Full Critique for Paignton 2024
Judge : Mrs Vanessa Williams-Wegmann
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| I was honored and thrilled to be invited to judge my first breed the wonderful Shih-Tzu at Paignton & DFA. I fell in love with Shih-Tzu in 1980 and have had them in my life ever since. My late husband Peter Wegmann not a fan of dog shows but became a true Shih-Tzu nut saying how kind their natures and irresistible faces captured him, this was amazing from a Swiss man who had been an Army Officer, a NH Jump Jockey and liked Dobermanns! The endearing Shih-Tzu is capable of melting any heart. All of the dogs yesterday even ones who might have been a tad shy were kind and approachable. Lots of hard work went into the super presentation, thank you exhibitors for this treat, also thank you for taking my decisions with good grace and being so sporting. Lots of applause around the ring, and my Best of Breed Dog’s owner told me she had lots of support from Shih-Tzu people in the Group and how lovely that made her feel, we are not a bad lot really. I noticed some of the forefaces were not quite so wide as I would have liked, a few jumbled mouths but not many. Most exhibits had beautiful underjaws with clear dentition. Plenty of substance and bone, many wonderful big feet, clear round eyes a true delight to see all this. On the downside there were a few flat tails, breeders please watch out this doesn’t become too common. But on the whole, I’d say you’re doing a good job. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Matsonic Bright Spirit | Quality. 8 mths rich solid gold black mask baby boy with endearing round large sweetly expressive eye, long ear leathers, slightly undershot jaw, nice arch of neck, well balanced, high tail, keeps level topline on move, keen and eager to show little dynamo, full of energy, sound each way, such a fun pup. On fire today. |
| 2nd | Shidizzle Murrays Mint | 7 mths gold/white parti big coat, looked striking when stood, lovely big feet, loves his mum, too stubborn to move alone, there’s plenty of time for this sweet baby to train, out moved and performed by 1. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Thaisu Mystical Joker | 9 mths, big double gold/white coat, nicely marked with good shawl, broad skull, large round dark eye has sweet expression, sturdy frame, nice arch of neck, correct short legs, nice high tail, moved and showed well. |
| 2nd | Shidizzle Murrays Mint | 7 mths gold/white parti big coat, looked striking when stood, lovely big feet, loves his mum, too stubborn to move alone, there’s plenty of time for this sweet baby to train, out moved and performed by 1. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Matsonic Midnight Storm Over Bishbow | 12 mths adorable solid black, nice size not big not small just right, fabulous foreface and dark round appealing well spaced eye, nose slightly tip tilted giving breedy look, well proportioned and well balanced, plenty of substance and bone, retains level topline on move, looks a real picture standing with his high tail and nice arch of neck. Movement is sound fore and aft, shows rear pad going around. Pushing hard in the challenge. One to watch. |
| 2nd | Hin Chens Just For You At Centastage (Imp Nor) | 15 mths, rich gold/white appealing head, long pendant well feathered ear, eyes are kind dark round, nice tail, free mover. Good breedy outline. |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Middletune Blazzin Saddles JW | 22 mths, solid paler gold with black mask, lovely round dark well spaced expressive eyes, masculine open face with nostril room, beautiful ear set just below crown really well feathered blending in with side coat. Big well prepared double thick coat, liked his slightly undershot strong jaw, movement is true each way. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Mifcahs Return Of The King To Javerda | Quality. 2 yrs flashy black/white parti, masculine fore face, has desirable high set t/pot tail combined with his nicely arched neck giving him a true breedy shih-Tzu silhouette, little bit sparse on coat but his tail and head featherings great, a massive coat is not 100% the most important thing, as long as there’s enough coat for showing. He’s lively, loves to show plenty of ring presence, beautifully made with good spring of rib and well laid shoulder, slightly longer than high with short legs, he’s a dream, moves soundly each way, pushing hard in challenge. |
