Full Critique for Shih Tzu Club of Scotland 2026
Judge : Ms Kirsty Tod
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| Thank you to the committee for the invite to judge your Championship Show. It’s an honour to judge a breed club show, and I’d like to thank the exhibitors for their entries and their sporting acceptance of my decisions. My general comments noted that there were a few dogs out at elbow, narrow heads and some carrying perhaps a little too much weight. Temperaments were excellent, dogs clean, groomed and presented well, and my winners were all great examples of our wonderful breed. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Tameron Mr Amouage | Gold and White. Just 6 months, he has such a gentle, soft expression, round dark eye, nice reach of neck and laid back shoulders, level topline and well set tail. Strong hocks. Boy this little lad can move –showed a clean set of paws and some! He will have a bright future. BPIS |
| 2nd | Senousi Here To There Learmount | 7 months old gold and white, slightly longer cast than 1, good overall balance and moved well. Preferred the expression of 1. |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Sassyshi I’m A Dude Dad | 11 months. Gold and white, with a melting expression, lovely dark eyes and round head. Good mouth. Shoulders well set into a great, level topline, strong back end with strong hocks. Would prefer a slightly higher tail set. |
| 2nd | Carlita’s Passion to Dream | Gold and white, slightly bigger than 1, confident mover showing full paid. Slightly longer in body, tail could be a little higher. |
| 3rd | Norboo De Von | 3rd in Puppy Dog. Black and white. Gentle, soft expression, with dark eye. Well presented. Tail could be slightly higher, moved well. |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Warathwaite Hear Me Roar | Solid gold with black mask, with kindest of expressions, roundest darkest eyes. Solidly built, in good coat with moderate length of neck and balanced outline. Moved well with good drive from the rear. |
| Novice Dog | ||
| 1st | Norboo De Von | 3rd in Puppy Dog. Black and white. Gentle, soft expression, with dark eye. Well presented. Tail could be slightly higher, moved well. |
| 2nd | Yazhi Written In The Stars | Moved well, finer in body than 1, lovely drive moving well around the ring. Just out of coat. |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Thaisu Hot Topic At Marbo | Gold and white, presents a good outline. Darkest of eyes, elbows well tucked into a great body. Level topline and well muscled back end, moved with drive around the ring. Excellent presentation. |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Santosha Black Frost At Hajenza | Black and White of the more traditional type, no mistaking his masculinity, gentle expression without coarseness. Large round head, set into good shoulders, level topline, and good rib. Strong hocks, and moves well with drive. |
| 2nd | Rossvale I Have A Dream JW | Gold and white. Strong head, shoulders well placed into level topline. Good turn of stifle, strong hocks. Presented well, coat needs trimmed a little to really appreciate his powerful movement. Preferred expression of 1. |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Shenleyvale Fifty Shades Of Orange JW | Solid Gold, gentlest of expressions, has that arrogant but cheeky expression of a typical Shih Tzu. Beautiful round head, ample neck into well laid back shoulders. Strong boned, well sprung ribs, balanced outline, with a great tail set. Drives with power around the ring, showing full pad. Pleased to award him RCC. |
| 2nd | Thaisu Trick Or Treat At Chiachi | Gold and white. Well bodied lad, with good head to tail ratio. Well ambulated with strong movement, well coated and presented to perfection. Just preferred expression of 1. |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Santosha Dark Secret With Coursani | What a beautiful class with some excellent examples of our breed! Was really nit picking – so many deserving winners, thank you for bringing these wonderful specimens under me. Solid Black. Wherever I went in the ring I felt him looking at me, he demanded attention and his arrogant expression just screams the oriental look of our breed. From one of the top Shih Tzu kennels, he is a traditional, old fashioned example of our breed. You really need to look closely into this solid black face to appreciate the roundest, darkest of eyes, large round head and strong jaw. Excellent neck into well laid back shoulders, good bone and substance, strong loin leading into excellent turn of stifle and well muscled thighs. He moves with powerful drive round the ring, and on the stand his outline is longer than tall, as required in the standard. Couldn’t deny this dog his 3rd all important CC, he is a well deserved Champion. RBIS. |
| 2nd | