Houston Dachshund Club – July 19, 2012
Download this page in PDF formatI really enjoyed my trip to Houston as Trish Mims and the club members made me feel more than welcome, and their hospitality left nothing to be desired. (All I can say is that, in my next life, I want to come back as one of Trish and Chris’ MLs!)
The entry was not huge, but the overall quality was very nice, indeed. The final Best of Breed line-up was one that I found very attractive, and I hope their virtues were as apparent to the spectators as they were to me.
I started with longhairs and my WD, Walmar-Solo OMG, was a very pleasing dog; moderate in size but extravagant in all the details that are attractive in a Dachshund. He was low and long, his coat was correct in length and texture, big-fronted, pretty-headed and he managed to hold that very correct profile from the side in motion.
My RWD, Kerrybrook Tenacious MLD, from the Open Mini class, was a heavily coated dapple of pleasing proportion with a nice head and expression. He did, however, have to grant length and a more correct front to the WD.
WB long, Solo’s Shake Your Money Maker SL, was a big substantial bitch from BBE, with a generous arch of neck flowing into a smooth shoulder, level topline, stacked or moving, and very dry and clean, despite her size. Perhaps a little more coat would have been in order, but this is Houston in July and she had ample for me.
RWB, Kerrybrook Victorian Lace MLD, was a heavily coated dapple from open mini, long and low with the correct outline, she granted levelness over the top to the WB.
From a strong class of five dog specials and one bitch special, I went with the WD for BW and BV. I felt he was the most correct entry as he was long with a shorter loin and low, while still having the most free side movement in the class, keeping that correct profile from the side in motion or static.
BOS-V, CH Solo’sTake A Bow SL, was a small, typey bitch in possession of a lovely outline, low stationed, with a long arched neck flowing into a smooth shoulder. The WD carried the day with his more prominent forechest and his ability to keep it exposed while moving.
Select dog LH, CH Burdachs Brown Eyed Handsome Man, was a red miniature whose head and expression were absolutely beautiful. Among his other virtues were proper coat of the correct texture, topline, attitude and rear. He just lacked a little in front to carry the day, but a commendable dog, none the less.
WD Wire, Raydachs Full Throttle SW, was a standard wild boar 12-18 month puppy who was well off in all the essentials. He had a strong topline, nice rear, harsh coat and excellent breed type.
RWD, Nuforest Moved to Epiphany MW, was a Mini from the AOH class that granted length and coat to the WD.
WB, J-Walk Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds SW, was a sole entry from BBE who had a harsh coat, nice outline with a level topline. Very deserving of CH points on the day, she could have withstood some competition.
From a field of two male specials, two female specials, WD and WB, I soon narrowed it down to a choice between a male and female special, both wild boar standards. The male was a little cobbier, but possessed of a correct coat, nice head, long powerful arched neck, blending into well set shoulders and a level topline. This dog had a very commanding presence.
His competition was a longer, more angular bitch who seemed a little less mature than the dog, but was a very nice mover and well off in the breed essentials.
I went with the wild boar standard dog, CH Raydachs Ride My Ducati SW, as BV for his boldness of movement and flowing lines, especially that neck/shoulder set.
BW was the WB who won the day on her maturity and immaculate coat.
BOS was the wild boar specials bitch, CH Raydachs Ruby Tuesday SW, who excelled in length and movement, but finally lost out to the more pleasing lines of the BV winner. Both are very nice examples of this Variety
Select Dog Wire, CH Icon’s One Man Wolf Pack, a wild boar standard, granted coat and condition to the BV winner, but had a strong topline and was long, carrying the correct topline with that length.
Select bitch Wire, CH Caidrac’s San Antones Famous Madame MW, was a very harshly coated red miniature , excelling in topline and a nice mover. She however bowed to the more correct proportions of the BV and BOS.
In Smooths, WD, Bessdachs Cajun Black Magic, from BBE, was a big, brash moving B&T. He is to be particularly commended for that length of neck which he carried beautifully arched, standing or moving which contributed greatly to his striking outline. He did grant lower station to the RWD however.
