time. Moved very soundly. I see that 1^st and 2^nd are litter brothers, and have much the same build. Two to watch.

3^rd His Majesty’s Whiskey Creek, floppy fawn baby of just 7 months. Head lets him down at this stage, and he throws his elbows somewhat, due no doubt to his youth.

4^th Meadowcreek Sign of the Lion, I liked this brindle as he waited his turn, he has lots of quality, would like to see a bit more rear angulation which will give more power when he moves.

PUPPY 9-12 Mo

1^st Sagi’s Golden Bears Unleashed, very tall boy who moves quite well. Sadly his height comes from leg length not body depth. Nice rear angulation but would like to see more weight of bone, and bigger feet to go with it. He is young and may come along well as he matures.

12-18 Months

1^st Mountainviews Willie G, handsome brindle boy, lovely bone, tight feet and good well proportioned head with good ear carriage and dark, smallish eyes, kindly expression. Good depth of rib and well sprung. Level topline and good shoulders. Rear end has just enough angulation and he moves with power and drive. Tail well set and of correct length.

2^nd Prairie Buffalo Katz Wil Condor, Impressive fawn dog with a lovely head. Ribs could be a bit deeper. Good lay of shoulder, rear end could be tighter, and he moves accordingly. Tail could be of better length.

3^rd His Majesty Hurricane Warning, This dog appears to be a very slow developer, he is very floppy on the move, and needs time to get everything together. Lovely dark pigment to the face, but ears a bit wishy washy.

4^th Master Sullivan of Wyn Lea, another immature dog, with nice deep ribcage, but still lacks spring of rib. Head needs to develop as he is rather plain at present

B B E

1^st Mythic Lexington Iron Horse, Very well made youngster, correct length of back, well angulated and good lay of shoulders. Not the biggest, but has the quality. Head coming along nicely. Moves very well indeed using those strong limbs.

2^nd Braveheart’s Lethal Weapon, another nice young dog, not as well angulated as above, good lay of shoulder, ribs of good depth but not yet sprung to suit his size. Head needs a bit if time to get the planes right and that ”mastiff look”

3^rd Old School’s Junior, I felt this dog disappointed me, he is very impressive, lovely dark pigment to the face and ears, all on a super head. He is a large dog, but lacks rear angulation so his movement lacks the power he ought to show, he is also a bit down on his pastern, He still has time to finish his development and then he will be superb.

4^th King Arthur of Candbury Castle, Very similar dog to 1^st and 2^nd here, but he is rather straight at the rear, and his movement suffers. Brother to 4^th in the previous class, and much the same comments apply.

OPEN

1^st Iron Hills that’ll Do, Striking fawn boy, never exaggerated, just nicely built and well balanced. Good head with correct planes. Nice eyes, clear and of correct size. Good length of back, level topline, deep well sprung ribs makes up a lovely body. Shoulders set on well, with correct angles, tight feet all round. Rear angulation not extreme, but just right. He therefore moved well with strength and drive Was happy to give him Winners Dog, and later Best of winners. He pushed hard towards Best of Opposites.

2^nd Redgates Meant To Be, Lovely dark apricot with good head and expression. Well set ears, nice dark eye, on a strong arched neck. Well laid shoulders, and nice rear end. Moved well looking so sound. To be fussy, I would like to see a bit more weight of bone to match his size. Made him Reserve Winners dog.

3^rd Messiah’s GRT Bentley Turbo, big, heavy boy, with a huge ribcage. A little long in back, which therefore dips a bit. Very heavy strong bone all round. Did not move as freely as the first two in the class.

4^th Red Maple Southern Comfort, Head on this boy not pleasing to me, but he has a good body and quarters.

BITCHES

PUPPY 6-9 Mo

1^st His Majesty “I Love Lucy”, nice promising 7 month baby. Strong well proportioned head, well pigmented muzzle and ears, but a bit dirty on the chest. Good lay of shoulder, well angulated at the rear, but does tend to stand quite straight at times. Moves well and then shows her outline to advantage.

2^nd Bearhill’s Alice, Nice brindle bitch very young and immature, needs to develop some heavier bone and a stronger head, but has lots of quality and these things can well come in the near future. Has a lovely character and moves freely and happily.

3^rd Greiner Hal Violet, This young bitch was very hard to assess, she needs loads of time for her head planes to level out, and this also applies to her body which is a bit light of bone and substance generally.

