| Let me begin by expressing my thanks to
the members and exhibitors of the Southern Golden Retriever
Club, first for inviting me to judge your show and, second,
for showing me your lovely dogs on a day with such awful
weather. Everyone was pleasant and seemed to enjoy the show,
despite the weather. With the weather as “interesting” as it
was, I was amazed that there were so few absentees!
Overall, I was quite pleased with the
quality of the entry. There were a number of dogs with
beautiful heads, properly shaped and sized eyes, and that
typical Golden expression. Temperaments were uniformly good
with just one exception and many of the dogs greeted me with
tails wagging. Conformation showed some of the same virtues
and faults that are common to Goldens world wide. Many dogs
moved fairly well, especially considering the slippery
conditions. In general, backlines were stable with much less
of the rolling side-to-side motion I often see in American
style Goldens. As is true with American Goldens and Goldens I
have seen worldwide, too many dogs suffer from a lack of
correct angulation in front, with upright shoulders and short
upper arms. As a result, movement is not as balanced and fluid
as desirable. I feel that, while movement coming and going is
important, correct movement and balance is best seen when
viewing the dog moving from the side.
For those who were wondering if an
American judge would be concerned about color, (especially a
breeder whose own dogs tended toward the medium gold color) I
was not. In all the years I have been judging the breed in
countries all over the world, I cannot think of a time when my
final decision as to which dog would win was determined by the
color of that dog. For example, first and second placements in
the Open Dog class went to half brothers, one of whom is quite
light and the other a more medium shade of Gold. The decision
between the two was made on movement and body length. I never
gave color a thought until I looked at the lineup to make
notes for the critique.
Correct, well-balanced movement is
important to me as I feel that a Golden should look like he
can do a full day’s work in the field with being overly tired.
I feel that movement can best be assessed by watching a dog
gait from the side, as this viewpoint allows me to see how the
parts of the dog fit together in a harmonious and balanced
whole. I am certain you noticed that I moved each class around
the ring several times to find the dog of correct type that
moved the best. When making my final decisions regarding
placements, I first consider overall type as it conforms to
the requirements of the breed standard, and, second, the
balance and movement of the dogs whose type I most
prefer.
Best of Breed
and Best In Show was the Open Bitch, number 66, Arangold Turn Back
Time, bred and owned by M. Hean. This is a medium colored
bitch of correct size and make and shape, with a very correct
silhouette showing good proportions. She has a wonderful headpiece,
with that soft Golden expression that is such an important part of
correct type and temperament. She has a compact body with good
forechest, correct
angulation front and rear that is well balanced and evident
from her stable topline as she gaits around the ring. She won over
the dog for Best in Show based on her superior head and melting,
soft, very typical Golden expression. Her breeder/owner also won
the Reserve Best Bitch, making for a good day for
Arangold!
Reserve Best in Show and Best of Opposite
Sex was number 31, Ch. Riverstone Autumn Gold, breeder/owner
B. Kramer. This mature, medium colored dog is of correct type
and has a very good head, well balanced angulation front and
rear, strong level backline, good length of upper arm, very
good body proportions. He is an excellent moving dog, looking
athletic and balanced when going around the ring, showing a
proper stable topline with head carried just forward of the
body and tail out behind. He makes a very pretty picture going
around the ring and was a pleasure to go over standing.
My
class-by-class comments follow:
Dogs:
Class
1 (Baby Puppy) 3 entered
1.
Number
1, Riverstone Hot Todde – Nice head, well balanced puppy with a
slightly better front and forechest than his brother. Best Baby
Puppy.
2.
Number 2, Riverstone Dawn of A Dream –
Good head, balance and movement, gives a bit away to number
one on topline.
Class
5 (Junior) 7 entered, 1 absent
1.
Number 8, Goldkoru Mexi Nacho – a pretty dog with good front, topline and
head. Appropriately immature for his age, could be a bit shorter in
loin.
2.
Number 4, Lorgair Ace of Diamonds – Good
head and front, a bit too much rise over the loin, could use
more bone.
Class
6 (Intermediate) 2 entered
1.
Number
11, Ch. Tammara The Band Played On – Pleasing head and outline, with
good forechest and topline. Could use a better layback of shoulder.
Best Intermediate.
2.
Number 12, Inniscroft Pacific Skipper –
pleasing head and topline, front not as good as in first place
dog.
Class
7 (Limit) 3 entered
1.
Number
13, Banbury Call of the Wild, Nice head and outline, proper
forechest and depth of chest, well balanced front and rear
angulation with solid topline both standing and moving. Looked very
good going around the ring despite the conditions. Best
Limit.
2.
Number 15, The Times of Inniscroft – Nice
head, forechest and topline, front not quite as well angulated
as the rear resulting in movement a bit less smooth than
number 1. A bit longer in loin than first.
Class
8 (New Zealand Bred) 5 entered
1.
Number
18, Ch. Winterlea Mac’s Gold QC – A well put together, balanced dog
with a pretty head and expression, good neck into shoulder, balanced
angulation and correct level topline. Placed first on his better
movement going around the ring than second
place.
2.
Number 16, Ch. Trinnetee The Entertainer
CDX QC – a bit smaller dog with a pretty head and expression,
good forechest and topline. Good going around the ring but not
quite as smooth as first place dog.
Class
9 (Stud Dog) 1 entered
1.
Number 21, Rivermoy The Ridge of Moorfield
– Nice head with good depth of muzzle, front a bit upright in
shoulder and therefore less angulation than present in the
rear, which effected movement. Best Stud Dog.
Class
10 (Veteran) 5 entered
1.
