Twilight Sweepstakes

Twilight Sweepstakes

Saturday 7th April 2007

~ GENERAL COMMENTS ~

I was asked to write a short section on my impression of the Australian Beagles who were shown at the Sweepstakes and my first comment must be to thank all of those who waited on, after a long show day, in wet cold conditions to exhibit their hounds. There were a large number of absentees and, under the circumstances, this l can understand so perhaps my impressions do not reflect the true state of the breed.

Firstly I have to say that l was impressed with presentation and handling. All of the hounds shown were in sparkling condition and most I good muscle tone and the handlers were making a good job of getting the best out of their exhibits under the difficult conditions.

I found that several were tucked up and roaching a little but feel that the cold and wet weather contributed to this as I am sure your dogs are unused to being shown in such weather. When l saw the same dogs the following day they looked so much better on the grass and in the sunshine.

The two points that struck me as perhaps worth watching were length of coupling and excessive rear angulation. I will take length of coupling first as I found this quite strange. When the dogs were lined up several appeared very short in body but on examination found that they did not have the required length of rib so were in fact rather long in the couplings although giving the appearance of short. I see from looking at the breeding that there is quite a strong American influence in some lines and, of course, the American standard is different from yours in the respect that the hounds are required to be 'short in back' rather than 'short in couplings' so possibly this is where this trait may have come from.

I found, both judging on the Saturday and watching closely on Sunday, that quite a number of Beagles had, for me, excessive rear angulation and did not seem balanced. This, I believe, contributes to poor front movement as the front assembly is unable to cope with the excessive thrust from the rear. Much better, in my book, to have moderate angulation at each end.

Temperaments were wonderful and I didn’t heat a grumble once. Heads varied but on the whole were pleasing with few coarse skulls.

I do have to say that I think your greatest quality at the moment is in your tan and white hounds. I don’t know why, except perhaps that, as in the UK, only the very top quality tans (especially males) are retained.

I was impressed by the Beagles and many could easily hold their own in Britain.

I would like to thank the Beagle Club of NSW for giving me the opportunity to assess some of your lovely Beagles.

Liz Calikes