Judge’s Critique:

The entry displayed overall good breed type, with several exhibits showing correct outlines and coat structure and texture. However, there are two key areas where improvement is needed.

Firstly, temperament continues to require serious attention. Several of the younger dogs lacked confidence in the ring, with some exhibiting noticeable shyness. This is concerning, as the breed standard calls for a bold, friendly, self confident and independent temperament. While early socialisation plays a vital role, it is also important to recognise that temperament has a hereditary component. Breeders must take responsibility and exercise care in selecting for stable, sound temperaments, ensuring that this essential breed trait is preserved.

Secondly, hind movement remains a weakness across much of the entry. A number of dogs lacked drive and power from the rear, resulting in inefficient and weak movement. Greater focus on strengthening rear construction and condition is needed to improve the functional soundness expected in a retriever expected to be able to work.

Puppy Dog (4)

1ST Kear & Morrey’s Foxriever Infinite Spirit (ai) – A very promising young liver dog with much to like at this stage of development. He presents a pleasing outline with good overall balance. The wedge-shaped head is typical and well-proportioned, leading into a rather long neck that is well set into a nicely laid-back shoulder. He has a straight front, though currently a little lacking in bone — something that may develop with maturity. His body is correct for age, with a moderate bend of stifle. On the move, he is understandably loose, which is entirely acceptable for his age, but he moved out freely and with purpose. Coat is of good density and correct texture.

2ND Miller & Millichamp & Whitehead & Whitehead’s Foxriever Sea Shadow (ai) – I really liked this young liver dogs temperament, He was happy and relaxed and was confident — a pleasure to assess. A good size for his age, he presents as a strong, upstanding dog with a degree of elegance. He has a straight front with nice bone, good body for age, with depth of rib and good ribbing back. At present, although balanced, he lacks angulation both front and rear; this may improve with maturity as he continues to develop he will hopefully drop into it.. His coat is dense and tightly curled.

3RD Sutton & Whitehead & Whitehead’s Foxriever Fire Fly (ai) RES May’s Foxriever Dragon Heart (ai).

Junior Dog (2)

1ST Kear & Morrey’s Foxriever Infinite Spirit (ai) repeat

2ND Sutton & Whitehead & Whitehead’s Foxriever Immortal Spirit – a well grown 11 month old black dog who has a good jacket. I liked his wedge shaped head and kind eye which has correctly set ears, and a pleasing expression, he has a clean neck which is well set into shoulders which are well laid back, he has a straight front good pasterns and neat feet, he is a little long in body and I would prefer more balance between his front and rear angulation, level top line, and has a rather stuck on tail.

Post Graduate Dog (1)

1ST Brendon’s Tessmene Tornado’s Trail – A strong masculine, mature, five year old black dog, who has a lot of bone and substance, and in a way he is lacking the degree of elegance stated in the standard. I really liked his typical wedge shaped head with a kind expression, he has a correct length and set of clean neck, into well laid shoulder and has return of upper arm, stright front with good bone and nice tight round feet with well-arched toes. Very deep body, with good spring of rib, level top line, the handler tends to over stretch him and at times he looked like he was dropping off, but his top line is solid and level on the move. Moderate turn of stifle, into hock well let down. On the move he didn’t have his mind on the job, and tended to pace, but when he did move correctly he had good extension and drive.

Open Dog (3-1)

1ST Sutton & Whitehead & Whitehead’s Foxriever Grey Ghost BOB – a three year-old liver dog who I found quite reassuringly moderate overall, he has a relaxed, happy personality and was nice to see him. free stood. He is masculine and looks a strong upstanding dog, and maintains that degree of elegance. He has a tightly curled coat of correct texture on his body, but was very thin on the front of his neck and fore chest and back of thighs. He has a very nice wedge shaped head, with good balance between the skull and muzzle and correct stop. Strong correctly set neck. He has straight front with nice bone pasterns and tight round feet. Correct spring and depth of rib, level top line, he could do with more for hand angulation, but it is balance to his quarters. He moved very nicely although tended to carry his tail a little high.

2ND Miller & Millichamp’s Foxriever Solent Sensation at Wightcurls Res BD – a bigger, stronger masculine six-year-old dog who has a really super tight liver coat. I preferred The head and expression of one. Strong slightly arched neck, he could do with more layback of shoulder and return of upper arm and as he has a well bent stifle with good depth of thighs. He has a straight front with good bone and pasterns and nice round feet, well sprung deep ribcage, a little long over all in body. On the move he understandably tends to pace but when he did move out he moved with good reach of stride.

Special Beginners (1)

1ST Kear & Morrey’s Foxriever Infinite Spirit (ai) repeat

Puppy Bitch (2)

1ST Whitehead’s Foxriever Sea Fyre Res BB and BPIB – I really liked this quality elegant feminine 7 month old black bitch, and I found her head very typical and quite outstanding in balance and expression, with a kind dark oval eye. She has correct length of neck, into shoulder well laid back, with reasonable return of upper arm. Straight front, strong pasterns and round tight feet, correct ratio between depth of body and length of leg, good body for her age, level toppling, nice turn of stifle and angulated into hock, which was well let down, I found her outline very typical, her coat has yet to develop and is not as tightly curled at the moment.

2ND Whitehead’s Foxriever Phoenix Rising – a smaller, feminine liver bitch who at 11 months has a bit of growing to do. She has a very good dense well curled coat. Wedge shaped head, nice angulation front and rear although lacks angle into hock, Straight front, tight round feet, body needs time to develop, and a little slack in toppling at the moment. She very erratic on the Move and didn’t show herself off well today.

Post Graduate Bitch (3-2)

1ST Driscoll’s Overbore Bombette for Hisriver BB – A strong mature and finished black bitch, I liked her proportions and height to length ratio, strong wedge shaped head, correct clean well set neck, shoulder blade could be longer and more layback but has return of upper arm, straight front, strong pasterns and tight round feet, level top line, and correct set of tail, deep well sprung rib, rather well bent stifle with hocks well let down, the moves with good foot fall. Correct highly curled coat.

Penny Gowland