Full critique for WELKS 2025

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

Show critique

Thank you to the WELKS Officers & Committee for the invitation to judge at this well run Championship show. Thank you also to my able Stewards who worked hard all day & to the Exhibitors for their entries and good sportsmanship. As we all know, a Breed Standard is the blueprint of any breed and to me, breed type & characteristics of the Shih Tzu are of utmost importance. The perfect dog has not yet been born & judging dogs has to be about compromises and when I judge, I aim for the merits of the exhibits to be at the forefront. I was very pleased with my winners, however, in certain classes, I was disappointed with some of the exhibits and felt I would have been compromising on too many breed points to place them higher.

Dog CC

1st	Ch. Santosha Memory of Love	Has a lovely head & expression, dark eyes & good nose placement with a wide jaw & full dentition. Nicely arched neck into good shoulders, has good depth & length of ribs with a level topline. Has a well angulated front & rear & is well muscled with ample bone & substance. Lovely presentation, shown in great coat & condition, moved with excellent reach & drive and he never put a foot wrong. A very worthy Champion. DCC.
2nd	Ch. Mifcahs The King And I JW (Dk,Nor,Swe,No,Int)	One I have judged before & I’m pleased to say he exceeded my expectations. He has correct breed type & a super head, eye & nose placement with a definite stop, and I loved his arrogant expression. He has a wide underjaw & correct bite. Is well boned with good substance & in great muscular condition & has a level topline & a high teapot tail which he carries well. Liked his head to tail balance, his presentation was very good & he moved round the ring as if he owned it. RDCC.

Minor Puppy Dog

1st	Mifcahs Heir To The Throne	B/W very attractive typey youngster. Has a broad head with good width between round dark eyes, has excellent pigment, correct bite & full dentition. Nicely arched neck into good shoulders & a level topline & teapot handle tail. Has bone & substance & is well muscled throughout, liked his width through the body. He has a well angulated front & rear. Nicely presented in good coat & he moved with reach & drive.
2nd	Norboo Bobby Dazzler Of Mapimakastar JW	Solid gold boy smaller in size, nice head, dark eye & correct bite. Has a well arched neck & level topline & well sprung rib of good length. He will drop into himself, and his elbows will tighten up, he moved well & just needs time to come together.

Puppy Dog

1st	Ch. Hin Chen's Mount Everest JW	G/W. Masculine head & lovely round dark eyes, good nose placement & wide open nostrils. Good width of jaw & correct bite, strong neck into well laid shoulders. Has a level topline & well set on tail. Has ample bone & substance & is well muscled. Has a balanced outline which he held standing & on the move where displayed good reach & drive. BPD BPIB.
2nd	Chanikos My Mystery Dream Via Javerda JW	Masculine head, dark eye & correct bite. Nice arch to neck & well set on tail. Well presented in good coat just preferred movement of 1.

Junior Dog

1st	Ch. Santosha Night Shade	B/W. Masculine broad head with dark round expressive eyes & correct bite. He has width throughout & a level topline with a good set on of tail. He is balanced in outline, has good bone & substance & is well muscled. His movement was a bit hit & miss as the ground was very uneven, however, I saw enough merit to give him 1st place. He was presented in good coat.
2nd	Chanikos My Mystery Dream Via Javerda JW	Masculine head, dark eye & correct bite. Nice arch to neck & well set on tail. Well presented in good coat just preferred movement of 1.
VHC	Norboo Theodore At Skakatzu	Solid gold youngster who has a nice head, dark eyes & correct bite. He has a well sprung rib of good length, topline is level with a well set on tail which he carries high. Movement was free coming & going & he has time on his side.

Yearling Dog

1st	Charonnis Its Now Or Never	Solid gold dog with masculine head, dark eyes with width between, has a broad jaw & lovely underjaw. Has good nose placement with wide open nostrils. Has ample bone & substance with a good fore-chest & well sprung rib of good length. Liked his size & balance & he moved out well.
2nd	Norboo Theodore At Skakatzu	Solid gold youngster who has a nice head, dark eyes & correct bite. He has a well sprung rib of good length, topline is level with a well set on tail which he carries high. Movement was free coming & going & he has time on his side.

