Northern Counties Shih Tzu Club

Northern Counties Shih Tzu Club Open Show 

25th November 2023 

Judge: Miss L Tarabad (Khatibi) 

Thank you to the friendly committee for the appointment to judge this show. I always thoroughly enjoy judging the breed and this entry was no different. Although not a huge entry I had some really super quality dogs to judge and thank the exhibitors for their entries and accepting my decisions so sportingly, it really was an enjoyable atmosphere at the show. 

DOGS

Minor Puppy (2) 

1.Longstaff’s Shihmali Wild At Heart. A lovely start to the day with this cheeky 6month old baby! Maturing well for his age with super chest and ribbing, level topline, sturdy with good bone and sound rear. Such a sweet face, broad and round with lovely dark eyes, short square muzzle with good width of jaw and finish to lips. Impressive on the move holding his outline firm and using his rear well. In plenty of quality coat with the most delightful temperament. BPD, BPIS, interested to see he is a son of the bis winner! 

2.MacDonald’s Hin Chen’s Just For You at Centastage (imp nor) A touch smaller than 1 again with good chest and ribbing for age but needs to settle in topline. Round head with short wide muzzle, dark round eyes and pleasing expression. In good coat and moving happily. 

Novice (2,1) 

1. S. Wild at Heart (see mp) 

Graduate (5,1) 

1. Fairley & Brown’s Rossvale Wildest Dream JW. Another son of the BIS winner and the family resemblance is obvious! Broad round head with definite stop, short wide muzzle, good width of jaw, well spaced dark eyes and dense pigment. Very sturdy and well balanced with good bone, enough neck, firm topline, good chest and ribbing and sound front and rear assembly. The best moving in the class, accurate out and back and covering the ground well in profile. Presented beautifully and was close up in the challenge. 

2. Stevens’ Peekin Reggie Rebel-Tu. Very glamorous g/w who didn’t quite have the substance of 1 but has a beautiful head and expression with large dark eyes, definite stop, good width of jaw, correct mouth and dense pigment. Nicely made with arched neck, good shoulders, well balanced length of body, firm topline and well set and carried tail. Moved well in profile with head held proudly, not quite as good out and back as 1.  

3. Provost’s Paliden Magic Star. 

Post Grad (1) 

1. Stevens’ Peekin Jazz-A-Matazz-Tu. Nice size with good topline and tail carriage, enough neck, could have better shoulders and more chest. Round head with good length and width of muzzle, good mouth, well spaced dark eyes and lovely expression. Moved soundly, handled well, could show more pad going away. Needs to carry a little more weight. 

Limit (3,2) 

1. Sullivan & Diffey’s Marhlway Driving Edge at Jacquinta. Quality dog with super attitude. Sturdy and balanced with deep chest, good bone, well ribbed back to well angulated rear, firm topline and lovely tail carriage. Broad, round, masculine head with good width of jaw, dark eyes, dense pigment and long, correctly set ears. In super condition, well muscled and in good coat. Moved well, accurate out and back and really on his toes as he circled the ring.  

Open (5,1) 

1. Fairley’s Ch. Senousi Dressed For It By Fairmere. Beautiful gold dog in full bloom presenting a typically balanced outline, great substance and bone for his size, ample reach of arched neck, lovely front assembly, firm level back, high set tail, strong, well muscled rear and standing on good feet. Beautiful head and expression, correctly shaped and well furnished with good width between dark round eyes, short square muzzle with good width of jaw, nicely finished lips and dense pigment. Super on the move, smooth and positive with good reach and drive, lovely out and back and looking a picture in profile. Handled to perfection and was always standing to an advantage, I wasn’t surprised to see later that he has his title! BD, BIS. 

2. Everall’s Paliden Simply A Star with Wharfeview. A touch longer than 1 but still presents a pleasing outline with lovely tail carriage, good front and rear assembly, short, well boned legs, good chest and ribbing and well muscled rear. Round head with lovely dark eyes, good muzzle and width of jaw, definite stop and appealing expression. Moved well, accurate out and back, but didn’t move with the carriage of 1 in profile. Nevertheless another lovely quality dog. 

3. Bradshaw & Symonds’ Cremefern Trigger a Storm at Symaraju JW. 

Sp. Beginner (3,1) 

1. Provost’s Paliden Magic Star. Not quite 2 yr old but had the better chest, ribbing and substance here. Nice size and shape with enough neck, good topline, tail could be carried a little higher. Broad head with dense pigment, square muzzle, good jaw and level lips. Free moving with a positive gait, better out and back than 2. Best Sp. Beginner.  

2. Cutts & Smith’s Tameron Mr Gold Excess. Preferred the head and expression on this boy, round and broad with lovely eyes, short wide muzzle with good width of jaw. Soundly constructed but needs to carry a little more weight. Moved happily with a firm topline. 

Veteran (2) 

1. Sullivan’s Ch. Jacquinta Lets Go Andy JW. Very spritely 7yr old who really impressed on the move circling the ring with super reach and drive, carrying his head proudly and maintaining a firm outline, lovely out and back and showing full pad. Lovely neck and shoulders, heavy bone and deep chest. Masculine head with good mouth and width of jaw, well spaced large round eyes, good pigment and long, correctly set ears. Handled to really get the best out of him and in lovely coat and condition. His movement and attitude clinched him RBD. BVIS. 

