Judge ELINA HAAPANIEMI
It was so nice to see so many familiar faces around the ring
that I had not seen for a while that it was like travelling down memory lane!
Judging the breed at this show was a real challenge as I found particularly the
males very disappointing. My unenviable task was to place these males in the
order I felt was correct. I would like to urge those seriously interested in
breeding quality Pyreneans to study the purpose this breed was bred for. To
survive in the rough terrain in the mountains this dog needed to be strong yet
not too heavy, tall with good height of leg & vigilant to sense any danger. If
you think of the demanding terrain in the Pyrenees mountains you will appreciate
that a dumpy legged heavy animal could not do the work it was intended for.
Heads need a lot of improvement & I do not know why to this day I see a good
number of almost untypical heads – coarse with deep stop & very pronounced
superciliary ridges, too much lip & incorrect eye shape. The head of a Pyrenean
is one of very smooth lines with very well filled muzzle – if you close your
eyes & let your hand slide across the head you should not feel any obtrusions.
The eye shape is very special; it is an almond eye with the corners just very
slightly tilting upwards to give that beautiful dreamy look & the eye needs to
be dark enough, yet not black. I hope that the Breed Standard explanation that
is on its way will assist in clarifying in word & picture what the Standard
calls for.
VD (2) 1 Waters’ Sketrick Justification, 7 years veteran
dog of excellent type. Medium size, masculine, well balanced male. Correct head
type, smooth mould, but would like tighter lips. His eye shape is also correct,
but would prefer darker colour to give better expression. Very good bone, feet a
little flat. Excellent body & quarters, sound on the move. Excellent coat
quality. Beautiful pigmentation; 2 Thorne’s Alchazandis Rupert Bear at Pyrajay,
9 years male presented in beautiful clean condition. Masculine dog, but his head
is very strong with pronounced superciliary ridges & too strong a stop. Would
prefer better eye shape, the corners of his eyes droop downwards which gives him
a rather sad look. Excellent bone. Good body. Somewhat sluggish on the move.
PD (5) The type wise best puppy in this class had to pay the penalty due to
an incorrect mouth. 1 Kenyon, Ward & Bermingham’s Charibere Simply Magic at
Chezanna, 6 months strong masculine puppy. Good head shape, lips could be
tighter. Good eye shape, colour a little light. Super bone, well bodied & moves
very soundly using his tail well on the move; 2 Tadd’s Jacko Du Haras De Chante
Neige avec Kricarno, 10 months masculine puppy of excellent size. Good head
shape, skull a little strong, dark eye, but needs tighter lips. Moderate bone.
Tends to stand a little high in the rear at the moment & needs to drop in his
quarters; 3 Wells’ Sketrick Odin. JD (2) 1 Carter’s Jumicar Ice Warrior,
15 months unruly youngster who needs to learn better ring manners. Would like to
see a more typical head & better expression. Bone a little light. Good body &
just enough rear angulation. Difficult to assess movement – needs to settle
down; 2 Carter’s Jumicar Snow Blizzard, brother to 1. His head is coarse & needs
a much more typical & kinder expression. His ears are high set. A rather heavy
youngster at 15 months & would like to see him with a more typical outline.
PGD (4,1a) 1 Meredith’s Isard du Val du Lavedan gan Meredydd, easy to see
that he is French bred, almost 2½ years tall, masculine dog who needs firm
control as he appears to dislike his male competitors. He is very typical, yet
long cast. Very nice masculine head, good eye & expression, but would like
tighter lips. Would like better front & needs to improve in front movement. Good
rear; 2 Holmes’ Lisjovia Slick As A Whistle, masculine dog who is very well put
together. Shown in lovely coat condition, but a little lightweight in body. His
skull is very strong & his muzzle too square & would like to see a more typical
head. Excellent pigmentation; 3 J Ice Warrior. LD (6,2) 1 McDowell &
Asher’s Granchester Imoulou, approaching 2 years of age. He was my winner of MPD
at Bath in 2014 & has developed into a very pleasing young dog. Very nice size,
masculine, but not in full coat. Very good, gently moulded head, just a little
too much lip. Very good pigmentation. Medium bone, enough body for age. Good
rear. Very nice on the move; 2 Ford’s Desalazara Fernando, one I have met
before, at Bath last year when he was 2nd in LD & a repeat performance here!
Medium sized male who has a very pleasing outline, but shown in minimal coat &
hence looking a little lightweight. Lovely head shape, beautiful, typical eye
giving the desired expression. Very well made dog with excellent movement; 3
Shepherd & Cordon’s Gillandant The Illusionist at Avantgarde. OD (4,1) 1
Kenyon & Ward’s Ch Charibere Simply Special at Chezanna, almost 4 years
masculine male of excellent size & show condition. A little heavy all through &
would benefit from a little more height of leg. Well off for bone & has
excellent feet. Correct eye shape & colour resulting in typical expression.
