Full Critique for Northern Counties Shih Tzu Club 2026
Judge : Miss Susan Johnson
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| I would like to thank the Northern Counties Shih Tzu Club Committee for their kind invitation to judge their Championship show on the 4th April 2026. I found everyone very welcoming and the atmosphere at the show was relaxed and friendly. Many thanks also to my steward Janet Kay for her efficient handling of my ring with backup from Tom Casentieri, lastly thanks to the competitors for their good entry. It’s been five years since I last judged our breed and I found the quality of the entry to be generally strong. Rear movement has improved, but sadly I found a few poor mouths creeping back into the breed. My top winners however, were excellent and I think the breed is generally going in the right direction. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Cedarhythe Up To No Good With Bishbow | A Black & White Boy, just six months on the day. A real baby but showed confidence and personality, loving his time in the ring. Beautifully balanced, a gorgeous head, wide set dark eyes and a wide jaw. A credit to his breeder and certainly one to watch. |
| 2nd | Schnaubern Sean Dillon At Daltricia | an 8 month old gold & white boy. Another handsome young man. A lovely head and expression, darkest of eyes and dark pigment. Confident and balanced both standing and on the move. Handled and presented so well. Another one destined for an exciting career, I’m sure. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Santosha Storm Shadow | Gold & White almost 10 months. A mature puppy with excellent balance complemented by a lovely high tail set and excellent level top line. A great head and expression with perfect nose placement and width of jaw. He moved with style and confidence with good hind action I love to see. He was my BPD and ultimately BPIS. |
| 2nd | Hin Chen’s Obsession (Imp Nor) | 10 months old sharing the same birthday as the winner of this class. A deep gold and white boy very mature and slightly bigger than my winner and more heavily boned. An excellent wide skull beautiful eyes and a mouth to die for. Very heavily coated and moved well but not as freely as the winner. |
| 3rd | Keola On The Road Again | A gold and white boy, well balanced, lovely markings, good level top line, wide head, lovely expression. Excellent spring of rib. Shown in excellent coat. Presentation and handling were first class. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Debeaux Eye On The Ball | A jet black boy 14 months, mature for his age. A lovely size with excellent balance. I loved his tail set. A great spring of rib. Moved with confidence, showing balance and drive behind. |
| 2nd | Shidizzle Quartzite Star Of Crimsonleash | Gold & White only 11months but a mature boy for his age. Again, another gorgeous head with a perfect shih Tzu bite. A good lay of shoulder and spring of rib. Liked his width behind. Another promising puppy. |
| Novice Dog | ||
| 1st | Shidizzle Quartzite Star Of Crimsonleash | Gold & White only 11months but a mature boy for his age. Again, another gorgeous head with a perfect shih Tzu bite. A good lay of shoulder and spring of rib. Liked his width behind. Another promising puppy. |
| 2nd | Keola On The Road Again | A gold and white boy, well balanced, lovely markings, good level top line, wide head, lovely expression. Excellent spring of rib. Shown in excellent coat. Presentation and handling were first class. |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Hin Chen’s Mount Everest JW | A gold and white boy of excellent size and balance. Shown in immaculate coat. Another beautiful head and expression. Darkest of eyes set wide apart, lovely width of jaw. He was balanced both standing and moving. Loved his attitude to showing. |
| 2nd | Norboo Bobby Dazzler Of Mapimakastar JW | Solid gold boy. Well balanced with a level top line. Nice head and lovely wide jaw. Moved well showing his pads behind. |
| Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Santosha Black Frost At Hajenza | A black and white, stood alone In this class but a worthy winner. A Old fashioned type of Shih Tzu with plenty of bone and substance. A broad head with a melting expression. Lovely width o jaw. Good balance when moving and retained his level top line at all times. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Charonnis Its Now Or Never | A deep coloured solid gold with a black mask. A very well balanced boy with good flowing movement. Excellent Width of skull and well spaced dark eyes. Very well presented and handled. |
| 2nd | Debeaux Magic In The Making | Black and white, immaculately presented, so well balanced both standing and moving. A good high tail set and a lovely level top line. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Fantastic Dream At Charonnis JW | An Impressive solid gold. So well balanced both standing and moving. I loved his head, soft expression and width of jaw. Good neckline well laid shoulders and strong level top line. High tail set making a super outline and width and drive behind when moving. I saw him at his first ever show and liked him then. Not having seen him since I was amazed to find I had awarded him his first CC today. Surely, he should make up soon. He was also my BIS winner. |
| 2nd | Keola Driving Force JW | A brindle and white dog, showing good balance, both standing and moving. A lovely high tail set, level tope line and good reach of neck. Presented to perfection. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Hin Chen’s Genesio (Int) | Another lovely specimen of the breed. A very well balanced boy with a high teapot handle tail which I love. Good width of head, a lovely reach of neck and excellent level top line at all times. Presented to me in beautiful coat. My reserve Dog CC winner today. |
| 2nd | Ch. Tameron Mr Penhaligons | A gold and white boy with an impressive outline both on the table and moving. A well arched neck and well laid shoulders, moved with excellent drive. Presented and handled to perfection. |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Jacquinta Lets Go Andy JW | A gold and white boy, 9 years old but carrying his age so well. An old favourite of mine. He moved round the ring correctly and freely with balance and enthusiasm. Excellent wide head, well spaced eyes, a good nose set, Lovely wide jaw sadly missing in some younger dogs today. I learnt after that he was to be retired at the end of this show, so was pleased I had awarded him Best Veteran Dog. |