Number
23, Shannongold Claim to Fame ADX – Lovely head and expression with
the typical, soft Golden expression, good neck into shoulders with
good forechest and topline. Well balanced front and rear angulation
resulting in good movement going around the ring. More compact
outline that I prefer in a Golden. Does nothing to betray his 9
years of life. A worthy Reserve Dog. Best
Veteran.
2.
Number 22, Hawkwood Havarti – a 10 ½ year
old who still shows what a Golden should look like. Nice head
and forechest, balanced angulation front and rear holding a
good topline when moving. A bit longer cast dog than number
1.
Class
11 (Open) 5 entered
1.
31,
Ch. Riverstone Autumn Gold – A well balanced medium colored dog with
a very pretty head and true Golden expression, good forechest and
balanced front and rear angulation with nice layback of shoulder and
good return of upper arm. Good bone without being coarse. Compact
dog with good length of ribcage and short loin. Strong, stable
topline both standing and moving. Nice, athletic and effortless
movement that was very pleasing to watch going around the ring. Best
Dog. Reserve Best in Show.
2.
Number 28, Ch. Inniscroft Diamonds ‘R’
Trumps – another well balanced dog with very pretty head and
expression, good forechest, balanced angulation front and
rear, strong topline and good movement. Slightly longer cast
than number 1. A quite light colored dog, he is a half-brother
to number 1, having the same sire.
Bitches:
Class
1A (Baby Puppy) 3 entered
1.
Number 32, Riverstone Bold N
Beautiful – Nice head with lovely pigmentation and pleasing soft
expression. Nice forechest and adequate angulation of the
forequarters, though not quite as well angulated as the rear. A bit
longer cast than ideal.
2.
Number 34, Shannongold Turn The Page at
Tammara – Nice head, a bit short on neck as a result of a bit
less layback of shoulder and angulation than number 1, though
a bit more compact in body than first place puppy.
Class
2A (Minor Puppy) 2 entered
1.
Number 36, Kavandale Angeleyes – Lovely head, good bone, balanced
angulation front and rear with good shoulder layback and topline.
Good depth of chest for age but could use a bit more forechest. Very
easy on the eyes both standing and moving. Best Minor
Puppy.
2.
Hawkwood Lilly Pilly – pretty head and
expression, a bit lacking in forechest and front angulation in
comparison to angulation of the rear, a bit light in bone in
comparison to body. Looks more immature than number 1 at this
time and may improve with age.
Class
3A (Puppy) 1 entered
1.
Number 37, Kavandale Just Like That – Nice
head , neck and topline, good front and rear standing, making
a pretty picture, but tends to move closely behind. Perhaps a
bit more exercise would help improve this. Best Puppy.
Class
5A (Junior) 6 entered
1.
Number
38, Arangolds National Velvet – Good head and expression, good
forechest, shoulder layback and topline and well balanced with rear
angulation, resulting in best movement in the class. Best
Junior.
2.
Number 42, Tammara Heavens Secret – nice
head, not quite as good in front as number 1 with less
forechest and somewhat less angulation. A bit longer cast than
class winner.
Class
6A (Intermediate) 4 entered
1.
Number
44, Benlea Isla Rose – Nice topskull but muzzle lacking a bit in
strength. Good forechest, good topline, nicely balanced front and
rear angulation resulting in good movement.
2.
Number 47, Blairsgold Elphame Fae Queen –
Bit better head than number 1 but not as strong in front with
somewhat less angulation in front than in rear, and so placed
second.
Class
7A (Limit) 5 entered
1.
Number 48, Banbury Sandpiper at Moorfield – Acceptable head, balanced front
and rear angulation with good forechest and backline when moving,
resulting in very good movement, which put her to the front of the
class.
2.
Number 51, Springlands Tussock – nice
skull and muzzle, ears perhaps set a bit high, good backline
but not as well angulated as number 1.
Class
8A (New Zealand Bred) 4 entered, 1 absent
1.
Number 54, Ch. Arangold
Jazzmania – Very appealing head with soft Golden expression, good
topskull and properly sized and shaped eyes. Good forechest, good
shoulder layback and length of upper arm, all well balanced with the
rear. Strong backline both standing and moving. Excellent
mover. A very worthy
Reserve Bitch. I note
that she has the same sire as my Best Dog, though a different dam.
Best New Zealand Bred.
2.
Number 55, Ch. Lady Kaatje of Riverstone –
Another pretty bitch, with good head, good forechest and
balanced angulation front and rear combined with strong level
topline. Compact outline with strong, short loin. Another very
good mover.
Class 9A (Brood Bitch) 2 entered, both
absent
Class
10A (Veteran) 5 entered, 2 absent
1.
Number
60, Regency Noble Princess – an 11 year old bitch that certainly
carries her years well. Pretty head, well balanced body with
balanced angulation and strong topline even at her age. A good mover
as well.
2.
Number 59, Brackwood Pretty Women CDX – a
13 year old who still carries herself extremely well, though
she showed her age a bit more than first. Nice head with
appealing expression and good topskull. Good strong topline
that defies her age. She moves well, but shows her age a bit
more going around the ring.
Class
11A (Open) 5 entered
1.
Number 66, Arangold
Turn Back Time – This bitch’s head captured my heart
the first time I looked at her. Wonderful outline with good
forechest, correct layback of shoulder and good return of upperarm
and well balanced angulation both front and rear. Strong, level
backline both standing and moving. Lovely tail comes correctly off
the backline. Shows the correct compact outline I look for. Moves
strongly and smoothly around the ring with an athletic pace that
makes her look like she could move all day without tiring. Best Bitch and Best in Show.
2.
Number
68, Midastouch Spunky Sasha – A lighter colored bitch than first,
with a good head, forechest and topline. Well balanced angulation
with very good movement. Not quite as freely moving as
first. |