Leonberger Association

This is a breed I have followed with interest for many years, so I was absolutely thrilled to receive an invite to judge this breed club show. My thanks to every exhibitor for your entries and support. The society was so friendly and welcoming. Jonathan and Debbie did a sterling job as stewards, and everyone seemed to partake in the club show atmosphere which isn’t always the easiest thing to achieve.

Overall, I was pleased with the relative soundness and muscle tone of most exhibits shown. One or two had possibly tweaked getting themselves out of vehicles on the day, but no cause for undue concern. Cleanliness in a few exhibits however did leave a little to be desired. I found depth in quality to be better in bitches than in the dogs, particularly in the older classes where I was spoilt for choice, but both sexes were well represented. One comment I would like to make is on the eye. The expression in this breed is ‘kind’. Oval shape with no haw. I was surprised at the number of questionable eyes I found. Expression (in my opinion) is one of the key ingredients that make a defined breed, just that. The melting, inviting, kind expression of a Leo that I was looking for is much more difficult to achieve with round, staring or light eyes, or showing far too much haw. 

Finally – this breed can exhibit beautiful ground covering even movement. They don’t need to be raced around a ring to prove or disprove the theory. Speed isn’t always a good thing. Especially when it causes tails to fly.

BPB (1,0)

1st Bavaruki Canjo Jumanji. (JONES) What a way to kick things off. 4 months on his first outing, this lad was well tempered and happy throughout his first time in the ring and took it all in his stride. Already demonstrating a strong masculine head with strength to his muzzle. Sweet eye. Standing on good feet and happy to move at an even pace. Comfortable to be gone over. An excellent introduction, good luck with him. BBabyPIS. 

PD (3,1) 

1st La Dolce Luna’s Color of Wise Force at Kalizmar. (STUDHOLME). Pale gold boy of 10months who is already up for height but now to wait for maturity to fill in the breadth and depth. Pleasing head / muzzle lengths, skull still to broaden. Correctly placed eye and ear. Decent length to his neck, good layback of shoulder and level topline. Gentle rear angulation. Moving away he was straight and true and on the go round, his rear push was evident. RBPIS

2nd Simberger Razzle Dazzle. (SIMPSON). 8mth old rich gold with a permissible wave to his coat. Of more substantial bone than 1st he currently stands a sturdier profile. Pleasing head for age, eye currently a little loose but as the cheek fills with maturity, this should assist. Decent ear leather. Shorter neck than 1st. Firm topline. He absolutely bounced round the ring and fully embraced the celebration of the day. On the rare occasion he chose to move correctly for his mum, his rear movement was parallel and straight. 

JD (2,2)

PGD (7,1) 

1st Bavaruki Palow Kiko (CANTLAY). My notes say ‘an honest dog’. 3yr male of good size, substance and bone, nothing appeared overdone. Masculine head which filled my hands. Muzzle to skull of equal proportion which also had depth and with a moderate stop. Acceptable dentition. High ear set and well feathered gave extra width. Dark kind eye. He had length to his neck, well placed shoulder and balanced angulation. Good depth and width of chest with gentle tuck up. He won this class on his even, balanced movement, tail carriage and an even pace. He wasted no energy but I feel could have gone longer than me or his mum could have kept up with him. This movement ultimately took him to Best Dog. Congratulations. 

2nd Lunahai Straight No Chaser (ARTHUR & OLIVER). 22mth. Good overall side profile. And on first look, this boy was my class winner. On the go over, he had correct head proportions, strength to his jaw, roman nose and a tight black lip. Scissor bite. Would prefer a slightly tighter eye. Moderate length neck, balanced angulation fore and aft and level topline. I would prefer a touch more width. Nice tight feet. Measured movement. 

3rd Bedeburn Radgie Gadgie At Denzleos (WHITE).

LD (5,0) 

1st Kalizmar The Hitch Hiker (BURRELL & BURRELL). 2yr rich gold/brown male. On the smaller side of the standard but everything is in relative proportion. Coat marked to advantage and accentuated his mane and well placed front assembly. I liked his head – of decent breadth to width, substantial muzzle, well placed teeth with scissor bite. Ear of good thickness and with good fringes. Beautiful dark tight oval eye. Decent length to neck but profuse coat hides true visible length. Credible width to his body. Moderate in angulation, I judged this boy when he was a young puppy and am pleased to see and feel that his rear pasterns have strengthened. This strength pushed him away from me evenly and true and he could happily move all day, covering the ground with minimum of effort. RBD. Congratulations. 