| 2nd | Cedarhythe Dark Destiny | 2 yrs black white parti, adorable round dark wide set eyes, lovely ears set just under crown, strong jaw, well made with substance and bone, nice arch of neck and level topline retained on move, sound each way, pushing at 1. Unlucky to meet 1 today who was on fire. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Marhilway Driving Edge At Jacquinta JW | 3 yrs Quality. lovely medium size, deep red/white excellent markings big white shawl, white blaze, white feet, white tip of high tea pot tail, fabulous shape and outline, gorgeous mouth slightly undershot with that little tip tilt of nose for an arrogant expression, wide open nostril, lovely long large pendant ears that blend into side hair, slightly longer than high, a classic boy, I’m surprised he hasn’t got his title by now, I’d love to see him again. A free sound true mover shows plenty of pad, pushing like mad in the challenge making my job very difficult indeed. |
| 2nd | Mifcah’s By Royal Command To Javerda | 3yrs, paler gold/white with super high tail set, honest head, dark round twinkling eye, he’s well ribbed and sturdy, plenty of breed qualities, nice short legs, lots of substance and bone, a true mover. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Mifcahs The King And I JW (Dk,Nor,Swe,No,Int) | This was a glorious class with 3 very worthy dogs that was my privilege to judge, all lovely individual types representing the best of mature dogs here. DCC & BOB. Top Quality dog and my eye drawn to him as soon as he came into the ring. Breedy old fashioned type with gorgeous high tea pot tail, thick double well prepared gold/white coat with shawl. Mature broad skull, large round dark expressive eyes, liked his top of nose leather directly level with bottom eye rim, plenty dark pigments around eyes, nose, mouth. I stood back to admire his breedy silhouette. Strong jaw with level lips. Nice arch of neck leads to well laid shoulder, short strong legs, broad chest, body is slightly longer than high, sturdy with plenty of bone and substance throughout, retains his level topline on the move, is sound each way fore and aft shows plenty back pad when motoring around. I remember him as a young dog when I awarded him a RDCC as I could see his potential then. Now he is 5 and living the dream. |
| 2nd | Matsha Jambalaya | Lovely quality. 5 years flashy appealing with beautifully prepared dark brindle coat, he is mesmerizing in his beauty with such great appeal. Eyes are round dark well spaced expressive, slightly undershot jaw giving that tip tilted breedy look, broad round head, well proportioned well balanced body, lovely high tail, so much to like here, movement super sound each way, very well presented. |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Daltricia Mondego JW ShCM | Top Quality. 8 yrs. Wonderful solid black boy, I remember giving him a RDCC in his youth and he is still looking good in Veteran. Lovely thick well presented double coat and high tail set combined with nicely arched neck gives a breedy outline. He’s sturdy, well made with plenty of bone and substance throughout. Large dark round well spaced twinkling eyes, masculine foreface, wide strong jaw, shoulders well laid back, short muscular legs, body longer that high, firm level topline is retained on move, sound each way, shows plenty of rear pad as he motors around the ring with purpose. Old fashioned type, just love him. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Senousi Why Dress For Santosha | 6 mths sweet red/white keen to show and move a lively little thing full of herself, so cute. Enjoying her day very much. Very well handled too. Well done. Great job by young handler. |
| 2nd | Minfaa Christmas Cracker At Miracey | 8 mths classic beauty gold/white lovely girl who would have won this class had she shown herself better, love to see her again in future. Super well feathered high tea pot tail she’s got it all, but she just wasn’t in the mood today. These 2 pups can change places on another day. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Jadetemple Jaci Higgins At Daltricia | BPB & BPIB. 10 mths. Quality gold/white breedy shape with nicely arched neck and fabulous high tea pot tail giving her a typical shih-tzu outline, sweetest of dark round well spaced eye and feminine foreface, sturdy frame has ample bone and substance, she’s a perfect size for her age, short muscular legs, well laid back shoulder, broad chest, lots to like here, movement is sound and free each way retains her level topline with every stride, she’s outgoing and enjoys to show off, yet despite being lively fun girl she also stands well and is devoted to her handler. |
