Full Critique for Extra Champ Show Manchu STC 2025
Judge : Mr Matthew Russell
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| First of all, I would like to thank the exhibitors for such a lovely entry and for the gracious way that the placings were taken. There were some very difficult classes where some dogs were placed down the line, not because they were not of good quality, but due to the dogs they were competing against in that class. I always use the breed standard when judging as this is the blueprint of what distinguishes the breed from other dogs. The Shih Tzu should be more than a generic dog with a top-knot and teapot handle tail. The Shih Tzu should be a small dog of good weight due to the bone substance and shape and size of the ribcage. You should be able to fit the palm of your hand between the front legs due to the width of ribcage which should then follow through the rest of the dog. I did find a number of dogs that did not have this, which is concerning. Some dogs were giving a square appearance, which is not what the standard calls for. The Shih Tzu should be slightly longer between withers and point of tail than height at withers, not from point of shoulder to point of buttock. We should not be looking for swan-necks, but there should be enough neck to carry the head proudly. I was surprised to see that some were quite stuffy in the neck which affected the overall shape. Lack of width of jaw was a concern on some dogs. I have never been a stickler for 6 teeth between the incisors; it is the width and shape of the jaw that is important which contributes to the expression. White of eye has always been a problem and seems to be ongoing. This also has a detrimental effect on the expression. I found temperaments on the majority of dogs was very good, which is so important, and the standard of grooming was very high. Please be conscious of what is under the coat as well. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Freakshow Opulence Above All At Showshoes JW (ImpE | 7 month old brindle and white with a stylish shape. Good neck and shoulders and well angulated rear. Strong topline with good tailset. Moved well and beautifully presented. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Ethelsmead Ripleys Game | 10 month old gold and white in profuse coat. Lovely head and mouth with ample neck and well laid shoulders. Good ribcage with strong topline and finished with a lovely tailset. Moved well. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Hin Chen’s Mount Everest JW | Stunning gold and white male with a classical Shih Tzu shape. Masculine head with soft expression. Well laid shoulders and strong topline. Superb ribcage. Moved well without exaggeration. |
| 2nd | Thaisu Hot Topic At Marbo | Another typical gold and white male with a lovely head and expression. Strong topline and excellent ribcage. Not quite the strength in rear movement as 1st. |
| Maiden Dog | ||
| 1st | To Be The Best Xantippe For Zefa (ImpUKR) | Gold and white male of a good shape. Masculine head but showing a little white of eye. Moved well. Needs to mature in coat and body to complete the picture. |
| Novice Dog | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Wishful Thinking For Chotahkees | Gold and white male with a lovely head and expression. Darkest of eyes, showing no white. Lovely expression. Broad mouth with plenty of chin. Lovely ribcage with a strong topline. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Hin Chen’s Lucky Lionheart | Another beautiful, yet masculine male of a classic Shih Tzu shape. Lovely head and expression with broad jaw, showing good chin. Very good neck and well laid shoulders. Excellent forechest following through to a superb ribcage. Well angulated rear and strong topline. Moved with ease showing full pads. |
| 2nd | Chanikos My Mystery Dream Via Javerda JW | Brindle and white male with a lovely head and expression. Well laid shoulders and well angulated rear which showed in his movement. Strong topline and well set tail. |
| Res | Rossvale Wishful Thinking For Chotahkees | Gold and white male with a lovely head and expression. Darkest of eyes, showing no white. Lovely expression. Broad mouth with plenty of chin. Lovely ribcage with a strong topline. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Santosha Night Shade | 1st, Reserve CC and Reserve Best In Show. Black and white male of such quality. Lovely head and expression with large expressive eyes, showing no white. Superb pigmentation and broad mouth. Strong neck and well laid shoulders. Lovely shaped ribcage which extended well back with a strong topline. Well angulated rear and superb tailset. Moved well in front and behind, creating a lovely shape. |
| 2nd | Thaisu Morningstar Avec Kimevan JW | Solid gold male I have admired from the ringside in the past and was pleased he was just as I expected. Lovely head and expression with broad mouth and excellent chin. Good neck and well laid shoulders. Strong topline and well angulated rear. Moved well, keeping his lovely shape. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Santosha Dark Secret With Coursani | Solid slate grey male of a classic shape. Beautiful head and expression with broad jaw and plenty of chin. Good neck with well laid shoulders and well angulated rear. Lovely ribcage with strong topline and good tailset. Moved well and presented in profuse coat. He should be awarded his 3rd CC soon as he is a worthy champion. |
