Dog World/Our Dogs Critique

HOUNDSHOW CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

SATURDAY 7th AUGUST 2004

BASENJIS

Just two years ago I commented on the number of faulty mouths and sad to say today I found several level bites, misplaced teeth, slightly undershot or overshot jaws. As a hunting dog, a correct mouth is requisite, please pay attention to this in your breeding programmes, or the true scissor bite in the breed may simply disappear. Although front movement seems to have improved, I was also perturbed by some very strange hind action, hocks angling in, suggestive of cow hocks which were not apparent when exhibits were stacked, something I had never seen before and on examination of the catalogue seeming to emanate from one particular bloodline. Some exhibits were quite short in upper arm giving a steep appearance to their forequarters in profile and consequently there were some ewe necks caused by faulty front construction, again a particular (different) bloodline seemed to consistently dominate. Finally, feet seem to be a problem, the true small, oval, well arched feet are hard to find, these feet are also requisite for the varied terrain in their homeland as well as for speed. Front feet were worse than rear feet, often by accompanied by broken down pasterns. Heads often lacked the rounded cushioning of cheeks and muzzles, the chiselling provided by the pronounced zygomatic arch and of course, wrinkle. A long time ago I wrote ‘if you loose the head, you loose the Basenji’. Please look critically at your own Basenjis with these points in mind.

PUPPY DOG (4, 1 Absent)

1.Holmes’ JASWYN ARION AT DENCAS. Flashy r/w, well schooled and handled, stood out for his profile movement, but is one of those with untypical hind action, throwing his right hock in particular going away. However, he has many positive attributes, is well constructed and elegant overall, square in outline with good upper arm and front angulation, a wedge shaped well proportioned head with obliquely set eye and adequate wrinkle, short back, good shelf behind, well set and curled tail. Best Puppy.

2.Wright’s EMBEAU PRADA AT DASSITA. Typical Basenji, will make a very nice dog once he settles in the ring, giving his handler a hard time. Good coat colour and texture, very well constructed, absolutely sound. Flying his ears but a well proportioned head, good angulation front and rear, short back, good depth of brisket and spring of rib, correct tail set and tight curl, moves as soundly as he is constructed, although not giving of his best today, needs to relax, very promising, lots to offer and with more experience must have a bright future.

3.Makepeace & Singleton’s JETHARD TALES OF THE CITY.

JUNIOR DOG (1)

1.Richen’s SIKILAA AFRICAN I’M MAGIC. R/w, 17 months, alone, but a worthy winner. Another soundly constructed dog with correct front and rear angulation, good layback of shoulder and crested neck, deep brisket, straight front and rear, though a little down on his pasterns, which showed in slack front movement, though he moves straight behind with driving action. Well proportioned head with cushioned features, though would prefer a slightly smaller ear. Well balanced, has substance but retains elegance.

POST GRADUATE DOG (4)

1.Sargent’s KERIQUEL HARVESTER. R/w. Won on his overall bloom and hard muscular condition, which showed on the move, really strides out though he tends to over-reach and is another down on his shorter than desirable pasterns. Preferred his head to 2, cushioned cheeks, almond eyes, though could do with slightly higher set, smaller and more forward pointing ears. Squarely proportioned, straight front and rear with good angulation in profile, correct width of chest, good shelf and high tail set, though tends to fly off the hip.

2.Hooper’s PHAROAH’S GOLD. R/w, a very nice dog, though a little long in loin and therefore not so squarely proportioned. Straight front with correct width of chest. Moderate angulation as required by the standard, good layback of shoulder, level topline, moved straight and true both coming and going. A little plainer in the head than 1, but proportions are good. Would prefer better nose pigment. Well handled. Closely contested class.

3.Miller’s KALRINDA EKUNDU KIDIBU. R/w

LIMIT DOG (6, 1 Absent)

1.Middleton’s JETHARD MEZZOTINT. R/w winner of a disappointing class. Won on his overall square appearance, nicely shaped head and adequate muzzle, lacking a little underjaw. Has good wrinkle, doesn’t use his ears to advantage though hooded and forward pointing. A little short in neck, short and steep in upper arm and would benefit from more rear angulation. However, moves soundly coming and going and freely in profile, short level back, good tail set and curl.

