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GSDCA National Futurity Show - Great Lakes
Region
May 4, 2001
Firstly, I must thank the GSDC of Northern
Ohio for selecting me to judge this futurity. Your club should be
extremely proud of your hardworking members. The show site, including
huge 125 x 150 ring, was exceptional, your hospitality was superb and the
sportsmanship above par.
There has been some commentary/complaints
about the length of time involved to do this show. I will address them
now. When I got this assignment, and as it came closer to the time of the
actual judging of it, I decided what my priorities were going to be when I
judged. It was very important to me that I respect each and every entry,
regardless of my initial impression, making sure every dog got an
equal look. I feel that my procedure was easy to follow. I also feel
sure that whether or not exhibitors got a piece of the action, they know
that their animals got an honest, fair look. Truthfully, some
inexperience on my part was an issue, for if I had realized that the
picture taking process was going to be so cumbersome and long, I would
have made the decision to have pictures done at another time. Moreover,
it was not "at my discretion" to take a 45 minute break for lunch nor to
take time out for a raffle. However, as a long time club member myself, I
realized that these things are needed to help the clubs get vendors to
feed their exhibitors and raffles to help finance their events. That time
alone would have allowed the show to be completed much earlier and perhaps
would have left time for the presentation. It didn't happen that way, and
perhaps if I ever get the chance to judge again, I'll do a better job of
directing things.
As far as my procedure goes: The breed that
we all love has several issues that are constant and reoccurring
problems. Foremost in my mind is what is now known as "locked up hocks"
or lack of proper follow-through. In my opinion, there is really only one
true way to view our breed and properly grade motion, including the
function of rear quarter. That is gaiting at a slow speed is on a loose
lead. All kinds of things become patently apparent at this speed and
lead. Of course, convincing the handlers to cooperate was at times,
difficult; until I made it plainly aware that I wanted to see them how I
wanted to see them. Period. At a regular show with the sort of quality
that's been the norm over the past few years, getting to the placements
wouldn't have been a problem. However, when you have larger classes
filled with quality 5, 6, 7+ deep, as I had, I felt there was only one way
to make sure the eventual winners were found, which was gaiting them until
it's apparent. Our breed is a gaiting breed and the traditional way of
doing it… was exactly how I did it.
Before I start with the actual critiques, I
would like to make some overall broad statements. I was very critical on
rear function. I was also quite critical on the size of bitches, as I
felt there was some being presented that were much too large, and I feel
it's a problem in the breed, in general. I was critical on temperament to
the level of the standard temperament test would allow me to judge them,
or in plain words, no animal got past me that I felt was unsound or
displayed an unrecoverable temperament problem. Truthfully, I can say I
only saw perhaps 3 or 4 animals that had a bad day. There were a couple
missing a premolar and there were a few with bite issues. As a credit to
the owners of the fine animals presented to me, a lot of I had to make the
decision between 1st and 2nd based simply on my own
personal preference for type.
Lastly, this Region alone, in my opinion,
completely justified the new Runner-Up system and I am so very proud to
say, that 8 exceptional animals are going to the National from this
region, the runner-ups each being of the quality that they could have won
a region in their own right. Thank you so much, exhibitors, for trusting
a newbie to judging with such nice animals. Seeing them has revitalized
my excitement in the Breed!
Junior Dogs:
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D'Can's Rocky Road v Jo-Wins: An
upper medium sized, dark black and tan, masculine youngster with good
extension on both ends. He follows through beautifully, transmits
through a strong back. He is clean going but could be a bit cleaner
coming back. He has a good bite, full mouth and is quite attractive
although somewhat "stagy". He has a medium dark eye in a dark face,
good ears. He won the class on his overall consistency in motion on a
loose lead.