2nd Sulandi Fall For You At Westshaw (IVESON & IVESON). 3yr male and altogether a different type to 1st. He is slow to mature but I don’t doubt will be worth the wait. Balanced in head, smooth to go over, super stop and correctly placed oval dark eye. Framed by high set ear. Scissor bite. Decent neck and body shape, chest of correct depth and width for his frame. This boy comes into his own when he aligns his neck and shoulder - his whole frame just balances and shines. Moves evenly, just a little proud of his tail. His time will come. Another I have judged in the past. 

3rd Morwinas Othello Of Brynarian (BALDWIN)

OD (6,1) Open Dog 6 Entries -1

1st CH Alfross Ramabo Harper (LEAR-SCHOFIELD). This 5yr male impressed me on his overall shape and stature. With substance all through, yet still retaining the elegance this breed requires. Head was a joy to go over, correctly proportioned and his fleshy fringed ear framed it perfectly. Dark eye of correct size, would prefer a touch tighter. Scissor bite. He had width all through and coming toward me, he filled my eye. Stood on wonderfully rounded feet. Muscular neck. Balanced in angulation. His movement was measured and did enough to win this class. In the challenge, he started to tire which did affect his movement and therefore my final overall dog placings. Following judging I was thrilled to be told he was the sire of both my ultimate Best Dog and Best Bitch / BIS. His virtues have definitely been passed along. 

2nd CH Simden Broadway Your Song (GERMAIN). Rising 3yr gold male, with balance and substance all through. Not as of profuse coat as 1st allowing his frame to easily be seen and appreciated. Well proportioned head with moderate stop and the best of roman nose. Decent jaw with well placed and correct dentition. Dark oval eye. He had length to his neck, length to his shoulder and good return of upper arm. Decent depth and width to chest. Complementary moderate angulation in the rear. Stood on neat feet. His movement was a little erratic and given his conformation on the go over, I willed him to settle to visibly see what my hands has told me. His handler got the best from him that she could. 

3rd Onaway Dark Trumperter at Westshaw (IVESON & IVESON)

VD(0,0)

BPB(0,0)

PB (7,4)

1st Cassiusleos Rogues Riot (GODFREY). 10mth gold bitch who I was very pleased to meet. Beautifully balanced in profile with the best muscle tone I have felt in a youngster for a long while! This paid off and her movement was fluid and measured and held her topline at all times. Moderate balanced angulation. Her head was acceptable for age, still to broaden and break. Eye was a little light in colour but did tone with her overall coat. Correct ear set and thickness. Lovely tight feet. On the move, she would do well to control her tail a little to enhance the complete picture. Shared a wonderful partnership with her Mum – long may it continue. BPIS.

2nd Nevaeh Mishka Ease My Mind (Imp Est) (PEACHEY). 8mth rich gold bitch with a beautifully sweet head complemented by a correctly placed and shape eye. Currently her bone growth is accurately demonstrating her age with her rear taller than her front, throwing her overall profile out at present. She moved out well demonstrating what there is to come but at the moment her rear was not in sync. The joy of puppies! 

3rd Hillhaven Sail Away Sweet Sister (IKC) (CUMMINGS) 

JB (2,0)

1st Debbollinby Crafty Ideas For Simberger (SIMPSON). 14mth light gold bitch. My notes say ‘immature but it’s all there waiting’. Head correctly proportioned for age with the most beautiful eye shape and set. Decent width to muzzle with desired roman nose apparent. Slight arch to her good length of neck. Balanced angulation in profile and straight in front when viewed from the front. Parallel rear. She now just needs time to fill in the gaps. I feel she will be a very slow burn, but worth the wait. Measured and balanced on the move. 

2nd Bavaruki Cilantro (JONES). 16mth bitch who when I first saw, thought would be my winner. Dark in colour and of a seemingly more substantial frame and build than 1st but still ultra feminine. Pretty head with required proportions, dark eye, correct set of ear. She had strength to her neck and correct body to leg proportions. On moving, her rear movement was a little untidy which may have been exacerbated by a longer than ideal hock and flexible front pastern. She had to give way to the measure and balance of movement of 1st. 

