National Gundog Association

Spanish Water Dogs

Judge: Rachel A Cooper (FiveNinePlus)

National Gundog Association Group Championship Show, 2nd August 2026

Thank you to the committee of National Gundog for giving me the opportunity to judge my breed at this show, massive thanks to my lovely stewards on the day for keeping me fuelled with water on such a hot day, and for keeping the ring moving. I was so pleased with my entry, thanks to all the competitors for entering and for gracefully accepting my decisions, and congratulations to all of the winners.

Temperaments were good, evidence of an improvement over time, for which breeders should be congratulated. There were quite a number of dogs whose shape was longer than the ideal proportion of 8:9 and some movement was close behind. Size was, as usual, slightly variable, but moderation and balance were what I was looking for, and there were plenty of lovely dogs to choose from.

Veteran Dog 1,0

1st 1693 Adormidera Ziggy Star Dust VW (Ms J C & Mr J R Abrahams) 10yo black dog, long tailed. An honest, unexaggerated traditional-style Spanish with strong not heavy bone throughout and a masculine head with correct parallel planes and kind expression. He moved effortlessly around the ring, enjoying his day, with balance, covering the ground. RDCC, BV.

Puppy Dog 1,0

1st 1696 Martez De Guardian De Los Suenos Entre Perrorizado (Mrs Affleck-Carter) Cream & white long tailed puppy, nearly a year old, shown in long coat. The sweet temperament of this boy shone through, he is well-built with good strong bone, a great forechest and moves well when settled. He had lost coat on his muzzle, but I would still have preferred a slightly shorter muzzle and broader head, but a nice package overall.

Junior Dog 1,0

1st 1725 As Good As It Gets Wavelet with Sinduda JW (Mrs J Wood). 16mo brown and white bobtail. This tailless boy was a lovely shape, straight front and rear, with strong not heavy bone. I particularly admire his short, strong neck and masculine head of correct proportions. He moved well and was beautifully presented and shown by his handler, with whom he obviously has a close bond. DCC, RBoB

Post-Graduate Dog 2,0

1st 1717 Cravessa Snoopy (Mrs V Searles) White & brown bobtail. This dog, up to size, is a lovely picture on the move, keeping his topline with matching, balanced angulation front and rear. He has strong bone and an appealing head of correct proportions, he is slightly longer than ideal but a lovely example.  

2nd 1698 Perrorizado Escombreras (Mrs J Appleton). Black in short coat, long tailed. I enjoyed the positive, fluid movement of this dog as it flowed around the ring. Unexaggerated angulation was balanced front and rear, great tailset. However, muzzle was a little longer than ideal. 

Limit Dog 4,2

1st 1707 Rainethyme Rerite The Rules for Chanderhill JW (Dr K & Mr M Hodgkinson-Rutherford & Rutherford) Brown & white 2yo bobtail. A masculine dog, with a head of correct proportions, he caught the eye on the move. He has strong bone and won this class on maturity and rear angulation. 

2nd 1700 Lendever’s Man among Men (Mrs R Capille) White and brown 19mo bobtail. Lovely package of correct proportions, presented beautifully. His head is correct, and he is a great mover however I feel he is slightly over-angulated in the rear.

Open Dog 6,1

1st 1703 Chanderhill Smart Edition for Elizad JW (Mrs J & Miss E S Darwesh) White and brown bobtail. This boy impresses with his shape stacked. His angulation is correctly moderate, he has a good strong neck, great tailset and the best topline in the class. 

2nd 1709 Zorrazo Hit The Nail On The Head for Chanderhill (Imp Hrv) (Dr K & Mr M Hodgkinson-Rutherford & Rutherford) Brown & white 3yo bobtail. Pushed hard for the class, he also makes a lovely picture standing. His movement out and back is positive, his bone and proportions are good.

Veteran Bitch 4,2

1st 1699 Valentisimo’s De Cascada (Mrs J R Appleton) Brown, 8yo bobtail . This girl had it all – great outline standing, lovely positive movement and fantastic teeth! Her proportions of head and overall, particularly depth of chest to elbow, were super, a classic example of the breed. BVB

2nd 1711 Zorraxo Xquisite Croatian Perl at Deltoroesta (Imp Hrv) (Miss R & Mr S Page & Robinson) Brown 8yo bobtail. Lovely shaped girl stacked, moved well away and back, not quite the brisket of the winner, but a lovely bitch.

Puppy Bitch 2,0

1st 1701 Lendever’s Time To Shine (Mrs R Capille) White & black 11mo bobtail. This baby oozed character, what a lovely temperament! She was shown in beautifully kept long coat, with a nicely proportioned feminine head. She moved positively, handled well. BPiB

2nd 1710 Deltoroesta Lady of The Lake (Miss R & Mr S Page & Robinson) Brown & white 9mo bobtail. Shown in short coat, this baby moved well, keeping her lovely shape on the move. Nice proportions standing.

Novice Bitch 2,0

1st 1697 Perrorizado Esla (Mrs Affleck-Carter) Black & white long tailed. This girl, up to size, just caught and kept my eye, I loved her proportions, her movement and her angulation – nothing exaggerated about her! Shown in well-presented long coat, she had a pretty, feminine head and obviously a great temperament. I am certain this will not be her last CC! BCC, BoB.

2nd 1702 Perrorizado Isla Zuaza (Mrs R & Mr P Clough) Black, 3 ½ yo long tailed. Shown in short coat, she moved well. Her proportions and angulation were correctly moderate, with a very feminine head.

Graduate Bitch 2,0

1st 1724 Pabiaga’s Santana (T Whitehead) White & brown bobtail. This girl is a lovely, correct shape, moving with positivity from her hocks, her movement was excellent around the ring. Her head was feminine, of correct proportions and I liked her straight legs front and rear.

2nd 1706 Perrorizado Isla Gracia (Mrs K Gardiner) Black 3yo long tailed. Lovely balanced bitch with straight legs front and rear, moderate angulation, good tailset and resulting effortless movement. 

Post-Graduate Bitch 1,0

1st 1702 Perrorizado Isla Zueza (Mrs R & Mr P Clough) 

Limit Bitch 4,1

1st 1704 Prizelands Frosted Fancy (F Donaldson) White long tailed, shown in long coat. I just love her head, with its beautiful dark eye and correct ear placement, strong but feminine head with a sweet expression. She has a good forechest, and lovely, positive movement, especially to the rear. 

2nd 1702 Perrorizado Isla Gracia (Mrs R & Mr P Clough)

3rd 1716 Adormidera Apache Rose at Cravessa (Mrs V Searles)

Open Bitch 5,2

1st 1723 Sh Ch Prizelands Fondant Fancy at Cooishka JW (Mrs K Thompson) Black & white 4yo bobtail. Shown in short coat, she is a lovely shape, with a great tailset. Her angulation is balanced front and rear and moderate and unexaggerated, she has good forechest and a lovely, feminine head. RBCC

2nd 1705 Prizelands Tickled My Fancy JW (F Donaldson) White & brown 2 ½ yo long tailed. This bitch is up to size but a lovely shape with good tail placement. Her head is feminine, with slightly low ear set, and she moves well.

3rd 1694 Cravessa’s Right On The Dot by Adormidera (Ms J C & Mr J R Abrahams)