Crufts

Birmingham NEC, 11th March 2022. Judge: Miss Mike Macbeth (Glahms).

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It is every breeder/judge’s wish to adjudicate their own breed at Crufts, and I consider this wonderful day the highlight of my judging career. The atmosphere in the ring was one of joy. We are all passionate about our beloved Dandies, and I think each Dandie knew how pleased I was to meet every single one of them as I spoke to each one in my initial look at each dog at the beginning of every class. I was greeted by either a wagging tail, sometimes a small leap in the air, and definitely a sweet friendly welcome. None were indifferent. That’s what makes the Dandie a Dandie, a willingness to communicate with everyone, through their eyes and through their tails.

The most memorable part of the day was seeing a number of brilliant, talented young people. One hears the complaint that the senior breeders are becoming fewer and there are no young people to take over. Well, that is not what I saw in my ring. I observed some of the best young handlers, who held their own against more experienced exhibitors. We are so lucky to have these remarkable youngsters and we must do all we can to encourage and mentor them.

Dandie Dinmonts have improved significantly over the decades. Gone is the old-fashioned type, with a narrow head, small eye, snipey muzzle and no stop, or the tummy tappers that once plagued the breed. Breeders must be congratulated as overall soundness and movement has improved progressively even more so, since I judged the three Clubs’ Championship shows (2006, 2010, 2016). It permitted me to concentrate on the finer details, such as head, expression, toplines and set-on of that beautiful flowing scimitar-shaped tail – the four elements that make a Dandie unique among terriers.

Dentition was excellent in almost all of the exhibits. Body length was good, very few were either too short or too long. Most had excellent coat texture and colour. Presentation was mixed, and excellent grooming and conditioning was rewarded. To exhibitors who have ambitions beyond best of breed: Remember that almost all the other coated terrier breeds are tailored and a Dandie needs to be well groomed to be competitive in the group ring.

The best news is that with both RCC’s coming from the Junior classes, it bodes well for the future of our vulnerable breed. It was also gratifying to reward a number of these excellent young exhibitors who showed their dogs with a skill and maturity far beyond their years.

Thank you to my excellent and efficient ring stewards, Bryony Rochester and Sue Finan, and to the breed’s unsung hero, Simon Rishton for his superb show photographs.

Lastly, thank you also, to each and every exhibitor. You all had Dandies with wonderful temperaments. I know it was disconcerting both for them and for you to have to wait 90 minutes past the scheduled start time for the previous breed to finish. It is difficult to get a dog ring ready when the start time is determined by the finish time of the previous breed.

I am so proud of your cheerfulness and patience, and your good-natured Dandies who despite the delay, brought their wagging tails and charming personalities into the ring for all to see and admire. Congratulations to all. The breed is in good hands.

Mike Macbeth (CANADA) Judge.

 

Dog CC & BOB Fox's Puddockswell Hoodwink Winners photo
Reserve Dog CC Butcher's Mishahda Mischief Managed
Bitch CC France's Ch. Miss Sophie di Luna Caprese at Torbrae
Reserve Bitch CC Buckley's Jollygaze Quizzical for Lovelettie
Best Veteran Buckley's Ch. German Dandies' Violetta

Veteran Dog 1st: Bamber's Dentgate Mutuca Indicolite
8 + years old. Good head and expression with a nicely placed dark eye. Sound, good mover, nice outline despite being a little overweight.
Dentgate Mutuca Indicolite
2nd: Booth's Ch. Borderstone Kingman for Lannia
7 + years. Not much between 1 and 2, well presented, good head, sound, good coat, slightly higher tail set.
Borderstone Kingman for Lannia
3rd: Atkinson's Berdinbrook Golden Fleece
11 years, dear old soul not terribly thrilled about showing on his day out.
Berdinbrook Golden Fleece

Junior Dog 1st: Butcher's Mishahda Mischief Managed
Very sound youngster with elegant movement, a pleasing head, would prefer a slightly larger eye. Good neck and shoulders, Excellent condition, and well presented in good coat. I predict a great future. RCC.
Mishahda Mischief Managed
2nd: Simpson's Dandiroyal Dream Catcher
Although he needs a little more ring experience a quality junior with a good outline and excellent hindquarters. Another young dog with a promising future. Prefer tail set of # 1.
Dandiroyal Dream Catcher
3rd: Kenyon's Ceilmear Close Encounter
Tail wagger, charming personality, but not as free moving, and needs more experience, as sniffing the ground was of great interest.
Ceilmear Close Encounter

