Full Critique for Crufts 2022
Judge : Mr Barry Medforth
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| Here is my critique I have done it asap and before I go on holiday, I would like the Kennel Club and Crufts committee for asking me to judge at such a prestigious show. One I was very proud to do, it’s every judges dream to judge their own breed at the Top dog show in the world. I would also like to thank every exhibitor who entered and came under me today. I thoroughly enjoyed my day. A big thank you to both of my wonderful stewards you kept everything moving along nicely.I last judged Shih Tzu at Darlington in 2018, the breed has changed so much since then, heads are getting smaller and narrower, taller dogs with less substance and depth. Some dogs were single tracking this is not true Shih Tzu movement. On the whole mouths have improved sadly with that longer noses with no turn up have crept into a lot of exhibits today.last judged Shih Tzu at Darlington in 2018, the breed has changed so much since then, heads are getting smaller and narrower, taller dogs with less substance and depth. Some dogs were single tracking this is not true Shih Tzu movement. On the whole mouths have improved sadly with that longer noses with no turn up have crept into a lot of exhibits today. So many now lack the arrogance the breed calls for which saddened me, Shih Tzu have such a wonderful way of looking at you and making you feel inferior. If the breed continues this way, we will lose breed type all together. The breed has a standard this is what should be aimed for when breeding, it doesn’t need to be changed to suit the fashion of the day. A Shih Tzu should be a well constructed sturdy dog, that has reach and drive. There has always been a high standard of grooming in the UK, but some exhibits were knotted and unclean something to consider for the welfare of the dogs I hope those exhibitors who had prizes liked them, I know it’s not usual but I wanted to give something back to all those exhibitors who supported me today it made my judging even more complete with the reactions I received. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Keola Cruz Control JW | A golden white male with a decent head and mouth. Good depth, level top line which was held on the move. Moved out well for age, I just hope he doesn’t grow on. |
| 2nd | Ch. Santosha Memory of Love | A smaller type than my first place winner has many good breed qualities a good head dark round eye, level top line, good tail set. Needs to settle a little more I am sure this will come with time. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Tameron Mr Black Is Back | A lovely black and white male with a good head, round dark eyes, good mouth, has a decent lay of shoulder, level top line, good substance moved round the ring well with good reach, single tracks at rear a little at present. |
| 2nd | Massarati Arssamandi Astarte Gold At Densown (ImpP | A gold and white male with a good head, dark eyes and a good mouth. He has good substance level top line. Taller on the leg and not as fluent on the move than the winner. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Mifcahs The Young Pretender | A Charismatic dark gold and white with a black mask. He has a good head with dark eyes perfect mouth. Lovely reach of neck leading into well placed shoulders. Good depth of chest, good length and spring of rib, level top line. This young boy comes into his own on the move he motored round like he owned it with strong reach and drive, showing the arrogance the breed requires. Both handler and dog working as one hard to believe this was the handlers first time showing at Crufts, he certainly did a fantastic job, shown and presented to perfection, Considered for the Res CC. This boy must have a great future ahead of him. I later found out my Dog CC winner was his sire. What did surprise me was the handler didn’t own the dog what a job showing him |
| 2nd | Santosha Dark Secret With Coursani | A solid black male puppy another with a good head dark eyes and good mouth. He has good bone throughout, level top line. Moved out soundly in a strong quality class, another with a good future I preferred the overall movement and presence the winner has. |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Warathwaite The Kingslayer (Bel,Lux, UK) | A gold and white male shown in good jacket, slightly larger in type. He has a good head, round eye, another with a good width to mouth, good lay of shoulder, he has good depth in body he held is top line on the move, |
