Full Critique for Northern Counties Shih Tzu Club 2023
Judge : Miss Emma Gibbons
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 of the Northern Counties Shih Tzu club for inviting me to judge for them and for the kind hospitality of those present throughout the day. Thank you to all of the exhibitors for allowing me the honour of judging their dogs and for their appreciation of my placings. There was a lovely friendly atmosphere. Thank you to my fabulous stewards for keeping things running smoothly. As always, I was looking for a dog who was not only sound but true to the breed standard, free from exaggeration, with plenty of breed type and character. I certainly found this in my main winners. Now for the hard part. Whilst I don’t wish to be negative, many of my concerns from previous appointments are still valid. Upright shoulders, giving uncharacteristic, high stepping and often stilted front action and poor deportment, short ribcages, shallow chests and Apso like bodies are all in evidence. I was saddened to find some narrow jaws, all of which followed through with narrow bodies and shocked to find a few jaws that were wry! This must not be encouraged as, in severe cases, it can be detrimental to the dog’s health and wellbeing. As always, presentation was, on the most part, very good, but underneath the coats I was shocked to find some lacking in body and muscle tone. Temperaments, on the whole, were excellent! |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Thaisu Morningstar Avec Kimevan JW | Very promising 6 month old. Solid gold. Lovely head and expression. Broad jaw. Dark eyes and pigment. Very shapely. Correctly laid shoulders Well sprung rib of correct length. Moving with drive and enthusiasm. Shown in lovely puppy bloom. BPD & BPIS. I look forward to watching his progress. |
| 2nd | Carlita’s Star Of Dreams | 8 month old, dark gold and white. Sweet head and expression. Nicely balanced. Lovely temperament. Moving with enthusiasm. Beautifully handled. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Lyndatzu Love Bug | 9 month old, gold and white male. Lovely head and pleasing expression. Dark, well spaced eyes. Good mouth. Ideal size. Shown in lovely coat. Moving well. |
| 2nd | Senousi Dressed Like Him | 11 month old, gold and white. Lovely temperament. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Wildest Dream JW | 13 month old, solid gold with black mask. Lovely head and soft expression. Dark eyes and pigment. Broad jaw. Well laid shoulders. Deep chest and well sprung rib. Moving well. Lovely type. |
| 2nd | Rossvale Fantastic Dream At Charonnis JW | 13 month old, solid gold. Litter brother to 1. Many of the same attributes as his brother, but preferred the slightly more masculine head and expression of 1. |
| Novice Dog | ||
| 1st | Peekin Reggie Rebel-Tu | Gold and white male of 18 months. Unfortunate to meet 1 today. Very much like his breeding. Soft expression, dark eyes and pigment. Good mouth. Steady mover. |
| 2nd | Rossvale Fantastic Dream At Charonnis JW | 13 month old, solid gold. Litter brother to 1. Many of the same attributes as his brother, but preferred the slightly more masculine head and expression of 1. |
| 3rd | Senousi Dressed Like Him | 11 month old, gold and white. Lovely temperament. |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Zeeva Cool Dude | 14 month old, dark gold and white. Beautifully presented. Pleasing head and soft expression. Large, dark, well spaced eyes, broad jaw. Correct nose placement. Nicely arched neck, into well laid shoulders, Level topline. Moving with enthusiasm. Must have a bright future. |
| 2nd | Peekin Reggie Rebel-Tu | Gold and white male of 18 months. Unfortunate to meet 1 today. Very much like his breeding. Soft expression, dark eyes and pigment. Good mouth. Steady mover. |
| Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Thaisu’s Blinding Light | 19 month old solid gold male. Beautiful head and expression. Dark eyes and pigment. Broad, well cushioned muzzle. Nicely arched neck, into well laid shoulders. Level topline. Ample bone and substance. Moving with drive. Considered for the RCC, but could not deny the limit dog, who I notice has the same father. |