RWD, Karavel’s Proceed to Party at Hildisvin, from the 9-12 puppy class, excelled in topline, length and stature, sound coming and going and was blessed with many other virtues. Not quite as self confident as the WD, he bowed to the WD’s bold carriage and movement as well as his little more correct tail set. One of my closest placings all day.
WB, Karavel’s Get The Party Started, a 9-12 month puppy, was a joy, a long and low B&T standard with a flawless topline and attitude that didn’t stop for an instant. She caught my eye as she came in the ring and I found nothing to dissuade me from that first impression.
RWB, Seacrest Smooth Operator SS, a BBE entry, was another B&T who is blessed with one of the most outstanding outlines and fronts in the whole entry. She was stunning on the table, but unfortunately was not as sure on the go-round and was unable to pull that outline together, so the WB’s strength of topline and tail carriage tipped the scale in her favor.
Three dog specials, four bitch specials, WD and WB made for a strong Smooth BV class, making it difficult to winnow the competitive entry down to my choices.
My eventual choice for BV, CH Dynadaux Redneck Fancy Boy MS, was a red smooth miniature, outstanding in outline, showing all the essential hallmarks of a Dachshund. Beautifully set under himself, with correct angulation, front and rear, beautiful stretch of neck with the desired short hock, I consider him to be a top contender. As someone who has been active in the Breed for more years than I care to remember, the advancement in quality of the miniature smooth has been remarkable and is a true testament to the knowledgeable breeders who have made these great strides.
BW was the very feminine WB.
BOS, CH Seacrest Double Feature SS, was an elegant B&T bitch, very strong in the basics as she was long, low and level across the top, pretty headed with an easy ground-covering movement. She did however grant strength of feet and some forechest to the BV winner.
Select dog, CH Grandgables Sum Buddy Walden, was another red miniature, put down impeccably, sound and showy, level and of a lovely type. Another top contender, but on the day, the BV’s front and rear angulation carried the day for him. Another testament to the great quality in miniature smooths.
Select Bitch Smooth, CH Toskydox Witchy Woman SS, was a B&T standard , nicely proportioned with clean lines and smooth movement, but granted levelness across the top to the BOS winner.
Best of Breed was unusual for me as it consisted of three males as I am very prone to lean toward bitches for some reason.
The three finalists were the longhair with an outstanding forechest, standing or on the move, topping off that outline with a graceful neck set into a smooth shoulder, sweeping into a well set on shoulder placement. Long, low and level, he is fortunate to gain that desired length through length of body, not length of loin.
The smooth BV, at the risk of repeating myself, had that elusive outline that showed his ample forechest, angulation and well blended neck and shoulder set. Again, he was long, low and level due to correct body structure, not loin. I admired the substance of this dog in a small elegant package.
The wire BV excelled in type, outline and that sweep of neck into shoulder that shows off the shoulder set I reward. He had the correct coat, the rear and a commanding presence that was a combination of strength and refinement. This is a stallion of a dog.
All three had the outline I prefer, all were smooth movers , sound and ground covering, all were shown well and in the best of condition and, more importantly, as we are evaluating breeding stock, all are dogs I would breed to. They each had all the hallmarks that define our breed from just a glance.
On the day, I chose the longhair, Walmar-Solo’s OMG, as BB for his advantage in exposing more forechest on the move with a little more pleasing outline in motion than the other two and for a small advantage in length.
For BOS-B, again I was faced with three very worthy choices, pleasing in type and outline, long, low and level with sound, ground covering movement. I finally chose the smooth, CH Seacrest Double Feature SS, for her slightly more correct outline on the move, but all three are to be commended for their condition, breed type and many overall virtues.
I want to thank all the exhibitors who asked my opinion on their dogs by entering. Every dog was in great condition and of the quality to be shown, which is actually remarkable! There were a couple of off-bites, nothing serious and a few were a little more unsteady on the table than I would have wished, but overall the quality carried through to every entry.
After the show, many exhibitors and club members went out for dinner as a group and that was the perfect way to finish off a great day with our breed.
I also must comment on their great array of Challenge trophies, especially a matted print in memory of Sid and Ann Sims, long time members and supporters of the Houston Dachshund Club and Dachshunds in general. With the great show site, well lit and easy to work from, and the great hospitality, before, during and after the show, I highly recommend supporting this show. You will have a great time.