Bull Terrier Judges Critiques

EASTERN TRANSVAAL BULL TERRIER CLUB
Championship Show - 2006

JUDGE - MR JOE SCHILLER (Centuria Bull Terriers)

First off I would like to congratulate the members of the ETBTC on their 30th anniversary. To the Chairman Henk Tijssen and his committee a big “WELL DONE”, the show was run to perfection with the ring well laid out and large enough and beautifully adorned with the striking black and orange ETBTC livery. As far as the after-show events are concerned, I really appreciated the clubs gift and had a really good time at the party which was excellent, the music was good and the food scrumptious, and again, well done guys, Bull Terriers need this type of dedicated enthusiasm. Lastly a big “THANK YOU” to the sponsors who make quality shows possible, I am sure the Bull Terrier community will support you accordingly.

I would also like to extend my thanks to all the exhibitors who came out on the day and supported the club. To each and every one of you, well done, as just by owning Bullies you are already winners and for the majority I saw good sportsmanship and positive behavior,

Regarding the dogs I was really impressed with the bitches and the CC line up especially as well as one or two that placed in their classes were easily worthy of the title Champion and am sure that as time goes on will be made up respectably, unfortunately I am able to award only one CC at the show and had a tough decision to make. On the other hand the dogs did not impress me as much but there were 2 or 3 that were in a league of their own, I believe we need to place emphasis here as we have neither the heads, conformation, bone and substance as well as type suited to our bitches and as ½ the equation affecting our future is severely limited we will not be able to progress.

I have where possible tried to comment positively and believe that my judging style rewards virtue before penalizing faults and my report should be taken in this light.

In all I found all male dogs to be entire with two fully descended testicles and there were no reasons to penalize or disqualify any exhibit due to health or other reasons.

DOGS

Minor Puppy -

1st - No. 2 :
A Red dog, with a plain head lacking in profile but with enough fill and strength, a wide muzzle and powerful under-jaw. Mouth correct. Nice expression and good ears. Neck a little short and shoulders were upright creating a dip behind the withers and making the back too long. on the positive side the dogs virtues were tremendous bone, substance and general upstanding appearance. His hindquarters lacked power and could have done with more turn of stifle. On the move he was close in front and behind and lacked drive.

Puppy -

1st - No. 12 :
A White dog, in general a typey, compact and cobby dog that was very much to my liking. a classic head strong deep and powerful with plenty of fill under the eyes, he had a good expression but one ear was slightly bent at the tip but could still be held upright. A correct scissors bite but had one canine slightly in. This dog has a lovely long neck, well laid back shoulders a level top-line and well set tail. a deep broad chest with good spring of rib and plenty of bone and substance complimented his overall conformation. Stifles had a good turn and were well muscled. On the move he was square both coming and going and had good drive. Also won the Challenge Certificate and Best Puppy In Show.

2nd – No. 16 :
Also a White dog with a fair head, I would prefer more profile and finish, great expression with ears and eyes well placed and a correct mouth. Did not have the bone or substance of the winner. Good reach of neck, level top-line and a well placed tail. Moved close in front and behind.

Junior -

1st - No. 15 :
A white dog that lacked a little in head as he fell away under the eyes, although he was a smallish dog he had enough substance and bone for his size and had a lovely reach of neck and good spring of rib, a level top-line and correct tail set. On the move he was close in front and behind. Overall conformation gave him the win in the class.

2nd - No. 7 :
A white dog with a good head, deep and strong, eyes and ears well placed with good expression. The dog had a straight front nice bone and substance but his hindquarters let him down and rear movement was stilted.

Graduate -

1st - No. 10 :
A heavyweight white dog with plenty of bone, substance and spring of rib, his head was deep and powerful with a broad muzzle and strong under-jaw, eye and ears well placed and the mouth was a perfect scissors bite. A long neck, level top-line and correct tail set but he was a little long in the back. Movement was adequate in both directions. He also had nice compact feet.

2nd – No. 18 : A smallish white dog that had a wicked expression with small well shaped eyes and ears, unfortunately his canines are in-standing. He did not have the overall power of the winner as bone and substance were lacking and his chest was shallow, elbows also out and movement both coming and going tended to the centre.

SA Bred -

1st - No. 8 :
A red dog that had a very good head, enough fill and power with a good expression and perfect scissors bite. His bone and substance were good but he was upright in shoulder and had very straight stifles, on the move he was parallel but lacked drive.

2nd - No. 19 :
A white dog with a plain head lacking profile, overall bone and substance were good but the dog was long in the back, it appeared that his left rear leg was cripple as his movement was not smooth.

Open -

1st - No. 21 :
A smallish white dog that had a lovely head, great expression and a perfect mouth, a gun-barrel straight front, long arched neck, short back and level top-line presented a well conformed picture while his hind-quarters were well muscled and had a good turn. On the move he was parallel and had great drive. Also won the Reserve Challenge Certificate.

Champions -

1st - No. 6 :
A powerhouse white dog with a beautiful long strong head and enough profile and finish, wicked expression with small well placed and shaped ears and eyes, mouth was correct. The dog also has well laid back shoulders, tremendous spring of rib with masses of bone and substance and a deep chest. His long arched neck flows into a level top-line and his tail-set was horizontal but I would have preferred a shorter back. Hind-quarters were muscular and stifles well turned, on the move the dog was parallel in front and behind and he had plenty of drive. Also won Reserve Best of Breed and Best Substance.

