Scottish Kennel Club

Scottish Kennel Club Championship Show

2nd October 2022

Thank you to SKC for the invitation to judge, and to the exhibitors who entered under me on the day, and for accepting my decisions so graciously.

The entry was mixed and I have a few observations to make.

As a breed specialist I am looking for the breed specific details of the Shih Tzu, soundness is paramount. We need to be mindful that the dogs need to be well constructed and have the framework to support a sturdy dog. Coats do cover a multitude of sins when stacked, but when a dog starts moving it becomes apparent whether they are made correctly or not. My concern with some exhibits was the lack of strength in their rear action, and a front assembly that was not in place to support heavier dogs, and so could not move with an arrogant, smooth flowing movement which is a breed specific detail.

On a positive note all exhibits were presented and handled well, and the temperaments were superb, many offering their kisses on the table.

Minor Puppy Dog (4,0a)

1st Gilkes Zeeva Cool Dude 8-month old Masculine headed boy with head of correct proportions, with a warm expression. Dark round dark eyes with good broad jaw. Well balanced in outline, holding his topline both stacked and on the move. Broad chest of good depth, sturdy in constitution and well ribbed back. Angulations good and stood straight behind. Tail correctly set and carried well. Moved well fore and aft, when settled, showing full pad. Presented in excellent condition and coat and well handled. BPD and Best Puppy.

2nd Fairley’s Rossvale Wildest Dream. 6-month old. A puppy of nice type with a head of good proportions, a good dark eye, giving a lovely warm expression. Good broad jaw. Good broad chest with good depth. A sturdy youngster who was well ribbed back with the correct tail set and carriage. Angles good fore and aft and stood straight behind. Moved soundly. Topline not to his advantage today but has plenty of time to develop. Presented and handled well.

3rd Turner’s Rossvale Fantastic Dream at Charonnis

Puppy Dog. (0,0a)

Junior dog (1,0a)

1st Cooke’s Thaisu’s Blinding Light 14-month old male with a glorious masculine head of correct proportions, with a wonderful and warm expression and broad jaw. Lovely type, with excellent chest, broad and of good depth. Sturdy in constitution. Would like more length to the ribcage. Holds a good topline stacked and on the move. Angulations good fore and aft and stood straight behind. Excellent tail set and carriage. Moves well. Presented in excellent condition, coat and well presented.

Post Graduate Dog (4,1a)

This class presented me with three very different types of dogs.

1st Bradshaw & Symonds. Cremefern Trigger A Storm At Symarju JW. Coming up to 2 years of age, a male with a lovely head of correct proportions, and dark eye and a soft expression. Good broad jaw. Good width and depth to chest and well ribbed back. Angulations good fore and aft and stood straight behind. Good bone and of a sturdy constitution. Good tail set and carried well when settled. Well presented.

2nd Chadwick’s Tsantha A Keepsake.2 and a half year old male of a larger size to 1. Masculine round head with good eye. Sturdy in constitution with good width and depth to chest and well ribbed back. Would benefit from being stronger behind. His coat needs to settle and does detract from his outline. Well handled.

3rd Moore & Casentieri’s Emerson Alpiu Slenis of Alchez JW (Imp Ltu)

Limit dog (4,1a)

1st Fairley’s Senousi Dressed for It by Fairemere 3-year old male of a wonderful type, excellent head proportions with the desired breed details. Wide jaw and a dark eye giving that warm expression. Sturdy in his constitution with a broad chest of good depth, well ribbed back. Good angles fore and aft and he stood well behind. Good tail set and an acceptable carriage although he would benefit from it being slightly higher to finish off the picture. Sound and steady in his movement. He has an excellent coat texture and was presented and handled well. Res CC.

2nd. Brigg’s Warathwaite The King Slayer. 2-year old glamourous male, masculine head of good proportions, dark eye and good width to jaw. Good width and depth to chest and well ribbed back. Angles good fore and aft, with a good topline . Would prefer a little more strength behind. Excellent tail set and carriage. Moved well. Beautifully presented and handled well.

 3rd Everall’s Paliden Simply a Star with Wharfeview

Open Dog (5,2a)

1st. Russell’s Ch Matsuba King of Hearts 23-month old male, with a masculine head of excellent proportions with the desired breed details. Coupled with his warm and soft expression I could look at this boy all day. A lovely size and type with the correct bone and of a sturdy constitution. He has a good width and depth to chest well ribbed back and holds his topline both stacked and on the move. His balance coupled with the correct tail set and carriage all contribute to the desired silhouette that I am looking for in the breed. He presented this image both stacked and on the move . He is an exuberant character, and this is very evident on the move. He moves soundly in all aspects and the more you move him the more he settles into himself showing himself off to his best. Presented and handled well, although I suspect he makes his handler work hard. A lovely package and in the great scheme of things still a young boy with I believe has a lot to offer. CC and BOB.

2nd Hatten & Cooke’s Ch Art Made Gene Kelly (Imp Swe) Masculine headed dog with head of good proportions and a lovely dark eye giving that lovely warm and soft expression. Good width and depth to chest, well ribbed back. Sturdy in his constitution with good angulations and stood well behind. Good topline both stacked and on the move. Would prefer him to move a little freer. Shown in excellent condition and well-presented and handled.

3rd Fairley’s Rossvale Here Comes the Sun Over Fairemere

Veteran dog (3, 1a)

1st Turner’s Ch Artelino Moomins Adventure (Imp) 7-year old male. Masculine headed dog with large round head and dark eye. Well balanced. Sturdy in his constitution with good width and depth to chest and well ribbed back. Correct tail set and good carriage. Angulations good and stood well behind. Moved soundly and with attitude. Good coat texture. Well-presented and handled. Looking at him he appears to totally adore his handler.

