Eastern Counties Rottweiler Club

I have always believed that judging a breed club show, whether open or championship, is a singular honour for the judge elect. My most sincere thanks to the Officers and Committee of the club for inviting me to judge the show and the exhibitors for allowing me to judge their dogs. I have had a longstanding interest in the breed since the early 80’s and, it was with great delight to officiate at this lovely show at the excellent venue.

I congratulate you on your endeavours with temperament there was a couple that were nervous, however being 2 metres in height I can sometimes unnerve a dog. Type is still variable both in head shape, coat and outline. Some had incorrect lengths of muzzle (short) which changed the expression to resemble a Bull Mastiff.

Mouths need watching as I had two level bites. There were couple of mouths with teeth that were crowded, this is normally indicative of insufficient width of jaw. Most tailsets were OK, however, please do keep an eye on the tail set and also the croup. Movement was varied from the very good powerful drive to some that were close behind and plaiting in front.

My overall impression was a breed that is in good and caring hands and I commend you all for your efforts. I thought the majority of dogs were well presented, clean and a credit to their owners’ care and attention.

Best in Show and Best Bitch– Ch. Juffther Happy Bunny JW ShCM

Reserve BIS, BOS, BPIS & Best Dog – Abacab’s Lord Lafeu

Reserve Best Dog – Dortmund Dodging Bullets at Treveari

Reserve Best Bitch – Minaelea Taylored for You

Reserve Best Puppy & Best PB – Begleiter Carina

Dogs

Minor Puppy Dog (4, 0abs)

A lovely class of babies who all behaved themselves except for the odd fidget or 2.  They are babies and I prefer to see them enjoying themselves rather than being statuesque at that age. I’m sure their owners will have a lot of fun with them.

1st Watkins & Taylor’s Minaelea Taylored for You. 7 1/2 month old who presented an overall balanced picture. Pleasing head shape, scissor bite, powerful underjaw. Correct earset and well shaped dark eye. Good colour and markings. Strong neck flowing into good layback of shoulder. Forehand correct. Depth of chest and length of loin was to the standard. Good tailset and carried tail well. Moved the best in this class.

2nd Evans’ Paloduro Gold Dollar at Maddiecass.  Another 7 1/2 month old puppy who was a smaller build than the winner. Hope he grows on as he shows promise. Needs to ‘break’ in head but has all the basics. Strong teeth, scissor bite, good ear placement and correct markings. Forequarters OK, body shape correct and rear angulation good. Moved a little close behind.

3rd Antich’s Begleiter The Kracken

4th Antich’s Begleiter Captain Jack.

Puppy Dog (2, 1 abs)

1st, BP, BD & RBIS Bartley’s Atelib the General  11 month old young man of obvious quality. I hope he will go on to make up. Strong head without coarseness and of correct proportions with medium sized eye correctly shaped and colour. Ear placement was spot on. Good bite with strong teeth and scissor bite, excellent underjaw. Muscular neck flowing into good forehand, with well ribbed body and plenty of heart room. Muscular hindquarters with good bend of stifle. Correctly marked with clearly defined markings. Moved well with powerful drive and correct action.

Yearling Dog (1, 0abs)

1st Grochowina Ziko Brilliant from Dolivar. Difficult to assess this dog as it desperately needs ring craft training. Not the best of specimens.

Novice Dog (2, 1abs)

1st Paloduro Gold Dollar at Maddiecass. Was 2nd in minor puppy dog.

Post Graduate Dog. (3, 1 abs)

1st Willis, Impey and Anthony’s Abacab Prince of Aragon  Nearly 3 year old young man. Pleasing correct head shape with correct length of muzzle & earset . Good bite and underjaw. Strong neck going into good forehand with lay back of shoulder. Deep chest with correct spring of rib. Lovely body outline. Moved positively and with purpose. Carried his tail a little high but settled on the move. Think he was excited to be at a dog show. Tailset was correct.

2nd Lewis-Shermer’s Bottlerskop Smoki Quartz Avec Riversrock JW (Imp) Not as imposing as the winner however overall a pleasing dog of good proportions. For some reason he played up on the move which made him crab and the rear movement was too close. Such a shame as he is a good example of the breed and on another day could be better than today.    

Limit Dog. (2, 1 abs)

1st  Jacob’s Salonga Goodbye Mr Chips JW. 3 ½ year old dog with head of good proportions. Correct eye shape and expression. Strong neck going into good forequarters. Good depth of brisket and body outline with tail set that he carried high when standing giving an optical illusion of foreshortening the body. Excellent rear angulation and moved well, with good front extension, once he had settled down.

