Southern Counties Canine Association

SCCA

FRIDAY 29TH May 2026

Judge: Dolores Montgomery

KOOIKERHONDJE

It’s a joy to be invited to judge a breed one likes plus I was over the moon with the entry. Many thanks to the exhibitors for their faith in me and for accepting my decisions so graciously. I did find some differences in the breed since the last time I judged. Type is more varied. This is not a bad or good thing; it is just something I noticed. When I judged them in Scotland, I was able to see which dogs were related. This was not always the case this time. ‘Gestalt’ is a term used in psychology to define that something is the sum its parts. This is something I use whenever I judge a breed. There were ‘things’ which I didn’t like with some dogs, such as a less than perfect mouth or the colour pattern was not perfectly clear, but each of these items on their own do not make up the whole dog. The important thing for me is that the construction of the dog deems it fit for function, i.e. can it do the job it was intended for? Soundness and construction are top of my priority, including eye shape for e.g, bold in eye might cause a few problems amongst the reeds the dog is working in. Mechanically, dogs that are longer than tall are generally better movers so being ultra square may look lovely from the ring side or to a judge, but this often affects movement, especially drive. I found several cases of short upper arms, often coupled with insufficient fore chest; this gives the dog less reach and won’t match the drive at the back, appearing to create an unbalanced dog on the move. At the end of the day, the best dog is always the one you take home, so enjoy your lovely breed. VD (3). As a breed, Kooikers do seem to age incredibly well. 1. Guy’s Gladsheim Eleodoro at Kerelkoor - Super veteran; incredibly well-constructed; head proportions are very good; ear set and carriage are good; correct mouth; back is lovely, strong and level, difficult to believe his age! Movement is strong in all directions. (I really liked this one). Well done the owners for keeping him in such excellent condition. RBD. 2. Whitehead’s Gladsheim Helios of Sakurai - This male has a beautiful head, so masculine without being coarse. His eyes are textbook gorgeous. Ears are well placed. The breed standard asks for a level back and he sports a straight back which is not as strong as my class winner today and this affected his movement a little. 3. Williams’ Cairnbraid Onwaba Lukimbi of Gladsheim (Imp Bel) VW. PD (1). 1. Harvey’s Twybrook Romeo’s Magic of Folkshire - 7-month-old, developing nicely but with much maturing to do. His head is super but needs maturing. Stacked he is currently a little too square and he looks a tad tubby; his topline is good; he currently appears to have too much rear angulation, and this affects his hind movement. Time will be his good friend, and I would like to see him again once he has matured. BP. PGD (2). 1. Guy’s Middanwinter War Horse at Kerelkoor - The best way to describe this dog is to say he is more boy than man! He is a lovely boy though; he has a super front; good length of neck; pleasant head and expression; excellent level topline; moves with plenty of reach and drive. To be ultra picky, I feel he is a tad long in body but overall, a ‘typy’ boy. 2. Purser’s Twybrook Charming Prince - Another lovely male looking very masculine and well up to size. His skull is a little ‘strong’ for me, being a bit too curved which spoils his ear set. His front construction is good but when stacked he tends to lean back making his upper arm look short and poorly angulated. However, on the move he is excellent in all directions. LD (2). 1. Harvey’s Kerfkooiker Gynn at Folkshire – Well built; good conformation when viewed side-on. He has a super breed typical head with enough curvature of skull; ear set, length and carriage good; body length to height ratio is good; rear angulation is good and his overall movement is nice although his front action could be a tiny bit tidier. Overall, a nice dog. 2. Davies’ Twybrook Barenhauter - A slightly larger constructed dog but body proportions are good; his head is good; ears set correctly; neck has plenty of muscle; his back is strong; rear angulation is good; his movement is strong, but he tends to toe-out a little when coming towards me. I would prefer his feet to be a little more compact. OD (3). 