SFLS Open Show 2016

It was an absolute honour to be invited to judge at this Club Show. Many thanks to the Committee and exhibitors for a wonderful day. Thank you too to my excellent stewards. Judging by this entry, the British breeders are doing a great job. In my opinion, there were some truly outstanding, world class Lapphunds on exhibition. Open bitch was one of the best classes I have judged in any breed. Well done to you all! I was looking for a Lapphund with a balance of strength, just under medium size, typically nordic and with that coarse outer coat. I wanted a head with strength that was teddy bear like. Some dogs had rather pointy, sharp features. I don’t associate Lappies with this. Others had ears that were far too large. If I look at a Lappy and the first thing I notice is the ears, they can’t be correct. I was also looking for strong, sound effortless movement. Good body and bone is critical, as to is the requirement to still look like they can do a job of work. In the younger classes, I was not looking for or expecting to see the finished article. I forgave dogs who were obviously moulting. Coats were a concern though in that quite a lot of dogs lacked the coarse outer coat. This needs to be watched. Temperaments too are critical. Overall, what a day! One I shall remember and cherish for a long time. I am lucky to be owned by this breed and what a wonderful breed they are!

Class 1 Puppy Dog 2 (0)
1st: Short’s Glenchess Gregory. A very handsome young man with many of the great qualities of his sire. Head is developing nicely for age. Slightly rounded forehead. Muzzle a tad long. Beautiful dark oval eyes with typical soft expression. Ears ok for size and shape and, importantly, very well set with good width between them . Up to size and with good bone. Strong neck of medium length. Very good shoulders with correct length and slope of upper arm. Body is ok for proportions – wouldn’t want him any longer. Chest developing well. Correct length of foreleg compared to depth of chest. Strong back. Good tail set and carried up on the move. Excellent mover from all angles. Coat to mature. A very promising Lapphund at present who should accrue many top honours once fully mature. BPIS

2nd: Croft’s Tabanyaruu Onnea Kissa (AI). Another promising young dog with lovely temperament. Much less mature than 1st, which, in the main, was what set them apart. Head is typical for his age with (rightly) still a lot of development of forehead and muzzle required. Beautiful eyes of a lovely shape, set and good dark colour. Ears set well apart. Beautiful expression. Correct neck. Balanced angulation and developing well in the body. Tail set on high. Nice feet and his pasterns were slightly sloping. Puppyish coat which will change with maturity. Moved very well in profile. Crabbed slightly on the out and back. Maturity will make this very promising boy.

Class 2 Junior dog 3 (0)
1st: Allison’s Oberitz Unimaahinen. Overall of a very nice balance, make and shape. Beautiful outline. Eyes of correct shape and set. Ears of good shape and size. Head needs to broaden with maturity. Muzzle just a shade long. Beautiful kind expression. Good neck. Balanced angles fore and aft. Good depth of chest, and just enough leg length to reflect the proportions typical of the breed. Bone developing very well. Tail set high and carried well on the move. Very nice shape to feet. Pasterns a tad upright and would like slightly more definition at the hock. Lacking undercoat on the day – which I didn’t penalise in any dog that was obviously moulting. One of few to have the desirable coarse outer coat. Moved extremely well. Like all these young dogs, lots of maturing to do.

2nd: Simmons & Henson’s Infindigo Mailat Loki. Attractive red dog. Not the eye shape of 1st, being a tad round/full. Ok for set and colour. Ears broad at base but tips rather pointed. Good width but set a little far back on the head. Skull slightly rounded and muzzle of correct length though slightly too pointed (rather sharp) for my liking, but this could improve with maturity. Preferred expression of 1st. Neck of correct length. Shoulders and upper arm good. Pasterns slightly sloping. Body proportions ok with enough depth of chest. Enough angulation at the rear, but, like 1st, would like slightly more definition at the hocks. High set tail which he carried well on the move. Moved briskly.

3rd Allison’s Oberitz Upponalle. Handsome bear like head with excellent proportions. Lovely eyes of correct shape and set and harmonising with coat. Ears wide at base. Correct neck. Good strength of body and bone. Very well angulated all through. Tail set high. Lovely pasterns and hocks. Good feet. Super coat with thick undercoat and lovely coarse outer coat. Lovely profile movement. Once he gains confidence, this lad could go on to do very well.