Postgraduate Dog 1st: Simpson's Dandiroyal Dream Catcher
2nd in the last class, but the best of this class.
Dandiroyal Dream Catcher
2nd: Fox & Cox's MyDan'd Look What I Found at Puddockswell
Well groomed quality mustard but little enthusiasm, which impeded movement. Higher set tail than #1.
MyDan'd Look What I Found at Puddockswell
3rd: Stanford's Lillibets Danny Kaye
Good mover with decent head and strong muzzle.
Lillibets Danny Kaye
Res: Swallow's Belapapavo Joyous Jaguar Belapapavo Joyous Jaguar
VHC: Kenyon's Ceilmear Close Encounter Ceilmear Close Encounter
Davies's Busgrove Mikey Busgrove Mikey

Limit Dog 1st: Brown's Great Gatsby ze Zihelske Zahrady
Dark pepper dog, with a good head, large skull and eye set. Good ribbing. Free moving with a correct topline, tail a bit high but beautifully presented with a correct coat. Nice to see rich tan feet.
Great Gatsby ze Zihelske Zahrady
2nd: Bromley's Mishahda Just Like Dad
More reluctant on the move. Good head despite a smaller eye and wider ear. Presentation and coat not as good as #1.
Mishahda Just Like Dad
3rd: Poole's Hawkesmill Merlon
Good head, front not his fortune.
Hawkesmill Merlon
Res: Kenyon's Ceilmear Close Encounter Ceilmear Close Encounter

Open Dog 1st: Fox's Puddockswell Hoodwink
Knew this was the winner the minute this outstanding charismatic pepper dog entered the ring. Has all the elements of an exquisite Dandie. Stunning head with excellent eye, skull and deep stop. Beautiful musculature over strong bones. Elegant neck slid into clean shoulders, correct ribbing with a short loin and an exceptional topline. Easy free mover with long striding side gait, beautifully groomed and well presented. A happy constantly wagging tail completed the picture. Dog CC and Best of Breed.
Puddockswell Hoodwink
2nd: Hume's Danchester's Vote Me To Win
Rich deep mustard in good coat and beautifully trimmed. A showy, masculine dog with a good head despite the eye stains, and nice body up to the loin. Too proud of his tail, and combined with a short stifle, created a stilted rear movement.
Danchester's Vote Me To Win
3rd: France's Ch./Int Ch. Back To My Roots at Luna Caprese with Torbrae
Pleasing dog overall, but unfortunate to meet the two dogs before him. Good head, slightly flat in topline, movement seemed limited, however once judging was completed he relaxed and moved significantly better as he exited the ring.
Back To My Roots at Luna Caprese with Torbrae

Veteran Bitch 1st: Buckley's Ch. German Dandies' Violetta
Just 7 years old. Correctly made head, beautiful neck and shoulders on a perfectly proportioned body. A lovely topline, a good mustard coat, well groomed. Elegant, graceful, free flowing movement with long strides. BV.
German Dandies' Violetta
2nd: Bromley's Mishahda Vibrant Amber
7.5 years of age. A sweet expression on a well-made head. Sound and shapely, would like slightly larger front feet. A reluctant showdog. Suspect she loves her dinner, treats and cookies.
Mishahda Vibrant Amber
3rd: Atkinson's Kingcottage Abilene West at Hullpride
Almost 8 years of age. A little high on the leg, not as good a mover but tail never stopped wagging. Charming.
Kingcottage Abilene West at Hullpride

