Open Show 1st November 2009
I will keep my overall comments as short as possible. Having owned Shih Tzu for nearly thirty years and having seen many changes in the breed, I will try to summarize what I liked and what I didn’t.
The good points: All the dogs and bitches were very well presented. There were not many bad mouths, jaws and dentition has improved apart from one or two crowded mouths and some lower teeth doubled up. Temperament was first class, no dogs backed off from me and all were extremely well behaved.
The not so good: Coats in the main I found soft and silky, not the strong coat that I look for. Quite a few dogs were lacking in muscle tone, this can easily be put right by some consistent ‘pavement bashing’ i.e. road walking. You can’t get a good driving action without sound muscles. Speed is not necessarily good drive and some dogs were shown far too fast. Height was rather inconsistent, if a dog is too tall no matter how glamorous and attractive it is, this is wrong by the breed standard. Exhibitors please leave the scissors at the bottom of the grooming box. The Shih Tzu is an untrimmed breed and with regular exercise on hard surfaces trimming is unnecessary. Shoulders should be well laid back and angulated – if not this spoils the balance of the dog.
I thank all exhibitors for a most pleasant day.
George Scott (Judge)
Minor Puppy Dog (5:1)
1. Brown’s Rossvale Prince Of Dreams – Black & white. Head Forming Well. Well spaced eyes, round and large. Sound jaw and bite. Neck arching well. Good bone and forequarters, sound ribcage. Developing a good teapot handle tail, Hindquarters developing well. Movement once settled showed great promise. The black & white coat a real eye catcher.
2. Johnson’s Caserose Colour Of Magic At Shionah - Gold & white. Head forming well, sound neck and forequarters. Good spring of rib. Level topline. Good sound set and plumage. Movement a little erratic but settled towards the end.
Puppy Dog (4:2)
1. Brown’sRossvaleRedXcess– Gold & white. Good size correct head, wide set round eyes. Jaw and teeth developing well. Good shoulders developing, well laid back. Broad deep chest well let down, leveltopline. Sound teapot handle tail. Movement was sound and assertive if a trifle fast.
2. Wright’sRosejoyAndy’s Brandy – Gold & white. Head developing well, correct eye and nose placement. A little upright in shoulder but exercise should put this right. Good bone, leveltoplineand sound ribcage. Good tail set and plumage. Movement was sound.
Junior (4:1)
1. Jones & Harp’sHarropineComanche AmongCarlita– Gold & white. Correct head, wide set eyes, good pigmentation. Sound jaw and bite. Well laid-back shoulders. Good bone with excellent spring of rib. Chest well let down level with elbows. Good turn of stifle. Movement sound and assertive. Would like a little more arrogance in carriage.
2. Murrel’s Just Dandy From Krisquest – Gold & white. Sound head, correct eye and nose placement. Sound teeth and jaw. Arched neck leading to well laid back shoulders. Level topline with good tail set, coat a little silky. Movement was sound if a trifle fast.
Maiden (3:1)
1. Brown’s Rossvale Prince Of Dreams
2. Orton’s Gillyanne Sunshine Barnaby - Correct head, wide set dark eyes, sound mouth. Good shoulders and ribcage. Level topline. Movement a little erratic.
Novice (3:1)
1. Brown’s Rossvale Red Xcess
2. Orton’s Gillyanne Sunshine Barnaby
Graduate (4:1)
1.Lewin’s MifcahsOne An Only ForFyndelwin– Brindle. Well set head, good eye and nose placement, sound mouth. Correct arched neck of correct length. Well laid back shoulders, ample bone, broad chest well let down. Dead level topline. Correct teapot handle tail. Good turn of stifle. Sound movement with drive and arrogance.
2. Houghton’s Matsuba Ym Sublime For Thinkpink – Black & white. Well set dark eyes, good pigment. Jaw sound. Well arched neck of correct length. Deep chest with good spring of rib, level with elbow. Level topline. Good turn of stifle. Movement was sound but very slightly close at rear.
Post Graduate (5:0)
1. Bushell’s Caserose Cowboy Magic – Black & white. Great head, large wide set round dark eyes, good pigmentation. Well placed nose and mouth, sound bite. Excellent arched neck leading to well laid back shoulders, well let down chest, good spring of rib. Level topline. Good tail set and teapot handle tail. Stifles well angulated. Movement was sound and assertive. A very spectacular black and white.
2. Kilburn’s Superlion Merlot – Gold & white. Sound head with good dark eyes. Sound mouth and bite. Neck and shoulders correct. Ample bone. Level topline with sound tail set. Good turn of stifle. Good coat not too long. Movement sound.
Limit (4:1)
Dorran’s Huxlor Fantasy Flyer At Tzusweet – Black & white. Correct head with large eyes, well set. Correct nose bite and jaw. Well arched neck of correct length. Shoulders well laid back, broad chest well let down. Ample bone. Correct top line and tail set. Sound teapot handle tail. Excellent turn of stifle. Movement was sound and assertive with a good touch of arrogance.
2. Mark’s Tansingh Shoot from The Hip –Gold & white. Nicely shaped head, wide set dark eyes, sound teeth and jaw. Correct neck, well laid back shoulders and good spring of rib. Level topline. Good tail set. Correct turn of stifle. Movement was sound but just lost out to one on drive and arrogance.
Open (5:2)
1. Jones & Harp’s Zuthis Fact Not Fiction Among Carlita – Gold & white. Excellent, everything in the right place. Masculine and arrogant with well arched neck and shoulders. Good spring of ribs well let down. Level topline. Sound teapot handle tail. Good turn of stifle. Movement was sound and assured with good drive. Overall a very balanced dog
2. Shaw’s Harropine Bono of Wiseowls – Gold & white. Sound head, well set dark eyes. Sound bite. Sound fore quarters with good shoulders and chest. Level topline and good tail set, teapot handle tail. Good turn of stifle. Movement was a little fast but sound.