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Skyline's Hudson v Guardian: Upper
medium sized, medium dark black and tan, very masculine male puppy. He
has an excellent strong headpiece with a medium eye in a medium dark
face. Good ears. In motion he is efficient and extends well on both
ends. Carries a good strong back. He is clean enough going but could
be cleaner coming. My first impression was that he would win this
class, but during the gaiting he was somewhat inconsistent in his
performance, being at times, somewhat rammy.
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Domara's Carmello: Medium sized,
attractive bi-color male puppy with a nice overline. Not quite as
masculine as the first two, but still definitely male. In motion he is
free and easy, but could be a shade better on the follow through. This
could be an age-related issue. He is clean coming and going. In style
he is somewhat more "stylish" in type and is longer in body, however,
his back is good. Medium eye in a dark face. Another very promising
youngster.
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Sanhedrin's Ralph Lauren: A Large,
somewhat leggy youngster that is a nice mover. He has a longer body
style than the first 3 but does carry a decent back in motion. He is
well angulated and opens well on both ends. He is a handsome puppy but
it is apparent he is in his stagy period. This was a nice class of male
puppies.
Teenage
Dogs:
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Stonecroft's Charlie Pride: Upper
medium sized, dark black and tan male. He is very correct in motion and
standing. Not overdone on either end but uses everything efficiently,
opening well on both ends. He carries an excellent back and in motion,
the overline is pleasing and correct. If I were to fault him, I'd like
a shade stronger headpiece but he is still masculine. Good ears, medium
dark eye in a dark face, good bite and a full mouth. Overall, a
handsome, efficient package.
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Suro's Spiderman: A large, lighter
black and tan male. More angulated and a longer body style than the
first dog. He is a good mover, but I'd like to see a stronger follow
through in the rear. A lighter eye in a lighter face but it is not
distracting. He has a strong masculine head. At this stage of his
growth, he's a got a fair bit of leg and it's very obvious he's a
teenager.
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Kridler's Take it to the Limit:
Medium sized, dark black and reddish tan dog. A decent overline
standing. Croup is okay. He is very exciting flashy mover at a higher
rate of speed. At my speed and lead, he opens up well on both ends, but
tends to kick up some. Nice correct back, nice length of neck. He has
a dark eye in a dark face. Very attractive.
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Marti's General Maximus: A taller,
rangier styled, medium black and reddish tan that appears to be out of
coat. He takes a nice stride, carries a nice back on a loose lead but
he could follow through better. He is clean up and back. He has a nice
long neck, medium eye in a medium dark face. A handsome youngster.
Intermediate Dogs: When I had
finally shuffled dogs into a relative order that pleased me, I walked up
to the handlers in the top half of the class and said, "I am sorry that I
have to tell you this, but you're going to have to put your running shoes
on, cause you guys are Goooood!". This was an outstanding class of
quality animals.
Best in Futurity
1)
Jo-Win's Concho: This
dog has incredible drive, which is why perhaps it took a while to move him
up to the front. He's an upper medium sized, black and tan dog. Decent
bone, nice coat, dark eye and an overall attractive package standing.
Good bite, full mouth. A very correct, standard type of dog. He's the
type of dog that requires a few rounds to just loosen up due to the
tendency to bunch up when he's going too hard and fast on a tight lead,
but after his handler got him settled down to the speed and lead I wanted
to see, WOW! There is really no faulting him. He has great shoulder,
hard back and exceptional follow. In motion, he moves like a Male should
and he gives me goosebumps as he eats the ground with each powerful
stride. The long and short… he really turned my crank right on! The
longer he went, the better he got. I could go on and on…
Runner Up to Best in Futurity
2) Eagle
Valley's Pfizer: An extremely stylish, upper medium sized to large,
outgoing, black and tan dog. A little higher on leg, and not quite as
substantial at this point in his growth, but there is no denying this dog
is another good one. I hesitate to use the word "great" for both of these
dogs, because they are so young and there's so much more to happen in
their lives…but I think they both have tremendous futures. Shown to me
exactly how I wanted to see them. He is exceedingly stylish, both in
motion and standing. He is clean up and back and opens very well on both
ends. I had to nit pick to make the decision between these dogs. Today,
I'd like a stronger headpiece and more substantial body type, however,
considering his age, these could change. After extensive gaiting, he gave
ever so slightly in his overall outline and extension.
