EAST OF ENGLAND LADIES KENNEL SOCIETY OPEN SHOW

3rd AUGUST 2008

JUDGE - LEILA TARABAD

YKC HANDLING

Thank you to the society for this appointment and to the exhibitors and handlers for such a top quality entry. The 12 - 16 handling class was the biggest challenge as nearly all of the handlers were worthy of the Crufts qualifying place.

I always find that the handling classes at shows in this part of the country are filled with superb young handlers in all the classes, I was not disappointed today. It was especially nice having handlers present whom I’ve judged before and without exception they had all improved their performances in different ways.

My main criticism was handlers not listening to instructions I had given. If in doubt ALWAYS ask the judge to confirm what they have asked for, this is far easier than trying to guess what the judge wants! On the whole the handlers were dressed neatly, controlled their dogs effectively and gave 100 % effort throughout their classes. Well done.

6 - 11 years (13,3)

1. Samantha Reeve (Aust Shep) This young lady improves every time I see her. She stood out in this class with her performance more or less perfect. She showed the teeth correctly, encouraged her dog gently, completed the patterns I asked for with such precision and to top it all off she smiled throughout the class and was extremely polite. I’m sure she is destined for the top.

2. Georgia Cheney (GSP) Another very smart performance from an accomplished young handler. Stood her dog perfectly, moved at the correct pace using the whole of the ring. Didn’t stand her dog directly in front of me after moving and tended also to be closer than 3 paces away. Apart from this small fault this was a brilliant display of handling.

3. Holly Lambert (Pom) Lovely performance with a free standing dog. Table work was good although I prefer the dog stood nearer the edge of the table. Lines were very straight when completing patterns and the dog was encouraged at all times. As with Georgia, she didn’t quite stand her dog in the right position at the end.

12 - 16 years (9,1)

1. Nathan Hardy. (Scottie) A surprising winner for me. Not a handler I noticed at the beginning of the class but one who showed his dog so well that I was never distracted by the handler and found myself instead always drawn back to the dog. This is the secret to really good handling and today I felt Nathan had mastered this. His table work was perfectly suited to the breed, showed the teeth well, positioned the dog correctly on the table and made sure he was stood foresquare at all times. He moved his small dog at the correct pace completing the patterns correctly and using my feet at a guide to the positioning of each shape. Nathan was smartly dressed, quiet and polite and never overshadowed his dog. I liked his firm yet gentle style of handling and the way he regained his dog’s attention when he got distracted.

2. Yolande Parker (IR/W) So close to 1 it made my job extremely difficult. Dressed smartly to complement her dog. Unfaultable performance in the main and many of the same comments as 1 apply. In the final line up Yolande didn’t quite have her dog stood as straight as Nathan which was the only thing I could really find to separate them. Other than that I found this handler polite, neat and above all she had a lovely rapport with her dog.

3. Keturah Grace Sesstein (Tib Span) Handler whom I’ve judged before, unfortunately today her dog didn’t cooperate fully on the move which resulted in the patterns not being completed as smoothly as Keturah usually does. However she coped very well with the situation and tried to coax her dog gently which I always take into consideration. She was dressed smartly, completed the table work and patterns correctly and does have a very good rapport with her dog, she was only beaten by 2 very polished performances.

17 - 24 years (4,2)

1. Joe McDonald (Am. Cocker)Very close between these 2. I have judged Joe on a couple of occasions and I think it is fair to say this is the first time that I’ve seen him handling a dog that was really making him work hard for this place. I have to commend him on his absolute composure as the dog quite blatantly tried to ignore him through most of the class however Joe still managed to control the dog so well that I was easily able to assess the dog on the table and when stacked on the floor. He completed the patterns accurately and as always was extremely polite. I found out after the class that the dog he was handling belonged to the other competitor which explained why she was so preoccupied.

2. Fiona Brook (St. Poodle) Another near perfect performance, this time with a much better behaved dog. Fiona matched Joe in nearly every respect and just lost out when failing to position the triangle I asked for in the direction my feet were pointing. This said she put on a brilliant display of handling and I’d let her handle my dogs without a second thought.

Webmaster - thanks to Leila for sending this critique in

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