Northern Counties Shih Tzu Club

The Northern Counties Shih Tzu Club Championship Show 5th April 2025 Thorpe Willoughby

I would like to thank the officers and committee for their kind invitation to judge their Championship show and all of the kind exhibitors who supported my entry and the club. I have waited 22 years for this opportunity to judge the breed at this level and I am an independent breeder, exhibitor and judge with no affiliation to any other breeders or bloodlines. I very much enjoyed my day and judging such a lovely entry, my top winners were high quality and fitted the standard well, were well balanced, sound and free moving examples of the breed.

My only concerns over my entry were that we risk we are losing the round eyes and soft expression that the breed is well known for. High set ears, and toplines were a concern, as were lack of the clear full pads showing on the move and a few could have had straighter from forelegs, tail sets need to be watched. I had a few dogs that were strung up too harshly ruining the movement sadly, and to be critical some could improve the presentation of their exhibits.

I make no excuse for placing different styles of Shih Tzu, they all fit the standard in their own way and the breed no longer has the numbers from large kennels that were around in years gone by, so there is a variety of styles in the ring these days. I judged all styles equally on the day in the conditions of the show. I am sure in other conditions outside for instance some may move better.

VD (2) 1. Sullivan’s Ch Jaquinta Lets Go Andy JW, 8 ½ year old Masculine well balance G/W dog, lovely broad round head with well set dark round eyes, wide jaw, square muzzle of good length and width. Well set ears, fair length of neck and lay of shoulder, head held proudly. Level topline and well balanced front and rear angulation. With a good depth, and spring of rib. High tail set and good carriage. Arrogant and smooth movement. A worthy Champion. Best Veteran Dog & Best Veteran in Show.

2. Cutts & Smith’s Buttons Dream A Dream, well presented gold dog, 8 years old, Balanced in outline, Smaller all over than 1. Smaller rounded head without the width of jaw of 1. Level top line. Enjoyed his day and moved well.

MPD (5,1) 1. Willett’s Debeaux Making Waves NAF B/W dog best mover in this class of babies, Good round head with a low ear set, dark round eye, correct bite, nice overall shape, with a good spring of rib and depth of brisket for age and slightly high on the back end at the moment, but only very young and this should settle. Matching front and rear angulation and a high tail set that he carried well. Moved soundly showing full pads and showed well.

2. Skawska’s Norboo Bobby Dazzler Of Mapimakastar, Raw gold puppy just 6 months, well balanced with a good front assembly, nice head and dark eye, correct bite, level topline on the stand and on the move, good tail set and carriage, good spring and length of rib for his age. Will tighten up with age and moved ok once he was on a looser lead. Moved better In later classes once he had settled.

3. Hatten’s Thaisu Hot Topic At Marbo, G/W heavily coated dog, when he first walked in the ring, I thought he would have been my winner, nicely made puppy with a lovely expression. Just preferred my winners overall on the day.

PD (7,1abs) 1. Brown, Brown & Iley’s Hin Chen Mount Everest, Impressive G/W dog with superb balance and outline, good nice round and broad head, good length and width of muzzle, black nose with wide open nostrils, good width between the dark round well set eyes, strong wide jaw with correct dentition. Low set ears. Good length of neck leading into a well laid shoulder and upper arm, strong straight forelegs and round feet, good depth of brisket for age, good spring and length of rib cage, nice coupling, wide thighs and good rear angulation, high tail set and good carriage. Moved soundly with extension and drive, showing full pads. In beautiful condition. Best Puppy Dog & Best Puppy in Show.

2. Willett’s Debeaux Magic In The Making NAF, B/W well balanced dog with a rounded head a wide jaw, good bite with good width of jaw, black nose with wide open nostrils, good overall shape, slightly wider in front than 1. Good overall angulation, good depth and spring of rib, well set tail, moved well and freely.

3. Barrell’s Chanikos My Mystery Dream Via Javerda, G/W Brindle dog, beautifully presented loved his shape, and substance, nice broad round head, with a dark round eye with a correct bite and wide jaw. Well made throughout. He moves soundly however; I would like to see him moved on a looser lead and to see him move outside in a bigger ring.

JD (7) Brown’s Rossvale I Have A Dream, G/W dog, I liked the size, shape and balance of this dog, he moved freely with good extension and drive showing full pads, he had a lovely rounded head with a dark round eye spaced well apart, well set nose with wide open nostrils, giving a sweet expression, he had a correct bite and wide jaw. I liked his length of neck, shoulder placement, and return of upper arm, level topline, good depth of brisket, spring and length of rib. Good tail set and carriage.