3) Marhaven's
And the Beat Goes On: This is a large substantial and masculine
Bi-color dog, good bone, slightly long in body style. More extreme in the
rear than the first two. Croup is a little short and he does not follow
through as well as the first two. He has a dark eye in a dark face. In
motion he's very free and easy and takes a nice stride, but I'd like to
see a bit stronger drive from the rear quarter.
4) Summitwood's
De Niro Tartan: A handsome black and reddish tan youngster. Again, a
little longer body style. He has a very angulated rear quarter, and his
pasterns when standing look a little soft, but in motion there was no
outward signs that they were an issue. He takes a nice, free flowing
stride, but does not follow through as well as he could. It is apparent
that he is still in his teenager stage. He has a medium eye in a darker
black and tan face, good ears and overall pleasing outline. This class
was exceptionally strong.
Senior Dogs:
1)
Witmer's Jamiroqual: A
handsome dark black and tan dog with a little longer body style. Standing
is very stylish. In motion he takes a nice stride and carries a good
topline but his follow through could be better. Clean enough coming and
going. Dark eye in a dark face, and good ears.
2)
Jecoda's Sherpa: A
large, masculine, lighter black and tan dog. Very impressive standing and
is exciting to watch move, but at the speed and lead I was requiring and
after some gaiting, his back was starting to give. That combined with
some follow through issues made the difference. Conditioning and further
maturity could change this picture. Dark eyes in a medium colored face,
good ears. A handsome dog.
3)
Sutana's Yogi Bearra of Jada:
This is a more standard styled dog, very balanced in motion. Does not
have as much on both ends as the first two dogs. Attractive standing,
handsome head, dark eye in a medium colored face. A nice sound type of
dog but as I said, not as much extension in sidegait as the first two.
4)
Rallyn's Xcaliber: Dark
black and tan dog that was a little lighter on bone than the first three
dogs. Could be cleaner going away. My first impression was that he was a
nice mover, however, on a loose lead he was adequate, better on a tighter
lead. Attractive standing. Medium eye in a dark face, good ears.
Junior Bitches:
1)
Phil-Car's Reannon: An
elegant, typey Black and reddish tan young lady. Is a shade long and her
back could be a bit stronger. Shown on a loose lead and slow. At this
time, she is extreme and in motion she covers a lot of ground very easily
as she has a beautiful forehand and opens up completely in the rear. She
has a pretty face, however, her eyes are a bit on the lighter side. The
only thing I would change on her would be to be tighten up the back, but I
think with age and conditioning this will not be an issue. If she wouldn't
have had to compete against two exceptional bitches in the finals, this
puppy could have easily been heading for the Nationals. A quality bitch
puppy.
2)
Hickoryhill's Brickhouse
Sirius Park: Probably more "my" type of bitch than the first one, but
not quite as good a mover. Has a nicer back in motion and standing than
the first. Has a tendency to lift some, and she does not open up in the
rear as well as the first one. She has a nice substantial body with good
coat. Has a medium eye in a dark face. All things aside, she is a nice
puppy.
3)
Dream Weavers Sonata Tokaye:
A larger, substantial, black and tan puppy bitch. Moves beautifully and
opens up nicely although does carry a slight overcast over the loin. She
is a bit strong in the head and a shade larger than I prefer. During the
gaiting, she let up a little in overall motion and topline as the class
went along.
4)
Sanhedrin's Beautiful: A
large solid black bitch. Larger than I like for a bitch, maybe not quite
as elegant as I prefer but she is still feminine. Has a medium eye in a
black face. A good solid mover that opens up on both ends but could have
a bit stronger follow through in the rear.
