Karsten Gronas

Let me start by thanking the Kennel Club for giving me the opportunity to judge at Crufts. This, together with finishing Europe’s longest sled dog race in 2006, are highlights in my 49 years of working with the Siberian Husky, though be it two totally different worlds.
Despite all the glamour and glance a dog show is, I look for the typical, standard fitting, functional dog and try to look through all the distractions like beautiful grooming, baiting, stacking and professional handling.
The entry was of on the whole very typical, with a majority of dogs being bred with sled dog function in mind as explicitly written in the standard. I do hope that Great Britain will be able to maintain this standard fitting type at its shows! In other countries, these dogs are outnumbered by flashy looking, but on the other hand little to non functional dogs who falter on the ‘length of leg - depth of chest ratio’ and have heavier bone.
I did see a development towards this style of dog at Crufts this year, compared to 2006, when I judged the breed at Working and Pastoral Breeds of Wales and saw only functional dogs.
Unfortunately, the dogs being worked and bred for functionality make up only a micro fraction of the breed population world wide. The Siberian husky should be first and foremost a dog capable of its job as sled dog. In these troubled times for the pedigree dog and its well-being, one can hope the world of dog showing will get more eye for dogs which are truly working style dogs. In Sweden and Finland, a Siberian Husky can only become a show champion when it has gotten a merit on a sled dog race as a way to keep the breed fit for function.
Although Great Britain does not have the climate for long distance sled dog races (as the intention with the breed) hence sprint racing is most popular, my general impression of the dogs being worked and shown in GB is that they are moderate in their proportions and look like endurance dogs.
Then a few words on baiting. Please avoid this as much as possible or when you do, make sure to keep the goodies at the same height as your dog so it keeps its neck in a natural position. I see that the outlines of fronts get so spoiled because the dog is stretching its neck watching the goodies bag.
In regard to my critiques, please do note that I compare the dogs against the ideal phantom dog. As we all know, the perfect dog is yet to be born...
When I write; wish for…. or would like it to have… it means that on these points the dog is deviating from the ideal standard picture.
Karsten Grønås

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Class  297 - Veteran dog -10 entries/0 abs.

2288 Gardner’s Penkhala’s Arion. Elegant and athletic 7 year old dog with nice chiselled head and friendly expression. Good proportions. Excellent overall angulations. Good length of upper arm and excellent bent of stifle. Level top line, though the dark guard hairs on top of his back and a richer coat at the pelvis region made me check twice. Good length of chest. Good croup. Good feet and pastern. Rich coat. Showing excellent light footed movements with reach. Happy dog. Dog CC winner Best of Breed
2283 Foard’s Zima Hatcher at Bifrost Strong. 7 year old dog with typical head and expression. Well angulated with good feet. Would like his top line more level, a bit roach-back. Good mover, covering a lot of ground.
2242 Biddlecombe’s CH Lincoln White at Tsaritsa. Seven years old nice dog with lovely head and expression. Good proportions and angulations. Good top line and croup. Excellent coat. Lovely dog overall, but would like him to have more arched feet and be more parallel in the rear. O.k. movements.

Class 298 – Special Puppy Dog -8 entries/0 abs.
2312 Jones’ Coldfeet Limitless. 8 mth old. Very nice and promising puppy. Lovely head and expression. Good proportions. Well angulated overall. Very nice movements, still a puppy though. Good coat. Best Puppy

2318 Leich/Koops’ Forstals Solo. 13mth old. Very nice and promising

puppy. Nice typical head and expression. Good proportions. Good angulations. Good fore chest. Energetic movements. Good coat.
2234 Allen’s Arcticskies Leading Light. 9 mths old nice puppy. Good

head and expression. Needs time to balance out. Should not get deeper in chest. Wish his feet more compact/less flat. Nice coat. Moves good for age.

