CRUFTS DOG SHOW
FRENCH BULLDOGS
Thank you to all the exhibitors who entered this show, it was huge entry; I don’t think there has been such a number at a general championship show in this country before.
So, first, the positive things overall I found in the breed. Temperaments were good, not one grumble, which I know would be a shock for most Frenchie owners to encounter in the show ring when showing their dogs. Eye colour has improved a great deal, far fewer lighter than desired eyes, esp. in the brindles.
Ear shapes were good to very good only a few with what I would regard as more pointed than desired, the only concern were a number just were not interested in showing on the day so their use of ears affected their expression. Feet have improved as well, far fewer of what I call the ‘starfish feet’ were seen, and many more examples were found of the fairly tight compact foot as a continuation of the leg.
Tails, well, it’s not going to be achieved overnight, I think, getting the new standard to be found in every example of the breed, but I did note some good tails for length, and only few with tiny short tails which were hard to find, and only one with a tail that was above the back. It was interesting that many of the non UK dogs being shown, seemed to have got this aspect of the standard developing more consistently, so that may be something to consider in the future for breeding. Pied dogs were for the most part well pigmented, only one lacking complete pigmentation around an eye, and only one with noticeable ticking in the body coat, so that is an improvement from previous years.
Now, on to my concerns, which given the size and range of the entry, were quite a few: What has happened to the muscle on these dogs, or rather, where did it go? I realize that it has been a long hard winter, and it is so difficult to get the dogs out and about, but many of them had only flab on their rear quarters and no muscle, so the movement suffered. I also found 3 males with their second testicle just down within the scrotum and of a much smaller size than the other one, something serious breeders will need to watch. A few dogs and bitches were showing teeth and a couple were showing tips of their tongues, one or two with very slight wryness of jaw, so they weren’t placed, but it leads me to wonder how they qualified in the first place. Movement has always been a problem it seems, in the breed, and in the past, judges were perhaps more forgiving, in favour of breed type and head, but now, that can’t continue. The movement front and back in so many dogs left much to be desired, and what I found worrying, was that it was throughout the entry, and not just confined to the one or two classes. To be fair, the bitches were better on this aspect, so one has to wonder why this is so. Another aspect that I first noticed many years ago, which hasn’t improved, is coat texture. The correct fine texture, lustrous, smooth and close coat was in the minority, having been replaced by a harsher textured coat, which in some cases was not fine or smooth and longer than desired. This I would consider to be an aspect that breeders will need to keep to the fore in consideration of future breeding plans.
Yes, I am aware that at times, my choices varied quite a bit in size, but as long as the parts fit together and they were a compact dog, then I didn’t mind the ‘huge and handsome’ factor on some of the dogs, but several bitches I found would have been more at home in the limit or open dog class, as I considered them much too doggy in head and body.

Veteran dog (2): 1, Bonsall’s Ch. Muggshotts Cassanova, pied dog whose skull is not as flat as I would like, and could use a shade more width to muzzle, but otherwise a good expression. Moved quite well overall, but is a tad long cast.; 2, Ash’s Am Ch. Fabelhaft Eyebuls Xpelliamus for Zandaplatz, brindle dog whose overall head and body shape is more in keeping with what I would want, but was feeling the heat already early in the day, and wouldn’t use his ears to best effect. Not as positive in the rear as the class winner; has correct coat texture.
Special Puppy Dog (10,1): Overall impression of the class was some very nice typey dogs to look at when standing, but so many disappointed once they moved. Also, coat textures were quite varied with a number of harsh coated dogs. 1, Mavro-Michaelis’ Shoebridge Gaillac, 11 months, light brindle, large boy but handsome head with vg fill under eyes, square head with correct domed forehead, vg ears for set on and shape, good neck and sturdy, stocky body vg tail length, best moving dog in the class; 2,
Conway & Chapman’s Norcairn Gorgeous George, 11 month old fawn dog,compact lad, head needs to continue to develop and fill in under eyes and a shade more width to muzzle for squaring off. Ears not used to best advantage, has correct roach, vg coat texture; 3, Bootle’s Tommyville Twill Will 12 months old today, attractive compact outline, needs a bit more time to develop in head; has good dark eyes and uses ears fairly well, would like a tad more length of neck for overall balance.
Special Junior Dog (10,1):.1, Critchley’s Jolilaid Par Excellence,14 month old brindle substantial male, typical head and expression, was the best mover in the class, presents vg outline with correct slight roach, excellent tail on him, and so good to see the tight feet which are a continuation of the legs, overall, I found him quite typical in head properties; 2, Martin & Davies’ Bullfrog Le Seul et Unique, slightly different type, not the substance of the class winner, but has good head on him, but prefer the class winner’s ears. He has good front, good feet,excellent tail and good coat texture; 3, Ellis’ Eastonite
Sir Davis Frost, pied dog with very attractive outline, correct roach, compact body shape, not as positive in rear gait.