| 2nd | Ethelsmead Bak To The Future Of Chanikos | Black and white male in superb coat. Lovely head and expression with the darkest of eyes and great pigmentation. Lovely shape due to the good neck, strong topline and lovely tailset. Moved well due to the well laid shoulders and well angulated rear. |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Chanikos Living The Dream At Ethelsmead | Deep gold and white, masculine head and dark expressive eyes. Lovely shape with plenty of substance. Moved well and in superb condition. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Eastfanes Jubilee Ballet Dancer | 8 month gold and white girl. Feminine head with lovely expression, dark eyes with good nose placement and broad jaw. Good neck and shoulders and strong topline to a well set tail creating a lovely shape. Well angulated rear showing full pads on the move. |
| 2nd | Snowshoes Pretty Paloma | 6 months, so still very much a baby. Pretty head and expression with broad mouth. Stylish shape which she kept on the move with good neck and tailset. Well laid shoulders balancing with well angulated rear. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Miracey Miss Holly Berry JW | BPB and BPIS who I was later told is the daughter of my Best Puppy In Breed winner the last time I judged. Very much like her mother. Beautiful, feminine bitch of a lovely shape and size with great substance throughout. Pretty head and expression carried on a strong neck with well laid shoulders. Moved well and presented in lovely coat. |
| 2nd | Kaffdans Princess Lana | Stylish girl with good neck and tailset. Well laid shoulders and well angulated rear which showed in her movement. |
| 3rd | Norboo Palmer Violet JW | Very pretty, feminine sold gold girl of a nice shape. Could do with more width though. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Hin Chen’s My Juliette JW | Gold and white feminine girl with a beautiful, classical outline. Pretty head and expression with lovely neck and shoulders. Good substance and width throughout. Well angulated rear, strong topline and good tailset. Moved with plenty of drive. |
| 2nd | Norboo Palmer Violet JW | Very pretty, feminine sold gold girl of a nice shape. Could do with more width though. |
| Maiden Bitch | ||
| 1st | To Be The Best Xantippe For Zefa (ImpUKR) | Gold and white male of a good shape. Masculine head but showing a little white of eye. Moved well. Needs to mature in coat and body to complete the picture. |
| 2nd | Norboo Palmer Violet JW | Very pretty, feminine sold gold girl of a nice shape. Could do with more width though. |
| Novice Bitch | ||
| 1st | Miracey Miss Holly Berry JW | BPB and BPIS who I was later told is the daughter of my Best Puppy In Breed winner the last time I judged. Very much like her mother. Beautiful, feminine bitch of a lovely shape and size with great substance throughout. Pretty head and expression carried on a strong neck with well laid shoulders. Moved well and presented in lovely coat. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Hin Chens Jewel In The Crown At Centastage | Deep gold and white bitch of a lovely shape. Good neck and shoulders with strong topline and good width throughout due to a well shaped ribcage. Moved well. |
| 2nd | Middletune Chantilly Lace | Feminine solid gold girl of a lovely shape and substance. Moved well. Presented in lovely coat. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Tameron Miss Ruby Orchid | Very feminine pale gold and white bitch of a lovely shape and size. Presented in lovely coat. Lovely head and expression with dark eyes showing no white. Strong neck and well laid shoulders with lovely ribcage of good length and depth. Well angulated rear which showed in her strong rear movement. Well set tail completing the picture. |
| 2nd | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | Brindle and white bitch. Broad head with dark, expressive eye. Wide jaw with plenty of chin. Strong neck and topline. Well laid shoulders and well angulated rear. Good muscle tone and plenty of width throughout. Lovely tailset. Moved well. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Eastfane’s Garam Masala (N/Fin/SE/UCH) | Gold and white bitch of a lovely, traditional shape. Lovely head and expression with dark, expressive eyes, good nose placement and wide jaw. Good length of neck and well laid shoulders. Good ribcage and strong topline. Moved well. |
| 2nd | Ch. Tameron Miss Smell Of Chanel | Pale gold and white female of a lovely shape. Good neck and shoulders with lovely ribcage. Strong topline and well angulated rear. Moved so well due to her construction. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Marpalyn Phab Gold | Have loved this feminine solid gold girl from a puppy. A beautiful shape with no exaggeration which did not change when stood or moving. Lovely head and expression with dark eyes and good nose placement and wide jaw. Strong neck and well laid shoulders balanced with well angulated rear. Good width throughout and superb ribcage. Good topline and well set tail. Covered the ground well and presented in lovely coat. |
| 2nd | Ch. Paliden Bucks Fizz To Ekland JW | Another beautiful sold gold bitch, a real credit to the owner and breeder. Lovely shape with good width and substance throughout. Lovely head carried on strong neck, well laid shoulders and well angulated rear. Strong topline and well set tail. Moved well in superb coat. |