Finnish Spitz Society Open Show 28th October 2017
Critique by judge Mr Tim Ball (Kaitak)
My grateful thanks to the Officers and Committee of the Finnish Spitz Society for the kind invitation to judge their Club Open Show. A pleasing entry numerically with just two exhibits absent on the day. The males proved extremely challenging with several not making it easy for me to make a true assessment of them. The girls, on the other hand, were more relaxed and I thought quality was good.
PD (2,0)
Two promising youngsters here, both appealing for overall type and balance
1. Cherry’s Valokki Sibbe. The winner was this 7 mth old who presented a pleasing outline with neck of moderate length, firm straight topline, ribcage extending well back and rib developing well for age, short muscular loin and tail set on well and of correct carriage. Attractive head and expression with moderate stop, narrow muzzle, dark almond-shaped eyes, ears good for size and set and correct dentition. Carrying moderate bone, pleasing angles both front and rear, standing nice and straight in front on good feet. Moving in typical fashion for the breed but more ringcraft would enhance the overall picture. Best Puppy Dog and Reserve Best Puppy in Show.
2. Brown & Thomson’s Sukunimi Cuillin. 9 mth old who greatly appealed for balance and I thought him such a good type. Nicely proportioned head with skull broadest between the ears, moderate stop, narrow muzzle, good eyes for shape and set but not as good for colour as those of the winner, ears set on well and correct scissor bite. Muscular neck of medium length, firm topline, good length to ribcage, nice short loin and excellent tail for set and carriage. His front assembly is not his fortune but time should help this as he fills out. Moving well in profile with desired light, springy action and is nice and firm behind.
JD (2,0)
1. Brown & Thomson’s Sukunimi Cuillin
2. Mitchell’s Yoivo Otto. 12½ mth old who wasn’t at all happy being handled and therefore made it very difficult to assess him fully; a shame as he has so much to like. He is all male, such a good type and nicely balanced with neck of moderate length, excellent topline, ribbed well back, short loin and tail good for both set and carriage. Attractive head with moderate stop, narrow muzzle with straight nasal bridge, dark almond-shaped eyes of correct set, ears good for size and set and very good pigmentation. He stands well naturally and moved out well in profile and adequately coming towards. Good coat texture with dense ruff.
ND (3,0)
1. Brown & Thomson’s Sukunimi Cuillin
2. Mitchell’s Yoivo Otto
3. North’s Toveri Tynni from Marrku
PGD (3,0)
1. Brown & Thomson’s Sukunimi Cuillin
2. North’s Toveri Tynni from Marrku. 2 yr old who wasn’t making the best of himself on the day. Heavy lad all through but he is nicely balanced with neck of moderate length, firm straight topline, ribbed well back, good depth of brisket, short muscular loin and correct tail. Nicely proportioned head with moderate stop, good eyes for colour, ears set on well and correct scissor bite. Stands somewhat wider in front and this becomes more apparent on the move, but at times I caught glimpses of pleasing profile action. Good for colour and pigmentation and quality coat.
3. Hallett’s Yoivo Theodorus
LD (3,0)
1. Hallett’s Sukunimi Otto. 2 yr old who won this class with ease but feel he is still some way off maturity. Balanced boy who appealed for overall type. Neck of medium length, firm straight topline, ribcage extending well back, good depth of brisket, short muscular loin and correct tail for set and carriage. He stands well naturally with pleasing angles both ends, straight moderately bone forelegs and good feet. Pleasing head with slightly convex skull, moderate stop, good eye for shape and set but could be a tad darker, ears set on well, narrow muzzle and correct dentition. Moves well in profile with typical light gait, covering the ground with ease. Front action good enough and nice and firm when going away. Good quality coat. Reserve Best Dog.
2. North’s Toveri Tynni from Marrku
3. Hallett’s Yoivo Theodorus
OD (3,0)
1. Rolfe’s Puulatva The Red Norseman among Inkivaari. 6 yr old who is very well schooled. He presented a nicely balanced outline with moderate length of neck, firm topline, good length to ribcage, correct spring to rib, nice short loin and tail good for set and carriage. Well constructed all through, he stands nice and straight in front on good feet and has muscular hindquarters which are moderately angulated and parallel when viewed from behind. Nicely proportioned head with no suggestion of coarseness, almond-shaped eyes of good colour and set, medium-sized ears set on rather high, moderate stop, narrow muzzle and correct dentition. Moving well all through, with good drive from the rear. Good quality coat. Best Dog & Reserve BIS.
2. Hallett’s Sukunimi Otto
3. North’s Toveri Tynni from Marrku
SBD (4,0)
1. Cherry’s Valokki Sibbe
2. Brown & Thomson’s Sukunimi Cuillin
3. Mitchell’s Yoivo Otto
VD (2,1)
1. Ash’s Pihlaja Jani. 7 yr old boy who was a carrying a tad too much weight but overall he has much to commend him. He is nicely balanced with neck of medium length, firm topline, well ribbed back, muscular loin and excellent tail for set and carriage. Pleasing head and expression with nice dark eye, moderate stop, excellent ears for size and set, narrow muzzle and correct scissor bite. He is a little wider in front but moves pretty well all through and was very well handled. Good quality coat.