PGB (4,1)

1st Lunahai Dancing In The Dark At Fieldshouse (WESCOMB & WESCOMB). 22mth brown gold bitch who just made me smile with her laissez-faire attitude to ring etiquette! Of good size, she had a pretty, inviting head, with the required strength and of decent width but not overdone. Tight oval eye, moderate stop and decent muzzle with roman nose. Scissor bite. Good length of neck onto a strong, straight front. When viewed from the side, her shoulder was well laid back (like her own attitude), decent return of upper arm and chest to leg length ideal. Her rear complemented her fore and she had width and substance all through. I noted that her toes were well arched. Probably the best example I saw today. Gentle and balanced on the move, but with obvious power in reserve. RBB and Res BIS. Congratulations. 

2nd Bavaruki Beate's Ziel (JONES). 2yr lion gold bitch who I also liked very much. My notes demonstrate I had a bit of a challenge to split these bitches. Stronger in head than first, yet still with the required femininity. She was balanced in profile all through with just the right amount of substance. Her movement was powerful yet balanced. I preferred the rear movement and overall expression of 1st and because I was having to pick, these small points did have to come into play today. Unlucky to meet, no doubt these bitches change places on other days. 

3rd Prideofelsa Amber Heart At Leoflaed. (BENNETT)

LB (5,2)

1st Lionscourt Orenda (SPRINGEL). 2 days off 2yrs, this pale gold bitch has both style and substance. She is well off for size yet still very much a bitch. In profile she has profuse coat, of medium soft texture, which might detract some from her superb balance - I was fully able to appreciate this on the go-over. Correctly proportioned and balanced head with a sweet, tight almond eye, strength to muzzle and jaw, tight dark lip and complete scissor. Ears were well feathered and fleshy. The calm, kind expression I was looking for. She had good layback of shoulder, tight elbow, width to her front, which carried through to her firm loin, substantial rump and balanced rear. An easy and fluid mover demonstrating her front extension with a minimum of foot lift, and push from the rear. Her ground cover is excellent. A pleasure to award BIS. 

2nd Bavaruki Palow Cashmere (TAME & AMESBURY). 3yr darker in colour bitch who wanted to be wherever her Mum was. Her handler deserves a medal and did a cracking job all things considered. More elongated in the head than 1st, yet still perfectly permissible. Sweet shape eye and gentle stop gave her a lovely expression. Slightly looser in the lip than 1st. She was balanced all through and full of animation on the move when she could see her mum. On the occasions that her feet were on the floor in the right order, she had a very appealing side profile. Another one who made me laugh!

3rd Kingslord Miss Selene at Alfross (IMP FIN) (LEAR-SCHOFIELD)

OB (5,0) This was indeed a class of compromise and possibly my most challenging of the day. 

1st CH Hillhaven Your A Heartbreaker (IKC) (WESTWOOD & WESTWOOD). 4yr bitch who was balanced in profile and won this class on her movement, front extension and overall soundness. Feminine head, eye of correct shape and size, set a little wide. Ear set relatively high and of good texture and feathering. She had width all through, level topline and carried her tail well. A pleasure to watch on the go-around. 

2nd CH Velikty Medved Angara Hug Kalizmar (STUDHOLME). 5yr bitch whose head and expression were exactly what I, personally, really like. I could have looked into her eyes for days. Wonderfully in harmony with everything in the right place. A picture. She had width to her front, well placed shoulder and was of good substance all through. Her rear movement was not quite in balance with her front movement today and so had to give way to 1st. 

3rd Sulandi Fallen Angel (IKC) JW (HEGINBOTHAM)

VB (2,1) 

1st Bavaruki Veba Vanilla (WOOD). 7 ¾ yr distinguished lady who was just a sweetheart. Beautifully coloured. Her age was given away by daintily greying eyebrows, but otherwise could still hold her own gracefully. She had width to her head, an expressive dark eye, desired roman nose and a full complement scissor bite. Well-made shoulder and front, and still standing on arched toes. Decent rump and rear angulation. Moved evenly and didn’t give way to younger bitches easily. BVIS.

Louise Bermingham