Full critique for Crufts 2008

This critique reflects the judge’s opinion based on what they saw on the day of the show.

Show critique

My thanks to you all for the tremendous entry and a special thanks to my stewards without whom I would not have got through the day on time. The dogs today are now much more even than they were some 35 years ago, when we first came into the breed, although to be fair, this levelling out process was well underway about 20 years ago. In particular, coats are so much better and the standard of presentation now is so much higher. I was especially gratified to find some very nice puppies, always a good sign for the future.

Special Puppy Dog

1st	Chelhama Grande Finale	Nice to see that he was not overawed by the occasion and showing a lively puppyish spirit, good overall balance, nice head, excellent body, moving jauntily. BP
2nd	Superlion Leprechaun	11 months g/w of nice shape and his head reminds me of a dog we used to own many years ago. Well constructed, excellent movement.
3rd	Rygar Boots Made For Walking	11 months this almost solid black lad has an abundant coat well presented. Good head and body. Not quite the drive in movement of the class winners.

Special Junior Dog

1st	Santosha Piccolino	This g/w lad must have a bright future. Slightly smaller than many but as they say perfectly formed with good sound construction and nice balance. A touch more maturity and he will challenge the best.
2nd	Spovens Ovation Of Glory to Mifcah (Imp)	g/w who I see from my catalogue comes from Seden, home of many nice Shih Tzus. Nicely shaped head, good body and good quarters allowing him to move superbly.
3rd	Rossvale As If By Magic	g/w this dog has a nice masculine head on good neck and body. Just a touch heavy in shoulder for me, moving soundly.

Yearling Dog

1st	Tchae Just A Moment In Time	An abundant g/w coat well presented. SOundly constructed and moving well but it was his really nice masculine head that won him the class.
2nd	Sonoma In Your Town	A very well built dog at the top end of the size scale but sound. Strong masculine head, strong body with good spring of rib. Well presented.
3rd	Daltricia Narcissus	Dog with a lovely deep red gold coat, nicely presented. Good balance and moving nicely.

Post Graduate Dog

1st	Zuthis Fact Not Fiction among Carlita	g/w with good balance of head and well set on tail. Nice masculine head, good neck, good body and topline. Sound and steady on the move.
2nd	Ch. Saffron Sherhy King for UK for Debeaux (Russia, RFK,)	Pale g/w who I see from my catalogue is from Russia and has travelled around a bit. Good head and excellent reach of neck nicely balanced by high set on tail. Moving nicely with good drive. In very good coat.
3rd	Shantrionna Seventh Heaven JW	Smart young man, not giving too much away in this class. In very good coat for his age and well presented.

Limit Dog

1st	Ch. Yakee Diamond Geezer at Santosha (UK, Rus)	He is just like his great grandsire. Lovely head, good mouth and jaw, nicely placed eyes and ears. Straight front with good bone. FIrm level body and well set on tail. Good rearquarters and nice movement round the ring. Typical Firefox coat, well presented. Pleased to award him the CC
2nd	Daltricia Melampus at Tickletums	g/w with that typical nose in the air Shih Tzu haughtiness. Nice reach of neck, good body, moving well.
3rd	Ch. Jardhu Like Arte Made JW Sh.CM	This g/w lad needs a touch more maturity of the head but is very promising. Well constructed and with good movement.

Open Dog

1st	Hashanah Call Off The Search at Numoon	Good masucline head and overall nicely balanced, b/w in lovely coat well presented. Excellent body, level topline and good quarters. Good driving movement. Pleased to award him the RCC and it was a close decision.
2nd	Ch. Hashanah Lock Stock N Barrel	I see from my catalogue that this 6 year old g/w dog is not only the sire of the class winner but also the father of my BOB. In excellent coat well presented. I'm sure he will continue to give his progeny and others, a run for their money for a while yet.
3rd	Ch. Peekin Jimmy Choo-Tu	This g/w man will keep on going and challenge the youngsters. Nice head, good body and of good construction.

