Moving the Rock in Portland! (6/27/2013)
Download this page in PDF format[Editor’s Note: This critique is printed here with the permission of the Greater Portland Dachshund Club, who hosted the show and requested the critique.]
I arrived in Portland on Thursday, June 20, 2013 after a very uneventful trip out. When I landed, I was smitten by Portland’s beautiful backdrop! The area could not be more lovely and was really conducive to setting the stage for the Dachshunds to show their stuff in the ring!!
The next day, after Mrs. Beverly Dodds judged Puppy and Veteran Sweeps, we had a great showing of seven very able Dachshund Junior Handlers. From the Master class, rising to the top of that group was Miss Amber Leonard, showing a young special, CH Hundeleben Cock-A-Doodle-Doo SL, who literally did everything his handler asked of him. These wonderful Juniors were a gorgeous sight to see at the start of a great day of Dachshunds.
Smooths were my first Variety, and I started off with two Dachshunds who seemed to be very happy with their owners. Both were dogs who showed the correct outline and were very sound coming and going. I chose Ruby Red’s Georgia Clay, from the Bred-By class with owner James Pitman over Joy Taylor with Rockdachs MacIntosh Red v Niebur, from the Amateur-Owner-Handler class. I felt the WD was a little shorter and more together than the little longer, more robust Reserve dog that day.
In the Winners class in bitches, I soon narrowed my choice down to the 12-18 month bitch, Waldorf v Sausage Stables Xena SS, owned by Miki Perry and Michelle and Colleen Kutzler and shown by Cathy Sorensen and the Bred-By bitch, Barkerville Key West, owned and shown by Ted and Karen Brunner. On closer look, the Bred-By bitch, Key West, was just amazing in outlook, performance and structure and she was my WB. While the younger bitch, who was my Reserve, had a beautiful shape and I liked the look of that nice body, she just could not be in contention with the super look of that Bred-By bitch and all her extras!
As Smooth Specials came into the ring, the thought of all the class bitch had to offer was really filling my mind; I really liked her and what she had to offer the Breed. Again, she caught my eye as she entered the ring, and her strengths were very much in evidence against the very strong virtues of some of the older dogs just entering the ring and demanding their own attention with their wonderful outlines and correct structure. The competition soon wound down to a few of the several Specials entered and I kept back a few, including CH Barkerville Keystone, CH Grandgables Sumbuddy Walden, DC Niebur’s Phoenix Rising JE, CH Barkerville Keyera, CH Lindmont’s Brand New Day at Geordox Isle, WD Ruby Red Georgia Red Clay and WB Barkerville Keywest. After gaiting all of them again singly and in pairs against each other, I soon wound up choosing some for what I felt they offered the Breed and the other breeders. To reward her outstanding movement and beautiful type, the bitch CH Barkerville Keyera, owned by Ted and Karen Brunner, was the choice as my Best of Variety. Her closest competitor was the WB, Barkerville Keywest , also owned by Ted and Karen Brunner, who was the BOV’s litter sister. The dog, CH Barkerville Keystone, again owned by Ted and Karen Brunner, was Best of Opposite and another littermate to the two bitches already in use as BV and BOW. What was outstanding about the dog was his great side movement where he really used that whole body and always took my eye whenever I saw him moving from the side; he was another gorgeous dog. Select Bitch was CH Lindmont’s Brand New Day at Geordox Isle, owned by Georjan Bridger and Ron and Faith Overdahl and shown by Tammie Wilcox. Select Dog was CH Grandgables Sumbuddy Walden, owned by Denise Waldo. The Selects were very nice dogs, but just not quite as good in the front area when compared to the eventual winners of the day.
In Smooths overall, the lack of front was really noticeable and it was amazing to finally find those with fronts as I like them. This is what makes judging an important function for our dogs as we have to keep searching and searching for those great fronts. They are still out there, but not easy to find.
Wires were next and my WD was a big wild boar dog who had a great outline and could move like he knew what those legs were for. He was a delightful dog; Starbarrack North by Northwest, owned by Cynthia Austin and Martina Cortez. Reserve was an Amateur-Owner-Handler, Kliene Festus MW ME CAA, owned by Jacque Keller-McCormick.
In bitches, Winners Bitch was a superb 6-9 Month Puppy who could move like the wind with that great side outline for which we should all be looking. She was Woldorf’s Illusion SW, owned by Steve Wolden and Patricia Madsen and shown by Tammie Wilcox. She was a very lovely bitch who used what she had to the fullest. Gorgeous, indeed. Reserve was another little bitch who had all she needed to become a star in this array of bitches. She was Lockshire-Draken’s Pippin On The Move, owned by Helen Sause. She was a very sound little bitch who took command of the ring with every step, leveling out that topline, arching that neck and saying she was one of the better ones. Again, a very nice bitch!
In Wire Specials, there were fewer dogs and they were easier to compare to each other. It was fantastic to see the differences these structural changes made on these dogs. My Best of Variety, GCH Raydachs Ride My Ducati SW, owned by Shirley Ray and shown by Adam Petersen, presented such a beautiful picture as he was shown to this victory by his handler. I have never seen him when he did not make full use of his capabilities and I have never seen him fear anything, always being friendly to the Judge with his own outlook on life. In outline, he presents a gorgeous picture, with all the right attributes Dachshunds need to move and be the dogs we want. In moving, he was flawless on the down and back and just had a wonderful outline from the side and was, with all this, my clear BOV winner. Select Dog was GCH Kadell’s Rustic Gold W, owned by Laura Reynolds and Catlin and James Cahill and shown by Catlin. He was a very sporty mover who zipped around the ring very easily and presented a very pleasing portrait in outline, too. Best of Winners was the Winners Dog and Best of Opposite was the Winners Bitch.