2. Paczkowski & Cannon’s Ta Maria Beyond Unique, well balanced G/W dog, slightly bigger than 1. With good substance throughout. Nice round head with dark round well set eyes and well set ears with a good length and width of muzzle, black nose with wide open nostrils, good bite and wide jaw lips level, nicely arched neck leading into a lovely shoulder placement and good return of upper arm. Good depth of brisket and spring of rib, firm loin, level topline, well set tail that he carried well, moved well, just preferred to balance and extension of 1. Today.

3. Barrell’s Chanikos My Mystery Dream Via Javerda. 3rd in Puppy.

YD (2) 1. MacDonald’s Hin Chen’s Just For You At Centastage, Dark Gold & White, Finer, smaller style of dog with a nice shape and outline standing and, on the move, round head, dark eye, black nose with wide open nostrils, good width of jaw, good head to tail balance with a level topline. Well presented and handled. Moved and showed well.

2. Longstaff’s Shihmali Wild At Heart JW, G/W masculine dog, rounded head with a nice round dark eye, black nose with wide open nostrils. Good substance, overall size and balance, good length of neck with a well laid shoulder. Just preference the movement and head to tail balance of 1. Today.

ND (1). Skawska’s Norboo Bobby Dazzler Of Mapimakastar, Raw gold puppy just 6 months, well balanced with a good front assembly, nice head and dark eye, correct bite, level topline on the stand and on the move, good tail set and carriage, good spring and length of rib for his age. Will tighten up with age and moved ok once he was on a looser lead. Moved better in later classes once he had settled.

GD (2) 1. Willett’s Debeaux Who’s The Daddy, Solid Black very elegant and stylish dog with a lovely outline, rounded heads with a dark rounded eye and sweet expression. Slightly longer in muzzle but had a correct bite with good width of jaw, good length of neck leading into a well laid shoulder and good return of upper arm. Good straight forelegs, good pasterns and rounded feet, good width and depth of chest with a level topline high tailset and good carriage. Moved soundly and with style.

2. Ayres & Akers’ Honeyshuchun Soldier Boy At Bornred, Gold dog, loved this dogs round and broad head, dark round eye and good length of muzzle, he has a sweet expression, a good length of neck and well laid shoulder, good topline but a lower tail set which affects his tail carriage. He enjoyed his day and showed well today he was handled and presented very well. I just preferred the shape and free movement of 1.

PGD (3) 1. Clifford’s Cedarhythe Dark Destiny B/W dog well presented with a nice overall shape, round head, Dark well placed eyes, wide jaw with a good nose placement and wide open nostrils. Well laid shoulder and corresponding upper arm, good depth of and width of brisket, with a good spring of rib and good length of ribcage, firm loin with a well set tail, good head to tail balance and balance front and rear angulation. Moved well.

2. Hiscock’s Shidizzle Murray’s Mint, G/W dog Masculine round head of good width, dark round eyes set well apart, low set ears, good length and width of muzzle, with a wide jaw. Fair length of neck and layback of shoulder with a good length of upper arm, good depth of brisket with a good spring of rib. Level topline and high tail set. Moved well.

3. Cutts & Smith’s Senousi Dressed Like Him G/W dog, nicely handled and presented, nice overall balance, his tail never stopped wagging he was such a happy little chap. Rounded head with a dark eye, fair layback of shoulder carried his topline level on the move, slightly lower tail set but he carried his tail well. Moved well.

LD (6,1abs) 1. Thaisu’s Blinding Light, Rich Gold dog with a black mask, lovely substance, size and balance throughout. Loved his shape and breed type, good head to tail balance. Lovely round and broad head with a fabulous expression. Low set ears, dark round eyes, with dark eye rims, well set apart, tip tilted black nose with wide open nostrils, wide jaw with correct bite, and a good chin. Good length of neck with well laid shoulders and corresponding upper arm, very good depth of brisket, spring and length of ribcage with a firm strong loin. Straight forelegs with rounded feet. Balanced front and rear angulation with a level topline and high tail set and carriage, great head to tail balance. He moved soundly and showed well. Pleased to award him the Dog CC and BOS in Show today.

2.Turner’s Rossvale Fantastic Dream At Charonnis JW, Gold Dog Lovely round head, dark well set eyes, wide jaw, low set ears, Fair length of neck with a well laid shoulder and good upper arm, good width of body, level topline and well set tail. Balanced angulation, well presented and moved well.

3. Sullivan & Diffey’s Marhilway Driving Edge At Jacquinta JW, Dark gold and white Dog nice balance overall and nice head and eye, moved well. Unlucky to meet the first two today.

