Full Critique for WELKS 2024
Judge : Mrs Ann Pickburn
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| I would like to thank the Welks committee for their kind invitation to judge Shih Tzus and also thank my stewards Sharon and Jane who coped very well with the cold conditions. Thank you also to the exhibitors for my lovely entry. In general presentation was very good, however a lovely coat does not hide what is underneath. In my opinion size is an issue, and also the depth of chest is lacking in a number of youngsters. I know we have had a very wet winter but the lack of muscle tone I found reflects the lack of exercise and road work some exhibits have. On the plus side I was spoilt for choice in the limit and open classes in both sexes., some beautiful heads and expressions and good sound movement made decisions close. Generally, I felt the bitches overall were of a higher standard. I am sorry to end this preamble by saying how disappointed and upset I was to discover that my 3 major winners did not appear to represent our lovely breed in their respective groups. I was made aware by the owner of the best puppy after judging that she would be unable to appear in the puppy group as she was occupied in another role at the showground and would not be able to be in the group. However, I am not aware of why the BOB and best veteran did not appear in the group, it is our chance to showcase our lovely breed and we cannot complain that we do not feature in group placements if we are not there – you have to be in it to win it. A great disappointment that we were not represented. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Charonnis Its Now Or Never | Solid gold baby of just 6 months of age, as to be expected he is very raw in every way, however he has a lovely head with dark eyes. Moved out well and has a good body and balance for his age. He has plenty of time for him to develop and mature. |
| 2nd | Thaisu Mystical Joker | Pale gold and white, who was not quite sure what it was all about. I think he was not overkeen on all the noise in the hall. Pleasing head, balanced and well bodied for age but needs to settle in movement. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Shihmali Wild At Heart JW | Approaching a year old gold and white puppy, He has a lovely and typical head and expression. Good body and bone for age in good coat and moved out soundly and with drive which won him the junior class also. By the time we came to best puppy he had decided he had done enough perhaps he was tired. Needs to mature on now. |
| 2nd | Matsonic Dream By Day | Gold and white who is personality plus. Determined to enjoy his day out despite his owners best attempts to get him to behave. He is a nice type, gold and white with a good outline, needs more body and needs to settle to move correctly. He is well worth persevering with. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Shihmali Wild At Heart JW | Approaching a year old gold and white puppy, He has a lovely and typical head and expression. Good body and bone for age in good coat and moved out soundly and with drive which won him the junior class also. By the time we came to best puppy he had decided he had done enough perhaps he was tired. Needs to mature on now. |
| 2nd | Hin Chens Just For You At Centastage (Imp Nor) | Gold and white who is slightly older than the winner but seemed less mature. Nice shape and outline, pleasing head and expression and a good mouth. Needs more body and needs to settle on the move. |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Middletune Billy The Kid | Gold dog at the teenage in between stage. However, he is a well put together youngster, nice head and expression. Good dark eyes and good mouth. Well balanced, needs more weight but moves well. Coat maturing and was well presented. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Wildest Dream JW | Solid Gold dog with such a nice expression. Dark eyes, good mouth, well set shoulders. He is well bodied, and keeps his topline on the move. Moves out well and with drive. Well-presented coat in good condition. |
| 2nd | Peekin Reggie Rebel-Tu | Close up to the winner, slightly different type but still pleasing. A shade immature compared to the winner. He has a masculine head and expression with a good mouth and dark eyes. Keeps his topline on the move, just felt he could do with a shade more body. Good coat |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Santosha Dark Secret With Coursani | Res CC Black who immediately took my eye today, he has a lovely head and expressive dark eyes, well placed shoulders, good body and balance. He is well muscled and moves with drive. Good tail carriage and in lovely coat which is very well presented. Very close to CC winner today, his day will come. |
| 2nd | Marhilway Driving Edge At Jacquinta JW | Different type to winner but also correct. He is dark gold and white, good masculine expression. Well bodied and muscled, moves out well |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Paliden Simply A Star With Wharfeview | Never seen this dog look so well, he has taken his time to mature. Loved his head which is masculine without being coarse, pleasing expression with dark eyes. Good width of jaw. Has well placed shoulders and is well bodied and balanced. Keeps his topline on the move Moved out very well with drive and purpose, totally unconcerned about the noise in the hall. DCC and BOB, sorry he was not in the group. |
