Full Critique for Crufts 2026
Judge : Mrs Yvonne Forbes
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 for the opportunity to judge Shih Tzus at the Prestigious Crufts dog show. I would also like to thank the exhibitors for the fabulous entry. The atmosphere around the ring was very good. There were some incredibly competitive classes, with a very high standard, making it hard to place every deserving dog. The dogs were extremely well presented, with one or two having knots on the front leg and stomach, as well as a few exhibiting Queen and fronts and long noses. The two stewards, Jackie Bowns and Dorothy McIntyre, were fantastic. The two ladies helped me immensely, keeping the ring moving throughout the day. Thank you both very much. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Sassyshi Upstairs At Erics | Gold and white, very confident baby, good head and dentition, good length of neck, and nice spring of ribs, deep chest. shoulders need to tighten up a little, moved well, showing full pads on the move. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Hin Chen’s Obsession (Imp Nor) | This boy has a wonderful head, large, round eyes, good dentition, strong neck leading onto good shoulders, deep chest, and substance throughout, nice tail set, moved well showing kick back and pads, nice reach and drive. Best puppy. |
| 2nd | Santosha Storm Shadow | Gold and white, good head, lovely expression and nose placement, nice throughout, a bit smaller than the winner, moved well. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Franklin From The Temple Of Love | Golden and white, dark head, round eyes, strong neck, nice straight legs, good bone and body, lovely jacket. moved with stride and purpose, well presented. |
| 2nd | Debeaux Magic In The Making | Striking black and white, lovely head with good expression, ears and eyes correctly set, good dentition, wide jaw, well-bodied throughout, well coated, moved well. |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Hin Chen’s Mount Everest JW | This very correct boy stood out, well made from head to tail, broad head, dark eyes, nice nose placement and length, well bodied, good tail set, moved well with drive, and well muscled hindquarters, good jacket, showed well. Reserve CC. |
| 2nd | Franklin From The Temple Of Love | Golden and white, dark head, round eyes, strong neck, nice straight legs, good bone and body, lovely jacket. moved with stride and purpose, well presented. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Matsonic Bright Spirit At Quingshui | Gold with black mask, very handsome boy, lovely Head, darkest of eye, correct nose size and placement, strong bone and good spring of rib, moved around the ring in style, showed full pad. |
| 2nd | Rossvale I Have A Dream JW | Lovely-sized male, melting expression, dark eyes, padded muzzle, good strong front, level top line, good tail set, groomed and presented well, in good coat, showing full pads on the move. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Santosha Night Shade | Black and white, Beautiful-headed dog with nice expression, good nose length and placement, ideal sized jaw, strong neck, good spring of rib, moved well with drive both coming and going, well presented. |
| 2nd | Thaisu Morningstar Avec Kimevan JW | Gold and white, lovely, mature, masculine boy, classic head, well balanced with nice outline, good spring of rib, well muscled, went well, sound on the move. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Hin Chens Hocus Pocus (UK DNK CH, NOR CH, NORJW 2023, SWE CH) | A very strong class. I could have easily presented more prizes here. Gold and white, excellent head and expression, good front, broad chest and level top line, good rib cage, strong bone, well angulated rear, typifies the breed, well balanced, moved around the ring with drive showing how it should be done, pleasure to present the dog the CC and best of breed. |
| 2nd | Ch. Lac-Me’s Never A Dull Moment At Jokins (Int/Fin/SE/Nor/Iv) | Gold and white, lovely sized male, classic head, well proportioned throughout, beautiful eyes, strong neck and good front, kept his shape on the move, moved with drive showing full pads, well presented. |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Mifcahs The King And I JW (Dk,Nor,Swe,No,Int) | I had the pleasure to award this dog a CC when it was three years old, lovely profile with nice head, correct tail set and carriage, strong under jaw, strong bone and body, good jacket, and moved around the ring with drive. |
| 2nd | Middletune Wildest Charmer VW | Good type of Shih Tzu, good head, eye and mouth, nice spring of rib and top line, moved well with drive. |
| Good Citizen Scheme Dogs | ||
| 1st | Ethelsmead True Grit | Masculine expression, dark eyes, nice body and bone, strong, well-muscled legs, and moved well. |
| 2nd | Middletune Billy The Kid Under Misteltein | Solid gold with a black mask, good width of skull, ample neck and rib cage, nice body. |
| 3rd | Middletune Wildest Charmer VW | Good type of Shih Tzu, good head, eye and mouth, nice spring of rib and top line, moved well with drive. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Marhilway Little Bit Of Edge | Gold and white, well-made baby, well balanced, dark eye and good dentition, moved well. |
