Full Critique for Crufts 2024
Judge : Mrs Glynis Dolphin
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| I would like to thank the Crufts committee for the invitation to judge Shih Tzu, also a big thank you to my two stewards Mrs Jennings and Mr Gordon for their hard work. It is nearly fifty years since I first awarded CCs in the breed, and during that time I have seen quite a few changes. Some are good i.e. presentation and handling. Some not so good. This time I was very concerned, in the lower classes, at the absence of basic breed type; and by that, I mean the fundamental requirements embodied in the breed standard. The Shih Tzu standard calls for a short-legged dog with a good spring of rib, sturdy construction, balance that is longer than high, a broad head with large round eyes and short nose. The overall balance is complimented by a well carried tail, set on high. These attributes then give the typical breed movement, of rear driving action and front extension. These essential breed points were very much apparent in the top classes when many good dogs went cardless. In some of the lower classes the essential breed points were more difficult to find. I was delighted with my top winners, beautiful heads typical balance, really lovely movement, and all were beautifully presented. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Matsonic Midnight Storm Over Bishbow | At just eight months old this solid black was full of exuberance. Good size and substance for age with an attractive balance. Good skull and nose placement and a good mouth. Promise of a good coat. Lively movement but sound. Just needs to settle and develop. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Hin Chens Just For You At Centastage (Imp Nor) | Gold and white 11 months old who won this class on this typical balance. Good head and excellent mouth. Good length of ribcage, well bodied for age. Moved freely. Promising coat well carried tail. |
| 2nd | Shihmali Wild At Heart JW | 10-month-old gold and white with a lovely head and expression, well bodied for age with good bone, slightly different in balance to the winner, but still typical. He moved well and soundly. Shown in good coat for age. Well presented. |
| 3rd | Santosha King Of The Lions | Solid gold and looked the baby of the class. He has a pleasing balance and head but needs time to body up and develop. Shown in very good coat. A sound mover well handled. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Middletune Blazzin Saddles JW | Solid gold near 18 months old with attractive balance and level topline. Good spring of rib, good shoulder. Well carried masculine head with good mouth. Moved soundly. Shown in good coat for age. |
| 2nd | Thaisu Morningstar Avec Kimevan JW | Solid gold again nearly 18 months old. Slightly smaller than winner with lovely balance and type. Good head and expression. Hope he develops more substance as he matures. He has a good mouth. Moved with rear driver. Shown in lovely coat. |
| 3rd | Virtulvilage Dance A Lot | Eye catching gold and white dog in beautiful coat for a 15-month-old. Good overall balance masculine head with a lovely eye and good mouth. He moved with style but was not too happy with the ring. |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Yung Lo’s Amazing Andie | Smaller gold and white male who has a lovely balance. Low to the ground, lovely head and expression, large expressive eyes. Well carried tail and good spring of rib. He moves with good rear drive keeping a level topline and arrogantly carried head. Shown in good coat of correct texture, expertly handled. |
| 2nd | Middletune Billy The Kid | Solid gold, with a lovely balance, and attractive head, dark eyes, and good mouth. As yet he is immature in body coat, but this will surely come. Moved well. |
| 3rd | Ethelsmead True Grit | Gold and white with typical balance. Nice size with good bone. Masculine head and expression. Needs time to mature. Coming into good coat. Showed well. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Wildest Dream JW | Solid gold dog who has very good breed type. Love his expressive head and large, dark eye and good mouth. Well bodied with super ribcage. Shown in lovely condition. He moved soundly round the ring. |
| 2nd | Rossvale Fantastic Dream At Charonnis JW | Litter brother to the winner. Again, solid gold with lovely head and expression. Very close between these two, but on the day his brother was just that bit more advanced in body maturity. A sound mover with plenty of driver, keeping a level topline. Shown in excellent coat for age. Well presented. |
| 3rd | Hin Chen’s Home Of Dimonds | Gold and white with eye catching balance. Beautiful head and expression, very good tail carriage. Just needs to develop in body and chest, but still young yet. Moved with assurance and shown in good coat for age. |
| Res | Middletune Billy The Kid | Solid gold, with a lovely balance, and attractive head, dark eyes, and good mouth. As yet he is immature in body coat, but this will surely come. Moved well. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Hin Chen’s Genesio | Gold and white with a beautiful head and expression. Broad skull with expressive dark eyes. Lovely chin, good mouth. Typical natural balance, low to ground with good ribcage. Moved with typical Shih Tzu driver. Shown in full coat of good texture. |
| 2nd | Santosha Dark Secret With Coursani | Solid black who pressed winner hard. Typical balance, he has a mature body with good rib cage, well coupled. Attractive broad masculine head, with large eye. Level topline and good tail. A sound mover with plenty of drive. He was well presented and handled. |