| 2nd | Buttons Dream A Dream | Solid gold boy 9 years. Another looking so well and fit for his age. Loved his head and expression. Showed A good Outline when moving and kept his great high tail set. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Shirkeira Ab Fabulous | An Impressive Black & White Girl, who caught my eye as soon as she entered the ring. At 6 months she was a confident, sassy young lady. A lovely head and expression, a good mouth, nice dark eyes. A level Top line both standing and moving. Beautifully presented. She should have a bright future. My Best Puppy Bitch. |
| 2nd | Carlita’s Passion To Love At Shihmali | A very attractive, feminine gold and white bitch 7 months. Unlucky to meet the winner today, she showed confidently and was well balanced at all times. Presented to me in good coat. Another one I will watch out for in the future. |
| 3rd | Norboo Dark Aura | A solid Black girl (Third in the previous class) sadly very reluctant to be handled on the table. However, confident on the move showing a well balanced outline. She just needs time and a lot more socialising. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Norboo Dark Aura | A solid Black girl (Third in the previous class) sadly very reluctant to be handled on the table. However, confident on the move showing a well balanced outline. She just needs time and a lot more socialising. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Snowshoes Lady Penelope For Maili JW | A beautiful, elegant gold and white bitch. Gorgeous head with a lovely wide jaw and excellent mouth. Dark eyes with width forming a lovely expression. Good reach of neck well sprung ribcage, level top line and good tail set. A mature girl for her age. Handled well and shown in excellent condition, I’m sure she will have a bright future. My reserve CC winner. |
| 2nd | Eastfanes Jubilee Ballet Dancer | A gold and white girl of a smaller type. Very Feminine. A gorgeous head and expression. Good natural Balance at all times and a beautiful high tail set. |
| 3rd | Norboo Ya Gotta Have Faith | A pretty feminine solid gold girl with a lovely head and expression. Super nose placement. Good reach of neck and level top line. |
| Novice Bitch | ||
| 1st | Carlita’s Passion To Love At Shihmali | A very attractive, feminine gold and white bitch 7 months. Unlucky to meet the winner today, she showed confidently and was well balanced at all times. Presented to me in good coat. Another one I will watch out for in the future. |
| 2nd | Norboo Ya Gotta Have Faith | A pretty feminine solid gold girl with a lovely head and expression. Super nose placement. Good reach of neck and level top line. |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Hin Chen’s My Juliette JW | A gold and White girl shown in beautiful coat. Loved her wide head, dark eyes and true Shih Tzu expression. She was well balanced and moved with ease. Retained her outline at all times. A lovely young girl. |
| 2nd | Norboo Ya Gotta Have Faith | A pretty feminine solid gold girl with a lovely head and expression. Super nose placement. Good reach of neck and level top line. |
| Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Debeaux Devil In A Dress With Aranel | Black and White girl, beautifully presented in good coat. Lovely reach of neck. Darkest of eyes. Nice head and expression. Moved with good balance. |
| 2nd | Mapimakastar Jasmin Jol Ja JW | Gold and White. Well balanced. Very dark beautiful eyes. Good width of jaw. Unsettled when moving at first but settled and moved well when moved off the mat. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Rossvale’s Got The Look JW | A gold and white bitch of a lovely size. Very feminine and typical of this kennel. She is well balanced and moves freely retaining a good outline. Gorgeous head and expression with dark melting eyes. She will have a bright future, I’m sure. |
| 2nd | Paliden Starlight Kisses | A solid gold with a melting expression, dark beautiful eyes. This kennel has retained its type over many generations. Sadly, today she didn’t put in a lot of effort for me on the move. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Jadetemple Jaci Higgins At Daltricia JW | A beautiful elegant bitch with a gorgeous feminine head and lovely dark eyes. Excellent mouth. Good reach of neck and lovely level top line. Presented in full coat. Handled and show to perfection. |
| 2nd | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | I loved the outline of this bitch, which was complemented by her high tail set. She has a very pretty head with well spaced eyes and a nice nose placement to complete a lovely expression. Sadly, today her handler was struggling with one arm in a sling, which made standing and moving her difficult. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Senousi Love The Dress | Deep gold and white girl of high quality. She caught My eye today as she entered the ring and did not disappoint on closer inspection. An old fashioned type, not overdone, but with everything in place. Good broad head with a lovely expression, nice reach of neck, excellent lay of shoulder, level top line and well sprung ribs. She moved fluently round the ring with sound flowing strides. Was my Bitch CC winner today, Reserve BIS and BOS in show. |
| 2nd | Ch. Tameron Miss Ruby Orchid | Very similar in size and type to the winner and I noticed afterwards that they are related. Feminine girl with good substance. A lovely outline and firm level top line both standing and moving. A typical Shih Tzu head and expression with a lovely wide jaw. Shown In Heavey Coat and immaculately presented. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Centastage Just Imagine (Dutch Vet Ch) | Deep gold and white girl of excellent type and quality, 8 ½ years old and still showing like a youngster. Great bone and substance and a fantastic outline. Complemented with a lovely high teapot tail. Shown in immaculate coat and went so well for her handler. Pleased to award her BVB and Best Veteran In Show. |
| 2nd | Ch. Paliden Bucks Fizz To Ekland JW | A solid gold with black mask. An Elegant and feminine bitch. Shown in coat to die for. Beautiful head and expression. She has the darkest of eyes and a melting expression. It’s easy to see why she got her title. |