Otterbobs Marquis

Thanks to the exhibitors for the entry of 160 from 157 dogs. There were some very strong classes and interestingly the biggest class was Limit Dog with seventeen entries. My biggest worry about the overall entry was that there seemed be some very large exhibits which were well over the standard size. Even in bitches there were a good number that were too big and in dogs some were enormous. And it was not so much that they were too leggy - rather that so many were far from being able to be spanned. I think we really ought to try to do something about that. Heads were by and large good but there were quite a few with big ears. Coats of course were variable and I only found one really bad mouth and one kinked tail. Movement left a bit to be desired especially in front but I was disappointed also that so many were not moving well behind either. My thanks to my two very efficient stewards which enabled us to finish by around 1 p.m. and to the exhibitors most of whom seemed to take my decisions in the sporting way befitting the breed

With apologies for the delay in submitting this critique. My sincere thanks to the officers and committee of East Anglia Border Terrier Club for offering me this appointment. Huge thanks to my sole steward Rob Brewster who efficiently organised the ring and exhibits all day despite being in poor health and needing constant medication throughout the day. Most of all my appreciation to the exhibitors for giving me the opportunity to assess your dogs. With the ever rising cost of suitable venues, it was necessary to move this show from the much appreciated previous Burgess Hall at St Ives to a new Leisure Centre at Littleport. On the day the huge venue was shared with a large number of indoor bowls enthusiasts which meant there was a longish walk from the large car park to our hall. The hall itself was large enough but dog cages all around the hall gave rise to lots of noise and distraction from barking dogs which was very evident when listening to my dictaphone. At lunchtime, with lots of people all trying to use the cafe/restaurant at the same time, this caused long queues and even longer waiting times for food and drinks to arrive, which in turn meant the lunch break overran. I had the honour of judging the first border terrier club show to schedule Champion dog and bitch classes. Prior to the show I was undecided about such classes but having here seen the smallish entries for both Open and Champions on reflection I see little point or need for them. As always coats were at various stages but the exhibits were with a few exceptions in good condition. All males were entire. Bites were better than at previous appointments and I only found a few with misplaced teeth, however the size of teeth varies considerably. Although not a fault, I noticed a few liver noses. Several exhibits could benefit from attention to feet to produce the small feet as required. Movement in general was better at the rear than in front with too many swinging fronts, moving wide or toeing in.

I would firstly like to thank the Northern Border Terrier Club for inviting me to judge their show and for their lovely hospitality – lunch was very tasty. Thank you also to the committee for their lovely gift. My two stewards, Graham Richardson and Geoff Sugars, kept things moving along nicely – well done. This was my first breed club show and I was absolutely delighted with the excellent entry – thank you to everyone for giving me the opportunity of going over your dogs. As expected coats were at various stages but on the whole were good; only a couple of exhibits on the day had no coat at all. All dogs were entire and there were no kinked tails. There were one or two missing or broken teeth, especially in the veteran class and one or two untidy mouths. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and was delighted with my main winners - I had some really good quality dogs to judge.

It is always a particular honour to judge a Breed Club Championship Show and my thanks go to the committee for their hospitality and my stewards who kept things running smoothly. I found only two poor mouths but more had wrong, thin skins and some needed to go home for a good feed. A working terrier needs to be correctly muscled and too many needed nourishment and exercise. The biggest problem, however, remains poor front movement showing both incorrect shoulders and, for some, over angulation in the hindquarters.

My thanks to the officers and committee of the Border Union Agricultural Society for inviting me to judge today. Thank you also to the exhibitors for giving me, by far, the biggest Terrier entry of the day. A big thank you to my two stewards, Nev and Liz Holmes-Leak, who kept things running smoothly and efficiently thus ensuring that we finished in time for my BOB to make the Group. Coats were at varying stages, with some in their underclothes, and in some cases this was the deciding factor. Some exhibits were too fine in bone, particularly in the earlier classes. Some heads had ears set too high, some had deep stops with muzzles that were too short which gives a foreign expression. There were more than a few exhibits which would have benefited from having their feet tidied and nails cut. Soundness of movement in some dogs gave cause for concern. If a Border is to be fit for the function it was intended, it needs to be sound on the move. I found varying degrees of unsoundness in front movement from toeing in, crossing in front to paddling and out at the elbows. Hind movement in some exhibits was also less than desirable with hocks too close together when going away, cow hocks, lack of drive from hindquarters and, in some cases, lack of muscle tone. All of which would not allow a Border to be ‘capable of following a horse’ over rugged terrain. On a positive note, I did have some quality dogs to go over and was well pleased with my winners. I was also pleased to see my BOB shortlisted in the group.