Full Critique for Shih Tzu Club of Wales & West 2018
Judge : Mr Matthew Russell
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| Thank you to the committee of the Shih Tzu Club Of South Wales & Western Counties for inviting me to judge their Championship Show, and to Dorothy McIntyre for stewarding for me and keeping the ring running so smoothly. Thank you also to the exhibitors for giving me the honour of judging your dogs, and accepting the placings so sportingly. In general, I found the grooming and presentation to be of a very high standard, but I was concerned to see in some exhibits to be lacking in body and some narrow fronts. Also, we seem to be losing the lovely powerful rear movement, which is to me, one of the main characteristics of our special breed. Temperaments were very good, which is so important. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Ta Maria All Eyz On Me (DK Fin Swed Norsk) | A very high quality class of puppies, which is good news for the future of the breed. I was very pleased with all 5 of my placings.Gorgeous head and expression on this young gold and white male with lovely nose placement and lovely wide jaw. Very good neck set in well placed shoulders which balanced with his well angulated rear, resulting in a sound and free movement while still being low to ground. Very good ribcage and strong topline leading to a lovely tailset. |
| 2nd | Tameron Mr Guilty Black | Lovely black and white male with so many qualities to admire. Masculine head and very good mouth. Strong neck and well placed shoulders. Strong topline and well set tail. Very good ribcage and good substance overall. Moved very soundly. |
| 3rd | Tameron Mr Aramis at Portiakiss | Pale gold and white male of good substance while still retaining a good size. Lovely head and expression, strong neck and topline. Well placed shoulders balancing with good rear angulation resulting in a lovely free movement. |
| Res | Gladmin Soweto Storm JW | Black and white male with such a lovely head and expression. Good neck and topline back to a good tailset. Very good shape when stood and on the move. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Whispering Loves A Shining Angel At Shirkeira | Dark gold and white male of 12 months. Broad head with good nose placement. Very good ribcage and strong topline leading to a lovely tailset. Very good substance throughout. |
| Novice Dog | ||
| 1st | Tameron Mr Aramis at Portiakiss | Pale gold and white male of good substance while still retaining a good size. Lovely head and expression, strong neck and topline. Well placed shoulders balancing with good rear angulation resulting in a lovely free movement. |
| 2nd | Gladmin Soweto Storm JW | Black and white male with such a lovely head and expression. Good neck and topline back to a good tailset. Very good shape when stood and on the move. |
| 3rd | Whispering Loves A Shining Angel At Shirkeira | Dark gold and white male of 12 months. Broad head with good nose placement. Very good ribcage and strong topline leading to a lovely tailset. Very good substance throughout. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Yung Lo’s Who Needs A Dress | Lovely deep gold and white male of good size and substance. Lovely head and expression, and such a lovely wide jaw. Good neck and shoulders, and very good ribcage. Well angulated rear which showed in his movement. Very good tailset which completed his lovely shape of no exaggerations. Just needs to mature in coat to finish the picture. |
| 2nd | Alchez Emperor Kuzco | Very good quality solid black male who, in my opinion, could do with a little more body. Lovely head and expression and good neck and shoulders. Strong topline and well angulated rear. Lovely tailset which complimented his shape when on the move and standing. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Rossvale All About The Boy | Deep Gold and white male with such a lovely classical shape and balance of good size and substance. Loved his head and expression with good nose placement, and such a good mouth. Lovely neck and shoulders and strong topline going back to a very good tailset and well angulated rear. Moved very soundly and with such arrogance. So pleased to award him the Reserve CC. I really do believe that this dog will be collecting more green cards as his coat matures to complete the picture. |
| 2nd | Gaba’s In Case You Wonder | Gold and white male of such high quality, it was so hard to decide between these two. Beautiful, masculine head and expression, and superb mouth. Very good ribcage and lovely bone. Very well angulated in front and behind which showed in his effortless movement. Lovely tailset, and in tremendous coat. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Honeyshuchun God of Thunder | Loved this gold and white male for his breed type. Lovely dog of a good size while still carrying plenty of substance. Lovely, classical shape of no exaggeration. Such a lovely masculine head with melting expression. Very good nose placement and wide jaw. Well arched neck and strong topline leading to a good tailset. Lovely shoulders complimenting a well angulated rear, resulting in sound movement. Good coat and presented beautifully. All this resulted in being awarded the CC, which I believe is his second. I do not think it will be a long wait for his third and crowning CC, as he is such a deserving champion. |
| 2nd | Ch. Matsonic Chasing Storms to Bishbow JW | Black and white male in very good coat. Masculine head and expression on a strong neck and topline with a very good tailset resulting in a lovely shape. Moved well showing full pad. |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Tameron Mr Givenchy | Beautiful 12 year old gold and white male of good substance. Masculine head with lovely expression. Good neck, well placed shoulders with very good ribcage. Strong topline with well angulated rear. Lovely tail carriage. Moved very freely in front and behind. |
| 2nd | Ch. Middletune Wildest Dream JW ShCM | Lovely 10 year old gold male, which many of the above comments apply. These were both top class males, who did not look their age, and it was so difficult to decide between them. Very typical male Shih Tzu, so full of type. Lovely head and expression, and moved so well. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Zeeva Reflections JW | 6 month old gold and white bitch with a beautiful head and sweetest expression. Lovely neck and topline finished with a lovely tailset produced a beautiful shape. Well angulated in front and rear, and good ribcage for age. Beautifully presented, and really enjoyed, what I believe, was her first show which ended with her winning Best Minor Puppy In Show. |
