Manchester Dog Show Society

MANCHESTER CH SHOW

JANUARY 2026

LANCASHIRE HEELER

Many thanks to Manchester Dog Show Committee for inviting me to judge this super breed at their show. This was a very well run show and I was particularly delighted by the entry of Lancashire Heelers in terms of quantity. As always, the Lancashire Heeler ring is a place of happiness and good sportsmanship. I enjoyed, as I have before, the atmosphere around the ring and enjoyed judging your dogs. I felt that, on this occasion, the quality was not quite as it had been at my last appointment. The standard calls for a small powerful and sturdily built dog. I felt that a lot of them were lacking in the cobbiness and ribbing that I interpret the standard to ask for. I felt also that there were quite a few round eyes rather than the desired almond shaped eye. Tans are losing there depp colour even in the younger dogs. Overall, however all dogs were in good condition and coat. I felt that all the specimens had good bites with nice large teeth which was pleasing.

SBD 1(0)

1. Gamble/Pullen’s Fragarialea Sweet Charlie. Black and tan. Young dog of good overall breed type. Still very raw at this stage and needs a lot of time. He needs time on the table and would benefit from some ringcraft classes. On inspection he has a decent breadth of skull for his age. Well placed ears which are well used. Correct dark eye of correct shape and overall his head proportions were correct. Moderate neck and correct lay of shoulder. Well sprung and well ribbed back. He is correctly angulated at the rear. Neat feet. When he settled into himself his movement was accurate with good drive from the rear.

PD 4(1)

1. Timmins’ Fragarialea Elsanta. Young liver and tan dog who impressed by his compactness. He is very cobby, has good rib and is short in loin which is strong and muscular. Pleasing head and expression with nice eye shape and well used ears. Has decent breadth of skull and strength to his muzzle which is correctly tapered. Good moderate length of neck into well placed shoulders. He has good bone and firm well padded feet. Level top-line. Well set tail carried correctly. Moved with drive. BP.2. Davies’ Aliceinwonderland Absolem De L’etang De Pincemaill. A typy dog who pleased for his overall shape and his overall size. Pleasing head and expression with nice dark eye. For me, he has an adequate length of neck into good shoulders although I would prefer him a little tighter at the elbow. Well ribbed and with a level top-line which he holds on the move, muscular rear with good turn of stifle and hocks well let down. Not in as tight in jacket as would be my preference and would prefer a slightly darker tan.

3. Gamble/Pullen’s Fragarialea Sweet Charlie.

JD 4(2)1. Jones’ Mea Miracles Beorn Ragnar of Barleydust (imp FIN). Pleased here in head and expression, good breadth over the skull and correct overall skull to muzzle proportions. Has strength to his muzzle and his expression is completed by well placed ears and a correctly shaped dark eye. Pleasing front assembly and of good bone and nice tight foot. Has spring of rib but for me, is slightly longer in loin than I would prefer. Well placed set tail and good hind angulation. Well muscled in the rear. Moved ok.2. Hughes’ Ribblespride Kruger. Pleased me for his overall shape. Correct head proportions and correct eye. I would prefer his ears a little higher set on his skull to allow them to give the desired expression. Good front assembly. Good bone and feet. Well ribbed. Pleasing rear which is not overdone. His tail is carried too flat on his back which spoils his overall appearance.

PGD 3(0)1. Thomas’ Skipest Winter Blues. Nice dog with many qualities. He won this class on his overall make and shape. He has the desired head and body proportions I was looking for. Has a good head with lovely expression which is afforded by his well placed ears and good eye. He has a good length of neck into well placed shoulders. Ample bone. Good rib and well ribbed back with good short muscular loin. Nice hindquarters. For me, I would prefer his tan richer which detracted from the overall picture. 2. Lagonegro’s Lankeela Kristi and Eeyore. Nice dog with nice head and expression. Pleasing front assembly. Well off for bone and with nice tight feet. Does not have the strong topline of the first placed dog which cost him this class. Nicely angulated rear which is well muscled. Won his place here on his overall substance and masculinity compared to the 3rd placed dog.3. Grant-Parkes’ Clogmills I Am Gemini at Parabar.

