Crufts roll call!

[mypegasus]

It was really good to be there yesterday - and reading the comments above, some of the judging was "interesting".

Enjoyed wandering around and picking up bits and pieces.

 

[Clodagh]

Thank you. Her movement looked rather odd (and not very sound) to me but I take your point about movement on the Crufts carpet and her inexperience. She had a very sloping back I thought - is that still normal? Hip and elbow scores I understand though sadly a good friend of mine with a lab with excellent scores has just found out that her young dog has an elbow problem. As for the BOB bitch - honestly both my OH and I thought that if that is how GSDs are supposed to move they surely can't be 'healthy' and we would not entertain the breed. Sad and I hope I am not causing offence - she just looked so, so weak and wobbly to us.

I accept she has good hip and elbow scores, which is good, but didn’t all the other shepherdy things look better?

 

[MurphysMinder]

I accept she has good hip and elbow scores, which is good, but didn’t all the other shepherdy things look better?

No idea , I wasn’t there . However there were dogs I know being shown who I think would have performed better in that ring because they are used to being shown at all breed shows , but they didn’t go best of breed . Generally many of the best GSDs in the country don’t even bother going to Crufts , there are shows that have far more prestige for a lot of Gsd owners .

 

[Clodagh]

No idea , I wasn’t there . However there were dogs I know being shown who I think would have performed better in that ring because they are used to being shown at all breed shows , but they didn’t go best of breed . Generally many of the best GSDs in the country don’t even bother going to Crufts , there are shows that have far more prestige for a lot of Gsd owners .

I’m only talking as a complete shepherd ignoramus who watched the video. Just more pleasing to the inexperienced eye I meant.

 

[blackcob]

So it reallly p***ed me off when, as she entered the big ring, the commentator started banging on about cat 3 and how she had to pass examination before going in the ring, yet nothing was said about others in the group who waddled round the ring.

Have they even mentioned it so far for the other cat 3 breeds - I don't recall anything being said for the DDB, mastiff etc.? And to be held to a higher standard than the French bulldog, the breed with no face and a spine like a concertina but that is somehow not worthy of being monitored under cat 3, makes a farce of the whole thing.

 

[palo1]

No idea , I wasn’t there . However there were dogs I know being shown who I think would have performed better in that ring because they are used to being shown at all breed shows , but they didn’t go best of breed . Generally many of the best GSDs in the country don’t even bother going to Crufts , there are shows that have far more prestige for a lot of Gsd owners .

I would be more interested to see the judging from those kind of shows I think! I have watched the Youtube coverage of the group now which is MUCH better generally and the GSD doesnt look so bad in that but can I ask why their conformation is so noticeably different to the rest of the group? I mean, as a type (pastoral dogs) all of the BOBs had level top-lines, strong hind quarters and ground covering strides (apart from the various BSDs which look like they are trotting on hot coals but that is obviously how all the variations move I reckon: I loved the Lakenois but he/she looked like they were being throttled!!) The GSD with the sloping back and what appear to be weak pelvis' and hocks (resulting in the rear 'cannon'??? bones not really ever seeming perpendicular) seem compromised in engineering terms and not at all like the others in the group which may or may not be a sensible observation lol!!

I loved the Buhund and the Finnish Laphund - they looked really nice, workmanlike types. Sorry if I am asking dim questions.

 

[ester]

Have they even mentioned it so far for the other cat 3 breeds - I don't recall anything being said for the DDB, mastiff etc.? And to be held to a higher standard than the French bulldog, the breed with no face and a spine like a concertina but that is somehow not worthy of being monitored under cat 3, makes a farce of the whole thing.

On youtube they mentioned it for both the mastiff and the neopolitan (which moved a lot better than the mastiff which I think they commented should be 'athletic' which it really didn't).

I did wonder why the GSD was shown on a short lead, it looked to me that she needed to run a bit faster?!

I thought the komondor looked painful when moving, especially as they mentioend something like 'should be free moving despite the weight of the coat'.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I thought the komondor looked tired and hot with the arena lighting and that massive mop coat, agree the movement didn't look quite right.

Loved the St Bernard and the little Sheltie.
Couldn't see any daylight between the floor and the undercarriage of that Corgi, where have the legs gone?!.

 

[Clodagh]

Thinking of health, brachy breeds should definitely have done form of commentary about their issues. At the the GSD was capable of bouncing into the ring.

 

[blackcob]

Shows how much attention I was paying. Neopolitans are one of those that have improved so dramatically in the last few years. I will reserve any more judgement about cat 3 until I see what bulldog is put up this year and what they have to say on it.

Slopeypup and I just settling in to watch the police dog display on live feed - solely for that mali pup if they have her out again!

 

[MurphysMinder]

Shows how much attention I was paying. Neopolitans are one of those that have improved so dramatically in the last few years. I will reserve any more judgement about cat 3 until I see what bulldog is put up this year and what they have to say on it.

Slopeypup and I just settling in to watch the police dog display on live feed - solely for that mali pup if they have her out again!