Post Graduate Dog

1st	Cedarhythe Dark Destiny	Nicely marked B/W of good shape & balance with good pigmentation overall. Has a round skull, dark expressive eyes, with good nose placement & wide open nostrils. Strong arched neck into well laid shoulders & a well sprung rib with ample length. Has level topline & well set on tail, he kept his balance on the move & when stacked. He moved with ease.
2nd	Honeyshuchun Soldier Boy At Bornred	Solid gold, has ample bone & substance, he has a lovely broad head & a soft expression. Has a good length of neck & a deep chest with width to the ribs. His topline is level but his tail could be carried higher, he moved out well.

Limit Dog

1st	Ch. Rossvale Fantastic Dream At Charonnis JW	Solid gold who has lots of breed type, he has a broad head & gorgeous dark expressive eye, a wide jaw & lovely underjaw. Nicely arched neck into good shoulders, has a level topline and a deep broad chest with a well sprung rib of good length. Good angulation front & rear, he has a well set on tail & he moved with reach & drive showing a full pad.
2nd	Middletune Blazzin Saddles JW	Masculine head & expression, he has width all the way through his body & is balanced in outline, which he held on the move. Shown in good coat & condition, lost out to 1 on movement.

Open Dog

1st	Ch. Santosha Memory of Love	Has a lovely head & expression, dark eyes & good nose placement with a wide jaw & full dentition. Nicely arched neck into good shoulders, has good depth & length of ribs with a level topline. Has a well angulated front & rear & is well muscled with ample bone & substance. Lovely presentation, shown in great coat & condition, moved with excellent reach & drive and he never put a foot wrong. A very worthy Champion. DCC.
2nd	Ch. Mifcahs The King And I JW (Dk,Nor,Swe,No,Int)	One I have judged before & I’m pleased to say he exceeded my expectations. He has correct breed type & a super head, eye & nose placement with a definite stop, and I loved his arrogant expression. He has a wide underjaw & correct bite. Is well boned with good substance & in great muscular condition & has a level topline & a high teapot tail which he carries well. Liked his head to tail balance, his presentation was very good & he moved round the ring as if he owned it. RDCC.

Bitch CC

1st	Ch. Santosha Silhouette (UK, Fin)	There&#8217s not a lot left to say about this personality plus girl who is a testament & a credit to her owner/breeders. She is so well put together and has all the breed requirements for type. She excels in her ring presence & on the move she floats round the ring - like a ship in full sail. A pleasure to award her the BCC & BOB. (Was happy to see that she was awarded G2)
2nd	Ch. Coursani Sand Queen (UK/JSY)	G/W of quality & breed type with lots to like. She has a classic outline & correct proportions along with her pleasing head & expression. She readily displays the breed characteristics required & is a worthy Champion. RBCC.

Minor Puppy Bitch

1st	Cedarhythe Enchantment	7 month B/W feminine. bitch with nice width to skull. Has a dark round eye & good nose placement with wide open nostrils. Jaw of good width. A well arched neck & level topline & a good set on tail. Was a steady mover when she settled.
2nd	Mapimakastar Lady Sat Al JW	Different balance to 1, is feminine & has dark expressive eyes, correct bite & full dentition with a level topline & high set tail. She moved well.

Puppy Bitch

1st	Hin Chen's My Juliette JW	G/W Bitch with good bone & substance, liked her shape & balance. Has a pretty head, dark eye & good nose placement. Is well ribbed back & has a deep chest & level topline. Lovely when standing but did not always want to co-operate on the move with her handler.
2nd	Keola Miss Glitz And Glamour	11 months old Feminine bitch with a good head, eye, bite & pigment. Has a level topline & well sprung rib & and a good tail set. Front & rear ok, she moved with drive & has a lovely coat texture.
Res	Mapimakastar Lady Sat Al JW	Different balance to 1, is feminine & has dark expressive eyes, correct bite & full dentition with a level topline & high set tail. She moved well.

Junior Bitch

1st	Minfaa Christmas Cracker At Miracey	Very feminine bitch with a broad round skull & dark expressive eye, good tip tilted nose placement & wide open nostrils. She has a lovely aloof arrogant expression & a well padded muzzle, wide jaw & correct bite. Neck of good length into well laid shoulders, has a level topline & good tailset along with nicely angulated front & rear, moved with reach & drive.
2nd	Rossvale's Got The Look JW	She has a super head, good front & level topline. Has ample bone & substance & is well balanced throughout, in lovely coat of good texture & she moved with drive.