OD (11,2abs) Lovely class to judge, 1. Briggs’ Ch/Bel/Lux/Int Ch Warathwaite The Kingslayer, Rich gold & White elegant and beautifully presented dog, who I have done well for before he became a Champion and I still love him, he is of a different style to my CC winner, but has a lot of old English breeding behind him, he is slightly taller than my CC winner, but so well made in all departments, he is a worthy champion and he moved and showed really well. I cannot improve on my last critique from 2022, but I am so please that he has done so well in the UK and Europe. Pleased to award him the Dog RCC today.

2. Fairley’s Ch Rossvale Wildest Dream JW, my first time judging this lovely B/M gold dog, he is well made throughout and well balanced in all respects, lovely round head with a dark well shaped eye, well set ears, good width of muzzle and jaw with good dentition, lovely soft expression. Good length of neck allowing the head to be held proudly and a nice layback of shoulder and corresponding upper arm. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. He has a good length of loin and firm level topline with a well set tail and good tail carriage, good front and rear angulations with straight forelegs and good round feet, A very worthy champion.

3. Finnanger’s Hin Chen’s Genesio, G/W dog lovely shape and head to tail balance, smaller but beautiful and good breed type, round head with dark well set eyes and a tip tiled nose with wide nostrils, good low set ears, lovely to go over and well made, moved and showed well, unlucky to meet 1 & 2, today.

Bitches

VB (3) 1. Forbes’ Ch Paliden Bucks Fizz To Ekland JW, Lovely rich gold with a strong black mask, feminine well balanced bitch, pretty head and lovely expression, with a nice dark round eye, tip tilted nose and good width of muzzle, wide open nostrils and a good mouth, good length of neck leading into a well laid shoulder and level topline, good width of brisket and depth of chest, high tail set and good carriage, beautifully presented and handled. Moved well and a very worthy Champion. Just lost out to the dog in the challenge on showmanship today. Best Veteran Bitch.

2. Skawska’s Amore Mio Satinel Reheto At Mapimakastar Brindle & White bitch with a sweet expression, rounded head dark eyes with a dark mask and wide open nostrils, she had a good depth of chest and spring of rib and a high set tail, her topline and front could be better. She was well presented and she enjoyed her day, showing herself well.

3. Devine’s Tansingh Color Me Beautiful For Mirazian JW, 15 years and still looking good, well presented by her owner handler, this lovely old lady with her well presented G/w coat, showed just how well the breed lasts into old age. Unfortunate to meet 1 & 2 who had more energy and showed well today.

MPB (3) 1. Cooke’s Thaisu Moon Fairy, well balanced B/W bitch just loved her round head and expression, lovely dark round eyes, well set tip tilted nose with wide open nostrils, good width of jaw, good length of neck leading into a well laid shoulder, good front assembly. Lovely body and substance on this girl with a good depth of chest and spring of rib, level topline, good tail set and carriage. Her coat is a work in progress at the moment, but hopefully it will come on as she matures, her conformation could not be denied today. Moved soundly and showed herself well.

2. Clifford’s Cedarhythe Enchantment, Pretty and feminine B/W bitch slightly taller than 1, Good length of neck and well laid shoulder and good length of upper arm with a good topline, not as well developed in chest as 1. At the moment she was the youngest in the class and it was her first Ch show, so she wasn’t that settled on the table, but she moved well.

3. Skawska’s Mapimakastar Lady Sat Al, Taller G/W bitch well presented, feminine head and good head to tail balance. Moved well.

PB (4) 1, Howard’s Tameron Miss Ruby Orchid, loved this feminine G/W bitch, loved her size, shape and balance, she was well bodied with substance throughout, good length of neck leading into a well laid shoulder and corresponding upper arm. Good spring of rib and depth of chest for her age. Such a sweet expression with round dark eyes and a well set, muzzle of good width, with wide nostrils, low set ears and a round head. A lovely free moving bitch with good front extension and rear drive showing full pads, she held her level topline at all times and had a well set tail with good carriage. Best Puppy Bitch.

2, Spencer Down’s Chanikos Harper Seven At Evieshu, Elegant B/W bitch, well balanced head to tail and overall balance, she has a lovely feminine head, dark round eye, well placed nose with wide open nostrils, correct dentition with a wide jaw, low set ears and a round head. Good length of neck and layback of shoulder with a good length of upper arm, good depth of chest and spring of rib for her age, well ribbed back with a firm loin, level topline that she held standing and, on the move, she played up a bit in this class, but there was still enough to see her movement was sound. And she was more settle in the next class, which she went on to win.

3, Willett’s Debeaux Caught You Looking, Another well balanced B/W puppy shown in fabulous condition and moved well, just preferred the toplines of 1 & 2 today.

JB (4) 1. Spencer Down’s Chanikos Harper Seven At Evieshu, 2nd in Puppy Bitch.