Veteran Dog

1st	Ch. Tameron Mr XS	Hard to believe that this dog is 9 years old now and still going strong. He has a lovely outline, good body with level topline and well balanced tail. Still moving with lots of drive.
2nd	Ch. Daltricia Menelaus JW ShCM (UK, Ir, Sp, Fin, Multi Ch,)	Just a tad younger at 8 years old, this g/w lad has a lovely balance of head to tail and is in very good coat. I would prefer a slightly straighter front but he has a very good driving action at the rear.

Good Citizen Scheme Dogs

1st	Marinbox No Matter What	Dee red g/w with masculine head and good body. Tail carried a fraction low for me. Steady mover.

Special Puppy Bitch

1st	Cedarhythe Tarts N Tiaras	Lovely feminine little lady just 10 months old and with a bright future. Lovely outline from well balanced head and tail, lovely coat for her age, well presented and well handled.
2nd	Jardhu Arte Thou Mine	Another very reminine young lady, 11 months old g/w but still very much a puppy. Good front and nice body. Janty on the move.
3rd	Superlion Pavanne of Sarosim	A frisky young lady, also 11 months old g/w good sound construction and nice steady movement.

Special Junior Bitch

1st	Daltricia Nikita ShCM	Stylish g/w lady with a nice outline, well shaped head, good mouth. FIrm body and well placed tail. Excellent mover.
2nd	Tanibet Stars In Your Eyes	Very feminine pale g/w, nice size and shape, soundly constructed and moving nicely.
3rd	Debeaux Ta-Dah At Konatian	Very pretty face with nicely placed nose, bright eyes and good mouth, good body and good quarters.

Yearling Bitch

1st	Ch. Sygar Looking For Gold	Although only a month older, this g/w young lady had just that extra touch of maturity to take the class from some quality opposition. Pleased to later award her the RCC
2nd	Daltricia Nikita ShCM	Stylish g/w lady with a nice outline, well shaped head, good mouth. FIrm body and well placed tail. Excellent mover.
3rd	Tanibet Stars In Your Eyes	Very feminine pale g/w, nice size and shape, soundly constructed and moving nicely.

Post Graduate Bitch

1st	Mirazian Nokkia Socks Off	A typically, for this kennel, very sound and solid bitch and also typically a late developer. Just good quality overall with virtually no faults but perhaps not quite as glamorous as some here today.
2nd	Chelhama Looks The Business	b/w lady with nice head, good eyes and mouth. Good front and body. Steady mover.
3rd	Lauramist Ellie May Maitreya	g/w with a pretty feminine face. Good body and level topline. Good coat. Well presented.

Limit Bitch

1st	Ch. Debeaux Decadence	Not quite the strength in depth that I would have expected in this class but the winners deserved their places. G/w with broad skull and well placed nose. Firm body, good topline and well set on tail. Moved like a train round the ring and soundly too.
2nd	Peekin Gin Palace-Tu	g/w with nice feminine expression on nice head. Good quarters. In good coat well presented.
3rd	Onimusha Heaven Sent	Smartly presented g/w also with sweet feminine head. Good quarters. Not quite the height of tail to give a really good balance.

Open Bitch

1st	Ch. Zeeva Zsa Zsa Zoom	From a really good class of quality bitches, this g/w lady was for me a clear winner. Everything just about right from her well shaped feminine head proudly carried on good reach of neck to the well set on and well furnished tail. In between there is a good firm body with level topline and nice spring of rib. Good sound and steady movement carried her to the CC and BOB
2nd	Ch. Chelhama Leading Light JW	Petite and feminine, this r/g/w lady is in good coat, well presented. Nice outline. Moving very nicely.
3rd	Ch. Lin-Pearls Jumping For Joy (Ger)	THis almost solid gold lady is in great shape and a tad unlucky to come up against the first two in the calss. Very sound, nicely balanced and moving well.

Veteran Bitch

1st	Ch. Hashanah Love Unlimited for Zeeva (JW)	Still in excellent coat at 8 years old. Nice haughty look on well shaped head proudly carried on a nice long neck, moving with the best of them.
2nd	Chanikos Truly Charming of Kengai ShCM	A petite feminine head and lovely clear eyes. Just 7 years old now and not showing it at all. Good neck and body. Sound movement.
3rd	Ch. Centastage Moondancer	Also just 7 years old and not showing it a bit. Typical Shih Tzu alertness and very interested in what was going on around her. Good body and good quarters. Moving nicely.