"It is a great honor to be asked to judge the Newfoundland Club of GB Championship Show, even more so having been chosen by a postal vote of the club membership. Writing a critique on a club show also gives an opportunity to make comments on the breed as whole as well as on individual winners, which you know will be more widely read by your peer group than is normal.

There has been much discussion of late in the dog press regarding the Kennel Clubs response to that unfair and unbalanced BBC television program on pedigree dogs, and as a result a request has been made to all breed judges to pay particular notice and not to place any dog found to be over exaggerated in conformation or any other breed characteristic that could be detrimental to the health and well being of the dog concerned. I am delighted to say that I found no undue cause for alarm in our breed, but breeders must remain diligent and assiduous in their choice of stock, as there are a few signs that we need to take heed of. Firstly there are just a few dogs that have muzzles that are far too short and deep which put together with an over exaggerated stop will eventually lead to a black Saint Bernard if we are not careful, and Newfoundland’s should have a clean cut muzzle. We do not need wrinkles.

Thankfully there seems little evidence of it in our show rings, but it does seem to becoming fashionable overseas for over angulation in the hindquarters, further exaggerated when standing the dog by stretching the hocks out as far as possible, with the result that the dog ends up with a sloping top–line. Newfoundland’s should have a level top-line complemented by a gentle sloping croup. Last but by no means least, we must watch those fronts. A few youngsters in my lower classes had quite dreadful front movement and far too much toe-ing in.

I am also pleased to say temperaments of both dogs and exhibitors were excellent, and it appeared to be a happy and contented show and a real pleasure to judge."