| 2nd | Shenleyvale Simply The Zest At Evieshu | Gold and white, feminine baby, head neck and shoulders, nice body, moved well. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Hin Chen’s Opal | Black and white. eye catching baby, classic head, dark eye, well balanced, nice body and good rib, showed her socks off and powered around the ring. |
| 2nd | Snowshoes Lady Penelope For Maili | Red, gold and white. another real eye catcher, beautiful head, good dentition, in lovely coat, strong bone and level top line, moved well around the ring. |
| Res | Marhilway Little Bit Of Edge | Gold and white, well-made baby, well balanced, dark eye and good dentition, moved well. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Eastfanes Jubilee Ballet Dancer | Gold and white, one to watch in the future. Broad head, good dark eyes, lovely nose and placement, well bodied, lovely tail set and well muscled, in fabulous condition, Reserve bitch CC. |
| 2nd | Francesca From The Temple Of Love | Gold and white. another lovely lady, scores well in head and eye, excellent mouth, well-balanced with good outline, good forward reach and drive from strong hand quarters, a strong contender for first place. |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Yung Lo’s Belle Of The Ball | Gold and white, has immediate appeal with nice head, warm soft dark eyes, good nose placement, carried herself well, with good rib and sturdy legs, good jacket in brilliant condition, pleasure to award her the bitch CC. |
| 2nd | Hin Chen’s My Juliette JW | Gold and white. Broad head and muzzle, dark around eyes, well placed tip tilted nose, wide jaw, good dentition, nicely arched neck, deep chest, well angulated rear, move well. |
| 3rd | Francesca From The Temple Of Love | Gold and white. another lovely lady, scores well in head and eye, excellent mouth, well-balanced with good outline, good forward reach and drive from strong hand quarters, a strong contender for first place. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | To Be The Best Xantippe For Zefa (ImpUKR) | Gold and white. Very nice smaller type bitch, this young lady showed well, lovely type, scored high in head and body, nice clean outlined, well bodied, good rib and tail set, handled very well. |
| 2nd | Middletune Chantilly Lace | Smart lady of good type, third in good citizen bitch, head of good preposition, wide jaw, good spring of rib, moved well. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Santosha Senorita At Chiachi | Gold and white. Excellent in head, darkest of eyes, strong neck, lovely front, well-bodied, strong top line and tail set, nice coat, a picture, moved well around the ring. |
| 2nd | Minfaa Christmas Cracker At Miracey | Gold and white. smaller type, this bitch has it all, lovely head and eyes, deep chest, level top line, nice tail set, good coat, moved with drive around the ring. Another lovely lady. |
| Res | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | Larger type of good quality, feminine head, good jaw and dentition, arched neck, broad chest and lovely coated, moved well, good pads showing. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Senousi Love The Dress | Another very strong class. The top three all of an incredibly high standard. Feminine and oriental expression and good mouth, strong neck and body, level top line, teapot tail, in good condition, move with drive and power around the ring. |
| 2nd | Ch. Tameron Miss Ruby Orchid | Gold and white, this lady scores high in both head and eye, well-bodied, good rib and tail set, heavy- coated in great condition, well muscled as expected from this kennel. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Yung Lo’s Success In A Dress (Swe, Dk, Nor) | This lady is outstanding for her age, moved like a three-year-old, in fabulous coat, melting expression and eyes, broad head, everything in the right place, lovely body and bone, showed the youngsters how to do it. |
| 2nd | Ch. Jo-Kin’s Forget The Brain Use The Hair (Int/Fin/Se/Nor/Dk/EE/LV/LT/Nord/Balt) | Gold and white, this bitch was a very strong contender for first place, nice head, padded muscle, big round eyes, arched neck leading on to good shoulders, well sprung rib, moved well, showed pads on the move. |
| 3rd | Ch. Middletune Flame Of Gold | Nice type in lovely condition, head of good size, dark eye, deep chest, straight legs and well-bodied, moved well around the ring. |
| Good Citizen Scheme Bitches | ||
| 1st | Ch. Middletune Flame Of Gold | Nice type in lovely condition, head of good size, dark eye, deep chest, straight legs and well-bodied, moved well around the ring. |
| 2nd | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | Larger type of good quality, feminine head, good jaw and dentition, arched neck, broad chest and lovely coated, moved well, good pads showing. |
| 3rd | Middletune Chantilly Lace | Smart lady of good type, third in good citizen bitch, head of good preposition, wide jaw, good spring of rib, moved well. |