Judge ELINA HAAPANIEMI
Thank you for a nice entry & pleasant atmosphere. I last judged the breed at City of Birmingham in 2006, so most dogs were completely new to me. There was a good number of imports in the entry. I feel the breed is making some positive progress in the UK, but there are still some very coarse heads & round eyes giving alien expression. A good number of dogs were very straight in shoulder, so this needs some attention. Rears have improved, but in some cases hocks could have been a little stronger. Pigmentation & dewclaws were mainly in order & only a few failed in this respect.
MPD (4) 1 McDowell & Asher’s Granchester Imoulou, 6½ months white & blaireau baby boy. Strong, well made typical puppy. Pleasing head shape, good eye. Nice bone. Moves well, but needs more training; 2 Draper’s Desalazara Jerez, 7½ months puppy of excellent size. Happy disposition. Nice head, but would like tighter lip. A little straight in shoulder, good boy & rear. Movement a little erratic; 3 O’Rourke’s Desalazara Monza. PD (4) 1 D Jerez; 2 McDowell & Asher’s M’rudy Du Grand Tendre at Granchester, 11 months youngster who needs more confidence. Nice head shape, good eye. Has type & shape, but would like him a little stronger all through. Not in his best jacket. Time & training will help; 3 D Monza. JD (1) 1 D Monza, brother to Jerez & placed 3rd in the previous two classes. Good, typical head, but again needs tighter lip. Ears a little large. Good bone. Rather lanky at the moment, needs more body & at the moment too long in loin. Good hindquarters. ND (3,1a) 1 Barnes’ Shanlimore Lucky Spirit, I understand he has been rescued. This youngster has plenty of potential, but needs more condition & better handling. Very nice masculine young dog. Excellent head shape, correct eye shape, but colour could be a little darker. Needs better shoulders & front needs a little more time. A very good mover who used his tail well. The frame is there – all he needs is a new jacket, better condition & handling. Good luck! 2 D Jerez. PGD (8) Some of the heads in this class were far from correct. 1 Downes’ Pyrpressure’s My American Dream at Belshanmish, a very pleasing dog shown in excellent condition. Strong masculine male with excellent bone. Very nice head, lips could be a tad tighter. His general type & shape are pleasing. Sound, excellent mover & used his tail well on the move; 2 Waters’ Sketrick Next Addition, this dog appealed to me greatly when standing. He is of excellent size, shape & make. Correct head, well placed ears. Very nice topline. Better standing than moving & could be handled to better advantage on the move; 3 Shepherd & Cordon’s Gillandant The Illusionist at Avantgarde. LD (5) 1 Waters’ Sketrick Next Connexion, my notes say beautiful! A Pyrenean male of the highest order, full of quality, type & the essence of the breed, elegance. Excellent size & proportions with good height of leg. Carries himself very well. Wonderful head & expression. Head has the correct lines, lips are tight fitting & eye shape & expression beautiful. Very much an extrovert & very enthusiastic on the move & thus requires a lot of his handler, but once settled moved so easily & well. Correct coat quality. I was thrilled to find a dog of his calibre & type! Delighted to award him the CC, his second I understand & later BOB. So pleased to see him shortlisted in the group; 2 Ford’s Desalazara Fernando, also a very pleasing male shown in super condition. Excellent general shape. Very good head, eye & expression. Moved really well round the ring; 3 Wells’ Sketrick Lupo. OD (11,2) Slightly disappointing class with some coarse heads & a number of dogs with very straight shoulders. 1 Savage’s Vi’skaly’s Harry Honda at Kington, 2½ years masculine male of lovely breed type & good size. White with arrouye (dark orange) markings. Lovely head & eye. Very handsome when standing. Very good bone, correct topline. Sound, well made quarters. Unfortunately he is not so enthusiastic on the move & I would like to see more verve in his movement. RCC; 2 Bowker & Gibson’s Febus Mauvezin, 3 years, of very nice breed type. Good head shape which I would like a tad more masculine. Very soundly made, good body, well made rear & moves well; 3 Traynor’s Ch Vi’skaly’s Xbalanque Qui-mu at Calsassa.
MPB (3,1) 1 McDowell & Asher’s Granchester Chanson D’amour, such a pretty baby! Just 6 months & very feminine & appealing. Well developed for age. Lovely head shape, most beautiful eye giving super expression. Taking her first steps in the ring & needs a little more practise, but once settled moved soundly & well. BP; 2 Murphy’s Desalazara Valencia, 7½ months, white with arrouye markings, nice head. A little high in the rear at the moment, time should help. PB (3) 1 Tadd’s Kricarno Krystal Konchita, 11 months young bitch, nice size, good head shape, but would like better eye. Good bone & body. Moved well; 2 D Valencia. JB (5) 1 Baverstock’s Mizeka A Touch Of Class with Kalkasi, not the biggest, but a pretty, typical well made female. Feminine, very lovely head, good eye & expression. Sound, well made quarters which she used well on the move. RCC; 2 Traynor’s Strondafjorden Flippinheck Amara at Calsassa, pleasing young female, but very out of coat. Feminine with lovely strong pigmentation. Good head & expression. Still young & needs a little more time to come to her best; 3 Weir’s Capyrmount Mississippi. NB (1) 1 D Valencia. PGB (2) 1 M A Touch Of Class with K; 2 Sang’s Mizeka A Hint Of Gold, VHC in JB, big, slightly strong female not in full coat. Would like her more feminine & elegant. LB (5,1) 1 Pollard’s Gillandant Sizzling Spice, 2 years feminine female, not the biggest, but pleasing. Shown in good condition. Nice head, eye & expression. Well bodied. A little more height of leg would help. Would like her a little better angulated in rear & with stronger hocks; 2 Downes’ Shanlimore Delta Lady at Belshanmish, pretty, feminine female, but in her summer jacket. Very lovely head, eye & expression. Good mover; 3 Veale’s Shanlimore Pandora at Jojims. OB (5,2) 1 Baverstock’s Kalkasi High Expectations, female of excellent size, powerful yet elegant. Typical outline. Pleasing head, eye & expression, for perfection I would prefer tight lips. Super bone. Moved well & carried herself proudly. CC; 2 Duffell’s Kalkasi Misty Star of Ricaduffal, this female was shown a little too plump which showed up on the move. Nice head, dark eye. Would like more hind angulation; 3 Sang’s Ch Kalkasi Destiny’s Spirit at Mizeka.