Full Critique for Windsor 2024
Judge : Mrs Sue Dykes
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| I will start by thanking my excellent stewards John & Rob, they really were a pleasure to work with. I was really looking forward to this appointment. Shih Tzus have always been one of my favourite breeds, and I have been very lucky to have been mentored by some highly respected senior breed specialists, and have had an association with the breed going back 40 years. The breed standard calls for a large round dark eye, and also a lift of tail. The tail lift has been an issue for some years in the breed, and while I would love to see this on all exhibits, I accept that it is only part of the dog, all be an important one. My major concern and disappointment was the lack of the correct eye shape in many of the dogs, in fact correct round eyes were in the minority. I was also surprised to see light eyes in some exhibits with coat colours that do not allow them, one even had amber eyes. An important part of the breed is their melting expression, but this is not possible without the correct eye shape. I am so sorry to see that this is being lost. Movement was poor in many exhibits, upright shoulders, and also short upper arms resulted in lack of the forward reach that gives the breed the required smooth flowing action, and far too many were extremely close behind. I also found narrow bodies and shallow rib cages. Please remember your breed standard and what first attracted you the Shih Tzu. All of our dogs have faults, but it is extremely sad to see such important features of this lovely breed being lost. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Thaisu Mystical Joker | Gold dog with lovely head & correct bite. Correct shape & size body, good front & rear angulation. Correct tail. Promising youngster. |
| 2nd | Shidizzle Murrays Mint | This gold & white baby has promise but gave his owner a hard time. I saw just enough to assess his movement. Lovely head, good eye, correct bite. Good tail set & carriage. Correct shape. Needs some work to get the best out of him. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Matsonic Midnight Storm Over Bishbow | Smart black puppy of lovely shape & size. Good nose placement and correct bite, but would have preferred a rounder eye to complete the picture. Correct angulation either end, and moved well in profile. BP |
| 2nd | Thaisu Mystical Joker | Gold dog with lovely head & correct bite. Correct shape & size body, good front & rear angulation. Correct tail. Promising youngster. |
| 3rd | Shidizzle Murrays Mint | This gold & white baby has promise but gave his owner a hard time. I saw just enough to assess his movement. Lovely head, good eye, correct bite. Good tail set & carriage. Correct shape. Needs some work to get the best out of him. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Honeyshuchun Soldier Boy At Bornred | Solid gold in excellent coat & condition. Lovely eye, correct bite, good nose placement. Well angulated front & rear. Unsettled on move so could not assess movement properly. |
| Beginners Dog | ||
| 1st | Ethelsmead True Grit | Gold & White with correct round eye & good nose placement. Well presented coat. Good body shape & size. Best mover in class. |
| Novice Dog | ||
| 1st | Shidizzle Murrays Mint | This gold & white baby has promise but gave his owner a hard time. I saw just enough to assess his movement. Lovely head, good eye, correct bite. Good tail set & carriage. Correct shape. Needs some work to get the best out of him. |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Thaisu Morningstar Avec Kimevan JW | Solid Gold of lovely shape & size. Good nose placement but eye could be rounder. Correct front construction, short coupled, good hind action. Well presented in good coat. Moved well. |
| 2nd | Middletune Blazzin Saddles JW | Another solid gold but different type to 1. Attractive head but eye could be rounder. Good nose placement & correct bite. Correct body shape & size. Good lift of tail. Not as settled on move as 1. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Debeaux Mackeson | Black & white, well presented in excellent coat. Nose placement a little lower than ideal, correct bite. Correct body shape & size. Would have preferred a little more angulation in front to allow more forward reach, but best mover in class. |
| 2nd | Rossvale Fantastic Dream At Charonnis JW | Gold with lovely head & expression, although eye could be rounder. Good tail set & carriage. Moved well in profile but longer in body and a moved close behind. |
| 3rd | Ethelsmead True Grit | Gold & White with correct round eye & good nose placement. Well presented coat. Good body shape & size. Best mover in class. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Daltricia Jack Higgins JW | White & gold of correct body shape & size. Correct lift of tail. Good nose placement, correct bite. Excellent coat & condition. Would have preferred more angulation front and rear to allow more freedom of movement. |
| 2nd | Forepaws Golden Warrior (KCJ) | Gold & white. Correct eye, good nose placement, correct bite. Good coat & condition. Larger made dog. Well angulated front & rear, but carrying too much weight which affected his movement. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Mifcahs The King And I JW (Dk,Nor,Swe,No,Int) | Gold & white of correct shape & size. Lovely head & expression with correct eye, correct nose placement & good bite. Well constructed front & rear. Good lift of tail. Moved with good forward reach and correct hind action. In excellent coat & condition. Stylish & sound, he is what I was looking for. CC & BOB |