4^th His Majesty Never Been Kissed, Same applies to this baby too, she has super angulation at the rear, good length of back, but has not got it all together yet.

PUPPY 9-12 Mo

1^st Braveheart’s Reigning Fantasy, Difficult class of youngsters, this girl has a nice head, but a bit small for her body at the moment. Body quite well proportioned. Shoulder lay and rear angulation looking good. Needs a bit more weight of bone.

2^nd Trilliums Endora of Overlook Mountain, Lovely brindle girl, nice head and expression. Good shoulders and a nice strong body with a developing ribcage. Today she is tending to be very conscious of her rear end, and is standing with her rear several inches higher than the front.

3^rd Audley Farms Leather and Lace, very feminine bitch with superb angulation. Nice shoulders and reach of neck. Head is so immature with planes out of true and narrow of foreface. Just needs time to finish I am sure.

12-18 Months

1^st Messiah’s OLV ShesARipperThew, Apricot of great quality, who moved extremely well, showing off her well set shoulders and rear angulation to advantage. Very nice head nice ear set, dark eye. She was well worth the Reserve Winners Bitch today, her day will surely come.

2^nd Messiah’s OLV The Second Coming, Fawn sister to above, and similar in general construction. Tends to stand a bit straight at the rear. Not the tallest but quite balanced all round and moves quite well.

3^rd His Majesty’s Christmas in July, heavy boned fawn who is well constructed, good shoulders and rear quarters. Tended to stand dippy backed.

4^th Mountain Views All That Jazz, Nice headed brindle girl, with a nice chest, good shoulders, but is straight at the rear, leaving the rear end in the air rather, which spoils the overall impression.

B B E

1^st His Majesty “My Little Margie”, very young fawn bitch of good proportions, deep ribcage, nice head, good ear set, tends to show too much haw. Moves well, nice character.

American Bred

1^st Messiahs GRT Pumpkin, very nice all round bitch, good proportions to body, deep and sprung ribcage. Correct length of body relative to height. Head has good shapes and angles. Sound mover with good shoulder and rear angulation. I see she is sister to my BOB and BOS and has much the same qualities.

Open

1^st Dujon’s Little Rascal, Brindle bitch who caught my eye as she entered the ring. She has a super body, good ribcage, nice quarters all round and moved superbly with power and drive at all times. Being critical, she is a bit watery around the eyes, but this is a minor point. Happy to award her Bitch Winner today, well deserved. I gather this makes her a new Ch today.

2^nd Messiah’s TES Heaven Sent Hannah, extremely nice fawn bitch, lovely body, good shoulders nice angulation at rear, head could do with a stronger foreface, and the eyes are a little large and round. Moved well.

3^rd Sagi English Princess, medium sized fawn, quite well proportioned, but appears rather immature for her three years. Moved a bit erratically at times.

VETERAN Dogs, 6yrs & under 8yrs.

1^st Ch Sillar’s K.T.’s Second Chance, This dog really deserved the cheer he got from the ringside, he is a great character, and is well put together as well. Lovely head, nice dark eyes, good ear set, strong neck leading to a powerful body of superb proportions. Good shoulders and lovely angulation at the rear. He moved so well and was enjoying his day out. He did show some of the younger dogs how to move.

BEST OF BREED COMPETITION

Best of Breed Ch Messiah’s GRT Heavenly Ham, Top quality dark brindle bitch. Lovely strong but feminine head, nice dark eyes, ears well set on. Neck strong and powerful. Deep and well sprung ribcage, correct length of body level topline. Good shoulders and rear quarters. Moved really well. Heavy bone all round, tight feet. Deserved her place.

Best of Winners Iron Hills That’ll Do, From the Open Dog class, he is just coming into his best, and he challenged hard for either BOB or BOS. Became new Ch today, which he well deserves.

Best of Opposite Sex Ch Messiah’s GRT Doc Wyatt Earp, Younger brother to my BOB winner, he could have occupied any of the honours today, Three of the very best.

A personal note or two may be appropriate here, what are my pet hates? Two things which I do not like, excess white on the chest, and dirty pigment (ticking) on any fawn or apricot. Neither would make me withhold a placing, but as a tie breaker, they could be noticed.

Why do I make the mastiffs walk when assessing movement? I do not assess movement at the walk, but as a tool in locating any fault in the quarters which appear when trotting the dogs. At walking pace such faults can be amplified and help decide if the fault is due to injury/breeding or just a bad habit.

Thanks everyone.