| 3rd | Mifcah’s By Royal Command To Javerda | Gold and white, with a typical balance. Good ribcage well coupled. Masculine had. Shown in good coat. Moved well. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Yung Lo’s Always And Forever (C.I.B. DK UCH FI UCH GB CH NO UCH SE UCH) | Gold and white. A beautiful typically balanced Shih Tzu, and for me just the right size, low to the ground with just the correct height to length ration. Good substance with excellent bone and muscle. His head is masculine in expression, large round dark eye. He is arrogant and masculine without coarseness. Strong neck with a gentle arch, into a well laid shoulder, well sprung rib cage and good coupling. Level topline, with good tail carriage. He moves well with good rear driver showing full pad. Shown in wonderful coat. Well presented. It was a pleasure to aware him the Dog CC and BOB. |
| 2nd | Ch. Santosha Memory of Love | Solid gold, with again a lovely balance. Arrogant head carriage. Lovely broad head with large expressive eyes, good width between eyes and excellent nose placement. Soundly constructed, he has a good front, broad chest and strong loin. Good tail set, he moved powerfully showing good drive and front extension. Shown in beautiful coat well presented. It was a very close decision, the extra maturity in the winner being the deciding factor. |
| 3rd | Ch. Ta Maria All Eyz On Me (DK Fin Swed Norsk) | Yet another exceptional dog from this owner, another gold and white who has all the qualities of his kennel mate, beautiful balance, lovely size, low to ground with a wonderful head and large dark eyes. Shown in wonderful condition and coat. I just preferred the size of the winner, but I would happily award CCs to any of the first five in this lovely class. |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Artelino Moomins Adventure | A nine-year-old, shown in wonderful condition. Excellent balance with an arrogant masculine head. Very good tail carriage. A sound mover. He was expertly shown by his young handler. |
| 2nd | Middletune Wildest Charmer | An eight-year-old, who again was in lovely coat and condition. Good type. He has a masculine good-sized skull with dark eye. Just preferred the nose length of the winner. He moved well. |
| 3rd | Ch. Carlita Reason To Dream JW ShCM | Attractive eight-year-old. Again, shown in lovely coat. Good typical balance. Pleasing head and expression. Would like a shade more body on him. Well carried tail. Moved with drive. Well handled and presented. |
| Good Citizen Scheme Dogs | ||
| 1st | Middletune Wildest Charmer | An eight-year-old, who again was in lovely coat and condition. Good type. He has a masculine good-sized skull with dark eye. Just preferred the nose length of the winner. He moved well. |
| 2nd | Ethelsmead True Grit | Gold and white with typical balance. Nice size with good bone. Masculine head and expression. Needs time to mature. Coming into good coat. Showed well. |
| 3rd | Middletune Billy The Kid | Solid gold, with a lovely balance, and attractive head, dark eyes, and good mouth. As yet he is immature in body coat, but this will surely come. Moved well. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Norboo Bella Rosa | Nearly nine months old solid gold. A beautiful, feminine girl, who has a delightful head and expression. Broad mouth, and dark eye. She is low to the ground, with good development of chest for her age and strong loin. Just the right size for her age. She moved soundly and with assurance keeping a level topline. Good coat well presented and handled. BPIB. |
| 2nd | Marhilway Bees Got The Edge | 8 month old gold and white with good breed balance. Slightly different in type to winner but a very elegant puppy. Attractive head and expression, lovely head carriage she is not yet as mature in body, but has good ribcage, level topline and moved soundly. Promising coat. Well presented. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Minfaa Flash Dancer | Well grown 10 month old gold and white. Very good shape, lovely head carriage. Balanced with well carried tail. Feminine head and expression with good broad jaw. Excellent pigment. Well developed ribcage and strong loin. Moved soundly with drive. Shown in heavy coat. Well presented. |
| 2nd | Yazhi Dancing Queen | 11 month old gold and white. Attractive low to the ground with a pretty expression. Good dark eye, well bodied for age with good ribcage. Moved well in front, needs to strengthen in rear. Shown in good coat for age. |
| 3rd | Marhilway Bees Got The Edge | 8 month old gold and white with good breed balance. Slightly different in type to winner but a very elegant puppy. Attractive head and expression, lovely head carriage she is not yet as mature in body, but has good ribcage, level topline and moved soundly. Promising coat. Well presented. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Nubos Skar Ma’s A Queen of Wands | Nearly 18 months old gold and white of lovely size and shape. Feminine expression with dark eye and broad mouth. Good development of ribcage, good bone, and body. She moved soundly with good head carriage, level topline and well carried tail. Shown in good coat for age. Well presented. |
| 2nd | Ch. Jilzz Van Dosa Carita (Ndl Junior Ch) | 17-month-old white and gold with a feminine head and expression. Good nose placement well shaped found eye. Very good head carriage with lovely arched neck and level topline. Moved well. In good coat for age. |
| 3rd | Middletune Modesty Blaise JW | Nearly 18 month old gold and white. Very feminine, just needs time to body up. Typical outline with a pretty head and expression, level topline. Moved soundly in lovely coat, expertly presented. |