| 2nd | Rossvale Fantastic Dream At Charonnis JW | 13 month old, solid gold. Litter brother to 1. Many of the same attributes as his brother, but preferred the slightly more masculine head and expression of 1. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Marhilway Driving Edge At Jacquinta JW | 2 year old, dark gold and white. Masculine head and expression. Dark eyes and pigment. Broad jaw. Firm body. Level topline and well set tail. Quite the character, needs to settle in front, but perhaps a little overexuberant, which didn’t help. Character! |
| 2nd | Mapimakastar Jason Mio | 2 year old brindle and white. Masculine head and expression. Firm body and well muscled. Moved with enthusiasm. Lovely temperament. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Cremefern Trigger A Storm At Symaraju JW | Loved this 2 year old, gold and white male. Beautiful head and soft, yet masculine expression. Large, dark, well spaced eyes, lovely nose placement. Broad, well cushioned muzzle and correct dentition. Deep chest, well sprung ribcage and ample bone. Well angulated hindquarters, which he used well on the move. Tail is correctly set. Liked his size. Coat maturing nicely. He has a wonderful outlook on life. Unfortunate to meet my beautiful CC winner today, who had the edge on maturity. I hope he continues to realise his potential, which I feel he deserves. Will watch with interest. RCC. |
| 2nd | Marbo Whatever You Want | 3 year old, deep gold and white. Very glamourous boy, beautifully presented. Lovely head and expression, broad jaw. Shown in lovely, firm condition. Moved well. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Senousi Dressed For It By Fairmere | Beautiful 3 year old gold and white. His head and expression are just lovely. Large, dark, well spaced eyes, perfect nose placement, broad, well cushioned muzzle. Strong, well arched neck, correctly laid shoulders, well sprung rib, of correct length. Chest well let down. Well angulated hind quarters. Beautiful balance. Shown in lovely coat and condition. Moving with drive and ease. A lovely, sound, unexaggerated, example of the breed. Delighted to award him the CC. And thrilled to hear that this gives him his title. So well deserved. BOS. |
| 2nd | Ch. Jacquinta Lets Go Andy JW | 6 year old gold and white male. All male, broad skull, masculine expression. Dark eyes and pigment. Broad, well cushioned muzzle. Deep chest, well sprung rib, correctly laid shoulders and level topline. Shown in good, hard condition. Another worthy champion. |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Artelino Moomins Adventure | 7 Year old gold and white. Not hard to see why this young man has his title. Stunning head and expression, dark eyes and pigment. Deep chest and well sprung rib. Shown in lovely coat and condition. Moving with ease. |
| 2nd | Isishouse Lord Grantham JW | 9 year old, gold and white. What a special little man. Beautiful head and expression and the most wonderful character. Thoroughly enjoyed his day. Shown in lovely condition. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Thaisu Fallen Angel Among Kimevan | 6 month old, gold and white, litter sister to my best puppy winner. Very much a baby, but full of promise. Pretty head, dark eye and pigment. Broad, well cushioned muzzle. Nicely balanced, Shown in full puppy bloom. Moving with enthusiasm. |
| 2nd | Carlita’s Star of Love | 8 months old, dark gold and white. Another with a lot of potential. Very pretty head and expression. Dark eye and pigment. Also beautifully balanced. Well handled, just unfortunate to meet one in such full bloom. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Paliden Starlight Kisses | 11 month old solid gold. Nice size and type. Very pretty head and expression. Lovely dark, well spaced eyes and dark pigment. Tip tilted nose. Broad muzzle. Lovely arched neck, into correct shoulders. Well sprung rib and level topline. Beautiful balance. Well angulated hind quarters. Moving very well. Another with a promising future, I think. BPB. |
| 2nd | Senousi Royal Regalia Of Matsuba | 11 month old gold and white. Pretty head and expression. Dark eyes and pigment. Broad jaw. Correct shoulders. Nice high tail set. Moving with enthusiasm. Unfortunate to meet one today. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Dreaming Again | Solid gold litter sister to my JD winner and with many of the same attributes. Feminine head and expression. Beautiful, dark, well spaced eyes. Tip tilted nose. Well cushioned muzzle. Well laid shoulders. Moving well. Nice size and type. |
