Working & Pastoral Breeds Association Of Wales

t is always a pleasure to be invited to judge at the Working and Pastoral Breeds Association of Wales and last Saturday was no exception. Her is what I thought about my lovely Doberman entry:

To judge Dobermans is always a big challenge which gives me a lot of pleasure. I love this handsome breed which was so close to me in my younger days. In Jens Kollenberg (Nordenstam), Rody Hubenthal (Picador) and Erling Aashein Doberhill) Norway had three of the best Dob breeders in Europe from the late sixties to the early eighties. After most shows we met up and discussed what had happened. If you had been the judge you better come up with some good answers when your decisions were questioned.

We often had German judges for Doberman and Hans Wiblishauser might be the one who today is best known from that period. With his charm and good look, it was no wonder that he was an popular guest. I learned a lot from the German “fathers” because I very often worked as their translator. You can imagene what I thought when I came to the UK and saw the Curnow’s American type of Tavey Dobermans. They were fortunately on their way out by the time I first gave CCs to Dobermans in the UK at Richmond in the late seventies.

Having said that, here is what I was looking for when the dogs entered my ring last Saturday. I wanted a muscular and elegant dog with a square and well-set body. For me a Doberman needs to have a proud carriage and be compact. He also must be bold and alert because this is a very active breed. Movement is an important part of a top-class Doberman, so we want good reach in forequarters and driving power in hindquarters. This need to be combined with the proud carriage i mentioned earlier.

I did unfortunate find that too many of my exhibits were too long and a few fell off too much over the loin. The squareness and straight topline asked for in the standard were missing. I found that too many were falling on their front when they were moving so the proud head carriage and height over the withers were missing. A few eyes on otherwise excellent dogs were too round and prominent; almost looking like small tea cups. In bitches I found some otherwise excellent dogs which for me were too heavy, lacking the femininity I would have liked to see. Last, I must mention the heads. Many are too strong, and others are too short. I did unfortunately not find many long, clean cut, parallel head with good depth of muzzle which resembled an elongated blunt wedge. I therefore had to do a lot of compromising.

Having said that, dog judging is all about rewarding the dogs for their good points. A long life has thought me that you must be careful about penalising a dog too heavily for its weaknesses overseeing its virtues.

This is what the one and only Nigel Aubrey-Jones once said:

”To the virtues always kind! To the faults a little blind!”

Veteran - Dog Or Bitch

1ST CH TRONJHEIM BELLADONNA FROM JOJAVIK JW SHCM (MRS J A & MISS V L INGRAM)

Excellent bitch in great form for age. She gives a perfect picture standing, but I would have liked to see her move with more drive. BV and second in Vet Group

2ND CH MIANNA TARA'S DELIGHT (MR P & MRS D GOODALL)

Nice bitch of excellent type. Well angulated, but a bit long in loin. Moved well.

3RD CH DOBERWAY CHITO ACHAFFA JW SHCM (MRS J & MISS H CAFFEL & KAVANAGH)

Minor Puppy - Dog

1ST KORIFEY DARK KNIGHT (MISS S JONES)

This dog was one of the highlights on the day. He is of excellent type, he is square and handled to perfection. He moves very well and I think he will have a great future. BP and second in Puppy group

2ND JOJAVIK VICTOR RIZZI AT KATEAMEAD (MRS L EDYVEANE)

Also, this a quality dog with a good head. He is well angulated, but a bit long in loin. Moves well, but could be more parallel behind.

Puppy - Dog

1ST JASPRICO FRENCH REBELLION (P & A RICHARDSON)

Dog which gives an excellent picture standing. Nice head and neck, well angulated behind, but front could be better. Moved well around, but would have liked to see more temperament.

2ND HOLYHELL'S SERBIAN NIGHT FEVER AT TOFFARBACH (IMP SERB) (MR J & MRS A TODD)

Dog of good type. Quite a nice head. Good front, but would like stronger quarters. Could have had more drive in his movements.

Junior - Dog

1ST SHALISSA'S SIRIUSLY COSTLY (AI) (MRS L WEBB)

Strong dog of good type even if he is heavy enough. Well angulated both ends, but too heavy in head. Moved well.

2ND JOJAVIK COOKIE MOBSTER (MS K, MR R, MRS J & MISS V NICOLL-JONES, BEMAND, INGRAM & INGRAM)

Dog which could have been more masculine. Good head, well angulated, but too long in loin. Topline could be better, moved quite well.

Yearling - Dog

1ST JOJAVIK SUPER CHIEF JW (MISS F M, MRS A, MRS J A & MISS V L DUNN, BRADLEY & INGRAM)

Excellent dog of high class. Well angulated and well developed in body, but a bit heavy in head. Moved very well.