| 2nd | Shihzarbruno Angel Baggins For Quingshui | 9 mths, attractive, sturdy dark/brindle white baby bit shy but moved well when she got going sound each way showing her back pads. Sweetheart |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Minfaa Flash Dancer | 16 mths flashy red/white beautifully marked and immaculately prepared gorgeous feminine show girl, I stood back to admire her breedy silhouette with high tea pot tail and nicely arched neck with pendant ears set just below crown competing the picture, open nostrils keen and lovable expression, devoted to her handler, sturdy with ample bone and substance, short strong legs, a well laid back shoulder, level topline retained on move, sound fore and aft, nice big hairy feet, shows plenty of rear pad going around, she’s adorable. |
| 2nd | Santosha Black Charm At Jacquinta | 14 mths solid black, absolutely adorable sweet face, coal black pigment around eyes nose flews, slightly smaller type but has tremendous breed appeal, she’s a lovely sound reliable mover powering around the ring with purpose. Unlucky to meet 1 who was on fire. |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Cedarhythe Legacy Darlin | 21 mths flashy black/white parti with lovely big white shawl and white tip on high tail, sweetly feminine foreface, wide open nostrils, large round appealing eye, keen to show and move, a positive mover sound and free each way. Nice big feet. |
| 2nd | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | 19 mths lovely girl, paler gold/white elegant well prepared double coat, beautiful foreface broad round head, sturdy with bone and substance throughout, I’ve seen her before and really admire, she moves true but wasn’t showing well today. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Daltricia Jane Austen JW | 2 yrs elegant pale gold/white, lovely femme foreface and dark large round well spaced sweet eyes, broad skull top of nose leather reaches the bottom eye rim just right for me, sturdy frame, short muscular legs, well prepared double coat, high tail set, lovely outline, slightly undershot with level black lips, nice big rounded feet, movement is smooth and true each way shows plenty of rear pad. |
| 2nd | Tzusweet Black Pearl | 3 yrs beautiful solid black girl, round dark wider set sparkling eye, proudly arched neck leads to well laid shoulder and level topline which she keeps on the move. Thick double coat, high set tail, lots to like, unlucky to meet 1. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Santosha Silhouette | Beautiful class filled with quality exhibits, every girl in this class had something I loved about her. BCC. Top Quality stunning red/white with high set tea pot tail having large eye catching white fringes and white shawl. I stood back to admire her breedy silhouette, her proudly arched neck, well laid shoulder, level topline is kept on move, head is round, wide set dark twinkling eye, plenty of nose leather, wide jaw slightly undershot with my favourite tip tilt to nose giving that typical arrogant shih-tzu look. She is stunning and in her prime, movement is smooth with plenty of reach and drive showing rear pads, unstoppable today. Such a beautiful old fashioned girl. |
| 2nd | Ch. Miracey Disco Fever (Ir) | R.BCC. Another top quality beautiful flashy gold/white girl with glorious high tail and breedy outline, loved her, a slight nervy moment was my deciding factor for placements. When settled she moved soundly each way showing plenty of rear pads. Hope to see her again as she is divine. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Tansingh Color Me Beautiful For Mirazian JW | 14 yrs red/gold/white beautiful lady with flashy markings wonderful large white shawl and teapot tail has white tip, making a lovely picture. Coat in full bloom her tail is like a Spanish dancer’s fan high and full of feathering. Devotion to her handler shows in her large round appealing eyes, she has broad well let down chest, correctly is longer than high, short legs, rounded big hairy feet, pleasantly surprised me her movement is good showing her rear pads. When they are this age every day counts, she is just so adorable. A real vision. |
| 2nd | Ch. Bishbow Summer Breeze | 8 yrs stunning black/white double coated darling, who has sweet femme expressive round dark eyes, long pendant ears blend in with side coat, slight arch of neck leads to well laid shoulder and level topline, slightly undershot has wide jaw, adorable and moving soundly each way. Pushing hard at 1. Can change places on another day. |