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A huge THANK YOU to your Committee for inviting me to judge at the show, giving me the opportunity to see a small part of your beautiful country and meet some lovely people, to the exhibitors for honouring me with the entry – I really do appreciate the effort made – and to the dogs, for making me feel at home, even though I was on the other side of the world! Having judged the previous weekend in Australia it has to be said that I was greeted by each and every dog as though I were an old friend, tails wagging and friendly eyes – just as it should be.
I appreciate the problems that you encounter in trying to improve your stock. The distances involved in travelling to use stud dogs, and the limited gene pool which you have will always prove a stumbling block. Better folk than me will have reasoned before that the best way forward is probably to seek to import semen from proven sires of quality stock, from whichever country. Today with the advances of veterinary science artificial insemination has a great success rate. Personally I have never sought to export my own puppies; last year I did export one to Canada, for the first, and possibly only, time. For anyone looking to import quality stock again the odds are stacked against. The majority of breeders are not going to export their best puppies, and even with the best will in the world, no one can guarantee what a puppy is going to turn out like. The best possible option would probably be to try to import a well bred young adult bitch, possibly one that has already had a litter, even if she wasn’t the best show option. A very difficult task.
Compared to the stock I judged in Australia your general quality is nowhere near as uniform, yet I still managed to find enough dogs to form what I considered to be a decent line up of typical animals. The general condition of some of the dogs was lacking and almost across the board I was horrified by the poor feet that I found: either long flat toes or such thickly padded feet that the nails barely even reached the ground and had no chance of wearing down naturally. I have always viewed the dog as a fighting machine, no matter that I would never encourage it to be (maybe a bit like owning a loaded gun with the safety catch permanently on!) and as such I feel that each area of the dog needs to be capable of fulfilling its requirement. Strong, tidy feet to me are a very important part of the dog’s make-up, enabling it to not only get a firm footing, but also to gain purchase when propelling forward – not purely a cosmetic part of the dog, but a necessity. What I did find were generally dogs that fitted the standard fairly well and good pigmentation.
BABY PUPPY DOG (2) Two lovely babies, these two will likely chop and change during the coming year or two. Good luck to them both!
1st Joyce’s WARFARE IRON HAVEN
Four month old dark brindle babe with a smaller shape all over than the second placed pup. This little chap is shorter in the back than the other fellow and has a better rib at this stage. He has quite a cobby body, solid round bone and a lovely expression. He actually has reasonable feet and I’m sure they will tighten as he grows, as will his forward movement. Today he padded out well for his owner
2nd Clay’s WESTWOOD THE TROUPER
Another dark lad with a cleaner head than the first dog and showing more depth of skull at this age. He has a lovely bend of stifle and nice ear carriage, although unfortunately his feet are not his fortune! Both puppies had lovely coats.
PUPPY DOG (1) 1st Anderson’s CHALLENGER HEY DUDE
This red smutty lad was soooo naughty - but I’m sure he is well loved as his lady handler just let him get away with murder! Sporting a decent enough head shape with a good width and depth to his muzzle and a clean bite, darker eyes would enhance but when he chooses to use his ears he shows a true Stafford expression. He has great pigmentation, including his black nails, carries plenty of bone and has a very good rib development for a puppy. On the move, in spite of his good bend of stifle he could have more positive rear movement but coming towards he is true and holds his topline well.
JUNIOR DOG (6,2abs) 1st Julian’s ROJEME TARBUCK
This is a very smart black brindle dog of standard proportions with a strong head shape, good reach of neck and keen expression aided by his dark eyes and general good pigmentation. Perhaps he could do with a shade more length to his front legs, although his upper arms are correct, and slightly more bend of stifle. However, he is shorter in the back than the second placed dog, has decent feet (one of the few!) and holds a truer topline. His movement is quite positive and he responds very well to his handler.
2nd Power’s WARFARE FAIR & SQUARE
This fellow is taller and a tad bigger all over than the class winner. His head is not so well defined as the first dog but he has a better bend of stifle and moves better behind. His brisket has dropped well but he has long toes and flattish feet.
3rd Trainor’s DRAKON THE PRESIDENT
A brindle dog, lacking in skull depth and with flighty ears, but what he lacks in front of the collar he makes up for behind. This chap has a very nice body, showing good rib development and a strong rear end, although his front movement is not quite so positive. An improvement in pigmentation would enhance his appearance, but for his first show he moved out well, if a little shyly.