Again, there were similar problems cropping up in the Wire Variety. The fronts seemed to be the main concern, as there was very little sticking out in front of those laid back shoulders; this does bring some concern from this long-time breeder.
In Longs, my Winners Dog was the very beautiful dappled miniature, Kaycees Galewinns Starburst at Wagsmore MLD, owned by Jeff and Karyn Dionne, who used his gorgeous forechest and nice reach of neck to really show off his stylish reach and drive. Seeing him stacked next to the other dogs, it became apparent just how short-stationed and typey he was. He was just so beautiful, in my opinion. Reserve was another great new dog who had many things to offer, being of sound type and structure, but lacked a little in the forechest department and that, of course, was where I made the decision between those two dogs. The Reserve was Riverwind’s Thief In The Night, owned by Mark and Nancy Eby and shown by Mark Eby. He was very nice and an effortless mover, down and back and from the side, but just not quite as good as the WD was in the front. The WD had a much more distinctive forechest, which he kept out for all to see!
In Winners Bitch, my choice was Wagsmore Beautifool ML, owned by Jeff and Karyn Dionne, a smallish black and tan from the Bred-By class, who carried herself beautifully on the go around, easily showing adequate forechest, showing why the Dachshund is built this way and what the forechest does for the Dachshund on the move and standing still. This was a very nicely made bitch who could truck around the ring and look great doing it. For Reserve, I went back and got the second place Bred-By bitch who, like the Reserve dog, was so very excellent and had so many great qualities, but just lacked a little in the front area. The reserve was Riverwind Fortune Is Gold L, a littermate to the RWD, owned by Mark and Nancy Eby and shown by Nancy this time.
For the Long Variety, the ring grew with four dog Specials, a bitch Special, a Veteran dog Special, a Dual Champion bitch Special and Winners Dog and Winners Bitch to make quite a class. After working them all in pairs as well as singly, I made the difficult choice to give Best of Variety and Best of Winners to the Winners Dog, Kaycees Galewinns Starburst at Wagsmore MLD, the great looking and moving class dog for his superior reach, drive and forechest that he has and knows how to use. He created such a great picture on the ground, moving and standing solo, that he was not to be denied this day by me. Best Opposite was the class bitch, who, again, made such a great picture moving around the ring and stacking herself. She was another beautiful one and was worthy of the Best Opposite title on that day. She was Wagsmore’s Beautifool ML and both she and the BOV dog are owned by Jeff and Karyn Dionne. Select Dog was CH Hundeleben Cock-A-Doodle Doo SL, owned by Amber Leonard and Carlos Puig and shown by Amber, and Select Bitch was CH Riverwind A Promise Kept, owned by Katherine Schisel and Nancy and Mark Eby and shown by Kathy. Both were good on their feet and the male had a little front and used it quite nicely, but not as impressively as the class dog did.
Again, in Longs, the front and forechest in particular, have the same problem we have seen in so many Varieties through the years. I realize that the front is only one aspect of a great Dachshund, but no Dachshund is truly great without a strong front that moves very easily around the ring. A great-fronted Dachshund IS a great Dachshund. Please work on those fronts, as they are the hallmark of our Breed.
For Best of Breed, three very similar dogs came back into the ring. The long was a superb little dog, with a great front, rear, neckset and beautiful underline and, most of all, really superb on the go around, from the side and on the down and back. The Smooth bitch was so beautiful standing, with that gorgeous outline and her absolutely flawless motion from the side, covering ground and holding that quality through the examination. She was quite impressive. In Wires, the outstanding male Special came back in and was absolutely beautiful standing or moving. He was gorgeous whatever way you looked at him. After working them over against each other, looking for the great qualities we love in the Dachshund breed, I chose the Wire dog as the Best of Breed. I have to admit that this dog really catches my eye whenever I see him at shows. I believe he is an outstanding Special, but he was certainly hard pressed this day by the Smooth bitch and the Long dog. What a trio this was to play with!
For Best Opposite, the Smooth bitch was joined by the Long class bitch and the Wire puppy. All three were outstanding examples of the Breed and all showed nicely that day as well. The Smooth bitch was not to be denied the BOS award; she never looked better all day. Again, another great one to end up with at the end of the show.
Veterans were honored this day as well and, at the end of the show, the Smooth dog, DC Niebur’s Phoenix Rising JE, owned by Dave and Lynn Niebur and A and C Bouneff, was the winner of Best Veteran. This outstanding male still looked to be in great shape and was Group One the next day in the Veterans Group.
Best Dual Champion was DC Serenity’s Grace Like Rain RN, owned by Wendy and Brett Snyder and Patrice Baker, a bigger bitch who was having some trouble that day, but soon was fixed and ready for another run!
After that long day, the club hosted a great dinner afterwards and the food could not have been better. I had so much to eat that I had to go back to my motel to lie down. It gave me a chance to think about the day’s judging. In retrospect, look to that front and start building from there. To have a great Dachshund, you need a great-fronted one and that great-fronted one will give you something on which to build that great Dachshund type. Keep building them, and I hope that I get to come up and recognize the great parts you are working on!
Next year, come to Portland and show and stay for the cookout! You will have a great time!
-Dan Harrison
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