| 2nd | Yung Lo’s Love Is Forever | 6 month old gold and white bitch, who is still very much a baby. Lovely head and expression with good neck and well laid shoulders. Well angulated rear with good tailset and strong topline. Moved well, and sure she has a bright future in front of her. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Tameron Miss Paris | 11 month old gold and white bitch of such quality. So mature for one so young. Lovely head and the sweetest expression from the large dark eyes, well placed nose and wide, square jaw. Lovely arched neck and well laid shoulders with such a good ribcage and strong topline. Beautiful tailset and well angulated rear. On the move, she did not disappoint. Reaching right out in front and powerful kick-up at the back. In superb coat and presented beautifully. Even though she is still young, I could not deny her not only Best Puppy In Show, but also the Reserve Bitch CC and Reserve Best In Show. Absolutely stunning, and I believe will be one who will collect the green cards in the future. |
| 2nd | Ch. Bishbow Summer Breeze | Very good quality black and white bitch, who is also quite an eye catcher. Beautiful head and expression with lovely nose placement and wide jaw. Strong arched neck and well laid shoulders. Strong topline with good ribcage and lovely tailset. Well angulated rear which contributed to her lovely movement. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Minfaa Pocahontas | Gold and white bitch with such a feminine head and expression. Very good neck and strong topline flowing to a beautiful tailset to produce a lovely shape. Well angulated in front and rear which showed when she moved. In lovely coat and presented beautifully. |
| 2nd | Artelino The North Remembers (imp) | Gold and white girl, who is in between coats at present. Beautiful head and expression on a strong, well arched neck into good shoulders. Lovely ribcage and strong topline with well angulated rear. Moved well in front and behind. Look forward to seeing her as she matures. |
| Novice Bitch | ||
| 1st | Tameron Miss Paris | 11 month old gold and white bitch of such quality. So mature for one so young. Lovely head and the sweetest expression from the large dark eyes, well placed nose and wide, square jaw. Lovely arched neck and well laid shoulders with such a good ribcage and strong topline. Beautiful tailset and well angulated rear. On the move, she did not disappoint. Reaching right out in front and powerful kick-up at the back. In superb coat and presented beautifully. Even though she is still young, I could not deny her not only Best Puppy In Show, but also the Reserve Bitch CC and Reserve Best In Show. Absolutely stunning, and I believe will be one who will collect the green cards in the future. |
| 2nd | Ch. Zeeva Reflections JW | 6 month old gold and white bitch with a beautiful head and sweetest expression. Lovely neck and topline finished with a lovely tailset produced a beautiful shape. Well angulated in front and rear, and good ribcage for age. Beautifully presented, and really enjoyed, what I believe, was her first show which ended with her winning Best Minor Puppy In Show. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ta Maria Amethyst(Imp) | Another strong class, with some difficult decisions made,Gold and white bitch with a stunning head and expression. Very good neck and well laid shoulders. Superb ribcage and strong topline. Good tailset and well angulated rear. Low to ground with good substance, moving soundly and freely with such arrogance. |
| 2nd | Ch. Tsantha Adornment | Gold and white bitch with lovely feminine head and expression. Good nose placement with wide jaw and dark expressive eyes. Lovely arched neck and well laid shoulders. Lovely ribcage and strong topline. Well angulated rear and well set tail. Moved well to produce a lovely picture. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Gladmin Inala | High quality gold and white bitch with lovely head and expression. Very good neck and well laid shoulders. Well shaped ribcage and good rear angulation and tailset. Moved beautifully in front and behind. |
| 2nd | Ch. Pekoe Surprise Surprise JW | Very feminine pale gold and white bitch. Lovely head and expression on a strong, nicely arched neck. Good ribcage and strong topline with lovely tailset. Good angulation in front and rear to produce sound movement. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Yung Lo’s Heartbeat (CIB DKU/SEU, KIU, Nordw-15) | Stunning gold and white bitch of such a beautiful, classic shape with no exaggeration. Beautiful, feminine head and melting expression consisting of dark, well shaped eyes, good nose placement and wide, square jaw. Very good neck flowing into well laid shoulders and good front. Lovely deep, well shaped ribcage which extended back to a short loin. Strong topline and lovely tailset which contributed to the beautiful picture when stood. Superb rear angulation produced real power to the rear movement which balanced with the front as she motored round the ring. A stunning example of the breed, and a very worthy Champion, so I could not deny her the CC and Best In Show. I understand this is her second CC, and hope she returns to this country to gain her third to complete her British title. |
| 2nd | Ch. Rossvale Secret Obsession | Another beautiful gold and white bitch of the correct, classical shape. Beautiful head and expression, strong arched neck with well laid shoulders. Very good ribcage, strong topline and lovely tailset. Well angulated rear which showed in her strong rear movement balancing with the front to produce a lovely picture on the move. So deserving of her title, a real beauty. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Alchez Ching Lan | 9 year old gold and white bitch of good substance, and another veteran who did not show her age. Lovely head and expression with good nose placement, and well shaped jaw. Ample neck and well placed shoulders. Strong topline with good tailset. Moved well, and in such good condition. |