Finnish Spitz Club

The Finnish Spitz Club Championship show

Sunday 14th June 2026

Critique

 Thank you to the committee of The Finnish Spitz Club for inviting me to judge our Championship Show. I was pleased with my overall entry which is reflective of the state of the breed currently in the UK. Some general observations are that we need to watch we don’t lose the typical Finnish spitz expression, the preferably dark aslant set almond eye and small cocked ears that we are looking for was only really evident in a small handful of exhibits, also a couple of exhibits could do with a bit more ring practice to improve their performance. Overall, all exhibits were in good condition, coat textures were generally very good, and most were sound and capable of a days working in the forest. My two CC winners were both of excellent quality and more than worthy of their titles. I just hope we can continue to produce quality examples to keep our beautiful breed going in the UK. Thank you to all who entered under me and to my steward Stuart Byrne who kept the ring in order. I had a wonderful day judging our beloved breed.  

Post Graduate Dog (1 entry)

1st. Piearce’s Sukunimi Matti. 3-year-old who was out of coat today and still has some maturing to do. Lovely masculine head with good almond shape eyes, although would like them a touch darker for preference. Super pigment and nice small ears. Good strong neck going into a good front with decent bone. Overall, a good square outline being well muscled and with moderate hindquarters. Tail is well set although a touch more length would be preferable. Moved well in profile, light action with good drive at the rear. Front still untidy but overall, a dog with plenty of promise. 

Limit Dog (2 entries)

1st. Slater’s Valokki Lakritsi. 4-year-old masculine dog. Overall good head shape with super pigment and good ears. Eyes are lighter than I would like. Strong neck with well placed shoulders and good bone and feet. Excellent square outline with good top and underlines, balanced moderate hindquarters and very good tail. Excellent coat texture and colour overall and lovely light movement in profile. I’d like a bit more fill in front as a touch narrower in chest however a dog with super breed type. Happy to award the RCC in today’s entry.

2nd. Quinsee’s Sukunimi Sametti. Another dog of good breed type who was not happy today. Lovely head and expression with a darker eye than the winner. Good front and overall square proportions with lovely moderate hindquarters and well-set tail. Softer coat than the winner but overall, a good colour and lovely mover in profile particularly. Not happy in the ring or being gone over today which cost him the class sadly. 

Open Dog (3 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Rolfe’s Ch Enkelini Hopeinen Ukkonen. Quality male with a balanced masculine head, super small ears and good dark almond eye. Excellent pigment with good underjaw and moderate stop. Strong neck going into an excellent front with super bone and feet. Excellent length of rib of good depth with slightly drawn up belly and straight topline when stood correctly. Excellent moderate well-muscled hindquarters with a very good tail and super coat texture and colour. Very sound mover, being particularly good in profile with a light and springy action. Stand out CC winner today for this excellent example. In the challenge for best in show, he had clearly had enough (He had shown at three shows on a warm day so understandable) and didn’t move with the freedom of action he had in the dog competition. Had to settle for Reserve Best in Show, however a quality male with plenty more to come. 

2nd. Rolfe’s Ch Saisaaren Salmiakkki Via Valokki (Imp Fin). Square male who is sire to my DCC winner. A touch more stop in his head than I would like but OK ears, good neck and topline although shoulders a bit upright and OK feet. A bit more angulation in his hindquarters than I would want. Moved OK, better in profile. Coat texture is very good and acceptable tail although he has a bit more black in him than I would like. 

Junior Bitch (1 entry)

Post Graduate Bitch (2 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Schroeder’s Saisaaren Leija Through Valokki (IKC). 2 ½ year old bitch who is feminine in proportions with good eye shape and pigment and overall nice head proportions. Ears could be smaller but used well. Very good front with good return of upper arm and nice spring of ribs. OK feet and a touch more hind angulation than I’d like. Good coat texture and a decent tail set and curve. A touch out of coat today but moved well when she settled, particularly sound up and back. 

Limit Bitch (4 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Piearce’s Sukunimi Ali. Bitch of lovely breed type and proportions with super head and eye shape, excellent pigment and good ears. Lovely strong neck going into a very good front with good shoulder and balanced return of upper arm, Nice strong loin with good spring of rib and excellent topline. Balanced hindquarters and very good tail. Excellent coat colour and texture. Although sound on the move, tended to pace, particularly in the bitch challenge, and despite me giving her several chances she would not settle into her movement. She was strongly considered for the RCC and once her movement is settled, I am sure will make up easily as a quality bitch. 

2nd. Quinsee’s Sukunimi Pippi. Feminine bitch with a good head and nice small ears. Very good front and feet with good topline and balanced moderate hindquarters. Out of coat today but good tail and nice mover when she settled.

3rd. Slater’s Valokki Sata TAF. 9-year-old veteran who is bigger in type to the other two in the class. Good head although eye shape a touch rounder. Slightly narrow in front but good bone and feet. She has lost her topline with age however has good moderate hindquarters and a well-set tail. Nice coat texture and colour and moved OK today. 

Open Bitch (2 entries)

1st. Piearce’s Ch Sukunimi Tiger Belle. Beautiful bitch and one I would happily take home. Super feminine head with lovely dark almond eye and very good ears. Excellent neck going into the best front of the day with super bone and feet and balanced return of upper arm. Excellent well sprung rib of good length with strong loin and excellent topline which she held stood and on the move. Balanced well-muscled hindquarters with super tail set, good length and excellent coat texture and colour. Lovely springy light movement being very sound up and back. This bitch is in her prime and really looked a picture today. I was delighted to award her the Bitch Challenge Certificate and Best in Show in todays entry. 

2nd. Rolfe’s Ch Enkelini Kirsikan Kukka. Another quality bitch and my CC winner last time I judged her. Not quite the head of the winner, although has a good eye shape her ear set is a touch wide. Strong neck going into a very good front with decent bone and OK feet. Good topline with good depth of chest and balanced hindquarters. Good enough tail with good coat texture and colour. Missing some coat due to a veterinary operation, however this will grow back. Very sound movement with good drive at the rear and really good in profile. Although I probably preferred the Limit winner for breed type, I felt this bitch had the better movement today and awarded her the RCC.

David Knights (Lelaps)