Sini has the best construction of the briards I have owned.
Her proportions are good, but I would have wished that she had been at least a
couple of centimetres less high at withers.
Her head could be
slightly wider and eyes darker. They are still rather dark for blue briard's
eyes. Dentition is complete and bite correct at least for now.
Front angulations could be better and chest more developed. Also the elbows are
rather loose in movement. Little fault, though usually not noticed in
shows are the double dewclaws also at frontquarters.
Angulations behind are good.
Double dewclaws are excellent and set low. Tail is little short,
set little high and too often also carried high.
The quality of the coat is good, but it is quite thin and short on the sides and
back and there is very little underwool.
Health
Sini has healthy hips (A/A), but there are slight changes on
left elbow (1/0). Knees and back are X-rayed and healthy.
Sini's
eyes are clear, but there are some extra eyelashes in outer parts of the eyelids (cilia aberranta).
So far I have kept them off with tweezers. I check them when there comes more
secretion. Otherwise they have not troubled so far. They are somewhat hereditary,
but I have not heard of many other cases in briards.
Sini has
had no allergies or stomach problems etc. so far.
Blood tests
were taken 20.2.2008, normal blood samples and thyroid tests. All other
resuts were normal, but thyroglobulin autoantibody TgAA was on the limit.
Positive TgAA result refers to autoimmune thyroid disease that often later turns
to clinic hypothyroidism. Sini's result was inconclusive and in these cases the
new test is reccommended after 2-6 months (and in every case once a year till
the age of 6). Sini will be tested again, but the time is difficult to say.
Females should be tested during sexual rest period (anestrus). Some say about
100 days from heat. Sini was tested less than three months after heat. Could
that have affected the result? New thyroid test were taken 10.11.2009 and
13.10.2011 and the results were still normal.
You can find the test results
here.
Sini's poor coat that came after
the puppies is obviously due to the blue dog syndrome or CDA (colour dilution
allopecia). The skin biopsy that was taken in April 2009 showed changes
that are typical to it. She has not at least yet had any problems with the skin.
Character
In my opinion Sini has
more capacity to work, sharpness and will to defend and fight than Obi had.
The estimation on will to defend may be false, because Sini is very keen to
guard and it doesn't always mean a will to defend. Sini is also soft and little
insecure, but lively.
At home she is calm though. She is a little reserved with strangers. I have not
noticed any fear of shots, but she reacts to loud and unexpected sound by trying
to figure out where they come from. Sini is easy to train. She likes both toys
and food.
At times I would wish her some more ability to concentrate.
Sini's character was tested 18.4.2010 in Koivumäki Tampere. Judges were Pekka
Orava and Pasi Halme and she got 95 points:
