Thank you to the committee of the MDC for inviting me to judge my favourite breed the Miniature Wire Haired Dachshund. Thank you for making me feel so welcome and keeping me fed and watered. Thank you also to my two efficient stewards who kept me on track while I was engrossed in my task of finding the best. Just general observations first, starting with the negative. A few exhibits were slightly overweight which wasn’t really a problem. Only one exhibit was over weight and painfully thin showing signs of stress with hair loss in places. If you have one that is a good specimen and obviously too big leave it at home and breed on from it. A prominent keel and length of sternum was rare with most sternums stopping just behind the elbows in a lot of exhibits. This is something we have to work on. Some of my pet hates are flat feet caused by either not enough padding or lack of exercise. Nails that are too long can distort the movement and too much hair on the legs can cause an illusion of being out at the elbow or pinning in.  Exhibits throughout the classes would have benefited from some attention to their coats especially their heads and feet. Temperaments on the whole were good with just a few windy exhibits.  There were a few incorrect bites and a couple of extremely bad bites.  Incorrect eye shape is another of my pet hates. The first thing you see on the exhibit is the head and incorrect eye shape or set on isn’t a good start.

Veteran Dog 1^st   Mr S Rose CH. RIDANFLIGHT RICARDO. RCC What a career this dog has had and what can I say that hasn’t already been said. This was his first appearance in Veteran. From the top of his head to the tip of his tail everything in the right place. He has a prominent keel and great ribbing which he appears to have passed on to his offspring. Today however he didn’t have his usual sparkle. He didn’t move out and back with quite the definition that I have observed in the past and unfortunately this was the deciding factor in the challenge. This did not hold him back as, at the end of the day, looking the part, he was awarded Best Veteran in Show. Well Done.

Minor Puppy Dog 1^st Mrs J.E.Pain  RAVENSBEECH BUCCLEUGH. Just thought this puppy was wonderful and easily the most exciting exhibit of the day. He is the correct size and I can’t see him going overweight, his conformation is correct with good angulation back and front. Great ribbing with the correct length of sternum and prominent keel. A very nice head with the correct eye shape, furnishings coming along and great big teeth. He has the harshest of jackets and the most wonderful temperament. He was very happy on the move and managed to keep his enthusiasm in check long enough to be assessed. This puppy I am sure will trouble the best. Good luck with him. 2^nd Mr T & Mrs A Crossman&Kennedy MOONSHE BUMBLE BEE. Nice Black/tan puppy with prominent keel and good ribbing. Pleasing head and good angles back and front. He has a reasonable coat which is difficult with Black/tan. He is not as outgoing as I would like, but still a nice puppy. 3^rd Mrs I.M.Phillips BIRICHINO BARLEY OF ROBINSWOOD

Puppy Dog 1^st Mrs J.E.Pain RAVENSBEECH BUCCLEUGH. 2^nd Mrs P Grant PENNYWAVE PERCY AT GRANHOWARD Another lovely puppy. Well up to size with a pleasing head and a good coat. He moved out well keeping his topline at all times.3^rd Mrs I.M.Phillips BIRICHINO BARLEY OF ROBINSWOOD.

Junior Dog 1^st Mrs K & Misses J&A Smith ALNCROFT IVAN INKLING lovely brindle dog of good size. Pleasant head and eye with good teeth. Good neck into well laid back shoulders. Good angles back and front and prominent keel. Plenty of substance covered in a good jacket. He was handled excellently and moved well around the ring to win this class. 2^nd Mrs J Kilroy BLACKVEIN CUPID AT JANACOP A smart boy well up to size. He had a pleasing head and eye good length of neck flowing over the shoulders and along a good topline. He has good ribbing with sternum travelling well under. Perhaps could do with a bit more second thigh to finish the picture.

Yearling Dog 1^st Mrs Z &Lady L Thorn Andrews & Billinghurst DRAKESLEAT KUMQUAT MAY Stood alone in this class. Good sized dog with correct proportions height to length.  Head so typical of this kennel with a good bite. Good length of neck into well laid shoulders and enough ribbing. Jacket of a reasonable texture.  He moved well around the ring.

Post Graduate Dog 1^st Mrs J Kilroy BLACKVEIN CUPID AT JANACOP 2^nd Mrs I.M.Phillips GULLIAGH LOGANBERRY OF ROBINSWOOD (IKC) Another good sized dog though not the substance of one. General outline was good with enough ribbing and a tidy coat. Just thought he was a bit feminine.

Limit Dog  1^st Miss W Heather RAVENSBEECH ROSSINI WITH WHITEORCHARD This dog had improved such a lot since I last went over him. He is up to size and has good substance. He is not exaggerated in any way, reasonable angles back and front with sternum extending well under and good ribbing. Finish this off with a decent coat, difficult to achieve in a red. He moved smartly around the ring keeping his topline. 2^nd Messrs Flowers VOSTOK-ZAPAD VIKING FOR BINGOBONGO Black and Tan with a prominent keel and good ribbing. Coat ok. not really enjoying himself in the ring

Open Dog 1^st Mrs Z Thorn Andrews CH. DRAKESLEAT IVOR NOTION Another very typical dog from this kennel. He is a good size, with correct height to length ratio and with everything flowing in the right direction. He has a prominent keel, good ribbing and underline, and has enough ground clearance.  His feet are tight and he showed a clean front coming towards me.  Because of these attributes I was able to overlook his eye shape in the final challenge, and therefore award him the CC.  2^nd Mrs S Jones CH BIMINI STARSTRUCK Another well known Champion. He is a good size with flowing lines from his head to his feet. He has good angles back and front, and good ribbing. Again everything in the right place with a good coat. He didn’t move quite as well as I have seen him in the past and I would prefer tighter feet. I am sure there will be a lot of place swapping between these two. 3^rd Mrs D, Miss A & Miss A Kirkwood Emery Ch Helydon Laird Loki JW.

