September 10, 2006---This was a day that is indelibly imprinted in my memory.  I was very excited to learn that I had been chosen to judge your Collie/Sheltie Specialty in Australia and had looked forward to this date for weeks. When the day finally arrived, even gloomy skies couldn’t dampen my enthusiasm.  I’d like to take this opportunity to once again say THANK YOU to all the exhibitors who showed their dogs, in spite of the rain and less than perfect weather conditions. I probably should have taken notes during the classes, but decided that it would be much more expedient to just judge the dogs and enjoy the experience. So, this critique is more general than I would like but I am surprised by how many dogs stand out quite clearly in my memory. 

From the very first baby puppy class, it was clear that Australian dogs have conscientious, concerned and knowledgeable breeders.  Your dogs have a lovely balance to them!  They have a very correct ratio of body length to leg length and also a correct proportion of head to body.  Correctly shaped, placed and coloured eyes, along with nicely tipped, well set ears, resulting in beautiful expression, was an outstanding virtue found in all three breeds. There were no short tails and most were carried correctly for their Standard. Bites were correct and I don’t remember noticing many missing teeth.  None of the dogs were over groomed and all were capably handled—which added significantly to my enjoyment of this judging assignment.  

Now, to move on to each breed, starting with Shetland Sheepdogs.  My Challenge Certificate winner in Dogs, Ch Grandgables Zulu Warrior, is a masculine dog without being overdone in anyway.  He covers ground efficiently, has a nice amount of substance, a good outline, clean backskull, full muzzle with correct finish of underjaw, well placed stop and a glorious coat of correct texture.    Later, upon looking at my catalogue, I was delighted to notice that he is producing some very nice offspring- how wonderful to have a beautiful dog that also produces well!

My Bitch CC winner Elenbah No Hidden Extras turned out to be a daughter of the Dog CC winner.  She is a beautifully made bitch, with a delightful sparkle of mischief.  Her head is a lovely blunt wedge, with a nice amount of muzzle and underjaw, very flat top skull, and a slight but definite stop, but it was her movement and outline that won her the CC over an excellent group of bitches. This plain tri girl covered a lot of ground with an easy, effortless stride and a quiet topline. Although not a flashy-marked girl, she has the kind of solid quality that immediately draws your eye.

Ch Grandgables Zulu Warrior was my choice for Best of Breed based on his maturity, masculinity and overall wonderful condition.  

In Smooth Collies, Best of Breed and the Bitch CC Winner was Ch Blossom Hills American Dream.  A lovely, mature sable bitch with outstanding head detail and the lovely body structure and movement you would expect from her breeding.  I remember looking at her in the ring and thinking, I know I haven’t ever seen this girl, but she somehow looks familiar. When I later looked at her pedigree I recognized why she seemed familiar, as her dam is my mental picture of the correct Smooth Collie in the United States. What a pleasure to see, in her daughter, many of her dam’s fine qualities. 

My Dog CC winner, Collegiate Hail Ariel possessed many of the same qualities of the above bitch.  He is an elegant, refined, but masculine, young dog with especially nice structure and effortless, clean movement, topped by a beautifully smooth head, with a correct stop and head planes.  I think that with more maturity, he has a bright future in the show ring.

Ch Vedamea Heir of Fantasy was the Rough Collie Best of Breed and Dog CC winner.

This outstanding sable Rough Dog went on to be my choice for Best in Show and is very close to my ideal for the breed.  He has a lovely outline, with nearly perfect structure resulting in light, effortless, correct movement. His head is a long, smooth, blunt wedge-clean from any angle, with a correct stop and parallel head planes. His expression is alert, intelligent and very appealing.  Completing the picture, he is a beautiful, clear red sable with pleasing white markings.

The Bitch CC winner and Runner up to Best in Show, Vedamea Be My Alibi, though not quite a year old, is a feminine version of the Dog CC winner, and though absolutely lovely now, with maturity, this girl will be stunning!  She has a beautiful head and expression, a long, well set neck and a correctly structured body.  Going around the ring with effortless strides, this youngster presents a lovely picture of the Rough Collie Standard.  If the Rough Dog was my King on this day, this beautiful young bitch was definitely Queen. 

As a judge, I am often asked where I see room for improvement.  Although I believe when judging, you must look for and concentrate on the positives, as a breeder, you must know where the faults are, if you are to improve.  In Shelties, I would like to see more fluid front movement, especially from the side.  You have lovely shoulder placement, but not as much reach as I expected due to the elbow not extending fully.  I also saw a few exhibits whose head planes were spoiled by a rise just over the eyes.   In Smooth and Rough Collies, I would like to see a bit more finish of underjaw to complete an otherwise lovely head. Ear set could have been tighter on a few, but perhaps the rain cast a bit of gloom on their mood.  Also, in Collies and Shelties both remember that body length should come from length of ribcage and not from loin length.   

Exhibitors in New South Wales are fortunate to have large grass rings and a superb show site for your events.   I really enjoyed the pedigrees so thoughtfully included in the show catalogue as well as my judge’s gift with so many magnificent pictures of your country…. and last, but far from least, I have never judged a show with the aid of a more perfect ring steward—his help smoothed the differences between ring procedures in the United States and Australia, allowing me to concentrate on your lovely dogs. My sincerest thanks to you all, for inviting me to share a very memorable day with you.

                                                   With best wishes for your continued success,

                                                                               Glenda Henson