Yearling Dog (9,1):1, Cutter’s Dapledan avec la Qualite 23 month old brindle, presents a striking outline for overall balance, lovely head, vg neck, correct slight roach, best movement in the class; 2, Davis’
Breaksdale Teddy Edwards Rowendale, 18 month old fawn dog, overall good head but would like better set /use of ears, dark eyes, okay front, fairly compact dog; 3, Morgan’s Celticibrid Taffy 19 month old, a good moving dog, but prefer the head proportions and balance of those placed above him, as I find his head more rectangular than square, and ear set on /use not as typical. Overall conformation is good and moved better than many others in the class.
Post Graduate Dog (17,2): 1, Hatfield’s Bullyview Jack the Lad, 2 ½ yr old brindle dog, lovely overall balance on this dog, nothing in excess , excellent conformation, correct head, lovely sound movement, for me, he stood out in this class. RCC; 2, Cutter’s Dapledan Fils de Bernie pied dog quite a typey head and expression, dark eyes and vg pigmentation, very nice compact body shape, is a tad short in neck, good movement, and coat texture.; 3, Thorlbycoy’s Jalatemmes Lone Ranger at Bushbay,22 month old fawn, with a vg square head, but his expression was spoiled as he didn’t want to use his ears all that well. He could be a shade more compact but otherwise gives a good outline and has okay movement.

Limit Dog (23,4): 1, Drummond’s Renuar New War Bonnet Glenlee (imp Lva),13 month old brindle, lovely masculine expression on this dog with square head, medium sized dark eyes, excellent ears, strong but clean neck not too short, excellent front, vg bone, neat feet, compact body with slight roach, good coat texture, well, the entire package is here, with his balance, breed type, substance and then as the icing on the cake, his absolute soundness of movement both front and back. Dog CC and Best of
Breed and shortlisted in the Group. 2, Rutters’ Carte Truffe Kangaroo Kiss,21 month old fawn dog, overall good conformation, but doesn’t make the most of himself in the ring and his disinterest affected his expression. He is a compact, cobby dog otherwise, with excellent coat texture and excellent gait. 3,
Poulson’s Brandoux Valentinoux at Patch Down, 3yr old fawn dog vg square head on him, vg conformation overall, well balanced and proportions, I like his tight feet as well, good coat texture and vg movement.
Open Dog (20,4):Tremendous variation in movement, which was surprising to find at this level. 1,
Smith’s Ch. Sarabar Spirit of the Mist 5 yr old fawn male with excellent head and expression, having dark eyes, excellent pigmentation, excellent width to muzzle. Body-wise, he is a shade long in loin, but otherwise very good to go over, on the move he was very erratic, but once he and his handler decided to pay attention, focus and settle down, his gait was correct. This is another one with excellent correct coat texture, tight feet which are continuation of his legs.; 2, Wright’s Ch. Crindles Wright Move, 2 yr old dark brindle dog, having lovely square head, attractive outline, possessing great character, something that was missing in so many of the dogs today in the ring, but then was very unsettled and as a result his movement suffered; 3, Birks’ Harrowhill’s Sovereign Birique, light brindle dog with lovely head and expression but I am afraid that his front spoiled any further consideration for higher placement. VG coat texture, good body shape, good rear movement.
Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog (1): 1, Martin & Davies’ Bullfrog le Seul et Unique, second in junior class.
Veteran Bitch (5,2):a trio of fawn bitches 1, Bootle & Harrison’s Tommyville Thora Thorndyke,12 years young with the muscle development not seen on most of the male entry and as a result she moved so true coming and going. Yes, she is showing her age in head, to be expected, but she still has the essentials of the desired square head, overall body balance, length of neck, correct front, correct topline, excellent tight feet, altogether, an excellent example of the breed, a shame that Crufts does not have Best Veteran declared for each breed, because she would have my vote! 2, Critchley’s Feniton
Ruby Tuesday,8 yr old darker fawn, not quite the head of class winner, lacking width of muzzle, but otherwise a feminine expression, nicely made overall, prefer topline of class winner. Very good rear gait;
3, Taylor’s Feniton Francine, 9 yr old bitch,has good ears but is lacking width in muzzle so affects expression to a degree. Has good neck and front, not quite as compact as other two..
Special Puppy Bitch (13): Taken as a whole, I found this group of puppies better than the males, especially in movement. 1, Kendrick & Jones’ Tommyville Tully at Acirema 12 months today, stunning fawn bitch puppy, possessing the substance, compact with required short strong loin and slight roach, lovely front and excellent head and expression, excellent gait coming and going, tight feet, excellent conformation, all the parts just flow; had no hesitation in making her Best Puppy in Breed. I will watch her progress with interest; 2, Brooks, Lowe, Hawkes & Swateridge’s Xentique Burlesque,attractive alert

bitch with good head, excellent eyes, lovely bat ears, needs a tad more width in muzzle to square off head, vg neck on her,good body and roach, overall vg quality; 3, Mason’s Kingfriend Miss Aprika, dark brindle girl not the head properties I was looking for, as I find her flews a shade excessive. Otherwise, good ears, dark eyes, vg neck. Overall not a glamour girl but one that I would call a good sound bitch, possessing excellent movement. Will need time to come to her best.