| 2nd | Emerson Alpiu Slenis Of Alchez JW ShCEx OSW | A brindle and black male slight smaller than the 1st place, good head and mouth, level top line moved well for handler shown in good coat. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Juhua’s Expecto Patronum For Jadoremy | B/M gold male in good jacket, good head, dark round eyes. decent lay of shoulder and depth to rib cage held top line on move and stand. |
| 2nd | Shirkeira Ragamuffin At Middletune | A gold and white male smaller in type than my first, nice head, dark eye, good mouth. He kept is top line on the stand and moving. Correct substance and depth. Moved round the ring showing full pad He moved better in GC class |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Santosha Daybreak | Gold and white male. Good head, dark eyes, correct mouth. Required depth of front, well sprung rib cage of good length, short loin, moved round the ring with ease showing full pad, another quality dog from this kennel. |
| 2nd | Miracey Sand Warrior For Tilbe | Longer cast in body than my winner, in good jacket, large head with dark eyes, good mouth moved well keeping his top line, good tail set. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Mifcahs The King And I JW (Dk,Nor,Swe,No,Int) | Gold and white male, with a wonderful head, large round dark eyes, good width to jaw, lovely tip tilted nose correct stop, lovely depth to chest, great length and spring of rib, short loin. He has good substance throughout, shown in a quality jacket of correct texture. This male came into his own on the move as he powered round the ring with ease head held high showing full pad keeping a level top line, wonderful tail carriage. Standing his silhouette was perfect. His arrogance set him above us mere mortals, he only has eyes for his owner. Another quality dog from this kennel. Beautifully presented. Dog CC and BOB I later found out this was his 3rd and crowning CC, I was reminded at the end of judging I gave his older brother the Res CC in 2018 |
| 2nd | Ch. Joy’s Fuoco Su Ghiaccio (CIB / Multi) | Another striking make with many of the same qualities as my winner. Slightly smaller in size but has a good head, dark eyes, correct mouth, correct stop and with a tip tilted nose, good spring of rib and depth to chest. Level top line, he has good reach and drive a correct tail set, again this male has great arrogance and attitude. Show and presented well. Another good exhibit from this kennel Was a pleasure to award this young man the Res CC . |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Paliden Shine Like A Star | A dark red and white male with a good quality coat. This male has a good head piece, round dark eyes, good mouth. Sound in substance, held his top line both on the stand and move, correct tail set giving a great balance, it was wonderful to see a veteran still happy and full of himself BVIB |
| 2nd | Ch. Miracey Rebel Rider (UK, Ir) | A slightly taller male than my class winner with some of the same attributes, a good tail set and balance. Shown and presented in well. |
| Good Citizen Scheme Dogs | ||
| 1st | Shirkeira Ragamuffin At Middletune | A gold and white male smaller in type than my first, nice head, dark eye, good mouth. He kept is top line on the stand and moving. Correct substance and depth. Moved round the ring showing full pad He moved better in GC class |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Konatian Strike A Pose | A gold and white baby who stood alone in this class. Very pretty young lady, dark round eyes, width to jaw, good nose placement. Shoulders are ok, level top line. Moved happily round the ring showing full pad. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Chanikos Tangerine Dream of Shenleyvale JW | Gold and white female, This young lady was my BPB she has good ring presence She has a nice head large dark eyes, good stop, very pretty lady with great arrogance. Good front with nice depth, correct length of rib, well boned with a good tail set. She moves well show showing full pad, I hope this lady won’t grow any more. |
| 2nd | Lucky Arrow Sanchi | gold and white girl smaller type than my class winner, but another pretty girl. She has a decent head, dark round eyes, good stop, correct mouth, nice shoulders, good width to chest, nice spring of rib, level top line, tail could be better, shown and presented well moved well for her handler showing full pad |
| 3rd | Tzusweet Black Pearl | A solid black girl, a very pretty young lady, has a good head, dark eyes, correct mouth, good shoulder placement, nice spring of rib, level top line, ample bone, good tail set. Her coat is coming on, she is another one who can cover the ground showing full pad. I am sure once her coat comes down, she will challenge the best of them. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Hey There #hotnclassy Influencer (C.I.B. Multi Ch.) | A pale gold and white female of smaller type, she has a nice head, dark round eyes, good nose placement, correct mouth, good reach of neck, straight front with good depth. Level top line, good spring of rib shown in great condition moved round the ring with ease showing full pad. |
