Full critique for LKA 2013

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

Show critique

I was very pleased with the size of my entry and would like to thank the exhibitors and my two stewards for a very pleasant day. It was nice to hear applause for the winners. As has become the norm the entry was very mixed in both quality and type. However, I was able to find what I wanted and was very pleased with my winners. Generally, the problems I found concerned poor tail carriage, exhibits who had a correctly set tail were hard to find in some classes and flat tails are creeping in again. Movement is variable, our standard does state strong rear action and some were very suspect in that area. I didn’t find as many narrow fronts as the last time I judged but please do not run with a Shih Tzu there is no need for this. Presentation was very good.

Minor Puppy Dog

1st	Ch. Keytor All That Jazz	Huge class of puppies who ranged from nearly 9 months to just able to be shown. This makes it a difficult class for both exhibits and the judge. However, the winner stood out. nearly 9 months and is a very mature confident puppy who knows he is very attractive. Gold and white with a beautiful head and expression, lovely dark eye, reminds me of Ch Keytor Any Questions in expression. Well bodied and balanced for age, moves out soundly and has good tailset. Presented in good coat, I would think has a very promising future. Best Puppy.
2nd	Totinctone A Beautiful Day for Venustus	Black and white, much less mature than winner and movement needs to settle. However, is a masculine puppy with a typical head and expression. Good body for age, just needs to mature.
3rd	Coopersrain Master Of The House at Yeloffal (imp k	Black and white who needs to be moved more slowly as his movement was very difficult to assess when shown at that speed. Once he was moved at a correct pace, he looked a much more balanced dog. Decent head, good body but needs to firm up in movement.

Puppy Dog

1st	Debshore's Fifty Shades of Gold	Gold puppy who has good head and expression. Well put together with good shoulders and topline. Moves soundly nice body for age, just needs to continue to mature on these lines.
2nd	Coopersrain Master Of The House at Yeloffal (imp k	Black and white who needs to be moved more slowly as his movement was very difficult to assess when shown at that speed. Once he was moved at a correct pace, he looked a much more balanced dog. Decent head, good body but needs to firm up in movement.

Junior Dog

1st	Ragabbey Domino	Black and white who took my eye with his lovely shape and outline. Has masculine head which was lacking in some of the male entry today. Dark expressive eyes. Well placed shoulders and keeps topline on the move. Good body for age. Sound mover with drive and presented in good coat and condition.
2nd	Ch. Polmac Ice Road Trucker of Shorestar	Striking black and white who covers the ground well. Lots to like about him, good head and expression, well bodied for age. Moves out soundly and well-presented and handled.

Yearling Dog

1st	Shionah Apollo with JaxTzu (SH.CM)	Red and white shown in good coat and condition. Has pleasing head and expression, moves out well and keeps topline on the move. Thought he looked immature in his next class.
2nd	Tameron Mr Woody To Peekin	Grey and white, nice balance and type. Good tailset but needs to settle on the move.

Post Graduate Dog

1st	Tysake Prime Mover	Solid brindle who does not immediately take your eye. However, has a very typical head and expression, well placed nose with good pigment. Lovely dark eyes good shoulders, well bodied and moves out soundly when settled.
2nd	Gladmin Karoo Honest An True	Gold and white very masculine dog, has substance. Well bodied another with a good head and true mover. In good coat and shows well.
Res	Shionah Apollo with JaxTzu (SH.CM)	Red and white shown in good coat and condition. Has pleasing head and expression, moves out well and keeps topline on the move. Thought he looked immature in his next class.

Limit Dog

1st	Santabella Cheeki Budda	Won a strong class, I have previously given him a res CC and I still like him. Gold brindle and white who is always presented well and shown in good coat. Lots to like about him, oriental head, dark eye. Well placed shoulders, keeps topline on the move, good body and balance. On the final run off I just preferred the CC and res CC winners but close up.
2nd	Chelhama Tuxedo	black and white. Very honest dog, masculine head and expression, dark eye, keeps topline on the move, and is a very true and sound mover. Won his place in this strong class on his soundness and movement.

Open Dog

1st	Ch. Chanikos Thats The Dream JW	Another who I have done well in the past and was pleased with how he had come on. Gold and white who has typical head and expression, dark eyes, with good pigment. He has good front and shoulders, moves out soundly. Beaten for the CC by a much more mature dog but his day will come. Res CC.
2nd	Ch. Zamadar Majic Potion for Cedarhythe	Young dog who I liked as a puppy and who has achieved a great deal. Showy black and white who is always well presented. Good head, like his overall balance, well bodied and moves well.

