Full Critique for Manchu Shih Tzu Society 2026
Judge : Mrs Susanne Crossley
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| I would like to thank the Manchu Shih Tzu Society for their kind invitation to judge their 59th Championship Show and to all of the exhibitors who gave me a lovely entry. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank my stewards Hazel Chadwick and Fiona Everall who kept things running smoothly throughout the day. The most disappointing point to note since my last judging appointment at WELKS in 2019 is the loss of correct, breed typical heads. There were a number of exhibits with narrow skulls and small eyes set too close together, resulting in the loss of that characteristic haughty Shih Tzu expression, which is really worrying to see. That said, I was very pleased with my top awards on the day. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Yazhi Aladdin Sane At Warathwaite | A red gold and white dog showing a pleasing outline both standing and on the move. Nicely constructed throughout, presenting as a balanced puppy with correct proportions. Handled and presented to advantage and moved steadily for one so young. |
| 2nd | Schnaubern Sean Dillon At Daltricia | A smaller stamped male but remaining balanced in his overall make up. Slightly smaller eye, though carrying a good mouth. Well bodied for his age and shown in good coat. |
| VHC | Norboo De Von | Black and white dog of a smaller type, presented in good coat. Shows a pleasing expression and moved freely around the ring. Just preferred the overall balance and presence of the winner on the day. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Hin Chen’s Obsession (Imp Nor) | Red gold and white dog showing good substance for his age. Carries a strong, masculine head that is well balanced, complemented by a high set tail. Large, round, dark eye of pleasing proportion. Best Puppy Dog. |
| 2nd | Norboo De Von | Black and white dog of a smaller type, presented in good coat. Shows a pleasing expression and moved freely around the ring. Just preferred the overall balance and presence of the winner on the day. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Ethelsmead Ripleys Game | Gold and white dog of pleasing type, showing the sweetest of expressions. Well shaped head with good eye placement, carrying the darkest of eyes of lovely proportion. Presented in good coat, with a well laid shoulder, level topline, and correct body length. Well bodied for his age and showing lovely balance on the move, maintaining a nice outline throughout. |
| 2nd | Warathwaite Hear Me Roar | Solid gold dog, immaculately presented in excellent coat and handled to perfection. Well proportioned head with a lovely dark, round eye. Correct tail set, good depth of body, and moved out well with purpose. Just preferred the overall balance and proportions of the winner on the day. |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Hin Chen’s Mount Everest JW | Gold and white dog of beautiful proportions and pleasing type. Showing the sweetest of expressions, aided by a large, dark, round eye and tip tilted nose giving that true Shih Tzu expression. Good depth and width of chest, correct body length, and well balanced throughout. A lovely example of the breed. Reserve CC and RBIS |
| 2nd | Chanikos My Mystery Dream Via Javerda JW | Gold brindle and white dog of a larger type. Presented in good coat and shown to perfection. Good substance and body, driving well around the ring. Just preferred the overall proportions and breed type of the winner on the day. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Matsonic Bright Spirit At Quingshui | Solid gold dog of pleasing type and excellent balance throughout. Good size with correct proportions, shown in good coat and condition. Attractive, well shaped head with a lovely dark eye and good nose placement, creating a correct Shih Tzu expression. Strong neck flowing into a level topline, good depth of body and well developed rib. Moved with drive and purpose around the ring, maintaining his outline well. |
| 2nd | Ethelsmead Half A Sixpence At Kengai | Gold and white dog with a lovely head and expression. Presented in good coat and excellent condition. Shows good depth and spring of rib with a strong topline when standing. Preferred the movement of the winner on the day. |
| Minor Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Chanikos My Mystery Dream Via Javerda JW | Gold brindle and white dog of a larger type. Presented in good coat and shown to perfection. Good substance and body, driving well around the ring. Just preferred the overall proportions and breed type of the winner on the day. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Rossvale Fantastic Dream At Charonnis JW | Solid gold dog presented in lovely condition. Strong, broad head with a large, round skull and the darkest of eyes, well placed and of good size. Excellent depth and width of chest with well laid back shoulders. Well balanced throughout and makes a strong picture standing. |
| 2nd | Peekin Reggie Rebel-Tu | Gold and white dog of a smaller type, shown in good coat and condition. Carries a large head with good width of muzzle. Correctly made for his size and presented well on the day. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Hin Chen’s Genesio (Int) | Gold and white dog of excellent proportions and true type. Showing the sweetest of expressions, with a well shaped head and dark eye correctly placed. Well bodied with correctly positioned shoulders and maintaining lovely balance both standing and moving. Moved with drive and purpose around the ring. |
