Full Critique for Three Counties 2022
Judge : Mr Matthew Russell
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| I would like to thank the committee for the invitation to judge at their championship show, Bill & Trish Gray for their amazing job as stewards in keeping everything running smoothly, and the exhibitors for entering their dogs for my opinion. I was very pleased with many of the dogs shown under me, although I was a bit surprised with what I found in others. As the standard calls for, I was looking for small dogs with good bone and body making it a heavy dog for its size. I was pleased to see dogs that were slightly oblong in shape which is exactly what the standard calls for. Compact is never a word that should be used when describing the shape of a Shih Tzu. On the down side, I did find some rounded mouths which were also narrow. The breed standard does call for a wide jaw with a square muzzle. This rounded jaw impacts on the whole expression and is something that I have not seen for many years. Many people talk about 6 teeth on the bottom jaw between the incisors. This is not mentioned in the standard, but something to aim for to give that width of jaw, but only if it is the correct shape in the first place. Lack of chin also seems to be appearing in some dogs. Please remember, this should be shock-headed with a definite stop. I did find some that lacked this stop which sloped to the back of the skull. This gives a totally incorrect head shape. I did find the level of grooming and presentation extremely good. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Santosha Shockwave Of Shenleyvale | 8 month old gold and white boy. Lovely broad head with well set eyes and broad jaw. well arched neck with well placed shoulders and strong topline. Good tailset and well angulated rear. Covered the ground well, showing full pad. Needs to develop in body, but that should come with time. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Peekin Reggie Rebel-Tu | 9 month old gold and white boy of a stylish shape and in lovely coat. Lovely head and expression with ample neck flowing into well laid shoulders. Lovely front and well developed in body for his age. Strong topline with lovely tailset and well angulated rear. When settled, he moved so soundly with real purpose. Will be interesting to see how he matures. Best Puppy Dog. |
| 2nd | Mifcah’s By Royal Command To Javerda | 10 month old gold brindle and white boy. Larger type to 1st, presented in lovely coat. Nicely arched neck with good shoulder placement. Strong topline and well set tail with well angulated rear. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Tameron Mr Black Is Back | 15 month old black & white boy of a lovely size, shape and balance. Strong neck flowing into well laid shoulders which balanced with his well angulated rear. Lovely ribcage and forechest with a strong topline and very good tailset. Moved so well, covering the rough ground with ease, reaching out in front and pushing from the rear. Pleased to award him the Reserve Dog CC, and believe he will easily gain his title. |
| 2nd | Massarati Arssamandi Astarte Gold At Densown (ImpP | 13 month old gold & white boy presented in beautiful coat. Masculine head with wide jaw and good pigmentation. Well bodied with good width throughout. Strong topline and nicely set tail. Would prefer more length in back, but a stylish boy who carried himself well. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Senousi Dressed For It By Fairmere | Stunning gold & white male in beautiful coat. Lovely head with well set, dark eyes. Broad, well shaped jaw with good chin and lovely nose placement. Strong neck and well laid shoulders with a strong topline and broad ribcage which extended right back. Lovely tailset and well angulated rear. Moved so soundly with real purpose in the class. It seemed as though he just wanted to play by the time the challenge was being judged. |
| 2nd | Stardante Han Sum Model with Simbalove | Gold & white male in lovely coat. Masculine dog with a lovely head and well arched neck. Strong topline and well set tail. Good size and shape giving a traditional silhouette with no exaggeration. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Cedarhythe Majical Destiny | Black & white male in beautiful coat and presented to perfection. Lovely head and expression with good nose placement, wide jaw and lovely chin. Beautiful dark, well shaped eyes showing no white of eye. Well arched neck with good lay back of shoulder and sound front. Lovely ribcage with good forechest that extended back beautifully. Strong topline and excellent tailset. Beautifully angulated rear which balanced with the front, which showed in his effortless and powerful movement. So very pleased to award him his first CC and Best Of Breed. A very worthy champion. |
| 2nd | Ch. Minfaa Sundance Kid | Gold & white male of a lovely shape with well arched neck, level topline and lovely tailset. Broad head with lovely dark eyes of good shape and size. Good nose placement and broad jaw. Well boned throughout with lovely ribcage. Very good shoulders which balanced with well angulated rear. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Mifcahs The King And I JW (Dk,Nor,Swe,No,Int) | Gold & white male in superb coat and presented beautifully. Broad, masculine head, good nose placement, broad jaw with lovely chin. strong, well arched neck and well laid shoulders to a sound front. Very good bone and lovely ribcage. Strong topline and lovely tailset. Well angulated rear which showed in his movement. |