Medium stop, but his skull is a little deep which makes his head look a little
heavy. Very good body & quarters. Moves soundly, but would like him with a
little more of the breed’s carriage on the move. A difficult choice, but on the
day with rather disappointing quality in males he deserved to win the CC, but
had to bow down to a most correct & typical albeit young female in BOB; 2
Savage’s Fr/Sw Ch Vi’skaly’s Harry Honda at Kington, just over 4 years & my RCC
winner from Bath last year. He has a very nice head with excellent eye &
expression. Correct bone, good body & rear. Attractive orange markings. A
quality dog, not showing interest in the show ring & very sluggish on the move.
Has type, but is a little too lethargic. RCC; 3 Bowker & Gibson’s Ch Febus
Mauvezin. GCD (1) 1 I du Val du Lavedan gan M.
VB (1) 1 Pollard’s Ch Gillandant Sugar And Spice, 7½ years quality feminine veteran with the required elegance & style of this breed, sadly lacking in so many in this entry. Shown in tip-top form. Lovely feminine head, smooth contours, excellent eye & expression. Carries herself very well. Sound mover. BV. PB (3) 1 Kenyon, Ward & Bermingham’s Charibere Simply A Dream at Chezanna, 6 months well built feminine puppy. Very good balance for age. Pretty head, dark eye & excellent pigmentation. Well off for bone. Excellent rear & moves soundly for her age. BP; 2 Savage’s Vi’skaly’s Lilla My at Kington, 9 months feminine puppy. Too plump. A little fine in bone. Nice head shape, but expression marred eye showing haw. Very good pigmentation. Good rear. Moves well for age, but needs to shed some weight; 3 Murden’s Daveangel Indian Sapphire. JB (3,1) 1 Pollard’s Gillandant Ginger Spice, this young bitch was like a breath of fresh air! Tall, elegant & feminine with the proud carriage of the breed. Young & full of mischief, so gave her handler a trying time! At 14 months she oozes quality & promises well for the future. White with orange markings. Super size & height of leg – the correct proportions are essential in order to have the desired outline in this breed. Beautifully moulded head, tight lips. She is only young & yes, she is a little close behind, but her side movement is very good with nice reach & drive. This breeder has produced a string of quality bitches & I can only wish her the best of luck with this super young female. CC, BOB; 2 Dunk’s Bursville Summer Zizanna with Zalute, of the same age, white & blaireau. More common in type, feminine, but a tad low on the leg. Would like slightly better proportions. Good eye shape & excellent pigmentation. PGB (4,1) 1 Sang’s Mizeka Sheer Elegance, tall stylish female, but a little sluggish on the move. Good head, superciliary ridges a little pronounced. Beautiful eye & expression, very good pigmentation. Good bone & rear. Would like to see her move around with more enthusiasm & verve; 2 B Summer Zizanna with Z; 3 Murden’s Desalazara Vanilla Orchid. LB (6) 1 Baverstock’s Mizeka A Touch Of Class with Kalkasi, my RCC winner from Bath last year. Medium size, quality, well balanced bitch of lovely breed type. Lovely head, eye & expression. Medium bone. Soundly made, but a little reluctant on the move today; 2 Waters’ Sketrick Nom De Plume, lovely size & excellent outline when standing, carries herself well. Feminine, quality bitch of lovely type. Beautiful head profile. Would prefer darker eye. Very correct height of leg. Good movement, although I would like a little more drive behind; 3 Ford’s Desalazara Dancing Queen. OB (7,1) 1 Bowker & Gibson’s Swed Ch Vi’skaly’s Mama Quilla Qui-mu, 4 years white with orange markings, tall, feminine, quality bitch who is extremely well put together. Super body & quarters which she used very well on the move. Good tail carriage on the move. Good skull, but ideally I would like her muzzle a little stronger & she needs more fill under the eyes. I would also tidy her ears & get rid of the excess soft hair! I particularly liked the proud way in which this bitch carried herself – so very Pyrenean. RCC; 2 McDowell & Asher’s Granchester Sparkling Gem, yet another nice bitch from this breeder – I believe I gave Sparkling Gem’s mother the RCC some years ago. Looks very nice standing. Feminine bitch of the correct type. Beautiful head shape, correct form of eye which needs darker colour. Good bone. Moves well, but carries her tail in too tight a wheel which spoils the outline a little; 3 Carlin’s Ch Rosemere Xanthia. GCB (2) 1 S Pandora at Jojims, 3rd in PG bitch, not so happy in the ring, strong bitch shown a little plump. Good bone & very nice coat condition. Needs more correct eye shape to give better expression. Flicks her front leg on the move.