2ND KORIFEY AMULET JW (MR F & MRS S SANTORIELLO)

Dog which gives a great picture standing, but a bit long in loin. Well angulated. Wold like him to move with more drive and

presence. Falls a bit on his front moving around.

3RD AVAMER ETHAN (MRS M C HEFFERNAN)

Novice - Dog

1ST KORIFEY DARK KNIGHT (MISS S JONES)

2ND JOJAVIK COOKIE MOBSTER (MS K, MR R, MRS J & MISS V NICOLL-JONES, BEMAND, INGRAM & INGRAM)

3RD HOLYHELL'S SERBIAN NIGHT FEVER AT TOFFARBACH (IMP SERB) (MR J & MRS A TODD)

Graduate - Dog

1ST SHALISSA'S SIRIUSLY COSTLY (AI) (MRS L WEBB)

2ND VIA FELICIUM VETTEL (MRS T M MCCALL)

Good type of dog with an excellent head. Could be better angulated in front. Well developed in body, but curves too much over the loin. Moves well around the ring but could be better behind.

3RD LUFTEZ MERIDIAN FOR YRIEIX (MRS T BILLINGTON)

Post Graduate - Dog

1ST MIANNA'S WILLIAM WALLACE ( MR & MRS S HOGG)

Big strong dog which could be shorter in loin. A bit heavy in scull. Well angulated, moves very well

2ND LATEAGAIN SATISFACTION JW (MISS J, MR I & MRS S GROVES & LAFFORD)

Dog of good type, but a bit low on his legs. Quite a nice head, good neck and topline. Would like him to move with more drive.

3RD NEWFORDS LET THE FUN BEGIN ( MR S & MRS C TAYLOR)

Limit - Dog

1ST NEWFORDS MOVES LIKE JAGGER AT CALONMAC (MRS D MORGAN)

Beautiful dog of high class. He is well constructed and gives a picture of a great Doberman. Moves and stands very well.

2ND HOLYHELL'S BLUE STEEL JW, IR JCH, GW17 (IMP) (MS G KUHL)

Dog of nice type which is a bit upright in front and over angulated behind. Topline could be better, moves quite well.

3RD RUZUNA AMAZING VALOUR IN LLEPAC (MRS CAPELL)

Open - Dog

This was an excellent class in which five champions were entered. They all had their pluses and minuses and this is how I placed them:

1ST JOJAVIK BULLETPROOF BOMB JW SHCM (MR S J & MRS A J TYLER)

This fabulous dog had the outline I was looking for and he moved around the ring with passion and pride. He carried his head on top mast and he showed of like a mannequin. Yes, he is slightly heavy in head, but it was his virtues which won him the day. He fitted nicely into a square with a straight, slightly sloping

topline. He had a noble somewhat convex neck and was well angulated in front. He had good strength and width in his hindquarters and he was sending a message of power without losing the elegance and style which is so important in this breed. CC & BOB, I was delighted to see him being place

second in the strong Working Group.

2ND CH KORIFEY ONYX JW (AI) (K, S & L MOORE, MCPHEE & JONES)

I was very impressed by this great Doberman, so he was a strong contender for the winner He too had the right

proportions, he was very well built and he pushed hard for the top spot. His throat was cleaner than Bomb’s

and maybe I preferred his head, but I would have liked to see a bit more length and a stronger foreface. He was

very well built, but I preferred the strength in the winner’s hindquarters. Here were two beautiful Dobermans of

high class and my final decision was made when I in the end asked them to move around the ring for a final time. The winner

was in top form and moved like a Derby winner while Onyx looked a bit tired. RCC

3RD CH GRAFMAX ROBERTO ALAGNA JW (MRS S I WILCOX)

This was another top-class dog and the reason I am writing about the dog which I placed third is his head. He had by far the best male head on the day. He outline didn't quite fit into a square which stopped him from being placed higher, but I wish I had seen more heads like his on the day. Congratulation!

RES CH/IR CH JOJAVIK MIDNIGHT EXPRESS JW SHCM (MRS J A & MISS V L INGRAM)

VHC CH KORIFEY BRAVE (AI) JW (MS T REID)

Minor Puppy - Bitch

1ST DOBERWAY REPEAT AFTER ME (MRS J & MISS H CAFFEL & KAVANAGH)

Very nice bitch of excellent type, but a bit long in loin. Moves and stands very well

2ND JOJAVIK CAMORRA (MISSES T M, MRS J & MISS V TOUSENT & INGRAM)

Bitch with is nice standing, but would have liked her to move with more drive behind.