Teenage Bitches: Well… here we are
with another exceptional class of animals.
Best of Opposite Sex in Futurity
1)
Utopia's Jitterbug Nordlicht:
A slightly longer, upper medium sized, black and reddish tan bitch with an
elegant, long neck. Appears to be out of coat. Shown on a loose lead and
slow. In motion, she carries a pleasing overline, opens up fully on both
ends, covering a lot of ground stylishly, yet also very efficiently. She
clean coming and going. Good bite, full mouth. Has a medium dark eye in
a medium face. Good ears. Over extensive gaiting, this lovely bitch won
this class on her overall consistency combined with the fluidity and
easiness of her motion.
Runner-Up to Best of Opposite
2)
WeLove Langenau's Samala:
A little taller styled bitch than the first, shorter bodied, iron
back, Black and reddish tan. Has a deep body and a thick, plushy type
coat. She is very efficient with an excellent follow through in the rear,
beautiful croup and back in motion. On a tighter lead her forehand is
good, but shortens ever so slightly going slow on a loose lead. She has
dark eyes in a feminine face. Clean coming and going. The difference
between these bitches was more a case of consistency in motion and
preference for type. I really look forward to watching these young girls
grow up.
3)
Ranita-Rysher Lizzy Borden:
A Very typey, smaller, dark black and tan bitch with very good bone, her
headpiece is very strong. In motion she carries a good back, is clean
coming and going and is fluid on her sidegait. Dark eyes in a dark face.
A very nice bitch in a class of excellent bitches.
4)
Stonecroft's Dixie Chick:
Yet again, another good one. Upper medium sized, dark black and reddish
tan feminine bitch. She actually surprised me because I really didn't
notice her to begin with, but each round she looked better and better,
moving herself into a placing. A good moving bitch, opens up well in the
rear, carries a strong back and extends well in the front. Has one
slightly inset ear, medium eye in a dark face. This was a strong class.
Intermediate Bitches:
1)
Cedar Canyon Marcy Clayfield:
A dark, elegant, sable bitch that is slightly elongated in body style.
She has an excellent rear quarter, strong back but could use slightly more
forehand. Has a feminine head with a medium eye in darker coloration.
Good ears. In motion she is fluid, and carries a lovely overline, and is
consistent from start to finish. A lovely bitch.
2)
Depahl's Anja: A Large,
dark black and tan bitch. Carries a nice back and extends well on both
ends but towards the end of the class was giving a little in her overall
motion and outline. Has a lovely long neck but is a shade bit stronger in
head than I prefer. Has a nice dark eye in a medium colored face. She
was clean coming and going. A nice bitch.
3)
WeLove DuChien's Hope: A
upper medium sized, light black and tan bitch, shorter bodied than the
first two, higher on leg, and not quite as developed in the forechest.
She's not really my style of bitch, but the bitch can really move. She
has an excellent back, excellent follow through, decent forequarter. Dark
eye in a lighter face, good ears.
4)
Gem-N-I Miss Mic's Fancy That:
A Large, longer, light black and tan bitch. Could use a slightly
longer croup. The length of back was bothersome but it didn't really
affect her in motion; however, there was an ever so slight give on some
speeds, but nothing major. She has a nice forehand. Her extension off
the rear is okay. She has dark eye in a lighter, feminine face and good
ears. Her size and length of back were an issue for me.
Senior Bitches:
1)
Carly's Calendar Girl of KCK:
An upper medium to large, Dark black and Tan bitch. She has an
exceptional overline in motion. She takes a coordinated stride but could
be stronger on the follow through. She has a somewhat stronger head than
I prefer, but is still feminine and has a medium dark eye in a dark face.
She worked for her win today because it was difficult to convince her
"team" that slow and loose was a priority.
