Open Show 11th November 2007
Critique
66 dogs making 95 total entries with 50 exhibiting on the day made for an interesting experience in this wonderfully complicated breed. Thank you to all the exhibitors who were such sporting folks, making the day a very pleasant outing with both lovely dogs and lovely people.
I was conscious of nose length, set-on in relation to the eyes, width of skull, eye colour and shape as well as size. I had some very lovely heads that under the hair dressing did not disappoint, but I wonder if sometimes the hairdressing is the ‘point’ and not the ‘icing’ on the cake, for some exhibitors? Temperament was excellent; the overwhelming majority of exhibits had clean and well-groomed coats. Most of the dogs shown today were within the standard for size, just a few that I considered less than ideal for size. A wealth of coat, on the other hand, doesn’t necessarily mean that what is underneath it is equally good, so in some cases I had to give more emphasis to what my hands found under the coat.
Length of body to height was an interesting task, as some of the exhibits that I thought were quite short in back were in fact short in rib and long in loin, lacking much spring in rib. I wanted ideally a Shih Tzu that from the withers was slightly longer to the tail as it was in height from table to withers…several were too short in proportion in my opinion, looking more like a Lhasa Apso in balance. Then we come to tails, I got to see quite a few types today! The narrow rear on the Shih Tzu continues to be a problem both in dogs and bitches, with good width to second thigh muscle and width between rear legs in movement a rare commodity.
Minor Puppy Dog (3): 1, Leon’s Superlion Leprechaun
(TAF) 7 ½ month old youngster promising, lovely head and expression,
having good width to the jaw, excellent nose placement, love his large round
warm dark brown eyes with no white showing. Body coming along, well ribbed
back, decent front, preferred his tail, moved out well Best Puppy Dog/Reserve
Best Puppy in Show; 2, Gettings’ Surianne Midnight Magic; 3, Shaw’s
Wiseowls Chicago Rock.
Puppy Dog (6,2): 1, S. Leprechaun; 2, Barron’s Lauramist A La Carte at Maitreya; 3, Kilburn’s Superlion Baccara at Blackgangs.
Junior Dog (5,2): 1, Grierson’s Whispers in Gold at Brienta, has excellent head properties, took my eye when he walked in the ring for his excellent expression, lovely width to skull, correct nose placement, width of jaw, excellent dark eyes, good neck on him, decent length of body and development coming along, just needs time, VG coat texture; 2, Brown’s Rossvale As if by Magic; 3,Marks’ Tansingh Shoot From the Hip.
Maiden Dog (3,1): 1, Wilson’s Charmalin As Miss Amy, gold and white dog almost 2 years of age has more body, substance, development as one would expect with the age difference over the minor puppy dog. Excellent construction, good to go over, moves out very well showing good reach and drive and tail well used in gaiting around the ring; 2, Superlion Leprechaun.
Novice Dog (5,1): 1, S. Leprechaun; 2, Jones’ Harropine Silly Monkey at Fairlou; 3, Lauramist A La Carte at Maitreya.
Post Graduate Dog (4): 1, Shaw’s Harropine Mango Jack of Shorestar, almost 2 yrs old grey and white dog, appeals for his head qualities and structure, excellent body shape and development, really strides out well, has correct ribbing well back with short strong loin; 2, Bradshaw’s Harropine Charly Sheen; 3, Ashcroft’s Mirazian Bright As a Button.
Limit Dog (5,1) Bells’ Harropine Chico Time at Bellwaycharm, almost 2 yr old cream and white dog put down to the minute, excellent construction, body development and movement as well as one of the best tails seen so far today. Close up in the challenge, clearly a quality Shih Tzu; 2, Symonds’ Minfaa Shooting Star at Symaraju; 3, Devine’s Mirazian Artist Impression.
Bred by Exhibitor (1): 1, Tansingh Shoot From the Hip, 13 month old attractive dog, nose placement good, coat needs to settle, right now is standing a bit high in rear, moves out well.
Not Bred by Exhibitor (5): 1, H. Chico Time at Bellwaycharm; 2, H. Charly Sheen; 3, Murraylake True Grit at Katouk.