| VHC | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | Gold and white, with good substance, broad head, good arch of neck. Level topline, well muscled, moved soundly with well carried tail. |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Middletune Clementine JW | Gold and white of attractive size and balance. Feminine expression, good pigment dark eye, broad jaw. Well bodied for age with good loin. Moved well keeping level topline, excellent head and tail carriage. Well coated. |
| 2nd | Yung Lo’s Dear Vicky | Gold and white of typical balance, sturdy body with good construction. Broad head, preferred expression of winner, very sound movement. Shown in lovely coat of correct texture. |
| 3rd | Carlita’s Star of Love | Gold brindle and white. Attractive size with good bone and body, correct spring of rib. Feminine head and expression. Moved soundly. Coming into full adult coat. Well-presented and handled. |
| Res | Middletune Chantilly Lace | Smaller solid gold, with pretty head and expression. In between with her coat, but of good texture, lovely mover. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Honeyshuchun Sand Goddess | Gold and white, who at just over two years old is coming into her full adult coat, which is of a good texture. Natural typical balance. Low to the ground, good shoulders, and level topline, with a well carried tail. Good spring of rib. Her head is of a good size and expression is very feminine. Moved with style, very sound. |
| 2nd | Cavateena Situla Scarlet for Lavril | Gold and white feminine bitch with attractive balance. Broad skull with large dark eye and good nose placement giving a delightful expression. Well-developed ribcage. Level topline. Good mover in lovely coat. Well presented. |
| 3rd | Rossvale Dreaming Again | Solid gold, ultra feminine expression with lovely large dark eyes and broad jaw. Good spring of rib, super tail carriage, moving very well. Shown in heavy coat of good texture. Completed a line up of three beautiful bitches. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Tameron Miss I Want Choo | Pale gold and white, only 16 months, with a wonderful typical balance. Low to the ground with good bone and substance. She has a correct spring of rib with a strong loin. Well laid shoulders and level topline. Proudly carried head with sweet expression and large dak eyes, excellent mouth. Her movement is a joy to watch, extending well in front and driving from the rear showing full pad. Shown in good coat and expertly handled. Bitch CC. Certain her title will come soon. |
| 2nd | Eastfane’s Garam Masala Hel | Gold and white, beautiful typical balance, with lovely head and tail carriage. Low to the ground with a well-developed chest and good bone. Broad skull with feminine expression and large dark eye, broad jaw. Shown in heavy coat, well presented. She moved soundly with good rear driver Reserve CC. |
| 3rd | Isishouse Miss Moneypenny For Chellanda | 5-year-old gold and white who was unlucky to meet the two above. Typical outline with good spring of rib. Well-developed loin. Level topline and good tail set. Attractive head with good nose placement. Broad skull. Shown in lovely coat, well presented. Moved soundly. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ta Maria Wake Me For Champagne | Gold and white, nearly three years old and daughter of the Dog CC & BOB. Feminine version of her sire with lovely balance, good spring of rib, strong loin. Delightful head and expression, beautiful dark eye and broad jaw. Shown in wonderful coat. Beautifully presented, lovely tail carriage, drives well behind showing full pad. |
| 2nd | Ch. Rossvale Little Black Dress | Black and white, slightly smaller than winner, but full of substance and bone. Low to the ground she has a well developed ribcage, strong loin and well carried head and tail carriage. Attractive head and expression with very good nose placement. She has a mischievous glint in her large dark eye. She moved soundly with good drive behind. Coat is coming to its best and well presented. |
| 3rd | Ch. Coursani Sand Queen | Gold and white of slightly larger type than the winners. However, she is feminine with a lovely broad skull, wide mouth and large dark eye. Good ribcage and well bodied. Moved with a level topline and is very sound. Shown in good coat. Well presented. Completed a trio of three lovely bitches. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Yung Lo’s Success In A Dress (Swe, Dk, Nor) | 7-year-old gold and white who excels in balance. Beautiful type, feminine expression with large dark eye. Very good nose placement and broad mouth. Good sized skull. Very good ribcage with excellent spring of rib. Strong loin. Moved with arrogance. Shown in heavy coat and furnishings. Best Veteran. |
| 2nd | Thaisu Desperate Housewife for Kimevan | 9-year-old gold and white. Lovely size, again feminine in expression with large dark eye. Good sized skull. Very good body with a well sprung rib and strong loin. Shown in beautiful condition, she moved freely with good tail carriage. In lovely coat. Well presented. |
| 3rd | Ch. My Pinky Valentine Of Aï Huong Lan’s Dreams (Int) | 7-year-old black and white. A bit more height leg than winners, giving her a slightly different outline, but still typical with a lovely head and expression, very good well sprung ribcage, and a lovely coat. Moved soundly. |
| Good Citizen Scheme Bitches | ||
| 1st | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | Gold and white, with good substance, broad head, good arch of neck. Level topline, well muscled, moved soundly with well carried tail. |
| 2nd | Middletune Chantilly Lace | Smaller solid gold, with pretty head and expression. In between with her coat, but of good texture, lovely mover. |
| 3rd | Tzusweet Black Pearl | Solid black, just two years old and still immature in coat, pretty head and expression. Moved well. |