Veteran Dog

1st	Ch. Brownhills My Choice	Hard to believe this dog is nearly 10 years old. Wonderful example of the lasting ability expression is very aloof, and has a good jaw. Well placed shoulders and just the correct amount of body level topline good tail set. He is in very good coat and well presented. Moves out soundly without the need to rush round the ring, I looked at him long and hard in the challenge but he well deserved the CC, BOB and shortlisted in the group A Shih Tzu. I have always felt that if shown earlier in his life he would have made up easily and credit must go to his owners for keeping him in such good condition. Very typical head, large dark eyes,

Minor Puppy Bitch

1st	Warathwaite Ice Princess	Headed a good class whose ages ranged from just 6 months to this nearly 9 months old. 3 months is a long time at this stage. She is black and white, took my eye to start with. Good head and expression, moves well and keeps topline on the move. Good shoulder placement, well bodied for age and in good coat.
2nd	Cloughlea All About Me at Silveross	6 months on the day and a real baby. Solid gold, nice head with dark pigment and typical expression. Good body for age. Once settled she moved out well.
3rd	Rossvale Secret Affair is Yunqishing JW	Moved up a spot in this class, was more settled on the move. Gold and white, pretty bitch with nice head and expression. Good coat which was well presented and has good body for age.

Puppy Bitch

1st	Polmac Balthasars Gift	Black and white, nearly a year old. Very mature bitch with lots to like. She has a pleasing head and expression, sturdy and well bodied, moves and shows well. In good coat which was well presented.
2nd	Rossvale Secret Affair is Yunqishing JW	Moved up a spot in this class, was more settled on the move. Gold and white, pretty bitch with nice head and expression. Good coat which was well presented and has good body for age.

Junior Bitch

1st	Ch. Taydale Dancin In The Stars with Cedarhythe	Elegant black and white with very feminine head and expression. Well placed shoulders, good topline which she held on the move and moves out soundly and with purpose.
2nd	Shionah Miss China Doll	Another black and white. Well put together bitch, level topline and good body and balance. Moved out well.

Yearling Bitch

1st	Ch. Cloughlea One Step Beyond Dolha	took my eye as soon as she entered the ring. Cream bitch who must have a bright future. Pleasing head and expression, liked her shoulders and front, good topline which she kept on the move. She is very sound and this was reflected in her movement. Considered strongly in challenge but against 2 older bitches she just looked a tad immature but will make up easily, I hope.
2nd	Peekin Peek-A-Boo-Tu	Gold and white, very typical of this long established kennel. Good head and expression with dark eye and pigment. Good body for age and moved well when settled. Needs a bit more time to come to her best.

Post Graduate Bitch

1st	Tansingh All You Need Is Love	Back and white who is maturing well. Well balanced feminine e bitch, Pretty head, good shoulders and well bodied. She is a good sound mover and holds her topline on the move. Good tailset.
2nd	Shanjora Call Me Mella Yella	Solid gold with pleasing head and expression. Has nice dark eyes, well bodied and balanced. Sound and moves with drive. Well balanced.

Limit Bitch

1st	Gladmin Durbans Delyte	Strong class. Gold and white who I feel is maturing well. Pretty bitch, liked her head and expression and has dark pigment. She has good shoulders, well bodied for age level topline, moves and shows well. Sound and in good coat which was well presented.
2nd	Pekoe Star Attraction JW	Gold and white who was a very happy exhibit and never let up on showing. Pleasing type of Shih Tzu, with feminine head and expression. Is a balanced bitch who moves well and was close up to the winner. Good coat.

Open Bitch

1st	Ch. Tameron Miss Belle D Opium	Gold and white who well deserves all the winning she has done. Very pleasing to go over, lovely head and expression, good pigment. Well bodied and moves out well covering the ground with ease Has good tailset and good topline which is kept on the move. As always from this exhibitor shown in beautiful coat. Res CC.
2nd	Ch. Katonier Miss Understood At Bellakerne	Back and white, nice sound bitch with good head, nice body shape and well bodied. Good tailset. Moves and shows well, a very typical Shih Tzu.

Veteran Bitch

1st	Ch. Chelhama Leading Light JW	I have always liked this bitch and gave her a res CC some years ago. She is what I would call an old fashioned Shih Tzu, a very nice type of bitch with no exaggeration. She has a feminine head with expressive eyes, well placed shoulders, level topline and well bodied. Good tail set, all in a very neat package. In good coat which was well presented. Today she was happy and contented on the move, covered the ground soundly and I have to say I have never seen her look better. CC which made her up.
2nd	Hin Chens Jewel for Centastage	Black and white who has a mind of her own, a typical Shih Tzu. When she settled, she moved out well. Good balance and body, in good coat and condition.