Class 299 – Special Junior Dog -7 entries/0 abs.
2376 Sim’s Snowspeeder’s Kenobi. 14 mth old. Very lovely young male with typical head and expression. Good proportions. Well balanced with good angulations. Good chest, top line and croup. Good movements with excellent reach. Good coat. Dog RCC winner
2317 Leich/Koops’ Bifrost Ridiki of Forstal. 16mth old. Lovely young male, with good head and expression. Good proportions. Good length of chest and strong top line. Good enough rear angulations. Good movements, but could be slightly more laid back in shoulders. Very good pastern and feet. Good coat.
 2236 Anderson Glenbranter Summat Hot for Uriakin. 16mth old. Very nice young male, good head and expression, but slight round eye. Well proportioned overall. Very good angulations in rear, but would like to see the shoulders more laid back. Good pastern and feet. O.k. movements. Good coat.

Class 300 - Yearling Dog -18 entries/3 abs.
2241 Biddlecomb’s Korsvig’s Cooper. Almost 17 mth old male. Nice head and expression. Strong body with good top line and chest. Tail set a bit high. Well angulated. Moves well.

2330 Mathers’ Azgard Terra. 20 mth old male. Could have been longer in body. A bit straight in shoulders. Should not have more rear angulation.Would like more compact feet. Is growing his coat back. Moves with good drive, but bit narrow in rear.

2301 Heaton/Armstrong Westeraird Silver Mist. 20 mth old male with typical head and expression. Is a bit square in body with sloping top line when standing, short croup. Could wish for more rear angulation. Nicely filled out in front, but a bit short chest. Slightly straight pastern. Moves o.k. Good coat.

Class 301 – Post Graduate Dog -11 entries/1 abs.

2361 Robertson’s Chatanika’s Wild Whistler. 2 years old. Handsome male, typical head and expression. Good proportions. Good chest, top line and loin. Croup bit steep. O.k. angulations, though still a little loose in shoulder and toeing out. Small feet. Moves well from the side. Good coat.

2353 Platt’s Rykalov’s Sparks at Whiteflight. 2 year old. Nice dog, typical head and expression but ears slightly wide set. Good proportions. Nice chest, top line, loin. A bit straight in pastern, feet o.k. I would like a more laid back shoulder. The coat could be a bit softer. Moves o.k.

2267  Pateman’s Icebex the Fugitive. 27 mths old. Nice dog with very nice head and expression. Good proportions. Well developed chest. Good angulations in rear. Would like to see his croup less steep and a bit longer. He is a little straight and loose in shoulders which affects his movements. Good pastern and feet. Very nice coat.

Class 302 Mid Limit Dog -5 entries/0 abs.

2240 Biddlecombe’s Sybasprinter Galaxy. 2 years. Nice dog. Typical head with keen expression. A bit square in body, strong top line, would like to see a longer croup. Could have a more laid back shoulder. Nice tight feet, but pastern bit straight. Moves light with good drive. Good coat.

2356 Redwood’s Rigrunner Slider. 4.5 years. Nice dog with typical head and expression. Nice well developed front. Well angulated overall. Matured body. At times standing with slight sloping top line. Moves well. Good coat.

2374 Simms’ Esquimaux The Chosen One.  2.5 years. Typical head and expression, but would like his ears a bit higher set. Good angulations in the rear, but could have more laid back shoulder. Strong top line O.k. movement.

Class 303 - Limit Dog -10 entries/1 abs.

2338 Green’s Nyx of the Night. Very typical and handsome male with lovely head and beautiful expression. Good proportions. Well angulated overall. Good chest and top line. Would like to see a slightly longer croup and tighter (stronger) pastern and feet. Good coat. Efficient movements.
2297 Hannam’s Charoite Raven’s Brew. Strong and typical male with nice head and expression. Good proportions. Good chest, top line and croup. A bit straight in shoulders. A bit short coat.  Moves well.
2320 Lightfoot’s Aceca’s Waterloo Sunset of Footlite. Typical male with good head, but slight round eye. Sufficient angulations. A bit sloping top line. Good feet, but slightly straight in pasterns. O.k. movements

Class 304 – Open Dog -18 entries/6 abs.

2313 Kirkpatrick’s Deshka’s Alladin Dyr. Nice dog with very typical head and beautiful expression. Over all very well angulated, except for the pastern. Good feet. Very nice and efficient movements. Could carry a bit more weight, but well muscled. Good coat. Won on his movements.

