Full critique for Shih Tzu Club of Wales & West Open 2025
Show critique
Firstly, I would like to thank the society for the invitation to officiate at their 2025 open show, as a breed specialist it is an honour to be asked to judge at a club event. Secondly, I would like to thank all the exhibitors who entered their dogs and took all my decisions with great sportsmanship. And thirdly, a quick thank you to my stewards for the day Karen and Shayne for keeping everything running smoothly throughout the show.
Puppy Dog
| 1st | Chanikos My Mystery Dream Via Javerda JW | A shaded gold and white, lovely shape on the stack which he keeps on the move. A masculine head but still soft in expression. Nice round dark eye, nicely placed nose with a good stop. Correct bite. Nicely arched neck leads to a well placed shoulder and good front angles. A well let down chest and a good spring of rib for age. Nice length to ribcage and a correct length loin for his stature. Well set and carried tail. Nicely made rear which made for great drive on the move. Coming towards you he was sound. Presented in great condition and coat. Well handled. Will look forward to watching his career in the future RBD, BPD, BPIS |
| 2nd | Shenleyvale Fifty Shades Of Orange JW | A solid gold with black mask, another who possesses a lovely shape on the stack and on the move, more “my type” when it comes to his head when compared to 1, lovely dark eye, with good nose placement and stop, creating a slightly more oriental expression, nice dentition. A nicely arched neck leads you to a well angled front with enough chest for his age. Nicely made throughout, with again a nicely set and carried tail, this sturdy and compact dog has a lot going for him. He just lost out on the top spot today to the maturity of his opposition and that he wasn't able to cover the ground as well as 1 today. Well presented and handled. Another I will watch in the future. |
Junior Dog
| 1st | Chanikos My Mystery Dream Via Javerda JW | A shaded gold and white, lovely shape on the stack which he keeps on the move. A masculine head but still soft in expression. Nice round dark eye, nicely placed nose with a good stop. Correct bite. Nicely arched neck leads to a well placed shoulder and good front angles. A well let down chest and a good spring of rib for age. Nice length to ribcage and a correct length loin for his stature. Well set and carried tail. Nicely made rear which made for great drive on the move. Coming towards you he was sound. Presented in great condition and coat. Well handled. Will look forward to watching his career in the future RBD, BPD, BPIS |
| 2nd | Rossvale Wishful Thinking For Chotahkees | A nicely headed young male who has a typical expression, nice dark eye and well placed nose and a good stop. He possesses a nicely made front, leading to a well made ribcage and loin. Nice topline, which he keeps on the move, tail is nice but tends to carry his tail a bit tighter than desired. His movement coming towards you was ok but I feel he needs to tighten in the rear a little. Presented in good coat and condition. |
Post Graduate Dog
| 1st | Honeyshuchun Soldier Boy At Bornred | A very masculine gold male, very much Scandinavian in type. Very heavily made throughout. His head is large and possesses large dark eyes, nice width to jaw, well placed nose and a good stop. A nice neck leads to a good shoulder placement, nicely angled front but would like him with a straighter forearm. Good spring of rib and a nice length of loin. Tail set nicely but would require a higher carriage as this does ruin his balance on the move I feel. Well made rear gives him super drive on the move. Presented well. |
| 2nd | Middletune Billy The Kid Under Misteltein | A more moderate dog to 1. A typical expression, just not as attractive as 1, but still possesses the necessities. He has a nice overall shape when stood and, on the stack, and keeps his topline well. Nicely made fore and aft and angles well balanced but just lacked the drive from the rear unlike |
Limit Dog
| 1st | Middletune Blazzin Saddles JW | An attractive gold with a black mask. He has a lovely soft expression featuring dark round eyes, correct nose placement and good width to muzzle. Nice dentition. A lovely arched neck leads to a nicely placed shoulder with good front angles. He has a good depth to his chest and possesses good rib spring and length. Nice length to his loin and has a nice level topline both stacked and on the move. Lovely set of tail and carried well. Nicely made rear which shows in his great drive and effective coverage of the ground. Presented in good coat and condition. Handled well. |
| 2nd | Keola Driving Force JW | a beautifully presented male, different in type and make to 1 but still nice to go over. He possesses a nice masculine head which is still soft in expression. Nice dark eye of good shape. Good nose placement, slightly longer in muzzle than 1. A nice chest and a well-made front. Well made throughout. Nice set and carriage of tail. Positive front movement but I would like to see a little more drive from the rear. In great coat and condition. Handled well. |
Open Dog
| 1st | Ch. Santosha Dark Secret With Coursani | Now this male might not be to everyone's taste, but those who can truly appreciate a solid are no doubt unable to look past his qualities. He creates a lovely picture on the stack and on the move. A beautiful head with the darkest eye and an exquisite expression, nice width to his jaw and muzzle. A lovely arched neck leads to a nicely made front. Well let down chest and a lovely sprung rib. Nice length to loin. Topline held well. A lovey made rear to match his front, this is shown in his movement. Presented well in a beautiful coat. Handled well. My only criticism is that I feel he could have done with a slight coat trim to help him cope with the ground better. BD, BIS |