| 2nd | Ch. Rossvale Wildest Dream JW | Solid gold dog who pushed hard for the class win. Shown in lovely coat and condition, with a dark eye and good head properties. Well balanced throughout and very soundly constructed. Just preferred the overall proportions and movement of the winner on the day. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Shirkeira Any Dream Will Do For Middletune | Gold and white, very pretty and of pleasing type. Lovely head and eye, with a great body for her age. Well proportioned throughout, showing lovely balance and driving well around the ring. BPIS |
| 2nd | Shirkeira Ab Fabulous | Black and white with plenty of attitude. Shows lovely movement and is soundly constructed, with everything in the right place. Not quite the head of the winner, but a promising youngster. |
| 3rd | Marhilway Little Bit Of Edge | Gold and white, well bodied for her age. Pleasing front assembly with a good layback of shoulder, large spring of rib, and correct set of tail. Presented in good condition. |
| Res | Norboo Dark Aura | Solid black who shows very good balance when moving. Lacking a little confidence on the day, but has a very pretty head and pleasing outline when settled. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Norboo Dark Aura | Solid black who shows very good balance when moving. Lacking a little confidence on the day, but has a very pretty head and pleasing outline when settled. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Kaffdans Princess Lana | Gold and white of good proportions. Pleasing head with a lovely dark eye, giving a correct expression. Well balanced overall and moved steadily around the ring. |
| 2nd | Eastfanes Jubilee Ballet Dancer | Gold and white with pleasing overall balance, in good condition though she gave her handler some challenges on the day. |
| 3rd | Norboo Palmer Violet JW | Solid gold, not quite the balance of the winner. Possesses a lovely head and eye, is well bodied, and presented in good coat and condition. |
| Novice Bitch | ||
| 1st | Eastfanes Jubilee Ballet Dancer | Gold and white with pleasing overall balance, in good condition though she gave her handler some challenges on the day. |
| 2nd | Marhilway Little Bit Of Edge | Gold and white, well bodied for her age. Pleasing front assembly with a good layback of shoulder, large spring of rib, and correct set of tail. Presented in good condition. |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ethelsmead Hocus Pocus To Kengai | What a little star this young lady is. Full of attitude, she demanded my attention as she went around the ring. A lovely gold and white, presented in great condition, with the prettiest of heads and that true Shih Tzu expression. Clearly full of promise and certainly one with a very bright future ahead. |
| 2nd | Hin Chen’s My Juliette JW | Gold and white of pleasing proportions, well bodied and presented in excellent coat and condition. Unlucky to meet the winner on the day. |
| 3rd | Eastfanes Jubilee Ballet Dancer | Gold and white with pleasing overall balance, in good condition though she gave her handler some challenges on the day. |
| Res | Norboo Ya Gotta Have Faith | Solid gold, not quite the finish of the winner at this stage. Pretty head and expression with a good spring of rib. Needs a little more finishing but plenty to like. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ethelsmead Love Kennedy | Gold and white showing the prettiest of expressions. Well balanced throughout with a great body and a lovely tail set. A very pleasing exhibit to go over and assess. |
| 2nd | Norboo Palmer Violet JW | Solid gold, not quite the balance of the winner. Possesses a lovely head and eye, is well bodied, and presented in good coat and condition. |
| Minor Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Middletune Chantilly Lace | Gold and white of a smaller type with a pretty head and expression. Well bodied, creating a good outline when standing, and moved with drive around the ring. A pleasing exhibit throughout. |
| 2nd | Norboo Ya Gotta Have Faith | Solid gold, not quite the finish of the winner at this stage. Pretty head and expression with a good spring of rib. Needs a little more finishing but plenty to like. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | Gold and white with a lovely body and good overall balance. Presented in great condition and moved solidly around the ring, maintaining her outline well. |
| 2nd | Minfaa Shes Quick On The Draw | Gold and white, very feminine and exquisitely pretty. Carries the darkest of eyes and is shown in great coat and condition. Just needs to settle a little more on the move. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Gold and white with the prettiest of heads. Lovely dark eye and very pleasing balance when standing. Well bodied, showing a strong outline, and moved with drive around the ring. | |
| 2nd | Rossvale Dreaming Again | Solid gold of a smaller type, full of attitude and one who really made me smile. In great body and condition, shown with confidence. Just preferred the overall balance of the winner on the day. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Marpalyn Phab Gold | Solid gold who absolutely oozes Shih Tzu type. Beautifully balanced throughout, with correct proportions and a strong yet feminine outline. Possesses a broad, well shaped head with excellent width of skull, large dark eye, and a headpiece that is just exquisite. Good depth of body, strong topline, and correct tail set complete a wonderful picture. A superb example of the breed and delighted to award her the reserve CC and could easily change places with the CC winner on another day. BVIS. |
| 2nd | Ch. Middletune Flame Of Gold | A girl I have admired from ringside on many occasions, full of personality. Possesses the darkest of eyes and a lovely expression, set on a well made body. Moved effortlessly around the ring today. |