Special Junior Bitch (10): 1, Wildman’s Wildax Dusty Springfield, 14 month old fawn bitch possessing lovely overall head qualities, correct neck, front, legs, feet and body shape, being quite compact and a lovely size. Would like to see more of a roach on her topline; 2, Quin’s Bexbull Imperial Snowstorm at
Nirojo,15 month old pied bitch, not quite the head properties of the class winner, needing more width in muzzle, has good body, but is another one today that would prefer to be somewhere else. Nice size, not too big, fairly compact, presents overall a good picture and moves quite well; 3, Blair’s Twinhoe
Bertha,15 month old brindle bitch, needing more time to mature in body, has very nice head with typical feminine expression, ears well used. I would like a bit more length of neck to balance overall picture, but has very good front on her and good feet.
Yearling Bitch (17,2): 1, Butterfield’s Gizyjo Almost an Angel at Chequerpei,took my eye in this class for her lovely size, shape, outline, having typical head, excellent conformation, all the parts flow, excellent gait and feet; 2, Blair’s Twinhoe Dora,15 month fawn lovely unexaggerated bitch, all the parts in harmony, perhaps not as compact as the class winner, but like her, is of correct size and shape, with excellent head and expression, beautiful eyes and ears, vg body, slight roach and moved well.;
3,Davis’Little Miss Dynamite at Rowendale,22 months brindle bitch being a bit more substantial in size overall, but fairly balanced with good roach in topline. Would like her to be shorter in her couplings. Has good bone and feet. Her head is vg with required squareness from enough width to muzzle to balance skull. Has good strong neck.
Post Graduate Bitch (20,5) 1, Embley’s Glenlee Sacred Spirit 3yr old fawn bitch who is a tad longer in body than I prefer, has good head, expression, neck; very good bone, fairly tight feet, correct tail , well muscled rear quarters and had the best movement in the class; 2, Jenkins’ Feniton Farthing, 3 yr old pied bitch,decent head, but needs more width of muzzle, very good neck, good front, good movement overall; 3, Mavro-Michaelis’ Kinsridge Fleur Princesse avec Rocheposay,excellent ears, lovely eyes, but needs more width to muzzle to square with skull. She has good body shape, okay on the move.
Limit Bitch (21,3): 1, Chambers’ Glenee Indian Spirit at Luvum, 3 yr fawn bitch of correct size and shape, lovely balance of all the parts, vg head and expression with correct eyes for colour and shape,bat ears well used,enough neck on her, vg front,tight feet, good legs, the parts all flow nicely, slight roach, excellent movement, a lovely bitch, RCC; 2, Green’s Alonzobar Tinie Tempha,18 month old dark brindle bitch, love her size, but would like a bit more length of leg for better balance, such a square little feminine bitch, dark eyes, vg ears, and very good conformation, slight roach, good rear on her and good movement; 3, Howarth Gizyjo Gizys Angel,21 month old fawn bitch,slightly different type, but has good head and expression, dark eyes, vg pigmentation, love her bat ears, upright and parallel, good front on her, nice roach, would like her a bit more compact, has good action on the move.

Open Bitch (19,4): 1, Conway & Chapman’s Ch. Norcairn Dark Angel JW ShCM, almost 4 yr old brindle bitch, lovely bitch nothing exaggerated, but to nit pick I would like to see a bit more body weight on her, she is a very active girl, possessing excellent head properties of skull, eyes, muzzle, and ears, strong neck, excellent front, excellent bone leading to correct tight feet which are a continuation of the legs; correct coat texture, slight roach, well ribbed back in body, strong loin; well-muscled rear quarters giving a strong driving action in the rear and true front movement. Bitch CC.; 2, Wannet & Van der
Weij’s Eileen Benthe Van Tolido’s Garden JW12 [ATC APO1532 NLD] only 16 months so has plenty of time to come to her best, alert, active bitch very nice to go over for conformation, full of character, feminine head and expression, gives a lovely outline to her small compact cobby body, but does persist in stretching out her neck, which does affect overall balance; has good movement, needs time to develop; 3, Wildman’s Ch. Wildax Miss Moneypenny, 4 ½ years old bitch who is mature in body and mind, very focused and well-schooled for the job at hand. Initial impression is of compact bitch, VG head and expression, excellent neck and front, vg moderate angles in rear, excellent movement; prefer the topline of numbers one and two.
Good Citizen Dog Scheme, Bitch (2): 1, Swateridge’s Skybull Marie Antoinette Xentique, 2yr pied bitch compact, substance and bone, having good head excellent mouth, vg neck and front, body with correct tail, moved well; 2, Treloar’s Bullfleet Chloe, 2 yr brindle bitch longer cast, but having feminine head and expression with vg ears and eyes, but is narrow in muzzle. Good neck and front, okay in gait.
Mary Deats (judge)