Otterbobs Duchy

Thank you to everyone who entered on a Friday and gave me the biggest entry of the two groups on the day and the forth highest in the whole show! Pat and Paul my stewards were great and helped me to get through the dogs in an efficient way. We were lucky enough to be outside on a perfect dog showing day weather wise. Some super quality classes with hair splitting decisions and even lovely dogs unplaced. Whilst essentially a working terrier was a priority, I wanted my males, to look like males and my bitches easily recognisable as females, it sounds obvious but with some they could’ve passed for either. Some really lovely dogs looked super stood, but failed on the move, not just coming and going, but more importantly to me, the side gait. I think we need to be careful of mouths, I was surprised to find several with teeth out of line. Level bites, although allowed and not penalised on the day, some were in very young dogs and it makes me wonder if they will last. Having said all that, I enjoyed my day and the dogs, who also seemed to enjoy being outside.

Many thanks to the Midland committee for this appointment which l thoroughly enjoyed, despite the weather which sent us indoors after bitches. Many thanks to my stewards. As an aside l was pleased to see that moderately short tails are coming back! I was also pleased to find that three of the youngsters from the previous time l judged had developed as hoped and received top honours today. The exception was the outstanding dog which took BIS, my first time judging this one and what a treat! This blue and tan dog meets the standard so well, essentially a working terrier, the most important requirement of our breed, but with the quality of a top show dog .

Thank you all for a wonderful entry especially for a Thursday, I found the Bitches better in Quality than the Dogs on the day, I feel I can speak little about what I found as I have worked them, shown them and bred them, But I wont criticize, has many showing this wonderful breed forgotten more than I know, but its my observation on the day, There were a few I really liked but lacked jackets on the day, I found a few with ears to big, and some needed more power moving from behind, but that can be improved, please don't over stretch when you stacking them, And now my biggest bugbear please don't keep shoving bait into their mouths when a judge is trying to go over their heads this is happening a lot now why I don't know, never seen it so bad as lately but in most terrier exhibitors, moan over lol, Also thank you to both my stewards Gavin Argyle and Penny Winger, who done an amazing job Thank you both.