Leonberger Club Of Great Britain

Leonberger (Dogs)

Firstly, my sincere thanks to the committee for inviting me to judge at our Club Open Show. As someone whose involvement with this wonderful breed has brought me a great deal of enjoyment, it was a particular honour and privilege to be entrusted with this appointment. I would also like to thank all the exhibitors for their support and for accepting my decisions in such a sporting manner.I was pleased with the overall quality of the entry, with many dogs presented in excellent condition and displaying the characteristics that make this breed so special. It was a pleasure to assess so many quality exhibits, and there were several close decisions throughout the day. As always, my critiques are based solely on the dogs as they appeared to me on the day, taking into account breed type, construction, movement, temperament and overall balance.

I hope exhibitors find my comments both helpful and constructive. Finally, congratulations to all the winners, and thank you once again to the Club, exhibitors and stewards for contributing to such an enjoyable and successful show.

Baby Puppy Dog (1,0) 1st Simpson’s Simberger Razzle Dazzle 5 month old who was clearly enjoying his day out, approaching everything with enthusiasm and a happy outlook. Still very much a wobbly youngster, as expected at this age, but showing plenty to like. Presents a masculine head that is well balanced to his body, with a strong, well-defined mask enhancing his expression. Complete dentition for age. Correct proportions, with good height in relation to body length, and a slight tuck-up leading into a well-angulated hindquarter. Unsurprisingly, he still needs time to firm up in topline and pasterns, but these are immature puppy traits and entirely to be expected at this stage of development.

Minor Puppy Dog (1,0) 1st Charwin & Davies’ Jarno Bcoz Its My Time at Debbollinby almost 7month old, immediately appealed for his nice size, overall balance and well-muscled condition. He possesses good bone and substance throughout without appearing heavy. His head is developing well, with correct planes and a muzzle and skull of equal length, giving a pleasing and balanced appearance. Nicely set ears frame his face well and contribute to his attractive expression.Well constructed both front and rear, with good angulation throughout. Particularly pleasing in front, where his feet point straight forward. On the move he covered the ground with ease, maintaining a smooth, efficient gait and showing good drive from the rear with correct tail carriage. A friendly, outgoing youngster who was very well schooled and presenting himself confidently throughout. Best Puppy Dog

Puppy Dog (1,0) 1st Studholme’s La Dolce Luna’s Colour of Wise Force at Kalizmar 8 month old dog of excellent size, presenting a very masculine outline. He has a well-sized head that is in keeping with the rest of his frame, although I would prefer a slightly stronger mask to complete the picture. His neck is of correct length and flows smoothly into well-laid shoulders, contributing to his balanced overall construction.He has plenty of forechest without any sign of exaggeration, along with good bone and substance throughout. Particularly notable were his feet, the tightest of the day, supported by strong, firm pasterns. For one so young, he displayed a fabulous topline that remained steady both standing and on the move, a feature that caught my eye immediately.Presented in excellent coat and condition, he was beautifully turned out. His rounded rump completed a pleasing profile. Once settled on the move, he covered the ground well, maintaining his shape and carrying his tail correctly.

Graduate Dog (3,0) 1st Roe’s Amazing Lord of The Rings Ginger eaven at Parowhite (Imp Pol) 2 year old whose type appealed to me greatly and who made a very pleasing overall impression. He possesses a fabulous head, full of masculinity and breed character, complemented by dark brown eyes of the correct shape, giving a keen and appealing expression. Correct dentition and a strong underjaw complete an attractive headpiece. His well-feathered ears further enhance his overall appearance.He has a nice strong neck, flowing into a well-constructed front assembly with correct depth of chest and good forequarter angulation. While his front construction is one of his strengths, I would have preferred a little more angulation in the rear to provide better balance throughout. His feet were somewhat flat on the day, which detracted slightly from the overall picture.On the move he carried his tail correctly and maintained a pleasing outline. A quality dog with much to admire, particularly for his breed type and excellent head properties, which secured him the class win today.

2nd Arthur & Olivers Lunahai Straight No Chaser 20 months old with plenty of bone and substance, presenting a masculine head of good proportions. His eyes were an attractive mid-brown shade and complemented a strong mask, contributing to a pleasing expression. Presented in a well-maintained coat and overall good condition.He is well angulated both front and rear, with a good framework beneath him, and has nice feet, although he tended to stand slightly “ten to two” with the front feet turned outward. His chest was just a touch too deep, extending beyond the elbows, and I would have preferred a little more length of neck to better complement his overall size and proportions.On the move, I felt a leaner condition would help him make the very best of himself, improving both his freedom of movement and overall balance. His tail carriage was higher than desired and curled over on the move, which affected the outline somewhat. He has a lovely, friendly temperament and showed himself well throughout the class.Overall, a nice dog with many positive qualities, although his substantial build means he currently lacks a little of the elegance called for in the breed standard.