Veteran Bitch 1^st Mrs C H Daykin CH BARRATINI HOT GOSSIP. A very smart little bitch. She is the correct size with a good overall shape. A good length of neck into good shoulders. Enough angulation back and front with enough keel. Nothing overdone and a good tight jacket. She was presented and moved faultlessly and was unlucky to meet the dog for best veteran. 2^nd Mrs J.E.Pain TRIXHUND TATTIANNIE RAVENSBEECH This bitch was up to size with plenty of substance. She has a pleasing head good length of neck and lay back of shoulders. She runs up a bit behind which spoiled her outline. Her jacket was very good which is difficult to achieve on a red.  She moved reasonable well around the ring.

Minor Puppy Bitch 1^st Misses A&A Kirkwood-Emery HELYDON OOR OAKLEY. She is a nice type, of the correct size with nothing exaggerated, covered in a good jacket. A bit unsettled on the move but went well enough to be assessed. 2^nd Mr D.G & Mrs H.M. Storton DEREHEATH DEE MAJOR A little red bitch with a pleasing head enough neck running into a level topline. I would prefer better angulation back and front and she is running up behind on the move. Her coat could be harsher but difficult to achieve with a red. 3^rd Mrs J Kilroy BLACKVEIN PRINCESS AT JANACOP

Puppy Bitch 1^st Mrs S Jones BIMINI CHASING MOONBEAMS Loved this puppy bitch. She is up to size with plenty of substance. A pleasing head with a good length of neck correct shoulder placement and level topline. She has a reasonable keel and good ribbing which gave her the correct underline. She has good angulation back and front and moved out well around the ring. My best puppy because she was just that little bit more mature than the dog on the day. I am happy to report that she then went on to win Best Puppy in Show. Well done. 2^nd Mrs R.J.Mullen ROZELLE KAMIRAS YEAR Another bitch up to size with plenty of substance and a fabulous coat. She has a fairly prominent prosternum and good ribbing but is a bit close in front. I would prefer more angulation back and front. 3^rd  Mr D.G.& Mrs H.M Storton DEREHEATH MAJORY

Junior Bitch 1^st Misses A&A Kirkwood-Emery HELYDON NIFTY NAIRN Very promising little bitch of a good size with the correct length to height ratio. Pleasing head housing good strong teeth. a decent length of neck leading into well laid shoulders. She has a good wirey jacket and she showed herself off well on the move. 2^nd Mrs E & Miss G Fulton BOTHLYN PENNY FROM HEAVEN More refined type than one with a pleasing head and eye. Lovely outline when stacked with a reasonable coat texture. She was a bit unsettled on the move which spoiled her front. 3^rd Mrs K & Misses J&A Smith ALNCROFT PHOEBE GONZALEZ

Yearling Bitch 1^st Mrs M.M.Dance CH. EMEM CONSTANCE SUNSHINE JW A lovely solid bitch with a great shape and everything in the right place. Correct height to length ratio with correct angulation back and front. She has an outgoing temperament which she found hard to contain on the move. A worthy Champion.

Post Graduate Bitch 1^st Mrs E & Miss G Fulton JOLANDA UPTOWN GIRL AT BOTHLYN Another elegant bitch from this kennel. Beautiful outline lovely head and eye good reach of neck into well laid shoulders. A level topline and a good turn of stifle. All in a tight jacket. She moved out well. 2^nd Miss C Clements SPRINGDAC RED SIREN A smaller red bitch with a pleasing head and general shape She has plenty of substance and a pretty good coat for a Red. She was holding herself a bit tense on the floor which spoiled both her topline and underline however, on the move, she relaxed and looked a lot better. 3^rd Mr A.J.Weeks BELDREW FLORA AT AVON JW

Limit Bitch 1^st Mrs E.P.Blackburn STARGANG MINNESOTA Just loved this bitch with the best front of the day. Correct prominent keel and her sternum goes well back to accommodate the best of ribbing. Lovely head and eye and a good length of neck running into clean shoulders and a level topline. She is balanced with a good turn of stifle and length of second thigh. All this and a good coat. Today she held it together and showed herself off well enough to gain the RCC. 2^nd G. Kirkwood HELYDON MAGICAL MIKA Another typical bitch from this kennel. She is of the correct size and has a great outline on the stack, with a reasonable coat.  She could do with a better prosternum and ribbing. Her movement around the ring was a bit erratic causing her to lose her topline but she has a lovely temperament which looks like she finds difficult to contain. 3^rd Mr K. Mrs L & Miss E Black BASSODON DODECAHEDRON

Open Bitch Mrs M.M.Dance CH EMEM SUMMER SUNSHINE Just thought she was lovely and an excellent example of the breed.  She is a good size and has a great shape with everything in the right place. Nothing overdone with plenty of substance. Her head and eye are pleasing and she has a strong jaw which is still feminine. I liked her coat colour and texture and she was turned out to perfection. She was very steady on the move using her excellent hind quarters to drive around the ring. Her personality shining throughout.  Very happy to award her the bitch CC and Best of Breed. 2^nd Mrs Z Thorn Andrews CH. DRAKESLEAT TOO GUD TO BE TRUE Another typical well constructed bitch from this kennel. Definitely the best of the pack that the breeder exhibited today. Everything in the right place with nothing overdone. I just prefer the type of my winner today who I felt excelled in presentation and movement. I am sure these two will exchange places on a regular basis.