PAIGNTON & DISTRICT FANCIERS ASSOCIATION
Judges Critiques
PAIGNTON & DISTRICT FANCIERS ASSOCIATIONMrs J L WALMSLEY
Judging:
Paignton AHA & YKC Handling, August 2023
A huge thank you goes to Paignton Committee for this wonderful opportunity to judge the AHA & YKC Handling. I have a real passion for good handling, whether that be in the Breed Ring, or a specific Handling Class.
There are only a few rules to good handling and I'd like to share my top 4.
1) The Gold Rule, never get between the Judge & the Dog
2) Never drop or let go of your lead
3) Dress accordingly
4) Enjoy yourself!
A large number of the competitors broke the Golden Rule, and dropped their leads, or strung it around their necks.
Micro skirts & low cut tops for Ladies is a NO. I'm looking at your handling skills not what you had for dinner! Please be sensible, and parents, please be aware of what you are dressing your little ones in.
Finally and probably most important to me, Smile and Enjoy yourself. Talk to your Dogs so they enjoy themselves too.
AHA Handling Day One
AHA 17-30
1st Stacie Nicoll handling an Australian Shepherd. Very calm & switched on handler. Listened to my instructions & carried them out perfectly. Good use of the ring, with lovely tight corners on triangle. Great hand changes done super smoothly.
2nd Maria Clark handling an Affenpinscher. Another great listener. A kind & conscientious handler to her lovely little dog. Great patterns carried out at the correct pace.
3rd Tieryn Clark handling an Old English Sheepdog. Talked to her dog all the way through, giving the dog clear and precise instructions. Lead could of been tidier, and she did step over her dog while shadowing.
AHA 31-45
1st Rosemarie Thouless handling a Miniature Pinscher. Broke the Golden Rule, but patterns were good. Needs to tidy her lead as it was hanging down.
2nd Cassie Tout handling a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Broke the Golden Rule & patterns could of been tidier & straighter.
AHA 46-60
1st Anita Skinner handling a Long Coated Chihuahua. Very smart handler, well dressed, & both dog and handler well turned out. Great pattern work, at correct pace, lovely straight lines. Very attentive to myself & her dog. My notes say perfect.
2nd Tina Pickering handling a Catalan Sheepdog. Broke Golden Rule. Didn't listen to instructions, but did realise her mistakes after the fact. Listen more & take your time.
AHA 60+
1st Maggy McShane handling a Shetland Sheepdog. Lovely turns & corners with great hand changes. Very neat lead work. A calm & considerate handler, great communication with her dog.
2nd Mary Oliver-Barrett handling a Griffon Bruxellois. Listened to instructions & was kind & calm with her dog. I'd like neater pattern work with straighter lines.
3rd Shelagh Crowther handling a Siberian Husky. Turned her dog in front of me before starting her pattern, thus breaking the Golden Rule. Patterns could be neater, and dog could be stood better.
AHA Handling Day Two
AHA 17-30
1st Jessica Taylor handling a Border Terrier. Fluid handler that could of been slightly smoother when doing teeth. Always aware of my position. Nice straight lines on patterns, and presented dog at correct distance on final freestand.
2nd Natalie Storey handling a Welsh Spring Spaniel. Well presented with OK patterns. Kept her eye on me at all times.
3rd Maria Clark handling a GSP. Could of been slightly straighter on pattern work, and final freestand
AHA 31-45
1st Jennifer Guite handling a Pointer. Very well presented, could possibly talk to her dog more, especially on turns. Had an air of confidence, even though the dog wasn't playing ball.
AHA 46-60
No Entries
AHA 60+
1st Victor Pearce handling a Border Terrier. Very good, calm handler, attentive to his dog. Listened to my instructions & took time to think about what I had asked for rather than rushing. Good use of the ring and lovely pattern work.
2nd Sandra Taylor handling a Border Terrier. Checked feet placement on table correctly. Sadly I watched her move, rather than her dog. You need to line your dog up with the judges feet, rather than yourself.
3rd Michelle Heeley handling a Border Terrier. Broke Gold Rule. Nice neat lead work & smoothly executed patters. Look up & Smile more.
AHA Handling Day Three
AHA 17-30
1st Maria Clarke handling Wire Haired Dachshund. Correct patters with lovely straight lines. Showed teeth correctly and kindly. Watched me move feet while on table but didn't correct....which is exactly what I wanted. Very smart handler.
2nd Abbeygail Longhurst handling a Whippet. Very kind when showing teeth. Nice straight lines on patterns. Only downside was faffing with feet on final freestand.
3rd Chloe Wakeling handling a Xoloitxcuintle. Pattern work was ok, albeit it wasn't what I asked for. Needs to listen to instructions. All in all a good job with a young, very cold dog.
AHA 31-45
1st Andrea Keepence-Keyte handling a Tibetan Spaniel. Another great handler. So kind & caring to her little dog. Talked her dog constantly. Great pattern work with lovely straight lines. Oozed confidence. Lovely touch at the end by congratulating all the other winners.
2nd Hannah Wederell handling a Basset Fauve de Bretange. Correct patterns but could be straighter. Very attentive to her dog & listened to my instructions.