Limit Dog (6,0) A head scratcher of a class, with very fine margins for the top honours, but these 2 stood out from the rest. 1st Sevastopulo’s Amber Vitkennel Crimson King Oldholbans (Imp Blr) 5 years old who immediately appealed for his harmonious outline and overall balance. There is nothing exaggerated about him, and he presents a pleasing picture from every angle. It was the side profile of his head that ultimately secured his placing, displaying excellent breed character with a Roman nose and moderate stop. Well muscled throughout and in excellent condition, he possesses particularly impressive front angulation, while his broad, well-muscled hindquarters provide the strength and balance required for efficient movement.He is an excellent example of breed type, with the correct 9:10 height-to-length proportion and an overall appearance that is both powerful and balanced. On the move he was a pleasure to watch, covering the ground effortlessly while maintaining a strong, steady topline throughout. A quality dog who deserved the class win today. Reserve Best Dog

2nd Simmonds’ Skjaergaardens Dance Monkey Dance JW 21 months old medium size boy with a friendly, playful temperament that made him impossible not to like. He more than held his own in this strong Limit class despite his relative youth and showed plenty of promise for the future. Correct depth of chest, combined with well laid-back shoulders, gives him a sound framework, while his very strong topline remained one of his standout features.I particularly admired his hind angulation, which contributed to his elegant and efficient movement. His coat and furnishings were absolutely outstanding and presented to perfection, enhancing his overall outline considerably. A very well-schooled exhibit who showed himself well throughout, moving with elegance and carrying his tail correctly.A lovely young male with so much to admire, but on this occasion I just preferred the head and overall breed type of the winner.

Open Dog (2,0) 1st Germain’s Ch Simden Broadway Your Song 2.5 years old Recently crowned champion and one who is more than deserving of his title. He presents an impressive picture, combining size, masculinity and breed type in a very balanced package. He has an amenable temperament, being stoic in nature yet friendly and approachable, taking everything in his stride.His elongated skull is a particular strength, complemented by a masculine expression and overall quality of head. Standing on straight forelegs with good bone throughout, he has the substance required for the job he was bred to do. A well-developed forechest, more than fit for function, leads into well-sprung oval ribs and a firm loin, giving him a sound and well-constructed body. His well-muscled thighs provide excellent drive from behind, and on the move he really comes into his own. Covering the ground with ease, he extends fully both fore and aft while maintaining a balanced and efficient gait. An impressive dog who fully justified his placing today. Best Dog, Reserve Best in Show.

2nd Simpson’s Purple Rain Chico Valuer at Dacfolke (Imp Pol) 6 years old Who made a pleasing first impression, presenting as a mature, well-muscled exhibit with plenty of substance. His head is correct throughout, although I would personally prefer a slightly stronger mask. He has an appealing dark brown eye that softens his expression, whilst a good underjaw and well-developed muzzle, tapering slightly as required, complete the picture.He was presented in excellent coat and condition, and I particularly admired his coat colour and impressive mane, which enhanced his overall appearance. His neck is muscular and flows into a well-developed front assembly. The chest reaches the elbows as desired, and he possesses good rib coverage, giving him the capacity and framework expected of the breed.His rounded croup and correct tail set complete a balanced outline. On the move he was free and easy, covering the ground efficiently and maintaining a pleasing profile. A quality dog with much to recommend him, but unfortunate to meet such a worthy winner on the day.

Special Breeders Team

 (1,0) 1st Watsons Lunahai A very consistent team of three exhibits, all displaying a clear family resemblance and pleasing uniformity throughout. Each possessed correct head planes without being overly broad, while their high-set ears further enhanced breed type and expression.This team positively oozed breed type, coupled with the fabulous temperaments that are such an important hallmark of the breed. All three moved freely, demonstrating effective reach and drive while maintaining their overall balance and outlines on the move.Rich coat pigmentation was evident throughout the team, and all were presented and handled to a high standard. A credit to their breeder, showing not only consistency in type and quality but also lovely characters—even allowing for the occasional bit of litter-sibling tomfoolery that brought a smile to watch

Holly-Mae Jackson

(Reveraki)