| 2nd | Ch. Zeeva Cool Dude | Close decision between 2 & 3 although both dogs very different in type. Gold & White of lovely shape and low to the ground. Good coat & condition. Lovely head balance with lovely expression. Correct eye, good nose placement & good bite. Well constructed either end. Stylish on the move. RCC |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Artelino Moomins Adventure | 9 year old dog in excellent coat & condition. Lovely eye, good nose placement. Correct size, good tail set, although he flagged it on the move. Steady action, but a little restricted in front. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Jadetemple Jaci Higgins At Daltricia | Pretty gold & white baby of lovely shape & size. Correct eye, good nose placement, correct bite. Good, well presented coat. Good tail set. |
| 2nd | Juhua’s Heavenly Scent To Debeaux | Another gold & white, different in type to 1 Good eye. Nose positioned a little lower than ideal & a little longer, so not the expression of 1. Correct bite. Well angulated either end & moved out well. Good tail set & carriage. Well presented coat. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Pinyinz Sugar Hiccups | Gold & white with lovely head & expression. Correct round eye, good nose placement, correct bite. Good body shape & size. Good coat for age, well presented. Moved well in profile but toes in in front, and moves close behind. |
| 2nd | Marhilway Bees Got The Edge | Petite gold & white with lovely dark eye, good nose placement & correct bite. Well presented coat, well set tail. Would prefer a little more substance. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | Very attractive cream. Pretty head, good nose placement, but would prefer rounder eye. Well angulated either end, reasonable lift of tail. Moved with style. |
| 2nd | Santosha Black Charm At Jacquinta | Solid black, balanced throughout with reasonable lift of tail. Well angulated front & rear, stylish on the move. Preferred the head & expression of 1. |
| Beginners Bitch | ||
| 2nd | Middletune Chantilly Lace | Very small & slight gold & white bitch. Moved well. |
| 3rd | Shenleyvale Orange Star Of Crimsonleash | Black & white who was not happy and flagged her tail. Lovely dark round eye, good nose placement. Correct body shape & size. Did not show to her best advantage. |
| Novice Bitch | ||
| 1st | Middletune Chantilly Lace | Very small & slight gold & white bitch. Moved well. |
| 2nd | Shenleyvale Orange Star Of Crimsonleash | Black & white who was not happy and flagged her tail. Lovely dark round eye, good nose placement. Correct body shape & size. Did not show to her best advantage. |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Thaisu Fallen Angel Among Kimevan | Gold & white with lovely head & expression. Good dark eye, correct nose placement, correct bite. Correct body shape & size. Well angulated front & rear. Good tail set & carriage but still settling into position. Moved positively with style. Excellent well presented coat. A lot to like. |
| 2nd | Middletune Modesty Blaise JW | Cream with pretty head & expression. Correct body shape & size. Sound & stylish on the move but not as positive in front as 1. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Lucky Arrow Sanchi | Very pretty cream & white bitch with dark round eye. Good nose placement, correct bite. Lovely body shape & size, well angulated front & rear. Moved well and true. Well set tail. Excellent coat & condition. |
| 2nd | Honeyshuchun Sand Goddess | Gold & white with a lot to like, but I preferred head & expression of 1. Lovely body shape & size, good well presented coat. Good lift of tail. Moved with style. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Minfaa Shes Quick On The Draw | Gold & white in excellent coat & condition. Very pretty head & expression with dark eye, good nose placement & correct bite. Correct body shape & size. Low to the ground. Well angulated front & rear. RCC |
| 2nd | Ch. Marhilway Explorer The Edge | Pretty gold & white bitch with lovely head & expression. Different type to 1. Correct body shape & size. Once she put her tail up, it was well set. Stylish on the move. In good, well presented coat. Did not show herself to her best advantage but is a lovely bitch overall. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Tameron Miss I Want Choo | Cream & white girl in profuse well presented coat. Lovely tip tilted note, dark eye but would have preferred rounder. Good head carriage. Correct bite. Lovely body shape & size. Balanced throughout. Stylish girl. CC |
| 2nd | Ch. Santosha Silhouette | Gold & white girl in excellent coat & condition. Lovely body shape & size. Good lift of tail. Well angulated front & rear. Correct eye shape, but could have been darker. Correct nose placement. Sound & stylish bitch |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Bishbow Summer Breeze | Very nice black & white in excellent coat & condition. Pretty head & expression with correct eye, good nose placement & correct bite. Would have preferred a little more angulation either end, but balanced on the move. Good lift of tail. BV |