Midland Counties Canine Society

Midland Counties Canine Society 2026

Dogue de Bordeaux

I have to say I found this a particularly difficult entry and certainly the most challenging with this breed to date. There was great diversity of type with many different variations in outline and length of leg and almost every different type of movement you could imagine. Some I felt were lacking in bone and head and too high on the leg while others were more extreme. My main winners were a credit to their owners and ending on a positive note, temperaments were excellent.

PD (2,1)

1. Mott’s Bourgeoisie Magic What We Do. This 9 mth old was standing alone here but more than worthy of company and I thought he showed much promise. I liked his bone and substance for one so young and he pleased for overall type. Strong, muscular neck, pleasing backline, good depth to brisket, ribbing developing as it should for age, correct croup and tail was good for both set and carriage. Balanced headpiece with breadth to skull, expressive oval-shaped eyes, ears set on well, very good stop, muzzle slightly turned up as desired and good underjaw. Pleasing angles front and rear and he stands on excellent feet. Gaiting freely with typical carriage. Reserve Best Dog and Best Puppy Dog.  

JD (2,0)

1. De Silva’s Adam Tyson Kingbordvictory (Imp Svk). A class which troubled me with two very different dogs present. This 16 mth old came out on top, although for overall type the second was my preference. Having said that, this lad is well off for bone and has plenty to like. He is all male and has a strong neck, pleasing topline, muscular loin, moderate slope to croup and tail is of correct carriage. Good skull to muzzle proportions, oval-shaped eyes, ears accentuate breadth of skull, slight upturn to muzzle and good dentition. He stands well naturally in front and moved pretty well all through. 

2. Mott’s Bourgeoisie Preacher Boy. 9 mth old who I see is the littermate to the previous class winner and as already suggested, this youngster appealed for type. He has an excellent neck, good topline, ribbing obviously is still to fully develop but there is good length through the ribcage, croup is moderately sloping as required and tail pleased for set and carriage. Masculine head with good skull to muzzle proportions, super expressive eyes, ears of correct set, well open nostrils and well defined chin. He has pleasing angulation both ends but feet and pasterns are not quite those of winner. I moved him three times as I felt he wasn’t quite even but this was probably just the stage of development he was at, but this determined my placings.

PGD (2,0)

1. Allen’s Willsanburg Last Stand. 23 mth old who has excellent bone and carries plenty of substance. He presented a nicely balanced outline with strong, muscular neck, pleasing topline for the breed, well sprung ribbing, good depth to brisket, correct croup and tail of good set and low carriage. Nicely proportioned head with masculine expression and trapezoid in shape; broad skull which is slightly rounded, oval-shaped eyes of good colour which are placed well apart, pronounced stop and slightly turned up muzzle. Pleasing construction front and rear and he stands on such good feet. When gaiting, he has drive in the rear and also pleased on the go around. 

2. Jones’ Willsanburg Zero Fox Given. 22 mth old who was close up to the winner here. Substantial lad who is well off for bone and substance. Muscular neck, pleasing backline, well developed ribbing and brisket of good depth, correct croup and tail pleased for set and carriage. Head of good proportions with broad skull, pronounced stop, ears of correct set, oval-shaped eyes placed well apart but very light, even taking into account his colouring and lack of mask. He stands on excellent feet and I particularly liked his rear angulation. Another who pleased when gaiting when viewed from any angle.  

OD (3,1)

1. Barton & Moran’s Aibrean Liam JW. 2 yr old who was a comfortable winner in this class for me. Powerful lad who is certainly all male and presented an imposing picture. Strong, muscular neck, very good topline, well sprung ribbing, deep chest, strength to loin, moderate slope to croup and tail pleased for both set and carriage. Masculine head with characteristic trapezoid appearance; good breadth to skull, very good eye and ear, pronounced stop, well defined chin and powerful underjaw. He stands with good width in front, has excellent feet and is well muscled all through. One the move he pleased coming and going and went very well on the go around with typical carriage of the breed. Well handled to take Best Dog. 

