Afghan Hound Critique

Judge Ms Claire Millward

I would like to start by thanking the committee of Bath Canine Society for inviting me to award my first set of CC’s at this prestigious show. Even though the weather was slightly against me we made the best of our well allocated ring and the outside ring remained firm. I would also like to thank my very organised steward Mr Roger Link for his help and excellent stewarding. Overall I found all exhibits to be well turned out and in hard condition as anyone who watched me judge will know I wanted to see the dogs move and be able to cope with pace i.e. some dogs after being moved once or twice were starting to loose their toplines. It was interesting to get my hands on dogs that I have seen from the ringside on many an occasion some and didn’t disappoint but some under all that coat were disappointing, On the whole I found the quality of hounds extremely good in the higher classes but was a little disappointed in some of the youngsters, there was also a stronger depth of quality in the bitches. That said I thoroughly enjoyed my day.

Minor puppy dog – 5 entries (2abs)

1^st Van Nierop & Gorman Jimellree Night To Remember – black/tan male, well made puppy with good substance, still needs to drop a little on rear but am sure this will come with age, nice head with good underjaw, excellent rear angulation, moved well for one so young.

2^nd Grays Sarakhan Sherdan – black/tan, lovely head and expression, would prefer a little more length of neck, good strong level topline, good for and aft, really enjoyed his day just needs to settle a little on move, netherless another nice puppy.

3^rd Hunns Sarakhan Shareef

Puppy Dog – 7 entries (0 abs)

1^st Smith,Phillps,Adamson Zhaqqari T’nage Kicks – upstanding black male who completely draws your eye, beautifully made throughout but my only concern is that I would want him to grow on much more, lovely head, long neck into well laid shoulders, good rear angulation, ring tail, this dog excels on the move with his lovely springy movement and excellent carriage. BPD

2^nd Moores Cloudside Match Black – Black and tan, not quite as together as first but nether the less displays lots of promise, a more houndy puppy than one and not as together yet, still to drop slightly on rear which again will come with time, finer in head than 1 but beautifully proportioned, good under jaw, nice length of neck into good front assembly, balanced fore and aft, moved well.

3^rd Edwards Agha Djaris U Got The Look (Imp) NAF

Junior dog – 6 entries (2 Abs)

1^st Rodgers and Freer Cloudside Warboy At Montravia – silver brindle male who I have admired since a puppy so beautifully made and thoroughly hound throughout, best of heads with good eyeshape and expression, long neck, level topline balanced fore and aft, ring tail, this male is simply stylish thoughout excels on the move, covers ground well with that all important springy gait, as always put down to perfection. Considered him for res dcc but just lost on maturity, definitely one to watch for the future.

2^nd Boydells Warrenoak Whats In A Name – Black/tan male another nicely made youngster, good head and expression, lovely front, good depth and spring of ribs, good rear angulation, ring tail, just needed on the day to settle a little on the move.

3^rd Sanderson Gazencol Done and Dhusted

Yearling dog –6 entries(0 abs)

1^st Kings Serra Parecis I’m alright jack at Belamba – black/tan male, beautiful clean outline on the stack, excellent in head and expression, good length of neck and shoulders, level topline, ring tail raised in action, presentation put down to the last hair, my only frustration was that on the day I would just have liked him to use himself better and cover a bit more ground on the move.

2^nd – Moores Cloudside War Paint – brindle male who like his littermate in junior have admired since a puppy but today his head simply wasn’t in the game and was over exuberant on the move which effected his topline otherwise would have pushed hard for this class, like his brother lovely head and houndy throughout, nice front and rear angulation another to watch with interest

3^rd Latimer Istani your love is king at Zharook

Post grad dog – 14 entries (4 abs)

1^st Simpson and Fitzgerald Neliapilan jaako-kulta at Tajikh (imp) shaded mask gold male, lovely outline, good head and expression, good front, good depth of chest and well sprung ribs, lovely sweep hip to low set hocks, ring tail on the move, pipped 2^nd to the post as was really on his game today covering the ground effortlessly with his far reaching springy gait, well presented

2^nd Bunney Firos Torran at Zadal JW – shaded mask red male again who I have watched with interest, v close decision for me in this class, he displays beautiful head and chiselling, correct eye shape, your hands simply flow over him from head to tail balanced fore and rear, good low set hocks, level topline with correct fallaway and ring tail, he is such a showman on the move I’m sure on another day these will swap places and I will watch his career with interest