Open Dog (5, 0abs) Movement was a real mixed bag in this class, with some being presented well standing, but disappointing on the move. This breed’s original function was supposed to be able to follow cattle all day at the trot. This required the breed to have stamina and an economical movement.  

1st,  RBD Borne’s Dortmund Dodging Bullets at Treveari  Mature 4 ½ year old masculine dog. Head of good proportion and shape although I would have preferred a slightly shorter muzzle. Correct eye colour, shape and ear set. Good strength of jaw and correct bite. Clean neck flowing into good forehand. Had depth of chest with plenty of heart room. Correct body shape with good rear angulation and tail set. Moved well on lovely tight, well arched feet. Very well presented.

2nd Tousent & Crawley’s Minaelea Taylored by Choice JW ShCM. 3 year old dog in good condition. Masculine head with good ear placement, strong teeth and scissor bite. Would have preferred a slightly longer muzzle as was less than 2 to 3. Lovely forehand with correct spring of rib. Very good rear angulation and body outline.  Did not move as well as 1st.

3rd Powell’s Quoja’s Maximus to Rivers Rock ShCM

4th Topham & Maltas’ Virlees Claudius JW ShCM

Bitches

Minor Puppy (3. 1 abs)

1st, BPB & RBP. Antich’s Begleiter Carina.  Feminine head of correct proportions with good earset. Scissor bite with strong underjaw. Correct length of neck, strong and clean. Forequarters well angulated, good depth of chest. Rear angulation good, with low set hocks. Moved well.

2nd   Austen’s Ausries Pure and Simple Pleasing puppy who is not quite as mature as the winner. Feminine head without weakness, correct earset, pleasing expression. Good forequarters and length of loin. Rear angulation good, did not move as well as 1st.

Puppy (1, 0abs)

1st Adams’ Jhava Back Chat Well proportioned head with correct earset, scissor bite and strong underjaw. Strong neck going into good forehand with lay back of shoulder. Deep chest with correct spring of rib. Nice bend of stifle. Moved well.

Junior Bitch (1, 0abs)

1st Grochowina’s Madi Od Janusow. 14 month old bitch who was difficult to assess  as she desperately needs ring craft training. Not the best of specimens.

Yearling Bitch (1, 0abs)

1st Jacob’s Salonga Let’s Get Wicked Well proportioned feminine head, with correct earset, scissor bite and strong underjaw. Strong neck going into good forehand with lay back of shoulder. Correct depth chest with spring of rib. Good length of loin and correct croup. Nice bend of stifle. Movement a little erratic.

Novice Bitch (1, 0abs)

1st Antich’s Begleiter Haloween Correct head shape and earset, good bite and strong underjaw. Good reach of neck and lay of shoulder. Body outline, angulation front and rear good, positive drive on the move although a little wide in front.

Post Grad Bitch (3, 0abs)

1st Lewis’ Minaelea’s Astrild  Best mover in class. Feminine bitch with good head shape and earset. Correct bite and underjaw. Strong neck going into good forehand with lay back of shoulder. Correct spring of rib and depth of chest. Good topline and tailset. Moved positively and with purpose once she settled. Her young handler had her hands full but did a good job in getting the bitch to do what she wanted her to do. Well done.

2nd Borne’s Treveari Black Velvet. Feminine head, I would have preferred a slightly shorter muzzle. Correct eye colour, shape, ear set & bite. Clean neck flowing into good forehand. Correct body shape with good rear angulation and tail set. Moved erratically, was well presented.

3rd Willis, Impey & Anthony’s Abacab’s Portia

Open Bitch (4, 0 abs)

1st BB & BIS Horton’s Ch. Juffther Happy Bunny JW ShCM. Cracking bitch, made my day. Came in as if she owned the ring, and she certainly won this class with something to spare. Stood over her legs. If it’s made right, it’ll stand right. Feminine head of correct proportions. Good skull shape and ear set, with alert expression and good eye shape. Clean neck flowing into correctly placed shoulders. Good depth of brisket, correct topline and tailset. Muscular hindquarters with length of second thigh and low set hocks. Covered the ground effortlessly. Very well presented and a joy to watch.

2nd RBB Watkins & Taylor’s Minaelea Taylored for You A very pleasing bitch with feminine head of good proportions. Would have liked a shade more length of muzzle but overall a very nice picture. Powerful neck into excellent fore hand. Loin and rear angulation very good. Moved with drive and purpose. Seemed a little distracted at times.

3rd Topham & Maltas’ Virlees Cassiopia

4th Parry & Wykes’ Pendley Paloma

Colin Richardson