| 2nd | Ch. Ta Maria All Eyz On Me (DK Fin Swed Norsk) | Beautiful Gold & white male of such quality and breed type. I have judged him before, as a youngster, and loved him then and he has now matured into a stunning example of the breed. Lovely head and expression carried on a well arched neck and well laid shoulders. Superb forechest and ribcage with a strong topline. Lovely tailset to complete this beautiful picture. Well angulated rear which showed when on the move when he behaved. Unfortunately, in this very strong class, he was not always concentrating on what he should be doing when on the move. |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Tsantha Happy As Larry With Hajenza | 11 year old gold & white male in such good condition. Lovely head and expression with lovely wide jaw and good chin. Well laid shoulders and good rear angulation to balance with this. Shown in profuse coat and moved well. |
| 2nd | Gladmin Transkei Teddy JW | 7 year old gold brindle and white. In lovely coat and well presented. Good neck and shoulders and lovely ribcage. Strong topline and well angulated rear. Moved with ease over the rough ground. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Santosha Sunkissed At Miracey | 7.5 month old gold & white girl. Eye-catching baby of a lovely size and shape. Beautiful head with such a pretty expression. Lovely neck and well laid shoulders. Strong topline and well set tail. Ample bone for her size while still retaining femininity. Well angulated rear which showed in her sound movement when covering the ground with such ease. in lovely coat which was presented beautifully. She will surely have a bright future. So pleased to award her Best Puppy In Breed. |
| 2nd | Sassyshi Jamaica Mistaica JW | Gold brindle & white girl. Another lovely puppy. Lovely shape with no exaggeration. Good bone and substance throughout. Well coated and presented beautifully. Well laid shoulders which balanced with her rear angulation enabling her to move so well, keeping her lovely shape both standing and on the move. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Tejayse Just Like Fire | Dark gold brindle & white girl of good bone and substance. Lovely head with feminine expression. Lovely neck and well laid shoulders with strong topline and well set tail. Well angulated rear which showed in her effortless movement. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Rossvale Little Black Dress | Stunning black & white girl which I seriously considered in the challenge. Lovely shape and size in beautiful coat. Beautiful head and feminine expression with lovely nose placement and wide jaw with plenty of chin. Dark expressive eyes of a good shape and size, showing no white of eye. Lovely neck and shoulders with a good ribcage which extended right back and plenty of forechest. Strong topline, well angulated rear with lovely tailset. Moved so well, powering round the ring with such ease. |
| 2nd | Ta Maria Wake Me For Champagne | Another beautiful girl who caught my eye as she entered the ring. So many attributes are shared with the class winner. So lovely to go over on the table, but unfortunately she was not too happy on the move today. I could not deny her her placing though due to her many qualities. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Senousi Love The Dress | Gold & white girl of such quality and breed type. Beautiful head & expression carried on a lovely arched neck. Well laid shoulders and superb ribcage with plenty of forechest. In lovely coat with a strong topline and well set tail presenting a lovely profile. Moved so well, showing full pad due to her well angulated rear. |
| 2nd | Minfaa Cool Factor Kaffdan | Gold & white girl. Another quality bitch of a lovely shape and substance. Lovely head & expression with good nose placement and wide jaw. In lovely coat which was presented beautifully. Moved with ease due to her well laid shoulders and well angulated rear. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Senousi Caress In A Dress | Gold & white girl who was litter sister to the winner of the last class. Shared so many attributes of her sister with just a little more maturity. A lovely girl of such breed type and quality. A credit to the owner and breeder. |
| 2nd | Ch. Peekin Hoi-Tee-Toi-Tee-Tu | Gold & white girl of a lovely shape, but just preferred the substance of 1st. Very pretty head and expression carried on a strong, well arched neck. Lovely shoulders and strong topline with good tailset and well angulated rear. In lovely coat and moved so well. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Tameron Miss Black Opium | I have judged this black & white girl a few years ago when refereeing at a breed club show. She had so many lovely qualities, but has certainly matured into a stunning example of the breed. Lovely broad head with feminine expression due to lovely nose placement and wide jaw showing a beautiful chin. strong, well arched neck and well laid shoulders with good front framing a beautiful ribcage of good shape, depth and length. Strong topline and well angulated rear. Beautiful shape both standing and on the move, which she did with such purpose and soundness. I could not deny her the CC. |
| 2nd | Ch. Yung Lo’s Success In A Dress (Swe, Dk, Nor) | Another beautiful example of the breed. Lovely head and expression and so feminine while still retaining good substance throughout. Strong, well arched neck and well laid shoulders with such a beautiful ribcage. Lovely tailset and well angulated rear, showing full pad when on the move. A lovely girl to go over on the table, which confirms the titles she has won. A very worthy champion. Pleased to award her the Reserve CC. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Miracey Fruity Kisses | A lovely class of beautiful girls, this was not an easy class to judge.11 year old gold & white girl in such good condition. So feminine with a lovely head and expression. Strong neck and well laid shoulders with a strong topline leading back to a lovely tailset. Beautiful shape. Lovely ribcage and well angulate rear. Moved so well showing full pad. |
| 2nd | Ch. Taydale Dancin In The Stars with Cedarhythe | Black & white girl who is almost 10 years old, but another who does not show her age. Very pretty head and expression with wide jaw and lovely chin. Lovely substance throughout and so well constructed which showed in her effortless movement. |