Open Dog (5,1): 1, Anderton’s Pekoe Sharp Shooter JW, 2 yr old red and white dog-excellent head properties with excellent width of skull and lower jaw, something that was lacking in several dogs today. Lovely dark eyes with good distance between them, excellent nose placement with wide nostrils, correct mouth, excellent front on him having width and depth of chest and good front legs well boned and shaped. Body wise he is well ribbed back, short loined, excellent rear quarters that helped his overall movement around the ring, excellent tail. Best Dog, Reserve Best in Show; Best Opposite Sex in Show; 2, Devine’ Mirazian Symbol of Freedom JW, smaller neater dog, close up in quality, very nice to go over, would like a broader lower jaw, otherwise excellent Reserve Best Dog; 3, Shar’s Harropine Bono of Wiseowls.
Minor Puppy Bitch (7,2): 1, Heslam & Brown’s Rossvale Dark N’ Delicious, 7 ½ month old black and white bitch. I fell in love with this feminine excellent quality little girl who has wonderful outline, excellent expression, construction, tail placement and movement, just needs time. Will look forward to seeing how she does as she matures, most promising. Best Puppy Bitch, Best Puppy in Show; 2, Leon’s Superlion Matinee Idol; 3, Houghton’s Wiseowls Chicago Belle of Thinkpink.
Puppy Bitch (9,4): 1, Anderton’s Pekoe Fatal Attraction,almost 12 month old gold and white bitch, has quite a wealth of coat, good eye placement, but for me would like a tad less length of nose. Very good front and rear quarters, moves out well, good tail placement, just needs to mature in body; 2, Superlion Matinee Idol; 3, Wiseowls Chicago Belle of Thinkpink.
Junior Bitch (6,1): 1, Ritchie’s Santosha Back to Black for Laurmerand, ideal size, good outline, very good nose placement, eye shape and colour with no white showing, excellent width to skull, VG front on her, nicely bodied up, has very good front movement; 2, Brown’s Rossvale She’s A Model; 3, Paczkowski’s Lauramist Angelis.
Maiden Bitch (6,1). No new dogs in this class. 1, Rossvale Dark N’ Delicious; 2, Superlion Matinee Idol; Pekoe Patented.
Novice Bitch (3): All previously seen. 1, Rossvale She’s A Model, just out of puppy, gold and white bitch who stood 2nd in the junior class. Attractive head and expression having lovely dark large round eyes with warm expression, overall fairly well balanced, nice tail set, just needs time; 2,Superlion Matinee Idol; 3, Tameron Miss Gorgeous.
Post Graduate Bitch (5,1): 1,Cheshire’s Superlion Happy Go Happy, 21 month old gold and white bitch, lovely to go over, ideal size, correct tail, nice dark eye, very good front action; 2,Harvey’s Delmarveys High Society; 3, Bushell’s Caserose Super Star.
Limit Bitch (3): 1, Brooks Marbrux Kelli’s High JW, grey and white bitch with pleasing overall shape, very typical action on the move, is very good to go over for construction, tail placement and use, excellent body substance, coat texture, considered in the challenge; 2, Sweeney’s Santosha Violet from Marionswood; 3, Martin’s Grandavon Orange Orchid.
Bred By Exhibitor (2) all previously seen. 1, Marbrux’s Kelli’s High JW; 2, Pekoe Fatal Attraction.
Not Bred by Exhibitor (1): 1, Superlion Happy Go Happy.
Open Bitch (6,2): 1, Anderton’s Pekoe Patent Pending JW, grey and white bitch of excellent breed type and quality, has for me that arrogant aspect of her expression that I didn’t see too much today. Lovely head and expression, excellent width of skull and also lower jaw. Excellent construction preferred her layback of shoulder to number two. Excellent body having deep chest with very good width, lovely body shape and make, strong loin, moves out well due in no small part to her well muscled and used rear quarters. She may not have the amount of coat some other exhibits carry, but the texture is correct, and her tail is excellent as well. Best Bitch, Best in Show; 2, Harper & Shaw’s Harropine Secret Star of Shorestar, close up for quality and breed type, with lovely expression, eyes, width to skull and nose placement. Would like a wider lower jaw. All in all, though, another quality bitch, Reserve Best Bitch; 3, Bushell’s Ch. Caserose Miss Ellie May.
Veteran Dog or Bitch (3,1): 1, Marks’ Tansingh Tenacity,almost 8 yr old black and white male, overall good head and expression, outline, sturdy body, good eyes, broad skull, moved ok; 2, Grandavon Mona Lisa.
Mary Deats (judge)