2. Sheppard’s Parker Bernaux De Picardi at Khadeaux (Imp Pol). Dark masked 2 yr old who is very different to the winner and a touch too much in head for me. He carries good bone and substance, has strength of neck which is well muscled, pleased through the backline, has the correct croup and his tail is set and carried as it should be. Skull of good breadth and eyes are of good colour but much preferred the proportions and overall expression of winner. He has good breadth to his chest but I would like to see firmer pasterns. Moving ok on the go around but couldn’t match the down and back action of 1.  

PB (3,1)

1. Cavanagh’s Shimano in Your Dreams. The two pups who challenged here really were like chalk and cheese. This 11 mth old was my winner and she shows much promise for the future. She appealed for overall type, carries good bone and substance, yet retains femininity. Excellent neck which is well muscled, ribbing developing well for age, good depth to brisket, firm broad loins, moderately sloping croup and tail set and carried as required. Attractive head with good skull to muzzle proportions, expressive eyes of good colour and placed well apart, ears of correct set, slight upturn to muzzle, well defined chin and good dentition. She has breadth all through and stands on nice tight feet. Quite impressive on the go around and she was my choice for Reserve Best Bitch and Best Puppy.  

2. Harrison’s Cerisier Flash Dance. This 7 mth old wasn’t entirely settled on the day and right now, she is totally raw and therefore needs time. Totally feminine, she has the correct length of neck to balance, is excellent in topline, ribcage extends well back, croup is correct as is tail for both set and carriage. Good skull to muzzle proportions, excellent eye, correct ears and well open nostrils but overall head still to develop. She stands well naturally in front and has excellent feet and pasterns and she went well when viewed in profile and also pleased coming towards. 

PGB (4,1)

1. Jones’ Willsanburg It Is What It Is. A rather varied class which saw this 22 mth old come out on top, scoring here for overall type and in my opinion, the best head. She carries excellent bone and substance and has the best of temperaments. Strong, muscular neck, ok through the topline, excellent ribbing, deep chest, broad loin, correct croup and tail pleased for set and carriage. Feminine headpiece, yet full of type and trapezoid in shape; broad skull, excellent stop, good eye and ear, slightly turned up muzzle and well defined chin. Pleasing angulation front and rear, stands ok in front but she has good feet. Typical carriage of the breed when gaiting. 

2. Powell’s Bourgeoisie Bon Vivant. 2 yr old who has much to like and she too pleased for bone and substance. Muscular neck of correct length to balance, pleasing through the backline, excellent ribbing, chest of good depth, broad, well-muscled loin, good croup and tail carried low. Feminine head with pleasing skull and good proportions and an excellent eye but overall not quite expression of winner. She stands on strong feet and has pleasing angles both ends and she gaited pretty well all through. 

3. Gaughan’s From Who I Am Kalin Red Beauty Bordeaux of Dhoomadogues (Imp Nld)

OB (6,2)

1. De Silva’s Rawlegends Diamond Queen. 3 yr old who has much to like and she made a very good account of herself here. Carrying good bone, she pleased for type and presented such a good outline with strong, muscular neck of correct length to give balance, firm backline, excellent ribbing, brisket of good depth, strength to her broad loins, moderate slope to croup and tail just right for set and carriage. Balanced headpiece with breadth to skull, very good stop, the best of eyes, ears of correct set, excellent underjaw and overall a very nice expression. I liked her angles front and rear and she stands well in front on very good feet and is excellent in forechest. Moving freely coming and going and so good on the go around too. Best Bitch and BOB.  

2. Powell’s Bourgeoisie Here Comes Edna. 5 yr old who also appealed for overall type and she is well off for bone. Strong neck, ok through the topline, good depth to chest, ribcage of good length, breadth to loins and correct croup and tailset. She has balanced headpiece with pleasing expression; pronounced stop, oval-shaped eyes of correct placement in the skull and powerful jaws of good breadth. She stands well naturally both front and rear and has very good feet. Moving pretty well all through but winner had the edge. 

3. Mott’s Bourgeoisie Vue Parfait

Judge: Tim Ball