2)
Shirehaus Riverdance: An
upper medium sized, bi-color bitch with good bone. She is slightly
elongated in style and is a tad bit immature in comparison to the first
bitch. She has a lovely dark face with medium dark eye. Her ears are a
shade bit soft. In motion she is a decent mover, however, she does not
follow through as well as she could and her croup is a little short. With
maturity and conditioning, her overall picture could change.
3)
Ch. Kaleef's Genuine Risk:
A medium sized, substantial, black and reddish tan bitch. Her back could
be a shade stronger, her croup is adequate. She has a nice short hock and
was consistant in her motion, but today, she let up some on the gaiting
and the back was somewhat bothersome to me. Medium eye in a medium dark
face, good ears.
4)
Jagan's Ikaria: Small to
medium sized, substantial dark black and tan bitch. She has a strong
back, follows through nicely but could use a bit more forehand. She let
up during the gaiting some. She has a stronger head than I prefer on a
bitch, but is still feminine. Medium eye in a dark face and good ears.
Junior Maturity Dogs:
Best in Maturity
1) Marquin's
Xtra! Xtra!: As a spectator, I had seen this dog at the Nationals and
thought, "yeah, he's a nice dog." But getting up close and personal to
him, all I can say is … Whoa! This dog is EYE-CANDY! He's
an Impressively Handsome, upper medium to large, Darker Black and Reddish
Tan, Plushy coated, substantial, "All Male" Dog with good bone, a full
mouth and good bite. When I finally convinced his handler to present him
to me the way I wanted to see him, the dog didn't change his outline, if
anything, he got better. In motion he is powerful, he has excellent
follow through in the rear and a great overline although, I'd prefer to
see a bit more forehand. He did not win the class on his sheer beauty
alone, but did it by gaiting his way around the ring on many occasions. A
beautiful representative of our breed that I hope others will get to see,
going "Slow and Loose", because he most certainly can do it.
Runner Up to Best in Maturity
2) Caretti's
Suicide Squeeze: A very attractive, upper medium sized, lighter black
and tan dog. He appears to be out of coat. He is slightly longer in body
style, carries a bit more leg and is slightly less mature than the first
dog. Regardless of all of that, he pressed the first dog very hard as he
does have a nicer forehand, carries an equally nice back in motion. While
he could have a slightly shorter hock, he does follow through nicely,
perhaps not quite as strong as the first dog, but still well above the
norm. He shows very well on a loose lead at a slow speed. He has a nice
masculine head, dark eye in a lighter face, good ears. In truth, it came
down to a simple case of two exceptionally nice dogs, one being more "my"
type than the other.
3) Sugar
Run's Lennox Lewis: A very large, plushy coated, solid black dog with
excellent substance. Extremely eye-catching standing, in motion he
carries a nice topline. I'd have like to have seen much more consistency
in his motion as there were times when he went around that I got the
impression there was so much more to be seen. However, when it came right
down to it, it didn't happen. Slightly close going away, clean coming at
you. Strongly masculine head with a dark black eye and good ears.
4) Adelhund's
Class Act: An upper medium to large black and tan dog. In motion he
carries a nice overline, opens well on both ends although does not has as
much in the motion department as the first three, but he uses what he has
efficiently. Roundish, lighter eyes in a darker face. This was another
class of really nice dogs.
Senior Maturity Dogs:
1)
Von Charisma's One Man Show:
Upper medium sized black and tan dog with good bone. He is masculine, but
my preference would be for a slightly stronger head. He won the class by
gaiting his way there. He could use a slightly longer croup, could be
cleaner going away and could follow through better. He has a nice
overline in motion that did not let up and he is eye appealing standing.
2)
Eko-Lan's Nash v Merivern:
An upper medium to large, handsome dark sable dog with a nice strong
headpiece and good ears. His croup could be a bit longer. Carries a
little overcast over the loin and while he was efficient in his motion, he
was somewhat inconsistent. He has dark eyes in a dark face.
3)
Ch. Hickoryhill's Wells Fargo:
A very handsome, upper medium sized to large, lighter black and tan dog.