3^rd – Cramer Sashkan Master of Puppets

Limit dog – 12 entries (4 abs)

1^st Moon & Fillis-Moons Maringo No More Mr Nice Guy JW – Black/tan male, another who your hands simply flow over, lovely head and expression, good underjaw, long neck into well assembled front, good depth of brisket, lovely sweep hip to hock, ring tail, moved with verve and attitude I’m sure will have a bright future

2^nd – Stenhouse,Bettridge and De-meijer Thuja All in the Game (Imp) – impressive black/tan stylish male who fills your eye completely on the stack, head slightly stronger than 1^st, long length of neck, level topline, ring tail, moves with attitude, just preferred shoulder placement of 1^st

3^rd – Simpson & Fitzgerald Neliapilan Jaako-kulta at Tajikh(imp)

Open 8 entries(0 abs)

I thoroughly enjoyed judging this strong open male class

1^st – Chadwicks Ir Ch Harlextan Makes Majik – black mask gold I have admired this dog for a while and did well for him previously, he can sometimes be his own worse enemy but today was foot perfect, probably the best head all day, fabulous chiselling and detail, beautiful eyeshape and darket of eyes, good underjaw, your hands simply flow over this dog, beautifully constructed and not exaggerated in anyway, long neck in to well placed shoulders good depth and spring of brisket, level topline, lovley sweep hip to low set hocks, beautifully presented every hair to perfection and in good hard condition, covered ground with ease and displays that important ‘look at me characteristic’ was proud to award him the dog CC which is his second, I hope the third wont be too long away.

2^nd Noble and Wilcox Destiny Du Jegdalek avec Bichoux JW (imp) Shaded mask gold pushed 1^st v hard in this class and was close decision, always admired this male since a youngster, refined head with lovely detailing, good eye shape, good neck into well made front assembly, level topline, good sweep hip to hock, ring tail, full of attitude on the move and covers ground effortlessly with springy gait, well presented.

3^rd Halls Ch Saxonmill Rum Tum Rio JW

Veteran Dog – 5 entries (0 abs)

1^st Latimers Int Uk & Multi Ch Exxos Gameboy at Zharook (imp) – Black and tan male who’s record speaks for itself, I was honoured to be given the opportunity to go over this well known male, lovely head and expression, superb front, good depth of chest, short powerful loin, good fallway to well set ring tail, fabulous sweep hip to hock presented to absolute perfection, on the move today he simply excelled with his far reaching springy gait, I was extremely proud to award this true gent the RCC.

2^nd Dugdales Afterglow After The Fire – nicely made black and tan male who moved with verve, nice head and expression, balanced fore and aft, good strong topline and fallaway to ring tail.

3^rd O’Neill Amudarya Shadowkhan at Terstine

Minor puppy bitch 6 entries (0 abs)

1st Adamson and Phillips Peterwell Stone In Love, absolutely loved this young brindle puppy so collected and together for her age, feminine head with chiselling good eye shape, good length of neck into well placed shoulders. level topline, good fallaway and sweep hip to hock all coming together on the move, your eye is simply drawn to her she moves with reach and drive, I’m sure her owners have an exciting future ahead with her, was pleased to award her BPIB

2^nd Latimer,Campbell,Charlesworth & Courtney Jimellree Never Say Never at Zharook, another lovely brindle, beautifully proportioned throughout, nice head, good length of neck, good angles fore and aft, ring tail, just not a settled as 1 today but nethertheless a promising puppy who I’m sure will have a bright future

3^rd Austin,Borash & North Sarakhan Swansong

Puppy Bitch – 6 entries (1 abs)

1^st – Learmont Jahadi Enya at Zubedar – black/tan bitch v pretty throughout, lovely head and expression, good neck into well laid shoulders good sweep hip to hock, would prefer a little more length of leg but covers ground well, well presented

2^nd Hitch’s Cherry Blossom of Zendushkas – I absolutely loved this black bitch but she simply wasn’t happy today, on another day things could have been different, prettiest of heads, good underjaw, good length of neck, level topline, balanced fore and aft, shows much promise

3^rd – Hillier Bozwoods Love Story at Numa

Junior bitch – 9 entries(3 abs)

1^st Deens Agha Djaris Take My Breath Away Jahera (imp) black mask gold, beautiful black mask highlighting her chiselling, good eye and expression, good length of neck, well angulated fore and aft, moved with style and verve, well presented

2^nd Hughes Gazencol Dolly Day Dream – black mask gold, v close decision between 1&2 and I’m sure on another day they will swap places, another pretty balanced bitch throughout, moves with reach and drive.

