National Specialty 2026 Judge’s Notes
Irene Glenn
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Spinone Club of America for their kind invitation and its members for voting for me to judge their National Specialty Show of 2026.
This was such an honor, and I thank everyone for entering and giving me the chance to be able to judge their lovely dogs. The quality was very high, and I did in a number of the classes, I had to make some very hard decisions, and I’m sure on another day many could have changed places. I also felt that there was depth of quality in the puppies and younger classes, which I must say was so lovely to see, and it makes for a great future for your breed in America.
Best of Breed winner: GCHS CH Collina D’oro on a Lark JH CGC TKN FTN
This bitch is so beautifully constructed with lovely strength and depth but is so feminine throughout. She stands four square and has the best of heads, balanced with the correct divergent planes and pronounced occiput with such a melting expression. Strong neck onto shoulders that are well placed and she has the best of front construction with plenty of heartroom. Short in back with correct topline, good length of ribs and a strong loin with a slight tuck up. She has well muscled quarters with an excellent width of second thigh and lovey bend of stifle. She moves out with super reach and drive.
Best of Winners, Best Puppy, Best BBE: Collina D’oro Keep it Chill
This young dog just oozes quality throughout and he has a super head of correct proportions with a pronounced occiput and kind expression. His shoulders are well laid and he has an excellent straight front. He has depth and substance with lovely bone and carries a correct coat. He has a correct topline and a short strong loin. Well rounded quarters and lovely rear angulation complete the picture. Such a sound and steady mover. He will have a bright future I’m sure.
Best of Opposite: GCHB CH Collina D’oro Big Sky’s Yellowstone at PI GUN DOGS JH CGC
What an impressive dog he is and he is so full of quality from every angle. He has a balanced masculine head with a pronounced occiput and good strength of muzzle. Correct eye shape and has a lovely soft expression. Clean over his neck and shoulders with a super front assembly and plenty of heartroom with excellent depth and substance throughout. Lovely spring of rib, short loin, minimal tuck up and carries a correct coat. Well constructed quarters of which he uses on the move.
Select Dog : GCHS CH Spinsetters Dream’n of a Force Forever Royal RA JH FDC CAA DCAT CGCA CGCU TKN ATT FITS FTI Best NOHS
This dog is so well balanced throughout. He is squarely built and has great substance and is of a good size. There is nothing exaggerated about him and he has the best of heads with divergent planes with a lovely eye shape and expression. Strong neck, well laid shoulder and correct bone. Straight in front with well sprung ribs. Carries a good coat and has the best of toplines. Well muscled quarters and he is so sound on the move.
Select Bitch : GCH CH Sweetbriar’s North to Alaska BN RN JH AXP AJP NFP CA DCAT ACT1 ACT2J SWN SINE RATM CZ8S CGC TKI FITB FTI
I just loved the overall make and shape of this bitch. She is so feminine throughout with a balanced head and divergent planes and pronounced occiput. She has such a soft expression. Best of fronts. Her shoulders are well laid. Her front is straight with a good width of chest and has plenty of heartroom and has lovely bone. Excellent topline and she has a good harsh coat along with well angulated hindquarters. Such a positive mover with lovely reach and drive.
Best Veteran : GCHB CH Mountain Valley Renato Napoleone RI SH CGC TKN
He is so typical of the breed and has such depth and substance. Lovely to go over with his masculine head, which is balanced with the correct divergent planes and raised occiput, correct ear set, and soft expression. Strong neck and his shoulders are well laid. Excellent front assembly with plenty of heartroom, lovely bone, and is strong in loin. Correct topline with well-muscled quarters, which he uses to advantage on the move.
Best Field : Ch Bellaebravo Cocktail Time at Venetian. Lovely type of dog with a head of correct proportion, and he has such a soft expression. Strong neck with the best of shoulders and he has such depth and substance throughout. Straight front, good coat and topline with a strong loin. His quarters are well muscled with lovely rear angulation. He has good reach and drive.
Award of Merit : Dry Grass River Runs Thru It BCAT
She stood four square and has a lovely feminine head which is balanced with a pronounced occiput and divergent planes. She has a good clean neck with her shoulders being well laid. Straight in front, lovely depth and body with a good spring of rib and strong loin. Excellent topline and her quarters are well rounded. She moved with drive.
Award of Merit: GCHS CH Kala’s Beyond the Yellow Brick Road BN RN CGC
Quality bitch from every angle. Loved her overall balance and she has a feminine head with correct divergent planes and correct eye shape and colour. Strong neck onto well laid shoulders. Lovely front, correct bone and coat. Good depth and substance and lovely topline. Well rounded quarters and she is a free and easy mover.
Award of Merit: Ch Mals-About Spare Change
She is so feminine throughout and presents a very typical picture. A balanced head and pronounced occiput with a good eye and expression. Lovely to go over with her clean neck and excellent layback of shoulders. Correct bone, good substance and depth, well sprung ribs, good topline and correct coat. She has well-muscled quarters, and she moved out steadily fore and aft.
Award of Merit: GCH CH Bellaebravo Happy Hour RN. Feminine throughout, and her head is balanced with a pronounced occiput and divergent planes and she has such a melting expression. Clean over her neck and shoulders, excellent front assembly with plenty of heartroom. Correct bone and has a good coat. Her ribs are well sprung, and she has lovely depth and body along with well-muscled quarters. She is such a sound mover fore and aft.
