TEXAS SPECIALTIES JUDGES CRITIQUES

Mike and I were very pleased to be invited to judge the first back to back specialty shows for the French Bulldog Club of Dallas/Fort Worth. These shows were held on March 16th and 17th, 2002 in Arlington, Texas. First off, we would like to acknowledge the hospitality and generosity shown by the members of this club and their cooperation throughout. Not only did the vast array of stunning trophies and the well-appointed ballroom show venue reveal their commitment to quality but our judges gifts were certainly among the most beautiful we have ever received. The hospitality bags alone would have made any exhibitor's journey worthwhile. A remarkable, original McKee pastel of a most treasured homebred boarded the plane with us and is now proudly and permanently installed in our home. Our entry was 55 and 56 each day including non-regular class entries. Our only complaint was that the hot weather disappeared the day we arrived and having just left the throes of a major winter storm that temporarily closed our airport the evening prior, we were deprived of sunshine until the day we departed. After the show however, we drove to a huge, nearby park and obtained the obligatory sunburn before returning home thus satisfying all goals, both public and private.

DAY ONE
SATURDAY, MARCH 16th JUDGE'S CRITIQUE
Judge: Michael J. Hawke

BEST OF BREED
CH.BAOHUAO'S CAN'T STAND LOSING
This brightly brindled dog impressed me with his exceptional movement from every angle, correct topline and large, proper headpiece. This substantial, mature male is well muscled and athletic. He was alert and gave good expression throughout the competition.

BEST OF WINNERS, WINNERS DOG
FIRESIDE'S CAT MANDOU
This well-brindled dog came from a competitive open class. Similar in type to my breed winner in all aspects, I found him a sound mover with a moderate roach. He met the standard in bone, substance and proportions.

WINNERS BITCH, BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX
ROCKYDELL FOURSTAR CUTIE PIED
This young pied bitch was the standout in her large, impressive class. She had excellent movement, showed well, was alert and intelligent in her expression. Clean, well-delineated markings emphasized her wonderful headpiece. Her topline was correct with an ideal tailset.

RESERVE WINNERS DOG
CONCHARTY'S BUCKEROO BONZAI
A striking young, cream male that had very good head type for his age, nice side movement, excellent topline and when fully mature should be very competitive.

RESERVE WINNERS BITCH
CHITAWEES GATOR'S FIRE AND ICE
Coming from the bred-by-exhibitor class, this pied bitch had a clean headpiece, good movement, nice topline and sweet temperament.

I appreciated the invitation to judge at these specialties. The competition was impressive overall. The exhibitors were polite, supportive to each other, friendly and attentive. It was great judging amongst this group of Frenchie Fanciers. Even the show photographer enjoyed an obvious camaraderie with the entire group including the judges.

Michael Hawke/2002

DAY TWO
SUNDAY, MARCH 17th JUDGE'S CRITIQUE
Judge: Carol Hawke

It was a great pleasure to judge so many attractive dogs and to be met with such pleasantness and courtesy in the ring by the exhibitors. Day two of an event always suggests a certain weariness especially after tackling both the sweepstakes and regular classes the previous day. The wear and tear had begun to show yet I failed to note edginess from any quarter. A few dogs yawned at me and several puppies thought they should sit or lie down and perhaps roll over for a well-deserved tummy scratch on the table…which I personally found amusing. Then there is also that comical, resigned complacency of the bored adult dog that one reads so plainly in their expressions, "I've done everything asked of me, may I go home now?" I feel even more sympathy for the handlers who must figure out what will tempt or cajole their entry out of this stupor the second day having used most of one's best tricks of the trade at the first event. I try to maintain a very low key atmosphere in my ring in any case. It is crucial to me that the show experience is equally enjoyable for handler and dog. The overall quality of the entry itself was typical with a couple classes simply brimming with quality and an attractive array of seven champions to finish up with. I would be remiss to overlook the fact that the bitch quality seemed better overall than the dog.

BEST OF BREED
CH.FOURSTARS DÉJÀ VU PRISSY HEN
I selected a medium sized, dark brindle bitch whose outstanding features included a marvelous, square, correct headpiece and heartwarmingly superb expression along with an equally rare, beautiful shoulder and arch of neck. She was quite compact, well balanced with sufficient bone for a bitch and plenty of substance for her size. She had nice, straight front legs, compact feet and plenty of brisket. I found her well made overall and she double tracked soundly coming and going while holding her moderate topline on the move. She was properly angulated and offered a low, tight tailset. I adored her dark, round eyes, lovely sweep of underjaw and layback of foreface which enhanced the correct sweet, alert expression and of course, I greatly admired her obvious and expected femininity. I faulted her in that she was wont to stand with her elbows in too tightly on occasion yet she did not move that way. She was not a flamboyant diva but cooperated with her handler and myself sufficiently in order to view her many, admirable qualities.