| 2nd | Noire by Glamour | A solid black girl slightly bigger than the winner, she has s good head with round dark eyes, good mouth, nice shoulder placement, a level top line shown in good coat moved freely showing full pad. |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Zeeva Mirror Image JW | Gold and white female shown in good coat. Good head with dark eyes, good mouth with correct nose placement. Decent neck in to good shoulders, nice depth to front and rib cage, short loin. Good top line, moved round freely showing full pad. |
| 2nd | Debeaux Say What You See | A solid black lady with a good coat. Pleasing head with dark eyes, correct width to mouth. Nice shoulder placement, nice length of neck, level top line. Well muscled moved round the ring with ease. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Snoops Golden Lady | A very attractive solid gold girl with a good head, large dark eyes, good mouth with correct width to jaw. She has good reach of neck, clean shoulders nice depth to front, good spring of rib of correct length, nice short loin, short muscled legs. She moved round the ring covering the ground. Beautifully presented. |
| 2nd | Ch. Santosha Silhouette | A darker gold and white. A beautiful head piece with large dark eyes, good nose placement. Correct mouth with good width to jaw. Nice reach of neck, good depth to front, correct length and spring of rib cage, good tail set, moved freely covering the ring. In great coat and condition. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Paliden Bucks Fizz To Ekland JW | Another very pretty solid, loved her head and expression, dark round eyes, good nose placement, correct mouth with wide jaw. She has a good reach of neck leading into good lay of shoulder. Good depth to front, good length and depth to rib. When she wanted to she covered the ground with ease, with good reach and drive. I thought this girl would be my CC winner but in true shih tzu fashion she showed how stubborn this breed can be. A quality girl who could not be denied the Res CC. |
| 2nd | Essvana Matilda | A slightly larger black and white girl with a good head, large dark eyes, correct mouth, nice front with correct depth, nice spring of rib, good top line, well muscled thighs, good tail. Sound free mover showing full pad. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Tameron Miss Black Opium | A lovely black and white bitch, she has a good head with round dark eyes, correct mouth and nose placement. Good reach of neck, correct shoulder placement, good width and depth to front. Correct spring and depth to rib. Level top line, good muscled thighs, decent tail set. She covered the ground with good reach slightly single tracked at rear she showed full pad. Was pleased to award her the BCC in the challenge the male had the edge for me today. |
| 2nd | Ch. Miracey Fruitylicious at Virtulvilage (Ir) | A darker gold and white, larger in type than my winner. She has s good head with dark eyes, correct mouth. Good nose placement, good length of neck decent shoulders, with good depth to front, level top line in good coat. Very impressive on the stand but lacks the movement and drive of my class winner. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Secret Affair is Yunqishing JW | A pretty girl shown in good coat. A good head with dark eyes, good mouth. Nice length to neck, good spring of rib, level top line moved well round the rib showing full pad. |
| 2nd | Ch. Miracey Fruity Kisses | On first impression this was my class winner, she has a good head dark round eye, good width to jaw, nice length to neck, good depth to front, nice length and spring of rib, level top line with a good tail set and carriage. In beautiful coat and well presented. She was not playing the ball for her handler today. She certainly does not look her years. |
| Good Citizen Scheme Bitches | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Secret Affair is Yunqishing JW | A pretty girl shown in good coat. A good head with dark eyes, good mouth. Nice length to neck, good spring of rib, level top line moved well round the rib showing full pad. |
| 2nd | Ch. Middletune Flame Of Gold | A solid gold who is smaller type to class winner, a very attractive girl with a good head, round dark eyes, good mouth, nice shoulder placement, good front with nice depth, good spring of rib, level top line, well muscled moved round the ring showing full pads, dark eyes, good mouth, nice shoulder placement, a level top line shown in good coat moved freely showing full pad. |