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Thank you exhibitors for an amazing entry in both numbers and quality. All exhibits were presented clean and tangle free and handling was, in the main, exemplary. Inevitably in an entry of this size, 193 exhibits making 214 entries, more exhibitors would leave the ring disappointed than those who received a place card. Exhibits who won had won CCs and Reserve CCs in the past were competing against different dogs today, so inevitably, many results were different. Crufts is a show unlike any other in the UK and not all dogs [or handlers] perform at their best in the razzmatazz atmosphere.
I was looking for dogs with the characteristics that make the Shih Tzu unique: round skull, well spaced, round, dark eyes, wide muzzle, sturdy, broad chest, "tea pot tail", forward reach with powerful hind action, showing full pads. And, most important, that arrogant yet inquisitive attitude, plus that extra "sparkle" to stand out in a crowd
Not many black & whites in today’s entry and on the whole I found them to be the most disappointing, so many showing white in not only one but both eyes coupled with a "scared, timid" attitude on the table.
Mouths were very mixed, most with good width of jaw and just undershot but more than I expected that are "spoon shaped" coupled with lack of chin.
Beautiful dogs in glorious coat but outline spoilt by "flat tails". Rear action disappointing, the drive is there but not showing full pads, this was in some cases due to excessive length of coat. Forward reach more of a problem, short upper arm restricting free flowing "ship in full sail" action. |
