Mastiff Association

Firstly thank you to the Mastiff Association for giving me the great honour of judging the show. It was a real honour to be asked. As Pam pointed out in her introduction I've worked my way through from a youngster in the breed to now. Thank you to my two stewards for doing a grand job and thank you to everyone who exhibited under me. I thoroughly enjoyed my day. 

Overall I felt temperaments in the exhibits were excellent and something you should all be very proud of. My biggest concern was movement and strength of rear ends. So many exhibits were moving very close behind. Some to the point of clipping the legs as they run! We are a working breed. We need to be concentrating on being able to move with drive from the rear with strength. Over the years breeders have become so focused on heads because of the RKCs vet checks that movement in my opinion has really suffered. There were also a handful of exhibits that could do with losing a few pounds which would improve their overall look and possibly movement. The Mastiff should be fit not fat. 

Handling and presentation is a big issue in Mastiff owners. You have around 2 minutes or so to show your dog off to its best advantage. Even if you don't have a ring craft near you practice in front of a mirror and look at what you need to do to make your dog look it's best. Grooming your dog ahead of a show and keeping mouths clean when the judge is about to go over your dog not after should also be kept in mind. I may be used to the drool but many other judges would be horrified! 

Veteran D/B (4,3)

1. Graham's Cwmtysswg Titan At Odextin A nearly 8 year old apricot boy who was certainly enjoying his day out. He has a good neck leading into a lovely length of body and has a good topline. His angulation is excellent and he has good bone for his size. A nice depth of chest and good spring of rib. His head has good proportions although if I am being picky I would prefer a touch slightly shorter muzzle to give that square when viewed from all angles look. He moved well for his age and was handled well. Best Veteran In Show 

Minor Puppy Dog (2,0)

1. Pennies Talisman Of Seven Oaks A lovely 7 month old apricot boy who is developing very nicely. He has a beautiful black mask and ears which really help set off his wonderful expression. His head has excellent proportions at this stage of development. He has good dentition. He has a good lay of shoulder and good angulation. Lovely length and held his topline well on the move. He has good depth and chest. He has excellent bone and moved very well. His handler just needs to remember not to get flustered and enjoy himself as much as his young charge is. Will watch with interest as he grows. Best Puppy Dog Overall 

2. Harding's Mulaloo Midwinter Frost. Fawn 8.5 month old dog who is in the Mastiff awkward stage of growth. He has very nice head proportions with a beautiful black mask and ears. Good eyes and ear set. A good lay of shoulder with good bone. He was very bum high today which therefore affected his top line and rear end angles. Moving a little close behind today. I'd like to see him when he's grown through this stage and levelled out. 

Minor Puppy Bitch (2,0)

1. Graham's Shadowgate I'm A Survivor. This just 6 month 3 day old fawn bitch really caught my eye as soon as she stepped in the ring. Her profile when stacked just filled the eye. She was perfectly in proportion with a good neck leading to lovely length and had excellent front and rear angulation. Good bone. A beautifully feminine head piece with lovely black mask and ears. Good eyes. Nice depth and a strong rear. She had excellent movement driving from the rear and was clearly enjoying her day out. Excellent handling by her owner. Pushed very hard for RBB. I was pleased to award her Best Puppy In Show.

2. Harding's Mulaloo Midwinter Aurora Apricot 8.5 month old litter sister to my 2nd in MPD. Like her brother she has very nice head proportions with a beautiful black mask and ears. Good eyes and ear set with lovely wide nostrils. A good lay of shoulder with good bone. She was very bum high today which like her brother affected her top line, rear end angles and subsequently movement. Lost out on topline and movement to 1. 

Puppy Dog (2,1)

1. William's Angelo Des Terres De Peygros (IMP FRA) 9.5 month old fawn dog with excellent bone and size. Excellent head proportions but would prefer a slightly less round eye and darker ears. Although both of these may change as he matures. Good dentition. He has a lovely reach of neck leading in to a good lay of shoulder and excellent firm top line. Would prefer a better tail set. Excellent rear angulation. Excellent side profile stride but a touch close behind at this age although I expect that will change as he matures. One to watch for the future. 

Puppy Bitch (2,1)

1. Allen's Real Akragas Melissa (IMP ITA) 11 month old Fawn. Not the biggest for her age but she has good bone with good depth and chest with a good lay of shoulder and ok rear angulation. She has a nice level top line. Good mask pigmentation but would prefer darker ears. Nice dark eye. Slightly overshot bite at this time which is currently reflected in her muzzle length. This may change as her head develops. Moved ok but was a little sluggish today. 

Junior Dog (3,1)

1. Delves Womlu Master Of Music. Just 14 month beautiful dark brindle boy. This boy came into the ring and said look at me! On the stack he just fills the eye. He has an excellent head piece that is not exaggerated in any way although if I'm being particularly critical I would prefer a slightly tighter eye but it is forgivable at this age as his head continues to develop. Lovely wide nostrils. Good dentition. Ears are of good size. He has an excellent reach of neck leading into a good lay of shoulder, nice depth, excellent level top line and correct rear angulation. He has a lovely reach of stride with correct powerful movement driven from the rear. Excellently handled. Very pleased to award him Best Dog and Best In Show. 

2. Andrew's Apollo Big Du Domaine De Mildred At Forhtian (IMP FRA) Lovely 16 month Fawn boy. He has a nice head with good proportions with good eyes. I would prefer a slightly darker mask. He has excellent bone and a good top line. A good rear end with well developed first and second thigh leading to moderate rear angulation. Moved very well. Unfortunately today he was a little unsettled being gone over and although he settled on the move you could see he was still unsure of his surroundings. He lost out to 1 because of this. 

Post Graduate Dog (1,0)

1. William's Savarow Alton Dark brindle boy, 22 month olds. He has a lovely head piece with good proportions. Slightly overshot bite. Nice length of body. He has good bone with excellent rear angulation. Unfortunately didn't move his best today. 

Limit Dog (2,0)

1. Harris's Quincy Of Sevenoaks (IMP DEU) Fawn boy, 22 months old. This boy has lovely length with a good top line and good angulation. He has excellent bone. A nicely developed chest for his age. He has a lovely kind expression with correct length of muzzle. Nice dark ears and mask. His neck is of good length and width. He moved very well with a good length of stride. His head is borderline for me for being too heavy. His wrinkle is correct on top of his head but he has too much excess around his cheeks which is why he lost out on BD. RBD and RBIS

2. Whelan's Arleith After Darkness Infinite Beauty (IMP POL) Lovely 3 year old Apricot Brindle boy. He has a lovely side profile when stacked. Excellent proportions all round. A lovely length of neck leading into excellent length. He has good depth, lovely lay of shoulder and excellent rear angulation. He has a lovely kind expression with excellent wife nostrils a nice length of muzzle and broadness to his head. He is just a little over done and too heavy in wrinkle for me. He pushed hard for 1st place, but he just didn't quite have the enthusiasm on the move today. 

Open Dog (4,0)

1. Chambers Cyberus Tiger At Gigantiffz nearly 3.5 year old brindle boy. In overall profile this boy had excellent length and good angulation both fore and aft. He has a nice reach of neck leading into a level topline. Nice depth but I'd like a bit more chest. He has a good eye. His head proportions are good but if I'm being critical I'd like a fraction shorter length of muzzle. His side profile movement is good but I'd prefer more strength behind to complete the overall picture on the move. 

2. Graham's Savarow Adonis At Odextin 22 month old fawn boy. He has a lovely black mask and ears with a pleasing, unexaggerated head. I preferred his head to that of my first-placed dog, with good overall qualities. Nice wide nostrils. He has a good chest and plenty of bone. However, I felt his overall profile was a little too compact, and I believe he would present a more balanced picture with slightly less weight. He moved well.

Junior Bitch (3,2)

1. Wesley and Devine's Womlu Only The Worthy For Shadowgate 14 month old lovely dark brindle girl. Litter sister to the junior dog winner and has similar qualities. She has lovely length. Nice depth of chest and good spring of rib. Good dentition. Good eye and correct head. Moved well once settled just a bit full of character at times! 

Post Graduate Bitch (5,3)

1. Hill's Fragilis Fortitude 2 year old apricot girl. Not the biggest of bitches but she has good length and angulation for her size. She has an excellent dark mask and ears with a pleasing feminine head. A well developed chest. Good bone. I believe she would present a more balanced picture overall with slightly less weight. Moved ok.

2. Wesley and Devine's Apple Del Fracasso For Shadowgate. 2.5 year old Fawn girl. She has a lovely head with a beautiful expression. Good dentition and dark mask and ears. She has excellent bone, a deep chest with good spring of rib. I loved this bitches size and substance but she was sadly let down by her topline and post puppy lack of conditioning. Moved with great enthusiasm. 

Limit Bitch (4,3)

1. Hill's Karysmhor Flanders For Fragilis. Nearly 5 year old Apricot girl. Half sister to my post grad bitch winner and very similar in type. Again not the biggest of bitches but she has good length and angulation for her size. She has an excellent dark mask and ears with a pleasing feminine head. A well developed chest with good spring of rib. Good bone. Strong rear end with well developed first and second thigh. I believe she would present a more balanced picture overall with slightly less weight but she still moved very well. Pleased to award her Reserve Best Bitch. 

Open Bitch (4,3)

1. Barrett's Phoebe Of Sevenoaks At Valdenton (IMP DEU) 2.5 year old Fawn girl. On the stack this girl has a wonderful profile. A lovely reach of neck leading into a good topline with excellent length and angulation fore and aft. She is well muscled throughout and presented in excellent condition. She has good bone. A very well developed first and second thigh. I would prefer a slightly more developed chest but she has very good depth for her size. She has excellent dentition with a lovely black mask and ears. Ears are of good size. Nice wide nostrils and dark eyes. A lovely feminine head piece with absolutely no exaggeration although if being particularly critical I'd prefer her to have a fraction less length of muzzle. Moved excellently whilst maintaining a level topline once settled as at times she could get over excited for her day out. Excellently handled. Very pleased to award her Best Bitch and Best Opposite Sex In Show. 

Emma Herring