3rd Chrys Dawson handling a Dalmatian. Good patterns & stacks, good but not brilliant. Lead hanging down and broke Golden Rule by doing a funny little turn on the corners of the triangle. Lacked confidence. Pull those shoulders back, hold your head up, and smile.
AHA 46-60
1st Zoe Adey handling a Hamiltonstovare. Pattern work was ok apart from starting off with dog in the wrong hand. This was corrected on the first turn. Nice straight lines & good final freestand. Great rapour with her dog.
AHA 60+
1st Janet Rice handling a Tibetan Spaniel. A kind & considerate handler. Both dog & handler well turned out. Nice patterns with correct corners and straight lines. Moved feet twice while on the table even though they were correct both times.
2nd Dave Ford handling a Whippet. Pattern work was OK. Table stack could of been much better. Needs to tidy lead and not have it hanging down.
3rd Elisabeth Tracey Krieger handling a Miniature Schnauzer. Started reverse triangle with dog in wrong hand, corrected on first turn. Let go of her lead by draping it around her neck and holding it in her teeth! She now knows this is a No No.
YKC Handling Day one
YKC 6-11
1st Freya Mitchell handling a Bichon Frise. Freya stood alone in this class and sadly broke the Golden Rule. She did communicate well with her dog. Both dog & handler beautifully presented. I would suggest that Freya listens more and thinks about the pattern before setting off.
YKC 12-17
1st Emily Moores handling a Pomeranian. Calm & confident handler. Took her time to process my instructions before actioning them. Lovely precise patterns completed at the correct pace.
2nd Kara Mason handling a Papillon. Good pattern work. Just be more aware of feet placing while on the table, especially if the judge moves them.
3rd Francesca Wilson handling an Australian Shepherd. On entering the ring I thought I had already found my winner. Oozed confidence, and really looked the part. Very attentive handler to both the judge & her dog. Pattern work let her down, triangle could of been sharper and lines were not quite straight.
YKC 18-24
1st Sophie Wildig handling an Affenpinscher. One of the best handlers I have ever seen. Listened intently to my instructions & then carried them out in a very calm & collected manner. Communicated with her dog constantly. Perfect pattern work with the straightest of lines. A real joy to judge.
YKC Handling Day Two
YKC 6-11
1st Texas-Lee Dunstone handling a Norfolk Terrier. Smart handler that communicated with her dog at all times. Showed teeth correctly and with care. A little wonky on patterns, but all completed correctly.
2nd Myla Mae Hanes handling a Bedlington Terrier. A very well turned out duo. Showed teeth efficiently. Good patterns. Needs to watch when judge moves feet while on the table.
3rd Molly Whiskers handling a Border Terrier. Showed bite, not teeth. Did a small, but lovely triangle. Don't move feet on the table while the judge is still moving them. Poor dog was doing a handstand.
YKC 12-17
1st Francesca Wilson handling a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. What a difference a day makes! Handler & dog were poetry in motion. Excellent pattern work with the straightest of lines, all completed at the correct pace. Knew exactly what she was doing, and did exactly what I asked in a calm & considerate manner. A worthy winner today.
2nd Harriet Duffield handling a Jack Russell Terrier. Didn't seem aware that I was moving the dogs feet on the table. Good clean patters but dog was a being held a little tightly.
3rd Amalie Smith handling a Parson Russell Terrier. Patterns correct but would of liked them a little straighter. Nice loose tidy lead, and moved at correct pace. Communication with dog good.
YKC 18-24
1st Kizzy Porter handling a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Great communication with her dog. Teeth shown kindly and with reassurance. Great pattern work with a perfect final freestand. Great finish with a quick check of feet, all done calmly and efficiently. A good all round handler.
2nd Chloe Clark handling an Irish Setter. Lovely pattern work completed at the correct pace, just don't over do it. Aware of my position at all times. Would of liked more communication with the dog while showing teeth.
3rd Isobel West handling a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Well practiced teeth. Paused at the top of up and down after I moved, thought about it, and corrected herself. Sadly failed to complete the pattern.
YKC Handling Day Three
YKC 6-11
1st Abigail Kirkwood-Emery handling a Whippet. Broke Golden Rule. Moved a little fast for her dog. Seemed overly focused on feet placement & set up for final freestand a little far away. She smiled the whole time and was kind to her dog.
2nd Addison Pedley-Biggins handling a Whippet. Broke Golden Rule on every pattern. I did like the way she stacked her dog by running her hand down the dogs back & not losing contact, however, overall stack could of been better. Let go of her lead by draping it around her neck.
YKC 12-17
1st Alexis Kirkwood-Emery handling a Wire Haired Dachshund. Great table work, good teeth and kept a very close eye when I moved feet. Always encouraging her dog. I would of liked her final freestand a little closer to me. A nice handler.
2nd Anya Tyson handling a Whippet. Neat teeth and aware of foot placement on the table. Corners on triangle a little softer than I would like. Set up a little far away.
3rd Harriet Burford handling a Wire Haired Dachshund. Very smart handler who sadly dropped her lead while on the table.
YKC 18-24
1st Abbeygail Longhurst handling a Whippet. Lovely neat & tidy lead work. Checked feet placement on the table. Moved at a lovely pace for her dog with nice straight lines. Used the ring space well. A kind & sympathetic handler
Judge- Jacqui Walmsley