Junior Bitch 1st: Buckley's Jollygaze Quizzical for Lovelettie
Barely a year old, this is the one to watch. Only a matter of time and this absolutely correctly made junior will achieve her championship. Impressive pepper with a great head and expression, elegant neck and shoulders, correct ribbing and short loin creates a perfect topline and tail set, beautifully proportioned with lovely fluid movement and great reach and drive. RCC.
Jollygaze Quizzical for Lovelettie
2nd: Allenby's Diddimont Luna Wuffgood
16 month old quality junior, another exceptionally pretty and elegant mustard bitch with a great future ahead. How wonderful for the breed to have such quality in these youngsters. Excellent in head, topline, ribbing, tail set and movement. Eye not quite as large as #1.
Diddimont Luna Wuffgood
3rd: Karlsen's Diddimont Ginny Wren at Karezig
The litter sister to #2, so similar in type, sound and good moving but slightly higher stationed.
Diddimont Ginny Wren at Karezig
Res: Cundall's Diddimont Bella Trix of Bleaklee Diddimont Bella Trix of Bleaklee
VHC: Turner-Tarr's Redgreet Mary Buttercup Redgreet Mary Buttercup

Postgraduate Bitch 1st: McCain's Blue Violet Flower at Bankwillow
All the right proportions, lovely feminine outline. Clean neck and shoulders, Good topline, fluid movement, best head in the class with a great skull, deep stop, dark wide apart eyes and square muzzle.
Blue Violet Flower at Bankwillow
2nd: Bamber's Dentgate Silk Red Ribbon
Good topline and correct scimitar tail, excellent hindquarters. Lovely mover, eye not quite as large as #1.
Dentgate Silk Red Ribbon
3rd: McGuinness's Diamondandie Blue Sapphire
Rich mustard colour and correct coat, sound, slightly shorter in body than #1 and #2.
Diamondandie Blue Sapphire
Res: Stanford's Dame Vera Ellen Dame Vera Ellen
VHC: Jackman's Dryfevalley Golden Lullaby at Carnkie Dryfevalley Golden Lullaby at Carnkie
Bimbi's Mary Stuart Queen Of Scotland Mary Stuart Queen Of Scotland
King's Puddockswell Lady's Day at Kunraoi Puddockswell Lady's Day at Kunraoi
Weaving's Dentgate Silk Threads Dentgate Silk Threads
Cundall's Diddimont Bella Trix of Bleaklee Diddimont Bella Trix of Bleaklee

Limit Bitch 1st: Stanley's Sokrovische Gardariki Astory at Waffelin
Beautifully balanced pepper. Lovely topline with a short loin, fluid mover. Excellent head and expression, well groomed with a winning tail wagging personality.
Sokrovische Gardariki Astory at Waffelin
2nd: Sleight's Danchester's Can You Hear Me Roar for Bonnybeck
Pretty mustard, nice head, sound in front. Not enough length between high point of loin and root of tail, resulting in tail set higher than #1.
Danchester's Can You Hear Me Roar for Bonnybeck
3rd: Stanford's Incantocani Florenza
Pretty pepper, good coat and ribbing, a bit straighter in stifle and higher set tail.
Incantocani Florenza
Res: Thomas's Tymeirz Lulu Grace at Cumhath Tymeirz Lulu Grace at Cumhath
VHC: Weaving's Dentgate Silk Threads Dentgate Silk Threads

Open Bitch 1st: France's Ch. Miss Sophie di Luna Caprese at Torbrae
Totally feminine mustard with all of the required elements, stunning head and expression, with a low set dark eye, good stop and skull, good ribbing, lovely topline. Beautifully balanced. Correct coat, colour and texture. Fluid movement and excellent presentation. Bitch CC.
Miss Sophie di Luna Caprese at Torbrae
2nd: Sleight's Mishahda Where It All Began
Quality good coated pepper, largest and heaviest bone in the class. Correct curves, slightly longer foreface than #1. Well groomed and sound.
Mishahda Where It All Began
3rd: Rolland's Dandiroyal Dream Maker
Higher stationed, narrower with slightly higher tail set. Eye stains spoiled her pretty head.
Dandiroyal Dream Maker
Res: Sheppard's Ch. Dentgate Sugarberries at Thystine Dentgate Sugarberries at Thystine
VHC: Hume's Danchester's Could This Be Magic Danchester's Could This Be Magic
Atkinson's Hullpride Cultured Betty Hullpride Cultured Betty
Rolland's Dandiroyal Cream Tea Dandiroyal Cream Tea
Stanley's Honey Hope ze Zihelske Zahrady at Waffelin Honey Hope ze Zihelske Zahrady at Waffelin