"Firstly, I'd just like to say what a great honour it was to be invited to judge the Northern Newfoundland Club Show. My sincere thanks go to the committee for inviting me and placing their trust in me. Thank you to Catherine, Rose and John for all your hard work, both in and out of the ring, and for keeping me organised throughout the day. It is the stewards who keep a show running smoothly, and your efforts are greatly appreciated. So nice to catch up again after almost 40 years of friendship It is always a pleasure to be in the company of true dog people. To Jill, Steve and the rest of the committee, thank you for such a warm welcome. Thank you for my beautiful gift and the card is so beautiful and thoughtful. Another gift I received I need to say was the most special birthday present and a huge thank you to Kieran for not only this but the company and laughs. To Ed Cole what can I say but massive thank you so much, what an unbelievable talent, I'll treasure this drawing. Thank you.

One of the real joys of judging overseas is the chance to catch up with old friends and reminisce about the dogs - and the people - that have shaped our lives in this wonderful breed. It was lovely to spend time with Nicole from Nandobears, a true Newfoundland person with an incredible depth of knowledge and, as always, wonderful company.

On a personal note, one of the highlights of my visit was seeing my very dear friend, Mrs Pat Woolmore, and her daughter Lisa of Kelligrews. I have known Pat and Lisa for as long as I have been involved in Newfoundlands, and Pat embodies everything that is good about this breed and its people. It meant more than I can say that she made the journey to see me, and I will treasure that time together. I bought my second Newfoundland from Pat and her late husband Stewart (RIP), and that wonderful dog changed the course of my life in the breed. He was the inspiration behind my lifelong passion for Newfoundlands, and my own kennel name was chosen in his honour, taking its inspiration from him and the famous river in Newfoundland. Thank you!

I would especially like to thank all of you, the exhibitors, for your wonderful entry and for making the effort to travel here today. After so many years in this breed, I know only too well the time, preparation and commitment involved in preparing a Newfoundland for show, so thank you all very much.

At a Specialty show I always try to provide critiques through to third place, as I appreciate the effort every exhibitor makes in bringing their dogs under me. Unfortunately, many exhibits had left the ring before I was able to make my notes, so on this occasion I will revert to the usual practice of critiquing first and second place only. If any exhibits in Third place specifically want a critique I am happy to do this.

I have owned Newfoundlands for almost 40 years, and during that time I have been incredibly fortunate to judge Newfoundland Speciality shows in many different countries. Even after all these years, I never take that privilege for granted. Every time I step into the ring to judge this wonderful breed, I still feel both honoured and humbled. Newfoundlands have been such a significant part of my life - they truly are in my heart - and it is always a privilege to stand in the centre of the ring and assess them.

When I judge, I judge only the dog that stands before me on that particular day. I am always mindful of the breed as a whole and judge strictly to the true Breed Standard. I look for the virtues that I believe should be preserved and rewarded, and I weigh those against the faults that, in my opinion, have the greatest impact on the breed. My decisions are made on that basis alone.

I always try to put considerable effort into my individual critiques, and I do not generally believe in highlighting faults specific to an individual dog within those reports. Today, however, I feel my general observations are sadly relevant to far too many exhibits, and I hope they are received in the spirit in which they are intended.

I judged a large number of dogs today, and only afterwards realised that many of them were Champions and Multi Champions. Regardless of the titles they hold, I was saddened that only a handful of exhibits possessed the construction to stand naturally four-square without assistance. A dog’s natural stance and movement are true reflections of its construction. No matter how much time is spent manually adjusting a dog into a posed stack, once it moves it reveals its true conformation.

A great many exhibits looked impressive from the ringside in profile, but an unacceptable number proved to be narrow throughout, lacking both bone and substance. Head type in many was also narrow, lacking the well-developed cheeks, pronounced superciliary brows and deep-set eyes that give the Newfoundland its unmistakable benevolent expression. Weak bone, flat, Greyhound-like feet and generally light frames were evident in far too many exhibits, the very opposite of what a correct Newfoundland should possess. This is a working breed, requiring a deep, barrel-shaped chest to provide the capacity for heart and lung function, together with massive bone and strong, cat-like feet - hallmarks that make the Newfoundland unmistakable.

Of course, temperament remains the breed's most important characteristic, and thankfully every exhibit today displayed the true, typical Newfoundland temperament. That was genuinely heartening to see and gave me hope that, at least in this vital respect, the breed has not lost its way.

I was genuinely dismayed by the sheer number of dogs that, when they came to a halt, stood with their front legs touching and rotated outwards. I am not simply referring to the feet, but to the entire forelimb turning in a way that is completely unnatural. Slab-sided ribcages, pinched forechests, poorly constructed upper arms and incorrect shoulder assemblies all contribute to this problem. To see these faults becoming accepted in a working breed is, in my opinion, deeply detrimental to the future of the Newfoundland. Yes, I am fully aware that many correctly constructed dogs can stand lazily or throw a foot from time to time, but this is an entirely different and far more serious issue.

I was also disappointed by the presentation of a number of exhibits. Whilst I fully appreciate the challenge of maintaining a Newfoundland coat, particularly at certain times of the year, there is still an expectation that dogs presented under a judge should be clean, well prepared and free from excessive matting.

Sadly, I encountered several exhibits with significant mats and knots throughout their coats, some as large as tennis balls. This is not simply a cosmetic issue; it prevents a judge from properly assessing the quality and texture of the coat and detracts from the overall presentation of the dog.

One exhibit in particular possessed many of the virtues to have seriously challenged for the top honours on the day. However, the general condition of the coat was simply unacceptable. Thankfully the dog itself was in excellent body and skin condition, but the coat had clearly been neglected and was presented in an unkempt state. It was a great disappointment, as presentation should never prevent an otherwise quality exhibit from achieving the placing it deserves.

The Newfoundland is a breed developed for strength and power, not speed. It should never race around the ring. As a true haulage dog, it should move with its head carried slightly lowered, covering the ground with long, effortless strides and driving powerfully from the rear. I appreciate that this breed-typical movement may not appear as “flashy” as that of some other breeds and perhaps is not always rewarded by every judge. However, “correct” should always take precedence over "flashy". The Newfoundland should move with purpose, efficiency and power, conserving energy while demonstrating the strength and endurance required to perform the work for which it was originally bred.

I have to say I was genuinely saddened to witness such changes in a breed I have owned for almost 40 years and admired for even longer. It has been three years since I last judged the breed in the UK, and, with absolutely no disrespect intended to the Dog CC winner - who is a beautiful example of the breed - I do not believe it reflects well on the breed that, after three years, I found myself awarding the same dog another CC. There were several dogs that matched many of his virtues, but when the overall picture was considered, too many fell short in other important areas. That said, there were still some beautiful dogs present today, and I was genuinely pleased with my principal winners.

As I write this, I have no doubt that these comments may attract criticism from some quarters. However, they come from the heart, born from nearly four decades of love and dedication to this wonderful breed. My greatest fear is that, unless we become more mindful of the traits we reward, we risk gradually losing the very qualities that define the Newfoundland - one show at a time.

• Natural balance over artificial stacking.
• Correct working construction over glamour.
• Breed type and expression are non-negotiable.
• Muscle, condition and fitness matter.
• Movement should reflect construction, not flashy handling.
• Presentation should enhance a dog, never disguise it.

Thank you."