By Mr. Kenneth Winters (Manticore) Sweepstakes, Saturday, May 15, 2010
I was happy to judge Puppy Sweepstakes on the first day, and while I was disappointed to have so few under my gaze and hands I was impressed with what I did see and feel. And my light duties, completed before any of the other judging, left me free to observe closely the judging of the regular classes. Sari Brewster Tietjen at the first Specialty and Luc Boileau at the second demonstrated thoroughness, knowledge and assurance, and while their choices naturally were not always the same, you could see how and why they arrived at them, and that both were doing much more than just the standard fob-off of comparing coats and grooming.
In my own modest assignment I followed the same principles. I was looking fundamentally for fine proportion and substance-for-size; sound well-boned correctly shaped legs; short, level backs with high-rooted tails well carried; and open, uncrowded faces with full dark, black-rimmed eyes and broad nose leathers with open nostrils and free inaudible breathing. I found all these qualities in my Best in Sweepstakes, Moshka's Claire Bear, a sweet small pale-red 8-month bitch, feminine but substantial, with lots of chest between her short, stout, properly curved and firmly attached front legs and a lovely close straight- ahead action in her finer-boned rear ones. Her present fault is that she moves too quickly and flies her ears. When, at maturity, she gains a more stately demeanor, I feel sure the flying ears will subside to the proper position. They were well forward when she stood on the table. I was pleased to see that in the regular classes on the second day, Luc Boileau placed her Best Puppy and Reserve to a very lovely Winners Bitch, Snopeke Chilipepper of Pekeden.
Claire got Best Puppy PCA National Specialty Judge Luc Boileau (Knolland Farm) She is 7 months old
Claire Bear
Claire
Bear's 5 point Major Win at the Canton Ohio Pekingese Specialty in
Canfield Ohio a huge thank you to the judge Beth Sweigart and handler
Debi Huml
Katie got Best Opposite at the Canton Ohio Pekingese Specialty
Atticus