2375 Sims’ Forstals Nunataq of Snowspeeder. Nice dog with typical expression and head, but would like to see tighter ear set. Well proportioned and angulated overall, with well laid back shoulder. Good feet. Could be more happy in the ring but showed good movements and drive. Good coat.

2316 Leich/Koops’ Forstal Pabornik. Nice dog with typical head and very keen expression. Good proportions. Well angulated. Nicely filled out in fore chest. A slightly steep croup. Wish him to show more drive from behind. Excellent coat and overall impression.

Class 305 Good citizen dog scheme dog - 5 entries/0 abs.

2376 Sims’ Snowspeeder’s Kenobi. See special junior dog

2390 Thomas’ Frostyfurs Santa Paws of Sleduska. Nice dog, well behaving. Nice head and expression. Nice coat. A bit straight in shoulders. Good rear angulations. Would like him to have more ground covering movements.

2389 Nice dog. Thomas’ Frostyfurs Zeus for Sleduska. A bit short in body. Would like a more leveled top line and better developed front. Nice behaving. Would have like more drive in movements.

Class 306 Veteran bitch - 15 entries/1 abs.

2251 Bradley’s Rajarani Anastasya. 8 years old. Lovely female with nice head and expression. Balanced body. Very well angulated front and rear. Strong top line, good length in chest, strong loin and nice croup. Good pastern.Very nice movements. Good coat.
2344 Norris/Wood’s CH Penkhala’s Seska.7.5 years. Nice female with typical head and expression. Balanced body with good proportions. Well angulated in front and rear. Good pastern. Efficient movements. Good coat.
2279 Fagg’s CH Alyeska Zizou 9.5 years. Nice female with feminine head and expression. I wish her to have a bit more fore chest and a slightly longer ribcage. Well angulated front and rear. Good top line and croup. Nice and efficient mover. Good coat.
Class with very high quality overall.

Class 307 Special Puppy Bitch - 11 entries/1 abs.

2388. Sutton’s Jacalous Fire and Desire at Lyfearon 1 year. Lovely bitch with nice head and expression. Very well put together with well developed front. Considering she is only 1 year, her chest should not be deeper, nor wider/broader. Strong top line, loin and good croup. Very well angulated front and rear. Good coat. Showing very nice movements.
2371 Shelford’s Amiz Alana 1 year. Very nice bitch. Typical head and expression. Good proportions. Well balanced all over. Could have a bit more angulation in pastern. Good coat. Very nice mover.

2325 Luxmoore’s Amiz Aliya 1 year. Nice bitch. Very typical head with lovely expression. Good chest, strong top line and nice croup. Wish a bit more developed front, but she’s young. Good rear angulation. Nice strong feet. Good coat. Moves well.

Class  308 Special Junior Bitch - 10 entries/2abs.

2340 Norman’s Skimarque Snofall 14 months old. Nice bitch with typical head and expression. Strong body with good chest, top line and croup. Bit long in loin. Good front and rear angulation. Very nice movements.
2254 Carmichael’s Glenbranter Summat Else 16 months. Nice female with typical head and expression, but would like a more almond shaped eye. Nice proportions. Good chest, top line and croup. Balanced angulations. Good feet. Good coat. Moves well for age.

2307 Hughes’ Magic Black Velvet at Siberiadrift 17 months. Nice female with very nice head and expression. Good proportions, chest, top line and croup. Good angulations in rear, but like her to have more fore chest and lay back in shoulder. Good feet and pastern. Moves o.k. for age. Good coat.

Class 309 Yearling bitch - 16 entries/2abs.

2362 Robinson/Platt’s Rigrunner Jubilee JW Flypast 22 months. Nice bitch. A bit wide ear set and powerful head, but nice expression. Balanced angulations with nice strong top line, long chest and good croup. Would like her a tad higher on her legs. Good feet and pastern. Nice movements with drive.
2340 Skimarque Snofall See special junior bitch
2398 Wilkinson’s Blizzardrun’s Golden Seeka for Cyanda Almost 2 years nice female. Typical head and expression. Nice body proportions, but is not quite in balance with front and rear angulation. Good feet. Nice coat. Moved o.k.