2nd Kendrick’s Isishouse Lord Grantham JW. 7-year old male. A smaller size to 1, a well-balanced dog with a lovely head of good proportion and a lovely expression. Good width and depth to chest, well ribbed back and with good angulations. Stood well behind and holds a good topline both stacked and on the move. Good tail set and carriage. Moved soundly coming and going. Well-presented and handled.

Minor puppy Bitch (1,0A)

1st Brown’s Rossvale Dreaming Again 7-month old with an ultra-feminine expression, head of correct proportions with a dark eye giving that warm expression. Well balanced in outline, with a good front and sturdy in her constitution . Stands well behind. Moved soundly and with attitude with a good tail set and carriage. Good coat texture. Well presented and handled. BPB.

Puppy Bitch (1,0A)

1st McMillan’s Yazhi Sweet Painted Lady Almost 11 months. Feminine head and expression with dark eye. Good width and depth to chest, well ribbed back and sturdy in her constitution. Good topline both stacked and on the move. Good tail set, but would benefit from a slightly higher tail carriage. Moves well and with attitude. Well presented and handled.

Junior Bitch (3,0a)

A class with three very different young bitches

1st Brown’s Rossvale Little Black Dress another ultra-feminine expression from this kennel. 16 months old. A lovely type with head of good proportions and a lovely dark eye giving a warm expression. Good width and depth to chest and well ribbed back. Good angulations fore and aft and stands well behind. Good topline both stacked and on the move. Good tail set and carriage. Moves soundly in all aspects, and I did make a note that her front action is particular good when you consider her small package and her sturdiness.

2nd Everall’s Wharfeview Simply Red. 16 month old. Lovely head and expression with head of good proportions. Lovely dark eye. Good width and depth to chest and well ribbed back. Sturdy in her constitution. Good tail set and carriage. Angles good but would prefer a little more strength behind. Excellent coat texture. Moved well . Presented and handled well.

3rd Yeap’s Thaisu The Crafty TAF

.

Post Graduate Bitch (4,1a)

1st. Turner’s Charonnis Vegas Showgirl . 4-year old female. An ultra-feminine bitch with a head of good proportion and a nice size. Lovely dark eye giving a warm expression. Well balanced in outline with sturdy constitution. Good width and depth to chest and well ribbed back and stood well behind. Correct topline standing and on the move. Tail set good. Moved well when she wasn’t working against her owner, moved freer on a loose lead. In this class she scored on breed specific details. Well presented and handled well.

2nd. Casentieri’s Alchez Return to the Sea. 6 and a half year old female with a feminine head and pretty expression and of a good size. Good forechest and good angles both fore and aft and stood well behind. Good topline both stacked and on the move. Good tail set and carriage. More body would be to her advantage. Moved soundly in all aspects. Presented and handled well.

3rd Stevenson’s Bishopspark Holly

Limit Bitch (1a, 0)

1st Briggs Warathwaite Royal Diva 3 and a half year old female. Feminine headed bitch with a beautiful head and warm expression. Lovely dark eye. Although one of the slightly bigger bitches in the ring today she is of a nice type and very eye catching. She is well balanced and of a sturdy constitution with a good width and depth to chest and is well ribbed back. Good angulations and a good topline both stacked and on the move. Good tail set and carriage. Moved well behind and in profile, just moves a shade wide in front for my tastes. Excellent coat texture and well-presented and handled.

Open Bitch (6, 1a).

1st Howard’s Tameron Miss Black Orchid. 18 and a half month old female. Ultra-feminine expression and head of good proportions. Lovely dark eye giving a warm expression. Well balanced in outline and of a good type. Angulations good fore and aft, stands well behind. Good forechest and correct topline stacked and on the move. Well ribbed back with good tail set and carriage. Moves soundly in all aspects, particularly in her very steady front action. Her breed specific details and soundness scored . Well presented and handled. CC.

2nd Forbes Paliden Bucks Fizz to Ekland JW 4-year old female, with good round head, dark eye and good broad jaw. Well balanced in outline with good depth and width to chest, well ribbed back and stood well behind. Good tail set and carriage. Moves soundly in all aspects and with attitude. Excellent coat texture. Presented and handled well. Res CC.

3rd Brown’s Rossevale’s Finnish Model

Veteran Bitch (2,0a)

1st . Dyker’s Thaisu Desperate Housewife for Kimevan. 8-year old female. Feminine head and expression with a lovely dark eye giving a warm expression. Well balanced and of a nice type. Sturdy in her constitution with good depth and width to chest, well ribbed back and stood well behind. Good tail set and carriage with good angles. Moved soundly and with attitude. Shown in excellent condition and good coat. Best Veteran and I believe was placed 4th in the Utility Veteran Group.

2nd.Thomas’s Jazzle Jasmine 8-year female. Feminine with a round head, dark eyes. Sturdy in constitution with good depth and width to chest. Could do with a little more angulation. Good topline and well ribbed back. Shown in good coat. Handled and presented well.

Special Beginners (2,0a)

1st McMillan’s Yazhi Sweet Painted Lady – See critique from Puppy Bitch Class. – Best Special Beginners

2nd Yeap’s Thaisu The Crafty TAF. 13-month old female. Feminine pretty head and expression with nice dark round eye and good width to underjaw. A slightly taller female and not quite the balance I was looking for. Good topline both stacked and on the move. Well ribbed back and good tail set and carriage. Would benefit from a little more substance. Moved soundly. Well-presented and handled.

Judge: Yvonne Cannon (Cloughlea/Corrlough)