BEST OF WINNERS, WINNERS BITCH and BEST PUPPY IN SHOW
ROCKYDELL FOURSTAR CUTIE PIED
Obviously, Mike and I were equally taken with this 9-12 puppy bitch both days. She came from the strongest and largest class of the show to defeat two very competitive pied bitches who were clearly more mature. This medium sized, short backed, compact bitch is sparkling white without a tick and minimally marked with a full hood. Her head was square, already filling in nicely with the dark, full, round eyed expression the standard requires. When she pulled her ears forward at attention she took my breath away, literally. Her front was dead on straight with tight pasterns, beautiful round, compact feet, proper front and rear angulation, well let down hocks, lovely arch with good reach of neck, moderate roach, well rounded croup and tight tailset. Her movement coming was flawless, going away was adequate and her balanced side movement showed plenty of reach and drive. She held her topline very well on the move. She showed remarkably without the silly puppy behavior one might have anticipated. I faulted her only in that she lacked maturity and tended to hock out slightly while moving from behind.

BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX
CH.BAOHAOU'S CAN'T STAND LOSING
A large, handsome, beautifully made dog attractively marked with plenty of strong brindling. The conformation of this dog is a pattern to follow. This heavy boned dog presented in perfect condition displayed ideal, balanced angulation from front to rear, well let down hocks, a grand shoulder and arched, masculine neck simply begging to be admired. His features included a superb front, plenty of brisket, equal bone front and rear and balance of leg to body. He was short bodied, beautifully roached with a lovely curve of croup and tight tailset. On the move he cannot be faulted. He double tracks front and rear with exceptional reach and drive from the side all the while holding that correct roach. His head is large and square without excessive cheekiness featuring a solid, undershot bite with plenty of width of muzzle. I found his earset quite good. I faulted him only in that he exhibits more haw than I like and could use a tad more layback of foreface. He bested the bitch breed winner in movement but she had him in foreface and expression.

WINNERS DOG
DAYSTARS ARIES OF AVLIS AND BLOA
A well balanced, light brindle dog of medium size. This young fellow also arrived from the 9-12 class to defeat more mature dogs for the win. A most compact, well balanced, attractive dog featuring plenty of substance, a solid front end, short bodied with moderate angulation front to rear finishing with well let down hocks. He had a nice, tight tailset, compact feet and plenty of bone for his size. A moderately arched neck gave way to a square headpiece and charming, alert, masculine expression with nice bat ears set well on his head. The glint in his eye left me wondering if perhaps he had a private joke to share with me that day but preferred not to let anyone else in on it. He double tracked front and rear quite soundly and held himself proudly together on the go- round. He showed beautifully and cooperatively for his handler never letting down a moment on the job. I faulted him for a flat topline.

RESERVE WINNERS DOG
CONCHARTYS BUCKEROO BONZAI
A truly handsome, light fawn dog with white trim. Another coming from the puppy class that simply stole the limelight from the adults. This large, well balanced pup featured a gorgeous head and expression, nicely roached topline, well curved croup and tight tailset over a short body. He had plenty of bone, good tuckup and compact feet. He has a beautiful reach of neck, correct ears, bite, underjaw and glorious dark eyes enhancing an expression you could 'eat with a spoon' as we say in America! Going around he made quite a picture. He was so immature I could not consider him for the points, however and his front movement as a youngster, leaves room for improvement.

RESERVE WINNERS BITCH
TEA D'S BECAUSE I'M WORTH IT
A most attractive pied bitch, well made and beautifully balanced in all aspects. I stood back from the lineup and thought how very similar were the two mature pied bitches in the winners class and admired both immensely. This one had the better headpiece which earned her reserve. This is a good sized bitch with well-distributed markings and only moderate ticking. Her admirable features include unquestionable substance, brisket and bone, balanced angulation front to rear, a nice curve of croup and tight tailset. Her head was large and square, somewhat but not overly cheeky with an adequate earset and gentle expression. Her movement was sound and reliable both coming and going with good reach and drive from the side. She did not make the most of herself this day but her many fine qualities remained evident. She could use a tighter pastern and slightly more compact foot for perfection.

Additionally there were two non-regular class entries consisting of one stud dog and one brood bitch, each winning their classes (hands-down as it were!) and a competition for Best Puppy In Show. In retrospect and for the sake of being fair, I urged the show committee to consider instituting a rule whereby any puppy that has won points at the show that day to be automatically excluded from this non-regular competition. Any judge that has already assessed the entire entry and chosen a puppy for a top win, can in no good conscience rescind that decision by selecting another from the same entry who placed beneath it. Again, we wish to deeply thank the show committee and gracious exhibitors for allowing us the privilege of judging at their specialty shows. As an aside, the beef we enjoyed in Texas, and indeed, all our meals out, certainly lived up to the Lonestar State's exuberant reputation. As we flew home I had only one regret; that dear old Toni had not been there to enjoy another festive Frenchie frolic. This one would most certainly have been right up her alley or at least home, home on her beloved Texas range.

Carol Hawke/2002

Sweepstakes Results:
Judge: Linda Moore

Best in Sweeps:
Fuller's Heesa Dewd of Grandon

Best of Opposite in Sweeps:
Tea-D's Because I'm Worth It!

Best Puppy in Sweeps:
Daystar's Airies of Avlis and Bloa