2.Gostynska’s BUBAS THE TRAILBLAZER. Brindle, background colour not my ideal. Better constructed front and rear than 1, though a little too long in loin and not quite the high on leg outline when compared with his length. However, on the move he outshone the rest of the class, moving freely and effortlessly, straight and true on a loose lead. Has substance yet elegance, ribs well sprung, deep brisket, good tailset, single curl. Correctly shaped head and muzzle, though would prefer more wrinkle.

3.Drummond’s DJOSER KHAIBITU. R/w

OPEN DOG (6)

1.Cullen’s AKMAR AMENHOTEP. R/w. This boy just gets better and better. Beautifully constructed dog, so well balanced, square in outline and holding his topline both standing and on the move. An honest dog and a worthy Champion, his construction is hard to fault, correctly angulated front and rear, good tail set and shelf behind, moves soundly, truly and freely with swinging stride and so straight and true, stood out in this respect. Plainer in head than 2, but typical with cushioned features and well proportioned, set on a neck of good length. Good layback of shoulder, short back, balanced body, good depth of brisket, spring of rib and tuck-up, strongly but elegantly made, well arched feet, a lovely example of the breed. CC.

2.Thompson Lee’s CH JASWYN RED DEVIL. R/w. Rich colour, ideal size, just preferred the better length of leg, upper arm and hind angulation of 1, though much preferred this boy’s classic head and expression with his neat hooded ears of correct small size, dark almond eyes, obliquely set and inscrutable expression, super wrinkle, lots of cushioning and chiselling. Good depth of brisket, level back, balanced body, well arched feet. Well handled and presented. Preferred his profile hind action to 3, but all three deserving of their crown. Res CC.

3.Tyler’s AB-SS MONEY TO BURN AT SHERNAZAR. B/w

VETERAN DOG OR BITCH (5, 3 Absent)

1.Gostynska’s IR CH SON OF A GUN. R/w. Rising 10 years, another honest Basenji. Has a most lovely head, eye and expression. Just showing his age in his not so strong topline, pasterns and tail carriage, though so much to like about him, overall good construction, squarely proportioned, excellent spring of rib, deep brisket, strongly made yet elegant with fine bone, stands straight and true on a loose lead, though stands a little straight in stifle. Really comes together on the move, truly and freely with swinging stride. Best Veteran.

2.Sargent’s KERIQUEL AMBER VIXEN. R/w. Similar age, another lovely head and expression with plenty of wrinkle, though would prefer smaller ears. Similar comments apply, a little flat in pasterns and straight in stifle and topline could be better. Well crested neck and good layback of shoulder, also moves soundly, freely and effortlessly.

PUPPY BITCH (7, 1 Absent)

1.Bateman’s JETHARD A DIFFERENT LIGHT WITH IJNESAB. Tricolour. 1& 2 were short and consequently steep in upper arm. Preferred the muzzle and more chiselled head of this girl, typical expression, forward pointing hooded ears set on well shaped skull, enough wrinkle, crested neck of good length, short back, deep body, well constructed hindquarters, good tail set and curl, straight front and rear, moved very well both coming and going and freely in profile. Overall a very nice puppy.

2.Terry’s ZIZUNGA JUST JOY. R/w. Very similarly constructed, just a little plainer in head and lacks the chiselling around her muzzle, not quite the length of neck of 1. Similar comments apply, compact and strong with good tuck up, correct body proportions, square in outline, well set and tightly curled tail, well boned yet elegant, moves truly and freely, straight and true.

3.Gile’s ZIZUNGA JUST SO.

JUNIOR BITCH (3, 1 Absent)

1.Gile’s ZIZUNGA JUST SO. R/w. A typical Basenji, very eye-catching but preferred the compactness and overall body proportions of the puppy winners. Poised and elegant, lightly built, good head proportions with diamond wrinkle, good length of neck, good tailset with tail curled tightly to the hip, shorter than desirable upper arm though good shoulder layback. Movement a little loose coming and going at present, strides out well in profile and overall a nice puppy, well handled.