Yearling Bitch

1st	Ch. Jadetemple Jaci Higgins At Daltricia JW	G/W with a broad round skull, well placed dark eyes & good nose placement with wide open nostrils. Has good pigment overall. Good bite with full dentition & a wide jaw. Nice arch to neck into well placed shoulders, has a level topline and high set tail. Ribs well sprung & of good length with deep broad chest. Was well presented & in good coat, she moved out well showing full pads.
2nd	Norboo Bella Rosa	Solid gold bitch, smaller in type & is well put together, she has bone & substance & is well muscled. She has a pretty head with dark expressive eyes, a level topline with a high set tail & is well ribbed. She moved well coming & going.

Veteran Bitch

1st	Amore Mio Satinel Reheto at Mapimakastar (Imp Pol)	7yr old Brindle & White. Feminine head & expression, has a well sprung rib of good length & and high well set on tail. Has bone & substance, she moved well & was presented in good coat & condition.
2nd	Tansingh Color Me Beautiful For Mirazian JW	15yrs young & presented in lovely coat & condition, has a broad head, chest is deep & wide. Good tailset & has bone & substance, a credit to her owner handler.

Post Graduate Bitch

1st	Cavateena Situla Scarlet for Lavril	Feminine G/W with a lovely head, large dark expressive eyes & a good bite. Has an arched neck into well placed shoulders with a level topline & well sprung rib. She is balanced & held her topline coming & going, she moved with ease.
2nd	Middletune Chantilly Lace	G/W of smaller type and well constructed. Is balanced in outline with a level topline & is well muscled & has bone & substance. Attractive head & expression with dark eyes & good pigment. Moved both ways with drive.
3rd	Hin Chen's My Juliette JW	G/W Bitch with good bone & substance, liked her shape & balance. Has a pretty head, dark eye & good nose placement. Is well ribbed back & has a deep chest & level topline. Lovely when standing but did not always want to co-operate on the move with her handler.

Limit Bitch

1st	Rossvale Dreaming Again	2yr old solid Gold with broad head & muzzle, dark round eyes & well placed tip tilted nose & a wide jaw with good bite. A nicely arched neck into a level topline with well set on tail. Ribs extended well back, has a deep chest & is well angulated front & rear. Showed a full pad as she moved with drive round the ring.
2nd	Cedarhythe Legacy Darlin	B/W, nice size & well balanced, has a feminine head & expression with correct bite & dentition. Ample bone & substance, nicely presented & moved well.

Open Bitch

1st	Ch. Santosha Silhouette (UK, Fin)	There&#8217s not a lot left to say about this personality plus girl who is a testament & a credit to her owner/breeders. She is so well put together and has all the breed requirements for type. She excels in her ring presence & on the move she floats round the ring - like a ship in full sail. A pleasure to award her the BCC & BOB. (Was happy to see that she was awarded G2)
2nd	Ch. Coursani Sand Queen (UK/JSY)	G/W of quality & breed type with lots to like. She has a classic outline & correct proportions along with her pleasing head & expression. She readily displays the breed characteristics required & is a worthy Champion. RBCC.

in Group

2nd	Ch. Santosha Silhouette (UK, Fin)	There&#8217s not a lot left to say about this personality plus girl who is a testament & a credit to her owner/breeders. She is so well put together and has all the breed requirements for type. She excels in her ring presence & on the move she floats round the ring - like a ship in full sail. A pleasure to award her the BCC & BOB. (Was happy to see that she was awarded G2)

Best of Breed

1st	Ch. Santosha Silhouette (UK, Fin)	There&#8217s not a lot left to say about this personality plus girl who is a testament & a credit to her owner/breeders. She is so well put together and has all the breed requirements for type. She excels in her ring presence & on the move she floats round the ring - like a ship in full sail. A pleasure to award her the BCC & BOB. (Was happy to see that she was awarded G2)

Best Puppy

1st	Ch. Hin Chen's Mount Everest JW	G/W. Masculine head & lovely round dark eyes, good nose placement & wide open nostrils. Good width of jaw & correct bite, strong neck into well laid shoulders. Has a level topline & well set on tail. Has ample bone & substance & is well muscled. Has a balanced outline which he held standing & on the move where displayed good reach & drive. BPD BPIB.

Best Veteran

1st	Amore Mio Satinel Reheto at Mapimakastar (Imp Pol)	7yr old Brindle & White. Feminine head & expression, has a well sprung rib of good length & and high well set on tail. Has bone & substance, she moved well & was presented in good coat & condition.