| 2nd | Ch. Cremefern Trigger A Storm At Symaraju JW | Gold and White white looking very well. He is well bodied and moves out soundly. Presented beautifully and in good coat and condition. |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Artelino Moomins Adventure | 8 year old smart gold and white who is in very good coat and condition. Liked his head and expression, well set shoulders and good balance. Moves out well and with drive. Keeps his topline on the move. Well shown by his young handler. |
| 2nd | Nafisah Nestor | Grand older chap of nearly 14, shows how well our breed lasts. Well bodied and balanced, moved well for his age. Enjoyed his day out. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Jadetemple Jaci Higgins At Daltricia | Promising gold and white, pretty head and expression, nice dark eyes well balanced and bodied for age. Moved out soundly and was confident. |
| 2nd | Wharfeview Laced with Candy | Solid red, older than the winner but not as mature. Good head and eyes, good body for age, coat coming on well, good mover and is a sound puppy who needs time. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Minfaa Flash Dancer | Gold and white puppy who is nearly out of puppy. Beautiful feminine expression, with dark eyes and good width of jaw. Well placed shoulders, kept her topline on the move, good body and is well balanced. Moves extremely well with drive, shown in lovely coat and condition. Best puppy, one for the future I think. |
| 2nd | Norboo Bella Rosa | Solid dark gold, different type to winner in a smaller frame but lots to like about her, very feminine, pleasing head and well bodied for age. Moved out well, just preferred the expression of the winner on the day but a promising puppy. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Hin Chens Jewel In The Crown At Centastage | A mixed class as none seemed to like the cold and the noise. Gold and white who had a fright on the first circuit of the ring but her calm handler managed to settle her down. At this stage prefer her to her litter brother who was second in the junior dog class today, she has a pleasing head and expression, well balanced and bodied. Keeps her topline on the move, moved out well once settled. |
| 2nd | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | Gold and white who was close up to the winner. I felt at this stage in their development the winner is better balanced, Well bodied and moves out well in good coat which is well presented. |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Shorestar Mystical Pixie | Neat black and white who is well balanced for her size. Pleasing head and expression, well bodied and moves out soundly with drive. Lovely coat which was well presented. |
| 2nd | Ethelsmead Summer Dreams | Another black and white but in a larger frame but still very feminine. Good body and balance she keeps her topline on the move and is sound but felt the winner was happier on the move today. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Dreaming Again | Solid gold bitch, sister to winner of PG dog and very similar. Very feminine head and expression with dark eye, well placed shoulders, good body and is well muscled. She is a sound mover and holds her topline on the move. In good coat which is well presented. |
| 2nd | Daltricia Jane Austen JW | Gold and white, nice outline and balance on this bitch. Well bodied and moves out with drive. Sound and in good coat but just preferred the expression of the winner but a nice bitch overall. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Tameron Miss I Want Choo | Young gold and white bitch who has achieved a great deal already. Very feminine head and expression, pleasing balance and body, good topline on the move, moves out well and is presented in good coat. Personally, I just feel there is more to come from this bitch, res CC behind what I felt was a more mature older bitch |
| 2nd | Santosha Ice Queen of Coursani | Slightly different balance to the winner. Lovely head and expression good body and moved out well. Is a very sound bitch but just preferred the balance of the winner. Well bodied for with a good tail set. In very good coat and condition |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Santosha Silhouette | Lovely class full of quality. Gold and white quality bitch, such a lovely head and expression, dark eye with good dark pigment. Well placed shoulders and has level topline, and carries her tail well. Very sound mover and is muscled and has drive when she moves. Holds herself well on the move and has a typical outline when stood. In very good coat. Well deserved BCC |
| 2nd | Ch. Paliden Bucks Fizz To Ekland JW | Solid gold bitch with black mask. Typical Shih Tzu expression and good dark eyes, Well set shoulders and is well bodied. Very sound bitch with good typical movement and liked her outline. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Dolha’s Step Out in Style | Headed by an old favourite of mine, 8 year old solid gold with a lovely head and expressive dark eyes. Well set shoulders well bodied and balanced. In good coat. Not happy with the cold conditions and this reflected in her lack of enthusiasm on the move. |
| 2nd | Polmac Dangerous Liaison | 7 years old smart black and white, good head and expression and moved well. |
| 3rd | Tansingh Color Me Beautiful For Mirazian JW | Must just say how well this 14 year old looked, still in full coat a credit to the lasting ability of our lovely breed and the care she receives from her owner. Thank you for bringing her. |