2nd - No. 5 :
A smallish white dog that has a lovely head, deep and strong with good finish, expression was excellent with his small eyes and ears which were well placed, mouth not correct. For his size he has enough substance and bone with well muscled hind-quarters and adequately bent stifles. Elbows were out and movement coming was not parallel, going was good and he had good drive.

BITCHES

Minor Puppy -

1st - No. 66 :
A white bitch that had a plain head, lacking depth and profile, expression also too kind but she has a correct mouth. She has nice bone and substance for a bitch but was too long in the back spoiling the top-line, hind quarters were strong and she had a good turn of stifle. Movement coming and going was narrow.

Puppy -

1st - No. 64 :
A white bitch with a long head and gently curved profile which had plenty of depth and strength, ears and eyes correctly placed and mouth a correct scissors bite. A good layback of shoulder and plenty of substance and bone with well muscled and bent hind-quarters. She moved well coming and going.

2nd – No. 71 :
Another white bitch that had a lovely head, unfortunately she has short upper arms and upright shoulders and this spoiled her top-line. Hind-quarters were strong with a good bend of stifle. Movement coming and going was close.

Junior -

1st – No. 58 :
A white bitch with a plain head, lacking a bit in profile but good eye and ear placement and a correct mouth. She has great bone and substance for a bitch and is well conformed with a long arched neck, good lay-back of shoulders a level top-line and correct tail set. Strong hindquarters with a good turn of stifle and well developed second thigh. Moved well both coming and going.

2nd – No. 75 : A white bitch with a strong head, nicely filled and deep, good expression. Unfortunately she has upright shoulders and is too long in the back that spoiled her top-line and movement. Hind quarters were well muscled but stifles straight.

Graduate -

1st – No. 62 :
A lovely white bitch that had a good long and elegant head, a strong wide muzzle, small triangular eyes and ears placed well, pincer bite. This bitch also had good substance, spring of rib and bone and a deep chest. A level top-line and well set tail with hindquarters that had good turn of stifle and muscling completed the picture. She was a good mover coming but a little close behind.

2nd – No. 72 :
Another typey white bitch that is well conformed, unfortunately her leg was broken as a puppy for which the exhibitor produced a veterinary certificate but this obviously severely limited my ability to judge the movement. I did like her substance and bone, deep chest and level top-line with a correct tail-set.

SA Bred -

1st – No. 70 :
A Tri-colour bitch, a little on the small side fortunately this was one of the few things I did not like about her as she was packed with virtue, she has a cracker of a head, strong, deep and well turned, a sound mouth with a pincer bite, correctly placed ears and a wicked expression. This exhibit also had a short body, good hindquarters with a strong second thigh and a correct tail set. Overall a good bitch that also moved very well in both directions. Also won Best Coloured On Show.

2nd – No. 61 :
A white bitch that had rather a plain head needing profile and finish but at least broad with a strong under-jaw, mouth not correct. On the positive side she has tremendous bone and substance a deep broad chest, good hind quarters and superb parallel movement with plenty of drive.

Veteran -

1st – No. 73 :
A black brindle and white that was 7 years old, even at this age she showed positive virtue with a good head and a correct mouth, eyes a little kind. She has a deep broad chest and good bone and substance. At this age her top-line has gone dippy and her movement is out at the elbows.

Open -

1st – No. 59 :
A white bitch with a beautiful long head and gently curving profile, enough fill under the eyes and a strong under-jaw, teeth correct with prick ears on top of her head and her small triangular eyes gave her a typical Bull Terrier expression. Although I felt she could use more bone she was an overall feminine bitch with classy lines, lovely neck, well laid shoulders and good top-line as well as strong hind quarters with a good turn of stifle helped her move well covering the ground with easy strides. Also won the Challenge Certificate.

2nd – No. 67 :
A good white bitch who had a fair head with a broad powerful muzzle, unfortunately she was a little overweight and did not have the top-line of the winner. She moved well in both directions and I would have liked to see her in the RCC line up.

Champions -

1st – No. 56 :
A white bitch that is an excellent example of a Bull Terrier, typey and packed with virtue. This is probably the best head on anything I have seen in South Africa, long strong and deep with a powerful muzzle, lovely profile and smooth finish, her mouth is correct with a pincer bite. Keen expression due to well placed and made eyes and ears. Loads of bone and substance with well sprung ribs, a short back and a deep chest, elbows held close to the chest wall. To be very critical she has a slightly accentuated roach but this does not detract from her overall quality and pleasing appearance. On the move she is also superb, perfectly parallel coming and going with great drive. Also won Best of Breed, Best Head and Best Mover.

2nd – No. 57 :
A white bitch with a powerful head, long and strong, mouth correct. She had plenty of bone and substance and a deep chest, but shoulder placement is upright and this tended to lengthen the back, straight stifles also did not help the overall picture or her movement which was close in front and behind.

Joe Schiller
Centuria Bull Terriers