| 2nd | Cavateena Autumn Whisper | A slightly finer dog than 1 but lovely to go over. He has a lovely headpiece with good eye and muzzle positioning. Nice dentition. Lovely arched neck. Well made front and rear. He keeps his topline well on the stack and on the move. Good rib and loin. Nicely set and carried tail. Moves well. Beautifully presented. |
Minor Puppy Bitch
| 1st | Cedarhythe Enchantment | A real baby and a little anxious on the day but I'm sure with time on her side she will gain confidence. A lovely feminine expression, dark eye and good dentition. Nice neck and shoulder lead to a nicely made front, enough chest for age. Good rib an loin. A well held topline. A nicely made rear shows in her positive movement BPB, BMPIS |
Puppy Bitch
| 1st | Keola Miss Glitz And Glamour | Her name says it all, a super glamourous gold and white who is so nice and sound to go over. She has a nice overall shape and possesses the prettiest of heads. Good neck and shoulder with good angulation fore and aft. Excellent topline with good chest and rib for her age. Nicely set tail carried well. Moved ok but like a little more umph from her. Beautifully presented and handled. |
| 2nd | Chanikos Harper Seven At Evieshu JW | A pretty black and white of a good shape and make. Finer in type than 1 overall but still nicely made throughout. She possesses a pretty head with good eye shape, would like a darker eye for her colour. Nice muzzle width and well placed nose and stop. Good dentition. She lacks a little in substance, but this could come with time and maturity. Moves well. Presented well. |
Junior Bitch
| 1st | Rossvale's Got The Look JW | A nicely made girl of excellent type. She has a beautiful head with lovely dark round eyes and typical expression. Nice dentition. Well arched neck leads to a well laid shoulder. Nicely constructed front and rear angles show in her typical and effortless movement. Good substance throughout. Shown in good coat and condition. Well set tail but would prefer a better carriage on the move. |
| 2nd | Chanikos Harper Seven At Evieshu JW | A pretty black and white of a good shape and make. Finer in type than 1 overall but still nicely made throughout. She possesses a pretty head with good eye shape, would like a darker eye for her colour. Nice muzzle width and well placed nose and stop. Good dentition. She lacks a little in substance, but this could come with time and maturity. Moves well. Presented well. |
Novice Bitch
| 1st | Keola Miss Glitz And Glamour | Her name says it all, a super glamourous gold and white who is so nice and sound to go over. She has a nice overall shape and possesses the prettiest of heads. Good neck and shoulder with good angulation fore and aft. Excellent topline with good chest and rib for her age. Nicely set tail carried well. Moved ok but like a little more umph from her. Beautifully presented and handled. |
Post Graduate Bitch
| 1st | Middletune Chantilly Lace | A smaller cast girl of lovely type. She is well made throughout and has a lovely outline. Exquisite head with a beautiful expression. Lovely dark eye, well placed nose and a good stop. Lacks width of jaw. Nice arched neck leads to a good shoulder and front angles. Well let down chest and good rib. Nice level topline leads to a well-made rear with good angles and a well set and carried tail. Presented in great coat and condition. |
Limit Bitch
| 1st | Ch. Middletune Modesty Blaise JW | Liked this girl a lot. Everything in moderation, nothing too exaggerated. She has a lovely outline on the stack and on the move. A nice feminine head with dark eye of good shape and well placed nose with a good stop and nice width to muzzle. Nice dentition. Lovely arched neck leads to a well laid back shoulder and great front construction. Good chest and rib and a nice length of loin for her stature. A well made rear with a nicely set and carried tail. Her beautiful coat is the icing on the cake. BB, RBIS, BOS |
| 2nd | Cavateena Situla Scarlet for Lavril | Another nice girl but in a smaller frame. An exquisite expression with lovely dark eye and nice nose placement. Good dentition. A good front with good depth to chest for her size. Good angles fore and aft. Good strong topline. Nice rib and loin. Good set tail. Presented in good coat and condition. Handled well. |
Open Bitch
| 1st | Ch. Coursani Sand Queen (UK/JSY) | A beautiful gold and white girl with an attractive head who's eyes follow you around the ring demanding attention. She has great head proportions. A lovely arched neck, well made front, with well let down chest. Good spring of rib, nice length to loin. Keeps her topline well on the move. A nice made rear with plenty of drive. Nicely set tail which she carries well. Presented in great coat and condition. Well handled RBB |
| 2nd | Ch. Marhilway Explorer The Edge | slightly finer in type than 1 but a nice overall shape. She has a nice feminine head with nice proportions. Nice neck and front angulation. Good chest and rib. Good topline. Nicely made rear with good tail set and carriage. Moved well but not as positive as 1. Presented well and in good coat and condition. |
Veteran Bitch
| 1st | Ch. Middletune Flame Of Gold | this veteran girl was lovely to go over and certainly doesn't look her age. Beautiful feminine expression with lovely dark eyes and well placed nose and a good stop. Nice width to jaw. Well arched neck leads to a good shoulder placement. Good front angles, a nicely let down chest, good spring of rib and a nice length of loin. Nice rear angles with a well set and carried tail. Shown in beautiful coat and condition. Handled well. BVIS |