VB (3,0)
1. Mortimore’s Valokki Venla Sisko. Feminine 7 yr old who I thought was such a good type. Her topline is a tad slack but otherwise she has so much to like. Attractive head of nice proportions, slightly arched forehead, moderate stop, dark almond-shaped eyes which are slightly oblique, good ears for size and set, narrow muzzle, excellent pigmentation and correct scissor bite. Medium length of neck, good length to ribcage, deep chest, short muscular loin and tail set on well. She is soundly built all through, with medium-boned, straight forelegs and muscular hindquarters with moderate angulation. Moving with typical light gait and true on the down and back. Good coat. Best Veteran in Show.
2. Slater’s Valokki Amalia. 12 yr old who is another who scored for type and is nicely balanced but age is catching up with her and pigmentation is beginning to fade. She is feminine all through with pleasing head and expression; good eye for shape and colour, ears set on correctly, moderate stop, narrow muzzle and good dentition. Medium length of neck, excellent topline, good rib, short loin and tail good for both set and carriage. She moves well in profile and from behind but could be more positive when coming towards. Good quality coat.
3. Ash’s Korpi Ella
PB (1,0)
1. Dardis & Green’s Valokki Sampo. This 7 mth old shows great promise for the future. Feminine throughout, right now she is very raw as one would expect, but the type, frame and balance are all there. Moderate length of neck, firm straight back, good length to ribcage, short muscular loin and tail set on well and of correct carriage. Most attractive headpiece with moderate stop, super eye and ear, straight nasal bridge, narrow muzzle, excellent pigmentation and perfect scissor bite. Well made all through, just needing to tighten a little in front, but with characteristic light, springy action, using herself as she goes. Reserve Best Bitch and Best Puppy in Show.
NB (1,0)
1. Slater’s Valokki Kastehelmi. 2½ yr old who I was surprised to see in Novice; I am sure if she is shown a little more she would soon out-qualify for this class! Feminine girl who presented a beautifully balanced outline with correct length of neck, pretty good topline, nice length to ribcage, good depth to chest, short muscular loin and excellent tail for set and carriage. Most attractive head and expression with slightly convex skull, moderate stop, the best of eyes, ears set on well but a fraction larger, narrow muzzle, super pigmentation and correct scissor bite. Well made all through, she stands so well in front on good feet and has moderately angulated hindquarters. Moving particularly well in profile and when going away and good enough coming towards. Excellent coat. Very well handled.
PGB (2,0)
1. Slater’s Valokki Kastehelmi
2. Rolfe’s Enkelini Toivoa. 21 mth old who is nicely balanced with moderate length of neck, excellent topline, ribbed well back, nice short loin and adequate set on of tail. Pleasing head with nice proportions, slightly arched forehead, moderate stop, dark almond-shaped eye, ears good for set but again a tad larger, narrow muzzle, straight nasal bridge and correct dentition. She stands well in front on good feet although could be more positive when on the move but moving well in profile with good self carriage. Excellent colour and coat.
LB (2,0)
1. Slater’s Valokki Tulikki. 8 yr girl who I thought was an excellent type and won this class with ease, Feminine all through and so well balanced scoring for neck, topline and tailset. She is good to go over with correct angles both front and rear, standing nice and straight in front on good feet and muscular hindquarters with moderate turn of stifle. Pleasing rib, super depth to chest and slight tuck up. Attractive head and expression with excellent eye and ear, medium stop, straight nasal bridge, narrow muzzle, good pigmentation and correct scissor bite. Moving well in profile and when going away. Front action difficult to assess as she insisted on pulling away.
2. Morriss’ Enkelini Kuiskaus. This 21 mth old girl is a completely different type to the winner and unfortunately left her wardrobe at home on the day! She presented a nicely balanced outline with muscular neck of moderate length, firm topline, good length to ribcage, nice short loin and super tail for both set and carriage. She is rather narrow all through but stands straight in front on good feet and has moderately angulated hindquarters. Feminine headpiece but a little narrower in skull than I would prefer, good eye for shape and colour and correct scissor bite. She moves well all through with quick, light action, using herself as she goes.
OB (2,0)
1. Byard’s Valokki Kuura. This 2 yr old turned out to be the star of the day for me. Feminine throughout, she presented a beautifully balanced outline with muscular neck of moderate length, firm level topline, ribbed well back, good depth to brisket, short muscular loin, slight tuck up and tail set on well and of correct carriage. She has the most delightful head and expression with slightly convex skull, moderate stop, narrow muzzle and straight nasal bridge, the very best of eyes and ears, excellent pigmentation and correct dentition. Well constructed throughout with moderately boned, straight forelegs, excellent feet and well muscled hindquarters with moderate turn of stifle. Light, quick action, covering the ground and using herself at all times and handled so very well. Quality coat with excellent texture. On top of all this she has the best of temperaments and was a more than worthy Best Bitch and Best in Show winner for me today.
2. Mortimore’s Valokki Venla Sisko
SBB (2,0)
1. Dardis & Green’s Valokki Sampo
2. Mortimore’s Valokki Venla Sisko
Brace (3,0)
1. Mrs F Ash. Very well matched brace, so similar for size, type and balance and moving in unison.
2. Mrs P I Slater.
3. Mr S Hallett
Team (1,0)
1. Mrs P I Slater. Three quality girls, similar for overall type and balance and pleasing construction. A credit to their clever breeder.
Judge: Tim Ball