INTERMEDIATE DOG (5)
1st Mannagh’s CH WARFARE DADDY’S WARRIOR
A lovely standard dark brindle showman with great depth to his skull, dark eyes and a good mouth, this dog has a plenty of heart room and shows a satisfactory topline and bend of stifle. My criticisms would be that he is still a wee bit wrinkly in the head and a stronger underjaw would negate the heavy lip but he showed like a trooper. Intermediate in Show
2nd Morse’s WESTBRED WHITE KNIGHT (IMP AUST)
Pied dog of good balance, although slighter than the class winner, he appeared somewhat unsettled. He actually moved out well enough around the ring driving from a decent back end and showing adequate forward reach while holding his topline.. His coat is immaculate and his owner is to be complimented.
3rd Byers’ CH PITSHAFT BARNARD
Top-sized powerhouse of a male, turned out in the best of condition, this red dog was up on his toes all the time. He has a lovely expression and another with an excellent coat, although I think darker eyes would enhance the look.
NZ BRED DOG (4, 2abs) 1st Anderson’s CHALLENGER BACK TO BLACK
A very typy black brindle dog although he could do with just a fraction more all over. He has dark eyes and a good reach of neck. Eyes are maybe set a wee bit close together but he has a true expression. Although he is decently balanced I feel perhaps he would benefit from a little more length to his front legs. Moving towards he paddles but can’t deny him his overall place by virtue of his style.
2nd New’s ROJEME RUFF N TUFF
An obviously older dog but still maintaining a correct bite, he has now developed through the brisket. I actually preferred the expression of this dog even though I could not overlook his poor feet which were overly padded and with long toes. Longer in the back than the first dog but with a good bend of stifle he actually moved much more soundly in front, but did not have the rear movement to match. This fellow was a complete chatterbox and certainly made his presence felt!
VETERAN DOG (3)
1st Curtis’ NZ CH BIGBLOCK GET IN THE RING (IMP AUST)
This eight year old young man has had to tolerate his sister chewing on his ear! Despite this he held his dignity and was turned out in great condition for his age, maintaining a strong head shape with tremendous depth to his skull. Shorter in back than the second placed dog and with much better feet, he has lots of depth to his brisket, giving engine room aplenty and a decent reach to his neck. Veteran in Show
2nd Clay’s CH WESTWOOD HIGHWAYMAN
Slighter younger chap whose head shape was less dramatic than the class winner, the heavier lips spoil the outline somewhat. Feet are not this man’s fortune with the back feet having extremely thick pads. He moves less positively than the first dog and has weaker pasterns but he does have a most beautiful coat.
3rd Muir’s CH REDSTAFF PIED PIPER
Oldest fellow in the class, being almost 10 years of age, and probably preferring to be snuggled up on the couch, but nevertheless, this red and white old timer still has a lovely head shape and shoulder angulation. He is slightly longer cast but maintains his topline reasonably
OPEN DOG (3, 1 abs)
1st Curtis & Gielen’s BIGBLOCK SLIM SHADY
Both dogs in this class of typical style but I prefer the expression of the first placed dog. He has slightly better feet and is in better condition, holding his topline well enough. His ear carriage is fine and although he hasn’t quite got the depth of skull of the second placed dog he does have plenty of solid round bone and a sturdy back end. Runner Up in Show
2nd Anderson’s NZ CH HIGHBOURNE TRIPLE CROWN (IMP AUST)
This is a really nice dark brindle dog with an excellent rib development and shoulder placement who interacts very well to his handler. I found his eyes set just a touch too close together but all in all he is a quality, standard sized dog who is a more than worthy winner of the Reserve CC.
BABY PUPPY BITCH (6, 1abs)
1st Thorne’s RENEGADE HEAVENLY BREW
Tiny little red bitch at her very first show, she and her lady handler both! When something caught her attention she stood like a little star and showed me enough to know that she has all she needs for a promising show career once she learns what’s expected of her and her handler conquers her nerves. She has a beautiful chiselled head shape, housing a good bite coming through and a strong underjaw. Darker eye colour would enhance her beauty but it is commensurate with her coat colour. Unfortunately she has short outer toes, although she wasn’t the only one here today with that fault, but that did nothing to take away her overall quality and balance. She won the Baby Puppy in Show place with style – good luck to you both for the future! Baby Puppy in Show
2nd Joyce’s WARFARE IRON EYES
This baby is younger than the class winner and given the extra time I’m sure her head shape will become better defined, smoothing out those baby wrinkles. She is slightly shorter in the upper arm than the first puppy, but has good body properties with a short back and correct bend of stifle. All in all she responded very well to her handler and showed herself off to advantage.
3rd Meredith’s DIMON REEL STEAL
I had said in my notes that I thought the other two puppies in the class were probably sisters, and it turned out that they are. This brindle babe is shorter in the back than her litter mate. At present her ears haven’t settled correctly and they appear to be quite heavy. She had a wonderful time in the ring and showed me every inch of her belly - what a sweetie!