LD 2(0)

1. Cooper’s Swanndale Walter Tybalt. Typy dog of quality. Another with a pleasing head and expression with correct breadth of skull and well placed ears. Neat dark eye and good overall head proportions without any coarseness. Nice neck into well placed shoulders. Lovely level top-line and well set high set tail. Well angulated rear which he uses on the move and in excellent hard condition. For me, again, I would prefer him to have a slightly darker tan and would prefer a little more of him for more masculinity at this stage. 2. Grant-Parkes’ Parabar Posy’s Powwow. Of good size and overall proportions. Pleased in head and expression. Good front. Ample bone and nice tight foot. Doesn’t quite have the top-line of the 1st placed dog. Well angulated rear and well let down in the hock. Moved well with good drive.

OD 5(1)

Two nice dogs headed this class. 1. Thwaite’s Ch. Ribblespride Crakemoor. This is a new dog to me and I thought him quite excellent throughout. He caught my eye as soon as he entered the ring for his overall style, balance and proportions. He is very typically Lancashire Heeler. He is a sturdy and powerfully built, low to the ground dog. I loved his head, he has a good flat skull with good width between his ears which he carries well. He has correct skull to foreface ratio and a moderate stop. His muzzle is nevertheless strong without any signs of weakness. His expression is gained by his beautiful dark eye which is correctly shaped and set well apart. He has enough neck into the best of shoulders. He has excellent bone for a male and I loved his tight feet. He is well ribbed back and has a good strong loin. Well made through the rear with good turn of stifle and his hocks well let down. His tail is carried correctly and on the move he is a smart mover with good drive from the rear. He does have a good tan which I was looking for today. I had no hesitation in the challenge of awarding him his CC which I was subsequently told was already well in double figures, I can quite believe this and it was a pleasure to add to his tally. Subsequently later in the day he was BOB over a good bitch. Congratulations. 2. Grant-Parkes’ Parabar Posy’s Pawnee JW. Another good male, different in type to the 1st placed dog. I liked his head and expression. He is just slightly longer cast than the 1st dog and longer in loin. Nevertheless, he has an excellent front assembly and his rear matches his front angulation. He is well off for bone and has lovely feet. In the hardest of condition and in good jacket. Moved very well. Pleasure to award him the RDCC.3. Whiteman’s Ch. Madincrowd Edred.

VD 4(2)

1. Jones’ Ch. Madincrowd Gabriel. A really smart Lancashire Heeler who has the desired sturdiness and substance that I would expect. Another who I have done well before and who pleased me again today. He has a lovely head and expression. He is cobby and carries enough weight. Despite his age his top-line is robust and he is short in the loin. Super tail which is well set and which is carried correctly on the move. In good condition. Was unlucky not to win higher honours today. 2. Lawrence’s Hoscar Ellis’s Eddie ShCEx. A nice dog with many of the qualities of the 1st placed dog, maybe slightly longer cast than 1 but otherwise of good make and shape. Just falls away a fraction at the croup. He is of excellent condition and well made, moved very well.

SBB 1(0)

1. Gamble/Pullen’s Srenscem Edred’s Ediva. Liver and tan bitch who I really quite liked. She has personality in abundance and is full of herself. She has very pleasing head with correct eye colour for her coat colour. She uses her ears correctly. She is cobby and short coupled. She has an excellent tail set and carriage and uses her tail well on the move. She is an excellent little mover and was indeed considered for the RBCC, BSpB.

PB 1(0)1. Felstead’s Oreiphos Ease My Heart at Foveaux. This is quite a raw young puppy who needs a lot of time. She has a pleasing head and overall is well made. She just needs to fill out although she is longer cast than I would wish. Good little mover fore and aft and holds her good strong toplinr.