3^rd Warrenoak Cloudwaltzer at Tahir

Yearling bitch – 9 entries (2 abs)

1^st – Adamson, Phillips & Smith – Zhaggari Between t’sheets With Peterwell – Stylish black bitch who from the second she entered the class caught my eye, beautiful feminine head, good eye shape and expression, long neck into well laid shoulders, level topline, short loin, balanced fore and aft, loved her effortless movement and could have watched her all day, well presented, one to watch for the future.

2^nd – Days Khorinyas Galena JW – black mask gold bitch, nice head and expression good length of neck into well placed shoulders, level topline, good fallaway, well set ring tail, balanced throughout, moved well

3^rd – Fisher Imaraf Go In To Win

Post grad bitch – 13 entries (3 abs)

1^st – Greenfields Neliapilan Jaakar in Morsian (imp) v pretty black/tan bitch who later found out sister to my PG dog winner, v similar in type and both display that effortless far reaching movement, lovely head and expression, balanced throughout nothing over exaggerated, simply stylish on the move, well presented considered for res CC but just lost on maturity

2^nd – Fairburn, Fillis-Moon, Robert – Maringo music maker – V pretty shaded mask gold who pushed 1 v hard in this strong class, elegantly made throughout, classic head with superb chiselling, good underjaw, long length of neck into well laid shoulders, level topline, balanced fore and aft, moved well, on another day could easily change places.

3^rd – Greenfield Birkhall Sophia

Limit Bitch – 19 entries (5 abs)

1^st – Wilkins Arushkhan For Your Eyes Only JW – black/tan bitch, exquisite bitch who was my find of the day, scored excellent in head, nice eye shape and expression, strong underjaw, longest of necks in to beautifully assembled shoulders, good depth of brisket, level topline, good fallaway, well set ring tail, good sweep hip to hock, once settled on the move moved with presence and style of high order, covers ground with ease, presented to perfection, delighted to award her the RCC and look forward to watching her career with interest.

2^nd Fillis-Moon & Moons Gardwright Holly Wood at Maringo JW black/tan bitch who I did well for as a puppy and she has matured in leaps and bounds, lovely head and expression, good neck into well placed shoulders, level topline, good fall away, ring tail, pushed 1^st hard but was just a little unsettled on the day but when she did get her act together moved with verve

3^rd – Floyd Hubshe Ko No Hana

Open bitch – entries 10 (abs 2)

like my open male class I really enjoyed judging the superb quality in this class, probably my hardest class of the day and I’m sure many places would change on another day, I have to say I did smile when I turned round to start the class and saw a full variation of black line up which interestingly show the predominance of the colour in our breed at the moment

1^st Halls Ch Saxonmill Star Struck – I have always admired this bitch and for me her conformation is superb, everything flows from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail, pretty and feminine throughout it was a real honour to be given the opportunity to go over this bitch. Her record speak for itself she has a beautiful ultra feminine head with good eye and expression, long neck into well laid shoulders, excellent return of upper arm, level topline, good depth of chest, short powerful loin, good fall away, and lovely sweep hip to hock, where this bitch excels is on the move she displays a style of high order and covers the ground effortlessly, excellent presentation and in good hard condition was delighted to award her the CC, BOB and see her shortlisted to the final 6 in the hound group.

2^nd – Ch Miamarna Mandolin at Ashani JW – another beautifully constructed black/tan bitch who I did well for previously, she has since gone on to become a worthy champion, pushed 1 hard in this strong class. Lovely head, good neck into well laid shoulder, level topline, good sweep hip to hock, moved well

3^rd – Travasari, Greenwood Ch Altside Winni The Blue

Veteran bitch 5 entries (2 abs)

1^st – Greenfields Phelezzi Pandora - a very sprightly veteran who showed her socks off, prettiest of heads, beautifully made throughout, moved with style of high order and covered ground well.

2^nd – Wyatt, West & Young Ch Arushkhan Thunderstorm form Bellapais – Shaded mask cream, pretty head, long neck into well placed shoulders, balanced throughout, moved well

3^rd – Chadwicks Kazaba Habba Rani