Life with Spots
Today Seren, Ellie and I went to the NoEDC Open Show. It was Seren’s last time out as a puppy.
In the open show she got 3rd in Puppy bitch and 2nd in Junior bitch.
In the Special Awards Junior class she got reserve.
Love Seren and Mac’s critiques from British Utility Breeds Association Open show on 20th March 2022.
Puppy (15/12)
2, Ailsadot Astral Lyra. Eye catching 11 month old black spotted bitch with hand painted spots. Heavier frame than 1 but has many of the same qualities. Beautiful expression and lovely dark eye. Correct scissor bite. Nicely arched neck into good shoulders, level topline, correct tail set and carriage. An overall balanced puppy, was just a little looser on the move than 1 but still showed me enough to warrant her place. Presented in great coat and condition.
Open (9/9)
1, Sophtspot In The Zone. Outstanding 5 year old black spotted male, for me he ticks all the boxes, everything about him says quality. Handsome head, lovely dark eye and kind expression. He holds his ears well and he has a correct scissor bite. Plenty of substance, well muscled throughout, clearly showing he is male but not coarse in any way. Good length of neck into laid back shoulders and well defined withers. Ribs well sprung, deep chest, strong loin, level topline held on the move and his tail is set and held nicely. Elbows are tight to his chest, straight front legs, slight spring in pasterns down to tight cat feet. His ideally balanced front and rear are put to use as he shows off his smooth rhythmic movement which looked effortless. His coat is the icing on the cake, dark black well placed spots, on a clear white background. Presented in excellent coat and condition. Handled well. BOB
Mrs Paula Goodswen (Alphadal)
Seren and Mac went to the the Kennel Club Building for the BUBA open show yesterday. There was a big entry under the breed specialist judge.
Seren got 2nd in a big Puppy class and 2nd in AV Puppy Bitch.
Mac got 1st in a strong Open class and went onto to take Best in Breed. Sadly nothing in Best in Show but I’m really pleased with him.
Lottie went to help marshal as Scout hike … she was on the lunchtime check point, absolutely loved it …
A big part of Crufts for the general public visiting is the Discover Dogs area, where most breeds are available for them to say hello to. On Sunday Lottie and Seren did a shift on the Dalmatian section. We met lots of people, the girls got lots of fusses, Lottie blagged a chip or two and almost an ice cream!
It’s a privilege to be able to share our girls’ with people, and share how wonderful Dalmatians are as family pets. The girls were amazing, although Seren got very tired, ending up just lying down and letting people stroke her!
And to add the icing to the cake of a great weekend at Crufts, Lottie featured on their Saturday round up!
All three Spots qualified for Crufts this year, so off we went to the biggest dog show in the world. This was Mac and Seren’s first time, Lottie’s second time, and classes were huge!
None of the Spots got placed, but all showed their socks off and I couldn’t have asked more of them, they just weren’t to the judge’s taste.
Crufts is a very long day, you have to be on your bench before 8am and can’t leave until after 4pm, so lots of lying around in crates, or going for mooches round the outside of the NEC for the dogs.
Seren’s Critique ❤️
St Helens and District Canine Society
Open show, Sunday 20th February 2022.
Judge: Mr Colin Goodswen (Alphadal)
Puppy D/B (3 entries, 2 absentees)
1st Wallington’s Ailsadot Astral Lyra, 10 month old black spotted bitch with lovely dark pigmentation and pretty expression. She was full of beans today, loving every minute, but certainly not phased at all. Lovely feminine head and nice long neck down to well defined withers. Good level top line which she carried well on the move. Nice angulation front and rear with good bend of stifle and tight cat feet. Nice rythmic movement when she settled. Best Puppy in breed.
Barrow and District Open Show:
Mac and Seren made an appearance for this show, Mac’s first open show since 2018! It was incredibly noisy, lots of people and barky dogs, not the best experience for either Spot.
Seren got 3rd in a Junior class of 8, and making her Best Puppy in Breed. She went on to take Utility Puppy Group 4 .
She got 2nd in AV Puppy.
Mac took reserve in an Open class of 6
St Helen’s and District Canine Society
Just Seren for this local show.
She got first in Puppy, and so Best Puppy in Breed, and third in Junior.
Ellie took her into the Utility Puppy Group, but she was unplaced – a little kangarooy on the unfamiliar mat flooring.
Seren got placed first in Minor Puppy Bitch at BUBA in December 2021. Her critique was published yesterday.
MPB (12,2) 1 Wallington’s Ailsadot Astral Lyra. b/w 7m Dark pigmented happy puppy with the sweetest expression on her very feminine head, a “look at me” way about her which will stand her in good stead as she matures. She presented a lovely picture with deep chest, strong bone and well angulated. I think she’s a little star in the making, beautiful and free flowing in her movement.
Kerry Harrison-Stratford (Dalkereve)
I’m so pleased with the critique, and so proud of my little star ⭐️
Ellie and I took Mac and Seren down to Peterborough for the Boston Champ show. We stayed in a hotel overnight, Seren’s second time in a hotel, and she loved it!
It was the first time back on benches since March 2020, so something for both dogs to get used to again.
Mac looked great, but sadly didn’t get placed. Seren got placed third in her Minor Puppy Bitch and Puppy Bitch classes.
Just Seren and I went to BUBA, Lottie and Mac stayed at home and Ellie went on Explorer camp.
Our last unbenched show (hopefully), so we pitched up in a quiet spot. Seren was entered in Minor Puppy and Puppy bitch, so she didn’t have to wait for a very long time to get in in the ring. Whilst she was waiting she met Nannie Karen, Lottie’s breeder, and I got to meet Mia, Karen’s new puppy.
In the show ring Seren truly strutted her stuff in big classes, 10 in each class. She got 1st in Minor Puppy and 2nd in Puppy, so I was super proud of her.
Ailsadot Dalmatians 