2, Brown’s Rossvale’s Got The Look, Feminine G/W bitch, So well made with lovely substance and body, good depth of chest and spring of rib, well ribbed back with a level top line and a well set tail which she carried well, sweet expression with dark round eyes and a well set muzzle with open nostrils. Moved soundly.

3, Shidizzle Bryamzy Sue At Maskeen, Smaller and very feminine G/W bitch Round head, low set ears, pretty face with dark round eyes, moved soundly. Fair Layback of Shoulder and length of upper arm, level top line, high tail set, although the tail carriage could be higher.

YB (4) 1. Maule’s Jadetemple Jaci Higgins At Daltricia JW, beautifully balanced feminine G/W bitch, lovely round head and sweet expression with well placed dark round eyes, good nose placement with wide open nostrils, good width of jaw with a very good bite and full dentition, level lips. Good length of neck leading into a well laid shoulder and corresponding upper are, straight forelegs and round feet, a good spring of rib and depth of brisket, level topline on the move and standing firm loin, high set tail that was carried very well, completely sound on the move showing full pads and moved with front extension and rear drive. Was pleased to award her the Bitch CC and BIS.

2. Sullivan’s Santosha Black Charm At Jaquinta, Taller but well balanced Black bitch, with a good head to tail balance, rounded head with dark rounded eyes, with a wide jaw, good length of neck and shoulder placement high tail set and carriage. Moved well.

3. Thornton’s Norboo Bella Rosa, Smaller but nicely shaped gold bitch, sweet expression. Handled well and moved well, holding her shape and her top line.

NB (3) 1. Yeap’s Thaisu The Crafty, Feminine 4 year old Taller and elegant G/W bitch well presented and handled, she had a good shape with a nice head and expression, a good shoulder placement and depth of brisket with a good spring of rib, level top line with a good tail set, she moved well. I was surprised that she was still in the novice class after checking out her pedigree profile on the database.

2. McMillan’s Yazhi Dancing Queen, Smaller feminine G/W bitch with a lovely head and expression, good body and front, her tail set was good but her tail carriage could have been higher, she moved and showed well.

3. Skawska’s Mapimakastar Jasmin Jol Ja, G/W bitch shown in good coat and well presented, slightly higher on the leg and her tail set is quite low, sadly not too happy in this class and not getting her tail up. But sympathetically handled.

GB (3) 1. Yeap’s Thaisu The Crafty. Winner of NB

2. Shaw’s Shorestar Mystical Pixie, B/W bitch, feminine and smaller that 1. Sweet face with a round smaller head, fair layback of shoulder and length of upper arm, level top line, moved well.

3. Skawska’s Mapimakastar Jasmin Jol Ja. 3rd In NB.

PGB (2, 1abs) 1. Pope’s Shidizzle Bryamzy Sue At Maskeen. See 3rd JB.

LB (5,1bs) 1. Finnanger’s Hin Chen’s Heroes Of Our Time. Very well balanced G/W bitch, nice head and expression, with a nice dark round eye, good nose placement with wide open nostrils, low set ears and a wide jaw. Nice shoulder placement and return of upper arm, good depth of chest and spring of rib, well ribbed back with a firm loin, straight forelegs and good feet, level topline with a good high tail set and carriage, moved soundly and freely with extension and drive. Res Bitch CC & RBIS.

2. Maule’s Daltricia Jane Austen JW, slightly taller pale gold & white bitch, well made throughout, pretty head and expression with a good bite. Round head, low set ears good length of neck and layback of shoulder, balanced front and rear angulation. Level topline, moved well.

3. Baldwin’s Valkiria Sweet Addict For Maili (Imp Pol). Well balanced, striking and elegant B/W bitch well presented and handled, just preferred the angulation and toplines of the first two today.

OB (5) 1. Finnanger’s Eastfane’s Garam Masala, G/W bitch, feminine with a lovely shape and size, feminine head with a sweet expression, dark round eyes, well set nose and good width of skull with a wide jaw. Good length of neck and well laid shoulders and upper arm, good spring of chest and depth of brisket, level topline with a high tail set and carriage, moved well.

2. Sweeney’s Senousi Love The Dress, G/W bitch lovely head and expression, tip tilted nose, round head, dark round eyes well placed, not as good as 1, in lay of shoulder, good tail set and carriage, presented and moved well.

3. Willett’s Juhua’s Heavenly Scent To Debeaux. Beautifully presented and handled G/W bitch, nice body shape, slightly bigger all over than 1 & 2, with a good body, well made and moved well with style.

Judge Suzanne Keree-Bartolo (Shirkeira /Middletune)