Class 3 Yearling dog 5 (0)
1st Allison’s Oberitz Unimaahinen

2nd: Simmons & Henson’s Infindigo Mailat Loki

3rd: Jackson’s Lecibsin Ukas to Elbereth (Imp Fin). An ultra attractive dog whose head is his fortune. Beautiful dark eyes which were of a good shape. Ears wide at base and set well apart. Had the typical teddy bear like head I was looking for. Wonderful expression. Not as well balanced in angles at 1st and 2nd. Neck is a tad short for me and shoulders are rather upright. Upper arm ok for length. Pasterns slightly sloping. Lovely feet. Rather square in body. Topline ok. Stifles ok. Hocks nicely defined. Tail set on high. Moved erratically on the day.

Res. Oberitz Upponalle
VHC. Thistleglen Fred

Class 4 Novice Dog 4 (0)
1st: Short’s Glenchess Gregory

2nd: Forbes’ Juva Julkea of Artic Cobaka. Lovely outline and very eye catching. Head could be stronger through the muzzle but skull has good width. Ears are broad at base but tips slightly too pointed. Eyes are oval in shape, well set and of a lovely dark colour. I adore his spectacles! Neck is ok for length. Lovely mane! Moderate angulation. Good body proportions and length of leg. Would prefer more bone. Good pasterns and hocks. Tails set high and carried well on the move. Moved very soundly.

3rd: Allison’s Oberitz Upponalle.

Res. Thistleglen Fred

Class 5 Post Grad Dog 7 (1)
A good class.
1st: Eaton & Mowatt’s Tabanyaruu Nalle Roope. A dog I liked very much indeed for his overall make, shape and type. Lovely typical head with beautiful eyes. Super expression. I was looking for a teddy bear like head, and here I found one! Good broad skull which was slightly rounded. Good width and depth of muzzle and was also in correct proportion to skull. Excellent body and angulation. Correct length of leg. Good bone. Tail is set on just a tad low. Good pasterns and hocks. Lacking undercoat on the day, but displayed the typical coarse outer coat. Excellent mover in profile. Needs to calm down in his outlook towards the judge to go on to any top honours, otherwise a very nice dog indeed.

2nd: Simmon’s & Henson’s Infindigo Mailat Loki.

3rd: Samuel’s Bridus Ukkonen. Dog of nice type and super temperament. Up to size. Lovely oval eyes. Ears are wide at base and set well apart. Really liked his ear size (not too big!) Muzzle tad long as compared to skull. Good neck. Balanced angles, but would prefer slightly more. Bone developing nicely. Tail set high. In lovely condition. Moved soundly.

Res. Alkantara Ilolasson
VHC. Bridus Heikki

Class 6 Limit dog 3 (0)
1st: Cooper’s Pavoskas Aly Artuu. This dog has a beautiful outline. Wolf sable and looking his best. Very attractive head with correct ratio of muzzle to skull. Wonderful eyes for shape and set and are lovely and dark. Ears could be set wider apart and smaller in size. They are very well furred. Good neck under a profuse mane. Good angulation and well balanced fore and aft. For me he is rather large in size, but that said he is well proportioned with depth of body slightly less than half height at the withers. Good brisket. Loins are short. Good bone throughout. Medium croup. Tail set and carried correctly. Pasterns slightly sloping and hocks low to ground. Good undercoat. Outer coat is coarse enough. I wouldn’t want it any longer though. A lot of maturing still to do. Moved soundly. Close to top honours.

2nd: Allison’s Glenchess Nallukka By Oberitz. Smaller than 1st and very different in type. Neat and with much to like. Of a compact type with good angulation throughout. Head is masculine with correct skull and muzzle. Very bear like and kind expression. Good oval eyes, but a tad level set. Perfect ears for size, shape and with good width between them. Neck of correct length. Good bone. Not quite as well proportioned as 1st being rather more square. Strong topline. High set tail. Very good pasterns and hocks. The little amount of coat that was there was of a good texture. Moved rather erratically on the day. Preferred overall impression of 1st.