Class 310  Post Graduate Bitch - 17 entries/2abs.
2299 Heaton’s Deshka Delta Dyr 3.5 years. Very nice and elegant bitch. Chiselled head with keen expression. A bit wide ear set. Nice put together with a strong top line, loin and good croup. Good angulation, but it should not be more in the rear. Long upper arm. Like to see a tad tighter feet. Good coat. Moves nicely. Well and naturally handled.
2341 Norman’s Skimarque Anna Pavlova Nearly 3 years. Nice bitch. A bit low ears set.  Good top line, chest and croup. A tad long in loin. Nice angulation all over. Good feet and pastern. Moves with very good reach and drive.

2383 Stanier’s Arctictrek’s Regal Presence 3.5 years. Nice bitch. A bit wide ear set. Nice chest, loin and croup. Nice angulation in the rear, but a bit high on her hocks. Wish her to have a little more fore chest. Nice mover. Is growing her coat back.

Class 311 – Mid Limit Bitch-13 entries/2abs.

2319 Forstals Shuska  Almost 4 years old. Lovely bitch with good head and expression. Well balanced angulations all over. Could be a tad longer in body. Strong chest, good arch of loin and pretty good croup. Good pastern. Very nice movements.
2379 Sinclair’s Osochilli Sweet Alabama for Lesamian Almost 3 years old. Nice bitch with typical head and expression. Good angulation front and rear. A bit long in loin. Good feet and pastern. Moves nicely, but could be more energetic. Good coat.
2343Norman’s Skimarqe Silver Sno Queen SHCM Almost 7 years old. Strong bitch with good head and expression. A bit low on her legs compared to her length of body, gives a bit heavy impression. Slightly turning in at the elbows. Balanced angulations. Good top line and croup. Moves o.k. Good coat.

Class 312 Limit Bitch -16 entries/1abs.
2381Smith’s Rajarani Lilia Anana Very nice bitch with very typical head and expression. Very well put together with excellent angulations all over and very nice movements. Good coat. Bitch Res. CC winner
2389 Robertson’s Chatanika’s Made in Heaven Lovely bitch, very typical feminine head and foxy expression. Good body, chest, top line and croup. A bit straight pastern and turning in at the elbow. Moves well.
2300 Heaton’s Deshka Echo Dyr Lovely bitch with typical head and expression. Good body with good length of chest, strong top line and good croup. Wish her to have more fore chest and angulation in front. Sufficient rear angulation. Moves well. Very nicely handled.

Class 313 Open Bitch - 15 entries/3abs.
2250 Bradley’s Rajarani Zora for Snostopin Excellent bitch. Very typical head with keen expression. Very nicely put together with excellent angulations all over and well developed front. Strong body, chest and top line. Good feet and pastern. Good coat. Very nice movements, covering much ground in a tireless floating trot. Bitch CC winner
2255 Carmichael’s Glenbranter Icepole Very nice bitch. Typical head, but a bit wide ear set. Strong top line and good arch of loin. I wish her to be a bit longer in chest and a bit lighter in bone. Good pastern and o.k. feet. Balanced angulations. Moves very nicely.
2358 Riley/Parker’s Polarcreek Forbidden Love for Ragapawz Nice bitch. Typical head and expression. Has a good body, but would like her underline slightly longer and top line stronger; she is well fed. Good pastern and o.k. feet. Nice angulations all over, but should be more parallel when moving coming and going. Good coat.

Class 314 Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch - 2 entries/0 abs.
2293 Goodwin’s Amical Ee Lahn Mor Nice bitch. Lovely head and expression. Strong top line. Would like some more fore chest, bit loose in front. Balanced angulations. OK movement, but is lacking some drive. Very well behaving.
2308 John’s Rajarani Koko for Alpenyke JW Nice bitch. Lovely head and expression. Strong back and loin. Good fore chest. Would like to see a better angulated shoulder and pastern. Not quite in balance. Good feet. Turning slightly in at the elbows. She moves nicely, but would like to see more drive. Very well behaving.