1. Guy’s Gladsheim Acer at Jumasue - Lovely masculine boy with plenty of charisma. His outline is correct when viewed side-on. His skull is sufficiently curved and head proportions are good; ear set and carriage are good; his length of body is good and topline is strong and his back level; good depth of chest; movement around the ring is strong as is his rear movement; he tends to toe-out a little when moving towards me. A lovely dog to go over! Lots to like about this one. BD. 2. Davies’ Millhanger Kemboy - This boy has many breed positive points. He has a good shape to his skull and a masculine expression but for me, his ears are a little too low set. Neck and shoulders are as they should be; forelegs are straight but toes-out a little when moving towards me. Side movement is excellent. I would like a little stronger topline. 3. Gutteridge’s Benitin Trojan of Geduld. VB (3). 1. Guy’s Cirtaps Prinses Bynton Ida Rose Mk (Imp Swe) VW – Incredibly, 12-years-old! Looks several years younger and quite strong when moving but I feel front angulation could be a tiny bit better; this might be a function of age. She is feminine throughout with a pleasant expression. Skull shape is good; body proportions good and she looks super when stacked. Rear angulation is good; chest of sufficient depth with enough fore-chest and good tuck up for one not so young. 2. Johnson’s Sensation vom Tespelkooi of Valleyrise VW (Imp Deu) - 11-year-old and like my class winner, she really doesn’t look her age. I would prefer a slightly longer muzzle to balance her skull proportions. Body height to length ratio is good; tail set good; moving around the ring and away from me she is excellent. Moving towards me she is a tad narrow. Her topline is strong and level and this is held on the move. Enough muscle throughout. So much to like about her. 3.Jones’ Valleyrise Inspiration at Maplecoombe. PB (2,1). 1. Jones’ Moonhaven Sundborn Spirit (Imp Swe). What a sweetie this 10-month-old puppy is. Such a pretty girl; she has a lovely head for her age, which needs to develop. Her topline is already very good with enough strength for her age. Her front needs to strengthen and I’m sure this will happen as she matures. Her rear angulation is super. Movement is a little difficult to assess. I would like to see her when she is a little older. JB (1). 1. Jones’ Moonhaven Sundborn Spirit (Imp Swe). PGB (3). 1. Williams’ Gladsheim Phoenix Rising - Very pretty bitch; her head and body proportions are good with ears well placed; neck length is good and shoulder placement also good; Her forelegs are not as straight as I would like but this is not affecting her front movement. She is almost square; topline is good and rear angulation is nice. 2. Johnsons Gladsheim Storm Chaser Valleyrise - Like my class winner she is pretty and has a sweet expression. Her head is a good shape for this breed, but her bite could be a little more regular. Her front is better than my first but when viewed side-on she is a tad long cast and her hind quarters are a little over angulated, however her movement in all direction is good. 3. Jones’ Gladsheim Savanna at Maplecoombe. LB (3,1). 1. Mar-Gerrison’s Valkira Whispering Hope - This girl is of nice breed type; she is feminine with a pleasant expression but perhaps a little bold in eye and her stop could be less prominent; her ear set and carriage are good; side-on she is beautifully balanced with super upper arm angulation; her front is good; hind quarters are nice and she has sufficient muscle throughout with lovely proportions. RBB. 2. Gutteridge’s Twybrook Rotkappchen of Geduld - Although this girl has many positive points, there are a few things I would like slightly different; elbows could do with being a little closer to the chest and when moving towards me, she tends to move wide. Her tail is perhaps a little too curled for me. She was not too keen to be gone over initially but once settled, her body is quite strong and typical for the breed. I would like her feet to be a little more compact. OB (3,1). 1. Mar-Gerrison’s Gladsheim Willow at Valkira - A super bitch; she is of lovely quality when viewed from all angles and super to go over; side-on she is nearly square; neck and shoulders are text book. Her angulation fore and aft explains the lovely reach and drive she has on the move. She did take a little while to settle but when she did, she was super. If I could change anything I would like her eye shape to be a little more almond, but apart from that she is quite difficult to fault.BV BOB BB. 2. Stewart’s Int/lux/nld Ch Qunack’s Favor Light for Twybrook (Imp Nid)W’24 RL2.Ex - Overall, a nice bitch but she is a little portly and thus she ‘wobbles’ somewhat on the move. I like her head and her expression is friendly. Side-on her topline is not level and wonder if this is because she may be carrying an extra pound or two. However, the topline is strong and has plenty of muscle. Her feet are the correct shape. Pigmentation is good.