3rd: Samuel’s Bridus Ukkonen

Class 7 Open dog 3 (1)
1st Short’s Ch Glenchess Ilolas. An absolutely top quality Finnish Lapphund who pulled out all the stops here to beat excellent competition. He had to perform..and he did! An upstanding dog of correct medium size. Lovely head with slightly rounded skull. Stop defined. Muzzle of good depth and breadth and tapers as required. Correct length compared to skull also. Eyes are dark and oval in colour. Super ears – not too big (!) are wide at base and set well apart, which I feel many lack and is so important to typical Lapphund. He was another that had the strongly built teddy bear head I was looking for. Super neck with profuse mane. Lovely shoulders and correct length and slope to upper arm. Good depth of chest and correct length of leg to balance. Great feet and pasterns. Deep chest of correct length with short strong loins. Excellent topline. Good angulation at the rear with pelvis and stifles as I would desire. Low set hocks. High set tail which he carried up on the move. I liked his coat which had the correct degree of undercoat, a nice coarse outer coat. A cracking mover in profile. Light on his feet, but brisk enough as the standard requires. A world class Lappy without a doubt. Loved him BD and ultimate BIS winner.

2nd: Matheson’s Lapptoppens Herax (Imp Swe). What an attractive Lappy this is! Very workmanlike which I admire. I love this rich red/brown colour, but this is not what one is assessing. Head is of a good shape, but needs to be stronger for a boy. Good ears for shape and size and set well apart. Good oval eyes. Balanced angulation. Correct proportions. Strong topline. Tail set on high. Great harsh outer coat. Pasterns and hocks good. Nice feet. Unsettled on the move on the day.

Class 8 Special Veteran Dog (7-9 years) 1 (0)
1st: Jackson’s Multi Ch Elbereth Matkamies ShCM. A well known winner of top quality. Really good for size. Very masculine head. Slightly domed skull with good width. Muzzle of correct length. A shade too much stop for my preference and slightly squarer muzzle than the BD. Lovely dark, oval eyes. Ears perhaps a tad large, but are broad at base, set well apart and very well furred. Great neck. Outstandingly strong muscular body (best of the day) and an example to many. Very good shoulders and equal length and return of upper arm. Good depth and width of chest. Correct proportions. Good length through the ribcage with nice short loins. Good rear angulation. Tail set on high and carried well on the move. Good pasterns and hocks. Great bone. Lacking a bit of undercoat on the day but very much had that coarse outer coat I was looking for. A strong purposeful mover who was so sound from all angles. An excellent boy, just preferred the head and slightly more effortless gait of the BD. Two cracking dogs who represent the breed so highly. RBD.

Class 9 Special Veteran Dog (10+ years) 2 (0)
So nice to judge this class.
1st: Bright’s Sambreeze Hamara Kaakoa. 11 years and personality plus! Super attractive head. Correct skull to muzzle proportions. Good width. Gorgeous eyes for shape and colour. I wish more Lappies had his lovely ears – not too big, well furred , wide at base and set well apart. Good neck. Balanced angles. Super body and condition for age. Good pasterns and hocks. Moved very well for age.

2nd: Matheson’s Samejantans Iwaho of Thistleglen (Imp Swe). 13 years and you could see that in his day he was a goodun! Still showing excellence with a good head. Eyes of correct shape and set, and another with correct ears! A well put together body with everything in the place. Tails set on high. Struggling to move soundly today. An attractive dog of superb character.

Class 10 Good Citizen Dog 3 (0)
1st: Jackson’s Multi Ch Elbereth Matkamies ShCM

2nd: Samuel’s Bridus Ukkonen

3rd: Treasure’s Tabanyaru Karuselli Miika. This boy was as happy as ever. Presented in superlative condition. I feel he has a nice masculine head with good muzzle to skull ratio. Nice oval eye. Perhaps a tad light in colour. Bite not his fortune. Well put together with good angles fore and aft. Good bone and proportions. Excellent coat. Tail set on high. Pasterns slightly sloping. Low set hocks. Moved soundly. What a happy dog!

BEST DOG
Ch Glenchess Ilolas

RESERVE BEST DOG
Multi CH Elbereth Matkamies ShCM

BEST PUPPY DOG
Glenchess Gregory