Masculine head, long neck, slightly longer in body style, extreme in
angulation on both ends. Medium dark eye in a lighter face. Carries a
nice back in motion. Clean coming and going. While the dog was shown how
I like to see them, every time I went to move him up, one absolutely
glaring issue kept me from doing so. This is the only dog that placed
today with a rear quarter that showed such a marked lack of follow
through. He is a nice dog and most likely could have been the class
winner under any other judge, but not me.
4)
Witmer's Nantucket:
Upper medium sized, stylish bi-color dog. Has a good back in motion,
slightly cowhocked standing and could be cleaner going away. On a loose
lead he takes a nice stride, opening well on the forehand but also lacks
some on the follow through. He has one inset ear, dark eyes in a dark
face.
Junior Maturity Bitches:
1)
Marhaven's Dear Abbey of
Asgard: A medium sized, dark black and tan bitch. She is longer in
body style than I generally prefer and her croup is somewhat flat but
these do not appear to hinder her in motion. She is a shade fine on
bone. Her head is stronger than I prefer but she is still relatively
feminine. She is clean coming and going. She was consistent in her
motion, which was fluid and easy and she covered the ground well.
2)
Skyline's Freedom: A
medium sized lighter Black and Tan. Long neck, good ears, short hard
back. Not extreme on either end, but uses everything very efficiently and
correctly, covering the ground surprisingly well. The difference between
first and second in this class was consistency in performance.
3)
Hardrock's Escapade:
Dark, elegant feminine dark black and reddish tan bitch. She carries an
iron back that I very much appreciate, decent forehand although could have
followed through a shade better. I would have liked to have the
opportunity to get her to make a good showing and go slow and loose, but I
didn't get that privilege.
4)
Knaufhill's Crystal
Ste-La-Re: An attractive and substantial, medium sized light black
and tan bitch. She extends well on both ends. She presents a balanced
picture standing, however in motion, the topline did change enough to be
somewhat distracting.
Senior Maturity Bitches: After a
long hot day, with the sun just starting to set, in walks this class.
Let me just say, if I had 8 plaques to give away, I'd have had 8 bitches
deserving them. Truly outstanding.
Best of Opposite in Maturity:
1)
Tempest-Rising Star Aruba:
A medium sized, substantial yet feminine bi-color bitch. Shown a little
heavier than I'd like to see, however it did not affect her in motion.
When I finally got handler to SLOW her down to the speed and lead I
wanted, she is exceptionally efficient, keeps her feet close to the ground
and uses every drop of her many attributes to their fullest extent. She
has a dark eye in a black face, good ears, very clean up and back. I
didn't immediately move her to the front, because she's another one of
those, that the longer she went, the better she got. But once she got
there, she basically won it on her overall correct, efficient motion.
Runner Up to Best of Opposite in
Maturity
2)
Schneiderhof's Neon Nites:
Very elegant, feminine plushy, bi-color bitch that is extremely stylish.
Clean up and back. On a loose lead and slow, which her handler got the
message quickly and gave it to me, her overline is beautiful, follow
through is great but I'd like to see just a bit more forehand. She has an
elegant long neck, feminine face, dark eye in a black face. Truly 2
lovely bitches in a very strong class of quality bitches.
3)
Amber's Allure: A
lovely, typey black and reddish tan bitch. She extends nicely on both
ends, but at times was a bit busy and just didn't seem to get settled down
enough to be at the speed and lead I was requesting, even after giving her
several chances. She is clean up and back, beautiful short hock. She's
got a dark eye in very pretty feminine face. Another lovely bitch.
4)
Crosswind Undercover Angel:
A large lighter black and tan bitch. She is larger and longer than I
generally prefer and did get a bit fast during the class. All that aside,
slowed down on a loose lead she does carry a good back in motion, opens
well on the front, opens completely in the rear but has a tendency kick up
some. Dark eye in a lighter face, good ears. Overall, another really
nice bitch.
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