Another Sunday - and I've measured Meerah. Comments in PMs after yesterday's photo of her walking with Beti obviously had me over thinking again. These comments were from trusted friends, so not said in malice, but you can't hide the fact that at 6 months old she appears to be as tall as Beti. Anyway, she'll be 6 months on Wednesday, and she's already 58cm, not a hope in hell of being any less. Siska was 55cms, Beti 56cms, Kaiah 57.5cms and then we go to the girls that were/are oversize with Asha 58cms and Sammi 58.5cms. I know there is not a lot in it, but at 6 months she will grow a minimum of 2.5cms again. Generally the girls seem to vary in growth from 2.5 to 3.5 cms after 6 months - Siska who was always a small puppy, grew more than anyone else to make 59.5cms. If Meerah gets to 61cms and no more, then with favourable health tests we can compete at all events, if she's over it then she will probably fail the breed survey, or at best get a lower class, then she will only be exhibited at KC events under judges who don't carry a measuring stick! Breed council criteria, which is due for updates, currently reads "Class 1 - SIZE: To allow 3.5 cm above the ideal height i.e. up to and including 66 cm (males) & up to and including 61 cm (female). Class One (minus)
Males which are over 66cms but below 68cms and females that are over 61cms but below 63cms but are otherwise excellent animals may be given Class One (Minus). Over 63cms in females is an automatic fail. The Kennel Club standard reads as follows - "Ideal height (from withers and just touching elbows): dogs: 63 cms (25 ins); bitches: 58 cms (23 ins). 2.5 cms (1 in) either above or below ideal permissible." Of course at K.C shows height is just part of the big picture and she is less likely to be penalised in most cases.
The tip of the missing P1 has now broken through the gum ... so that's one thing less to worry about, as for the rest, well I'm still hopeful that with normal maturity she will be a beautiful female.