Veteran (1:0)
1. Devines Mirazian Symbol Of Freedom JW - Gold & white. First class masculine expression. Correct head in all respects. Excellent pigmentation. Beautifully arched neck with well laid back shoulders, deep spring of rib level with elbow. Ample bone throughout. Level topline. Correct tail set with ample plumage on a teapot handle tail. Stifles were correct. Movement was what I was looking for. Shown at the correct speed without racing. Showing good pads. Assured, powerful and just the right degree of arrogance in movement. Correct coat. At eight and a half years old a most spectacular dog, well done.
Special Beginners (3:1)
1. Herd’s Laurmerand Takin The Flack - Well shaped head, good eyes. Good neck. Shoulders a little upright. Level topline. Good tail set. Movement wandered a little to begin with but improved in time.
2. Houghton’s Matsuba Ym Sublime For Thinkpink
Best Dog- Devine’s Mirazian Symbol Of Freedom
Reserve Best Dog – Bushell’s Caserose Cowboy Magic
Best Puppy – Brown’s Rossvale Prince Of Dreams
Minor Puppy Bitch (8:1)
1. Casentiers’ Alchez Mei Zhen – Silver & white. Head developing well. Wide spaced dark eyes, sound nose and bite. Nicely arched neck. Well let down chest, correct shoulders and good bone. Level topline. Tail and tail set sound. Good turn of stifle. Movement sound and assertive but a little too fast. A very attractive bitch.
2. Devine’s Diamond Diva NAF TAF – Black & white. Sound head overall, developing well. Forequarters sound. Chest well let down, correct shoulders, sound bone. Excellent tail set. Movement was sound with good drive.
Puppy Bitch (8:2)
1. Harrison’s Eye Catching Golden Rose By Mattadam - Solid gold. Sound head, correct eyes, nose and jaw. Well arched neck and good shoulders. Level topline. Sound tail set and stifles. Good bone throughout. Movement a little fast at first but quickly settled. A very appealing bitch.
2. Wright’s Rosejoy Shihsa Minx – Gold & white. Sound head, large dark well spaced eyes, and good mouth. Neck nicely arched, sound shoulders. Well let down chest. Level topline. Sound tail set. Movement was sound and assertive but once again a little fast.
Junior (5:2)
1. Kilburn’s Blackgangshi Whirlwind – Gold & white. Very feminine expression. Sound eye, mouth and nose placement. Deep chest, well sprung ribs. Well laid back shoulders. Level topline. Good tail set. Sound stifles. Movement was sound and assured, shown at correct pace.
2. Brook’s Superlion Jezabel At Marbrux – Gold & white. Sound head overall. Good neck and forequarters. Level topline. Good tail set. Movement was a little erratic and fast.
Maiden (6:2)
1. Harrison’s Eye Catching Golden Rose By Mattadam
2. Houghton’s Thinkpink Beautiful Day – Gold & white. Sound head. Deep chest, well let down. Level topline. Good turn of stifle. Moved well.
Novice (5:2)
1. Harrison’s Eye Catching Golden Rose By Mattadam
2. Houghton’s Thinkpink Beautiful Day
3. Orton’s Gillyanne Annie’s Song
Graduate (3:2)
1. Brook’s Superlion Jezabel At Marbrux
Post Graduate (2:1)
1. Brown’s Rossvale she’s A Model – Gold & white. Well shaped head, Correct eye and nose placement. Good pigmentation. Sound arched neck. Well sprung ribs. Level topline. Good turn of stifle. Strong coat. Movement was sound with drive. Well balanced.
Limit (5:0)
1. Cheshire’s Superlion Chianti – Gold & white. Very feminine expression. Head correct in all aspects. Sound neck and shoulders. Deep chest well let down. Level topline. Sound tail set and tail. Movemement was sound and assertive with the right touch of arrogance.
2. Hodgson & Wainwright’s Murrylake Evita At Jenan – Again very feminine expression. Sound head. Sound neck and shoulders. Good spring of ribs. Level topline. Correct tail set. Movement was sound but would like a touch more rear drive.
Open (1:1)
Veteran (2:1)
1.Brown’s Rossvale She’s Bewitching – Gold & white. Aptly named, a real quality bitch. Very feminine expression. Head correct in all aspects. Lovely dark eyes, well spaced. Fine arched neck with sound shoulders. Broad well let down chest with good spring of rib. Sound bone throughout. Level topline with correct teapot handle tail, well plumed. Strong abundant coat. Movement was sound and assertive shown at just the right speed. Seven and a half year old cracker!
Special Beginners (5:3)
1. Casentiers’ Alchez Mei Zhen
2. Houghton’s Thinkpink Beautiful Day
Best Bitch – Brown’s Rossvale She’s Bewitching
Reserve Best Bitch – Cheshire’s Superlion Chianti
Best Bitch Puppy - Casentiers’ Alchez Mei Zhen
The Violet Yates Memorial Stakes Dog or Bitch (3:1)
1. Cheshire’s Superlion Chianti
2. Mark’s Tansingh Double Jepardy
3. Wright’s Harropine Bono Of Wiseowls
Brace (1:0)
1. Mark’s Tansingh Double Jepardy & Tansingh Shoot From The Hip
Best In Show– Devine’s Mirazian Symbol Of Freedom JW
Reserve Best In Show - Brown’s Rossvale She’s Bewitching
Best Opposite Sex In Show - Brown’s Rossvale She’s Bewitching
Best Puppy In Show - Casentiers’ Alchez Mei Zhen