2.Richens’ SIKILAA AFRICAN I’M CATKIN. R/w, super pigment with dark eye rims, feminine head, not quite the wrinkle and desirable head proportions as 1, though good overall body proportions, deep brisket, good spring of rib, soundly constructed. Good length of leg and superior front angulation, very good rear angulation, moved well with long strides. Just preferred the overall elegance and more expressive head of 1, a close decision.

POST GRADUATE BITCH (5)

1.Gibson’s FLASH ENCORE AT GIANTSWOOD. R/w. This bitch moved extremely well to win this class, free flowing and true with legs carried straight forward. Lightly built and elegant outline, finely boned, level topline, deep brisket, ribs well sprung, good tail set and reach behind, well constructed hindquarters. Very nice head and expression with diamond wrinkle.

2.Newbold’s FRIEDANENE MOTHER GOOSE. R/w, loved her high on leg compared to length outline, squarely built, strong but finely boned, in good coat and gleaming condition. Pleasing body proportions, moderately angulated front and rear, level topline, tightly curled tail, good shelf. Moved soundly. Just preferred the head and neck of 1. Well handled.

3.Allies’ BUBAS MARIELLA AT ALYS. R/w

LIMIT BITCH (6, 1 Absent)

1.Gostynska’s BUBAS MAGGIE MAY. Best Puppy last time I awarded CCs and pleased to see she has fulfilled her potential. Excels on the move, quite breathtaking, with free, long daisy-cutting strides, swift, tireless and fitting the standard for movement, on a loose lead, also moving truly both coming and going, tribute to her correct construction. Not instantly eye-catching, but so soundly made and possessing most of the desirable finer breed points. Head proudly carried on crested neck, set into well laid shoulders, well proportioned head, adequate wrinkle, tending to fly her neat well hooded ears which is a pity, coat of good texture, square in outline, compact body, well ribbed with deep brisket, in lovely condition and stands on neat well arched feet. Good tail set and shelf. A girl you have to go over to fully appreciate, her markings especially on her stifle can be deceptive. CC, her first & BOB.

2.Bower’s DOMEWOOD UBER-UNNSHNESH. Brindle. A classic Basenji, at first glance thought she would be my winner, has the most gorgeous typical head and expression with good underjaw, cushioning, chiselling, wrinkle, small, neat, well placed, hooded ears, ideal head proportions, dark almond eyes and inscrutable expression. Background colour ideal, another superbly constructed bitch, again with head loftily carried on crested neck of good length and full at the base of the throat, ideal front and rear, good spring of rib, deep chest, short back, dead level topline, ideal tail set and carriage, neat well arched feet. Moves so straight and true with swinging stride but not quite the reach and drive of 1. Res CC.

3.Tyler’s DOMEWOOD GAZELLE OF SHERNAZAR. R/w.

OPEN BITCH (10)

1.Varley, Thompson & Lee’s CH JASWYN RED SKY. R/w, close up for top honours, another lovely quality bitch in full bloom, eye-catching, an easy winner of this class. Another ideally shaped head with gorgeous expression, good wrinkle, far-seeing obliquely set, almond eye. Very good front and rear angulation, deep brisket and good tuck up, high set single curled tail with good reach behind. Slightly longer cast than the CC & Res CC winners and did not hold her topline quite as well in the heat, but a worthy Champion and moved extremely well, with drive and reach.

2.Gostynska’s IR CH BUBAS SPIRIT OF THE DANCE JW. R/w. Honest Basenji, well proportioned head, high set forward pointing ears, super underjaw, good length of neck, well laid shoulders, very well angulated front and rear, not quite the tailset and curl, straight when viewed from front and rear, in hard muscular condition, absolutely flowed around the ring with free easy strides. Sweet disposition.

3.Williams’ CH CUSTOS RUNN’N RIOT. R/w

KIM ELLIS (Judge)

Bitch CC & BOB

Dog CC

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