3RD JARJARJINX TUTTI FRUTTI (MISS D WALL)

Puppy - Bitch

1ST MANZART VOODOO MAGIC (MRS A EVERLEY)

Promising youngster of high class. She is well angulated, and I liked her a lot. She moves with style and pride and I am sure she will have a great future.

2ND JASPRICO FLOWER BOMB (P & A RICHARDSON)

Nice bitch of good type which could have been braver in temperament. She is well angulated and gives a nice picture standing. I would, however, have liked to see her with more passion on the move.

3RD NYX ASTERI WOT A THRILLER (IMP FRA) (MR S J, MRS A J & MISS S E TYLER)

Junior - Bitch

1ST SHALISSA'S SIRIUSLY STUNIN (AI) (MRS L WEBB)

Compact bitch of very good type. Well angulated, but a bit straight in upper arm. Good neck and topline, moves very well

2ND STAY IN STYLE VALENTINA (MRS I & MR J BROWN)

Nice bitch of good type. Gives a good picture standing and is well angulated. I would have liked to see her move with more action

3RD KORIFEY OPIUM (MRS D MORGAN)

Yearling - Bitch

1ST LATEAGAIN FALLING FOR YOU (MISS J GROVES)

Stylish bitch with a good head. Well angulated in front, but could be better behind. She moves with presence and pride.

2ND JOJAVIK FORGET ME NOT JW SHCM (MRS J A & MISS V L INGRAM)

Nice bitch of good type. Neck could be better, well angulated, but a bit long in loin. Would like to see her

move with more drive.

3RD LUFTEZ HYPERNOVA (MISS A MURRAY)

Novice - Bitch

1ST MANZART VOGUE (MRS A EVERLEY)

Beautiful bitch of high class. Well-constructed, stand and moves well.

2ND DOBERWAY REPEAT AFTER ME (MRS J & MISS H CAFFEL & KAVANAGH)

3RD NYX ASTERI WOT A THRILLER (IMP FRA) (MR S J, MRS A J & MISS S E TYLER)

Graduate - Bitch

1ST AMAZON LET ME LOVE YOU (C, M & J EVANS, PITTENDRIGH & BLOORE)

Beautiful bitch of high class. Lovely outline. Moves and stands well. One to be proud of.

2ND SHALISSA'S SIRIUSLY STUNIN (AI) (MRS L WEBB)

3RD ARITAUR ON A MISSION TO PHILMONT JW (MRS S CALDICOTT)

Post Graduate - Bitch

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1ST DIEGOS DAISY DUKE (MR D & MRS S MURRAY)

Biggish bitch of good type, but a bit long in loin. Well angulated both ends, moves quite well.

2ND IZRALIGHT RELIGHT MY FIRE (MRS J SHAW)

Nice bitch of good type. Well-constructed, but could move with more animation.

3RD JASDEKOMA HOT FUDGE (MRS D TURRELL)

Limit - Bitch

1ST KORIFEY TREASURE JW (MRS A L JONES)

Wonderful bitch of high class, expertly handled. Nice head and well angulated both ends. She is well balanced, feminine and stylish. She moves with drive and passion and never puts a foot wrong. It was a pleasure to see her in motion. RCC

2ND IZRALIGHT FIREDANCER JW SHCM (MISS P GALLAGHER)

This is another beautiful bitch which filled my eye. She is well constructed and have style and presence. I liked everything about her and she pushed Treasure very hard. The later did, however, give that little bit extra on the move which tipped the scale her way.

3RD LATEAGAIN GOLD DUST JW (MISS J GROVES)

Open - Bitch

1ST SUPETA'S POCKET ROCKET AT SHARHYSTE JW (S & S GRAHAM & MYCROFT)

Here she was, the princess I had been looking for. She ticked all the boxes, she was square and compact and she was looking around trying to find out who was going to come second. For me she had the perfect outline for a Doberman bitch. She was feminine and had plenty of neck and presence. Her topline was like a plank and slightly falling. I couldn't ask for a lot more, CC. I did consider POCKET ROCKET for BOB, but she just couldn’t manage the task because the dog had made his mind up and he out move her in the final.

2ND CH JOJAVIK PENELOPE PITSTOP JW SHCM (MRS J A & MISS V L INGRAM)

A lovely bitch of high class, quality all through. She was well constructed and had a very attractive outline, but I preferred the head of the winner. She moved very well and was quality all through.

3RD CH TAEVAS BLACK VELVET AT GRAFMAX JW SHCM (MS S J THORN)