| Novice Bitch | ||
| 1st | Paliden Starlight Kisses | 11 month old solid gold. Nice size and type. Very pretty head and expression. Lovely dark, well spaced eyes and dark pigment. Tip tilted nose. Broad muzzle. Lovely arched neck, into correct shoulders. Well sprung rib and level topline. Beautiful balance. Well angulated hind quarters. Moving very well. Another with a promising future, I think. BPB. |
| 2nd | Thaisu The Crafty | 19 month old, dark gold and white. Pretty head and expression. Dark eyes, broad jaw. Shown in nicely textured coat. Moving well. |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Thaisu The Crafty | 19 month old, dark gold and white. Pretty head and expression. Dark eyes, broad jaw. Shown in nicely textured coat. Moving well. |
| 2nd | Quingshui Aurora One Moment with Matsha | 14 month old grey and white. Very showy little girl, in super coat. Didn’t put a foot wrong, but preferred the body of 1. |
| Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Beautiful Dreamer At Carlita | Another from the same litter as my two junior winners. A promising litter, to be proud of. Shown in lovely coat and condition. Feminine head and expression. Very nice neckline and deportment. Moving well. |
| 2nd | Mapimakastar Delilah Hugo | 2 year old. Gold and white. Pretty head and expression. Moving with enthusiasm. Correctly set tail. Lovely temperament. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Thaisu Every Witch Way to Marbo | Beautifully presented gold and white of 2 years. Feminine head and expression. Broad jaw. Nicely arched neck into correct shoulders. Shown in lovely coat and condition. Moving well, with balanced outline. |
| 2nd | Cremefern Pretty Gorgeous | 2 year old black and white. Pretty head and expression. Broad jaw. Moving with enthusiasm, Balanced outline. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Thaisu Gothic Witch | Really liked this 3 year old, gold and white. Beautiful head and expression. Dark eyes and pigment. Broad, well cushioned muzzle. Nicely arched neck into clean shoulders. Good depth of chest and well sprung rib. Shown in good coat and condition. Moving well. Snooty demeanour. Must have a bright future. |
| 2nd | Senousi Love The Dress | Pretty gold and white 3 year old. Very feminine head and expression. Dark eyes and pigment. Broad jaw. Shown in lovely condition. Moving well. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Warathwaite Royal Diva | I just loved this beautiful 3 year old, gold and white girl. Stunning head and feminine expression. Dark eyes and pigment. Perfect nose placement. Broad, well cushioned muzzle. Nicely arched neck, into correctly laid shoulders. Deep chest, well sprung rib of correct length and lovely level topline. Correct tail set and carriage, giving a balanced outline. Well angulated hindquarters, which she used to move with drive around the ring. Shown in tip top condition. She never took her eyes off me and had the most wonderful temperament. Delighted to award her the CC and BIS. |
| 2nd | Senousi Caress In A Dress | Another really lovely little Girl. 3 Years old, gold and white. Not at all surprised to see that she is the litter sister to my dog cc winner, as they share so many similarities. Beautiful head and expression. Dark eyes and pigment. Lovely shoulders and neckline. Deep chest and well sprung rib. Shown in lovely condition. Moving with style and ease. Was considered for the res CC, but fell for the charm and deportment of the Veteran today. All three of this litter have lovely temperaments, another litter to be proud of. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Thaisu Desperate Housewife for Kimevan | You would never guess that this beautiful gold and white was 8 years old. Testament to the staying power of our lovely breed. Very feminine throughout, with lovely dark eyes and pigment. Broad jaw, tip tilted nose. Nicely arched neck, adequate chest and well sprung rub. Nicely angulated hind quarters and correctly set tail. Shown in lovely coat and condition. Moving with ease and obviously very happy in the ring. Very unfortunate to meet my lovely ticket winner today, but delighted to award her the Res CC, RBIS and BVIS. |
| 2nd | Charmant Charlotte Enigmatyczny Zakatek Mapimakast | 7 year old grey and white lady, who wanted desperately to get into the ring! Super temperament and really enjoying her day. |