2. Phethean’s Isishouse Son and Heir. Smaller and very sweet but was a bit unsettled on the move with a change of handler. Such an endearing expression with beautiful eyes, dense pigment, short muzzle and definite stop. Soundly constructed with good topline and tail carriage. Presented in good coat and condition but just couldn’t match the movement of 1. 

BITCHES 

Minor Puppy (2) 

1. MacDonald’s Hin Chen’s Jewel In The Crown (imp nor) 7month old baby with nice balance to her outline, lovely tail set and carriage, needs to settle in topline, good neck and shoulders, good bone and feet, body developing well for age. Sweet face with cheeky expression, darkish eyes, good pigment, well finished lips and good width of jaw. Free moving and coat coming nicely. 

2. Kenny & Keree Bartolo’s Joll Sweet Dreams Baby with Shirkeira. Lovely puppy but just didn’t want to use her tail which was a shame as she was very sound on the move with good topline and enough neck for a typical head carriage. Such a sweet face with delightful expression and beautiful eyes. Hopefully her confidence will improve as she matures. 

Graduate (5,1) 

1. Vose’s Shihzarbruno Hope and Dreamz of Cimona. Ultra feminine 18month old who was the best on the move here with lovely head carriage and topline, accurate in all directions and covering the ground with ease. Sturdily built with good chest and ribbing, well muscled rear and good bone. Very pretty face with beautiful eyes.  

2. Williams’ Paliden Starlight Kisses. Not as settled on the move as 1 but presents a nice outline, nice size and shape and sound construction throughout with good substance. Preferred her head properties to 1, round in shape with well spaced eyes, good pigment, correct length of muzzle and good width of jaw. Moved ok. 

3. Brown’s Rossvale Dreaming Again. 

Post Grad (3) 

1. Baldwin’s Valkiria Sweet Addict for Maili (imp pol). Absolutely gloriously presented b/w who can’t fail to catch your eye. Such a lovely snooty expression, dark eyes, broad round head, good muzzle and width of jaw. Arched neck of good length, perfect topline and high set tail which could be carried with a bit more height for balance. Super substance and bone for size, sturdy and soundly constructed but would just like a little more length of body. Moved well in all directions, in pristine condition and handled perfectly.  

2. Vose’s S. Hope and Dreamz of C. (see grad) 

3. Walsh’s Norboo Esmeralda for Shihzarbruno. 

Limit (3) Very close decision in this class and I see now that 1 & 2 share the same sire who incidentally sired many of the exhibits I liked on the day. 

1, Williams’ Paliden Golden Showers. Small gold of a nice size with appealing outline, good topline, nice shoulders, good neck allowing for proud head carriage and high set tail carried well over her back. Pretty face with dense pigment, dark eyes, square muzzle and correctly set long ears. Moved with a lovely length of stride, using her rear well and holding her outline firm. In plenty of well presented coat. 

2. Sweeney’s Senousi Caress In A Dress. Quite similar to 1 but just a bit more of her all through. Gorgeous expression with beautiful eyes, lovely wide nostrils, short muzzle, good width of jaw and dense pigment. Balanced outline with good reach of neck and tail carriage, good depth of chest and length of body, nice substance and bone. Moved well. 

3. Stevens’ Peekin Hoi-Tee-Toi-Tee-Tu. 

Open (6,2) Another nice class. 

1. Brown’s Ch. Rossvale’s Finnish Model. Delightful g/w showoff who made me smile every time I looked at her! Small and sturdy with super bone, lovely chest and ribbing, well angulated fore and aft, level back, high set tail carried well with lovely reach of neck and proud head carriage giving such a lovely balance to her outline. Her head is beautiful, broad and round with superb large dark eyes, definite stop, wide nostrils, dense pigment, short wide muzzle and good width of jaw. In superb condition, lovely substance, well muscled and in plenty of quality, well presented coat. Moved so well, which was no surprise given her construction! It was a very close decision for top honours and I thought they made a lovely pair. BB, RBIS, BOS. 

2. Brown’s Ch. Rossvale Little Black Dress. Smaller but all in proportion b/w in plenty of well presented coat. Really good substance for her size, deep chest, short well boned legs, arched neck, firm topline and well carried tail. Round feminine head with nice eyes, well finished muzzle and pleasing expression. Moved very well, especially in profile, not quite as good as 1 in front.   

3. Sweeney’s Senousi Love The Dress. 

Veteran (2,1) 

1. Brown’s Rossvale’s Latest Model. 9yr old mother of ‘Finnish Model’ and I can see where her daughter gets many of her qualities from. Such a lovely head with gorgeous eyes, short square muzzle, good width of jaw and super pigment. Well made with good front and rear assembly, arched neck, firm topline and broad, deep chest. Feminine but with lovely substance and bone, moving soundly just a little careless with her tail at times. In super coat and condition, hiding her years very well.