PUPPY BITCH (7, 1abs)
1st Joyce’s WARFARE HAREM SCAREM
This was quite a diverse class, with puppies of differing ages and qualities making the judging more a case of nit-picking.
The winner here is a well put together brindle bitch, still showing some wrinkle to her head but with very good, head properties, a strong muzzle and defined stop. Her overall balance is commendable and she has a level topline, held well enough when she moved, sporting a correct weight of bone and shoulder placement. She has a thumping back end for a puppy and it powered her along the mat, so much so that in the challenge I needed to look no further for my Reserve Challenge Bitch. Puppy in Show
2nd Julian’s CONTENDER MILLS LANE
When she has finished she will be a top-sized bitch but this black brindle girl has oodles of style, even in her current raw stage. Her ear carriage is a wee bit flighty but at six months of age they should settle. Her keen expression is totally ensured by her well positioned, dark eyes and great strength of underjaw. This girl knew how to set herself straight at the front, but her handler persisted in setting her wider than necessary, spoiling her front on view, but that is something easily remedied. Not the depth of brisket of her class mates yet, but time will see to that and when it does she will balance off better.
3rd Smid & Hughes’ WARMASTER MISS CONDUCT
Similar in lines to the class winner this girl has flightier ear carriage although she is cleaner in lip than the first bitch – swings and roundabouts. Another bitch with an excellent expression and she conducted herself well enough for a puppy.
JUNIOR BITCH (5)
1st Hughes & Smid’s WARMASTER DOUBLE DAREYA CGC
Very standard black brindle bitch with heaps to attract. At this stage I said in my notes that she was the Challenge winner – didn’t see anything in the later stages to deny her that spot. Cleaner headed than the puppy class winner she has a classic head shape with blunt muzzle and strong underjaw. A very smart style of bitch, again perhaps darker eyes would enhance the expression overall and her feet could be tidier but she has a correct front assembly with plenty of heart room and forechest, a neat whip tail, held her topline on the move and showed her socks off! What more could I ask for? Best Exhibit in Show
2nd Clay’s WESTWOOD POPPY LONG STOCKING
Looser all round than the class winner with less underjaw this bitch is nevertheless very stylish with an excellent head shape and dark eyes. She is slightly more upright in the shoulder but is very well balanced altogether and has a lovely presence about her.
3rd Byers’ PITSHAFT MYSTIC MISS
Heavier set bitch than the two in front and with out the equivalent depth of skull but this lass has lovely dark eyes and neat feet! I think maybe overall the bitches feet were better than the dogs. Her coat condition is superb although she could do with a better bend of stifle to make for more positive movement behind.
INTERMEDIATE BITCH (1) 1st Anderson’s AUST CH HIGHBOURNE SHARPEN UP (IMP AUST)
She stood alone in her class but gave me something to think about in the final line up. This brindle bitch has a lovely coat condition and colouring, in fact pigmentation altogether was good, with dark eyes to match. A very pretty bitch, she has a typical head shape and expression aided by neat ear carriage and clean lips. On the day she was totally in harmony with her handler and maintains an excellent topline on the move, even though she has too much length to her back. From the front angle she appears to be just slightly less well off for bone than I would like to see and would benefit from slightly more depth to her brisket but she has reasonable feet and a great bend of stifle which helps her drive out smartly.
NZ BRED BITCH (4, 1abs)
1st Anderson’s CHALLENGER BELLE NOIR
A slightly built bitch but nevertheless balanced for her size – small can be beautiful! She has very dark eyes, neat ears and probably the best feet so far in the show!!! She shows a pleasing drop of brisket and actually moved very well coming towards. Very shapely in the body with an excellent bend of stifle, another bitch that moved in unison with her handler so that her lovely outline could be viewed to advantage. NZ Bred in Show
2nd Joyce’s CH WARFARE COYOTE UGLY
This dark brindle girl is taller and heavier all over than the class winner but nevertheless has a decent head shape with a good mouth. She sports heavier, dense bone but because she has a longer back she doesn’t display the correct balance required, which on the day won the class.
3rd Muir’s REDSTAFF LADY ROCHELLE
A red lady with lots of power, a deep brisket and fabulous pigmentation, both in nails and in those ‘melt-your-heart’ eyes. I got the feeling she would be happier at home, but she did manage to wag that dark tail for me a few times.
OPEN BITCH (5, 3abs) 1st Julian’s ROJEME MOLLY MANDY
Only the two girls in this class and each of them displaying differing virtues.
The class winner is a heavier bitch altogether with a less positive head shape and lighter eye colour, but showing sounder body properties and holding her topline better on the move.
2nd Joyce’s CH OAKSTAFF BOWL EM OVER
With a stronger and more typical head shape, unfortunately this bitch has a poor bite and is generally not in tip-top condition, however she does have a broader back end, showing a reasonable outline going away.
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