JB 4(0)1. Lawrence’s Foveaux China Girl. Smart young bitch who appealed when she came into the ring. She has a nice head of correct proportions. Good length of neck into well placed shoulders. Well ribbed with good spring of rib and ribbed well back. Level top-line. Tail carried correctly. Nicely angulated rear. Could be slightly tighter in topline. Lovely mover. Won here on her eye shape. In good jacket and condition. 2. Grant-Parkes’ Parabar Pelatory’s Pichu. Pleased for overall proportions and overall size. Nice head proportions and well placed ears. I would prefer her eye shape to be a little less round for preference. Good strength in muzzle. Nice neck into well placed shoulders. Nice topline and good rear. Moved with drive but not quite as precise in front as 1st bitch. 3. Cutler’s Lankeela Fly Me To The Moon.

PGB 3(0)

1. Gamble/Pullen’s Srenscem Edred’s Ediva. Winner of SB. 2. Grant-Parkes’ Parabar Pelatory’s Pichu. Second in junior 3. Thwaite’s Ribblespride Masquerade.

LB 7(3) 1. Davies’ Parabar Posy’s Pocahontas Piparlo. Very nice bitch of correct breed type. Good flat skull and decent width between her ears. Ears are carried correctly. Head is correct proportions with back skull and foreface of equal length. She has a moderate length of neck into good shoulders. Nice tight elbows. Good pasterns. Well sprung. Nice and short in the loin. Nicely angulated rear. Moved well and carried her tail correctly.2. Bellinger’s Foveaux Jean Genie at Heelstone JW. Very different type to 1. Pleased me for her overall make and shape. She has a pleasing head and expression. Nicely made through the front. Good topline. Good rear angulation. She is a super mover and one of the best movers of the day. She has correct footfall and her rear drives her on. I would prefer a darker tan. 3. Cutler’s Lankeela Frosty Knickers.

OB 4(1)

This was a super class, all the bitches were different in type but I liked them all very much.1. Felstead’s Ch. Foveaux Queens Gambit JW. This bitch annexed the RBCC from me last time I judged from puppy. I liked her today again. She is not a big bitch by any means, but overall she is the exact proportions I was looking for. She has beautiful head with correct overall proportions. She has strength through her head without losing any femininity. Good neck into well placed shoulders. Ample bone for a bitch with nice tight feet. Correct level top-line and tail set high and carried correctly. Lovely angulation in the rear and well put down and in good hard solid condition. I was delighted to be able to award her the BCC and pleased to hear, since I last saw her, she has gained her crown.

2. Davies’ Ch. Taigwynion Freya Sadie in Ronleydon. Another lovely bitch with very little to dislike. She again has a beautiful head although for preference I would like a slightly smaller ear. Beautiful eye. Lovely front assembly with super bone for a bitch and lovely tight feet. Just fractionally dips at the wither. High set tail which she carries well. Nicely angulated rear which is well muscled and hocks well let down. Was a super mover with good drive from the rear. 3. Grant-Parkes’ Parabar Paxton’s Posy.

VB 5(1)

1. Thwaite’s Ch. Ribblespride Ladytron. Very smart bitch who has many qualities. She is very typically Lancashire Heeler with good substance to her and is sturdily built. Pleased me in head with good overall head proportions, her back skull to foreface is of correct proportions and has enough strength but doesn’t give anything away in femininity. Nice shaped almond eye which is dark and well placed ears. Pleasing in front assembly and has ample bone and good feet. Well ribbed and well ribbed back. Tail on top and in good condition. Moved well. RBCC & BV. 2. Jones’ Ch. Madincrowd Mercy Chant. Another nice bitch who also appeals for her overall make and shape. Another with a nice head of good quality and good expression afforded by her correctly placed ears and neat eye. Not quite as positive as 1 going away but otherwise nicely made throughout and in good hard condition. Deserves her title. 3. Whiteman’s Ch. Madincrowd Bathsheba JW.

IAN GABRIEL