Think the police need to work on their training , loved that they had to leave the ring with dogs attached to criminals , presumably so they could prise them off

 

[ester]

I did think the Neopolitan was quite improved and it moved rather than lumbering

 

[blackcob]

Hope somebody's tucked a break stick behind that curtain

 

[P3LH]

I did think the Neopolitan was quite improved and it moved rather than lumbering

There’s been a huge push to improve, and most breeders have stepped up to the challenge. They are a world away than where they were 11/12 years ago

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

That littel Cairn Terrier doing the heel to music routine was just the sweetest little thing!

 

[malwhit]

I used to love Crufts and visited a few times. When I was young, it was on BBC and I used to argue with my dad when he laughed at the exaggerated coats on Old English Sheepdogs, Afghans and Poodles.

Watching Crufts now, I was shocked to hear I was turning into him Unfortunately, the over exaggerated coats apply to more breeds now. Even my first love Pembroke Corgis have become more exaggerated. Watching videos about the Queen last year, you can see how the breed has evolved from a practical animal to what it is now.

I will watch the final on Sunday and hopefully won't be shouting at the screen like my dad used to

 

[P3LH]

I used to love Crufts and visited a few times. When I was young, it was on BBC and I used to argue with my dad when he laughed at the exaggerated coats on Old English Sheepdogs, Afghans and Poodles.

Watching Crufts now, I was shocked to hear I was turning into him Unfortunately, the over exaggerated coats apply to more breeds now. Even my first love Pembroke Corgis have become more exaggerated. Watching videos about the Queen last year, you can see how the breed has evolved from a practical animal to what it is now.

I will watch the final on Sunday and hopefully won't be shouting at the screen like my dad used to

I would stress some. Sadly the some seem to do very well. There are still dogs and lines that, with the exception of a thicker/flashier coat, haven’t changed much from the 60s & 70s.

It’s always worth noting that the dogs seen with the late Queen as a child and very early on - were pre closed stud book days, so a different kettle of fish.

However in the main, I still think as a breed overall we could do better. As with many.

 

[Supertrooper]

Think the police need to work on their training , loved that they had to leave the ring with dogs attached to criminals , presumably so they could prise them off

Those dogs were loving the bite suits, made me laugh also that the criminals had to leave the ring with dog still attached

 

[Sandstone1]

I know exactly what you mean, obviously GSDs have had huge issues and I won't argue there have been and still are problems, but I think the majority of breeders are trying to correct things. I didn't know the bitch who went into the group, but she seemed to be a happy girl , tail never stopped wagging, and not too extreme. So it reallly p***ed me off when, as she entered the big ring, the commentator started banging on about cat 3 and how she had to pass examination before going in the ring, yet nothing was said about others in the group who waddled round the ring.

Really was not shown on tv for more than a few secs too, didnt get much chance to see her. At least in the footage I saw. It was almost as if they didnt want people to see her which was unfair. The Swiss Shepherd looked nice. Not a breed I have seen before.

 

[CorvusCorax]

If you think you are going to show at Crufts, never mind be in with a chance of going BOB at Crufts then I think as exhibitior you have a duty to train the dog for the conditions, and I say that as someone who has shown in the SV/breed style since I was a kid/have no interest in KC/FCI style showing. You have a duty to show your breed off to the best of your ability in that short of showcase.



I'm always reminded of Steve Cox with Loretta from Shotaan who put in a fantastic performance.



There were a couple of working line GSDs who placed last yesterday (as is usually the case) and one or two from well known kennels, but as a generalisation I didn't recognise a lot of the names in the results list, including the BOB

 

[MurphysMinder]

This was the Best of breed in the big ring .

 

[Jenko109]

I dont think the fact that the dog was pulling helps the overall picture.

 

[MurphysMinder]

If you think you are going to show at Crufts, never mind be in with a chance of going BOB at Crufts then I think as exhibitior you have a duty to train the dog for the conditions, and I say that as someone who has shown in the SV/breed style since I was a kid/have no interest in KC/FCI style showing. You have a duty to show your breed off to the best of your ability in that short of showcase.



I'm always reminded of Steve Cox with Loretta from Shotaan who put in a fantastic performance.



There were a couple of working line GSDs who placed last yesterday (as is usually the case) and one or two from well known kennels, but as a generalisation I didn't recognise a lot of the names in the results list, including the BOB

I agree , didn’t recognise a lot of names . Steve Cox is a master in the big ring , I’ve a feeling the bitch was owner handled in the group , different handler in breed , so probably didn’t help .

 

[palo1]

I love the WFT that just too the terrier group and it was lovely to see a lean and happy BT too.

 

[Morwenna]

The Border was lovely. Would have been my choice.

 

[Moobli]

I loved the Border and the Jack Russell.

 

[some show]

Very happy with the winner of the hound group!

 

[palo1]

Very happy with the winner of the hound group!

I think it was a lovely group! I thought the pharoah hound was fabulous and I loved the Petite Fauve de Bretagne but on the whole all the dogs looked healthy and capable of doing a days work. Well done the wonderful Wolfhound!!

 

[some show]

I think it was a lovely group! I thought the pharoah hound was fabulous and I loved the Petite Fauve de Bretagne but on the whole all the dogs looked healthy and capable of doing a days work. Well done the wonderful Wolfhound!!

Agree! The Pharaoh was beautiful! I know one and he's a lovely dog but a bit flighty (i.e. will disappear for hours on end if let off the lead to go hunting!).

 

[ester]

That's just 'fit for purpose' surely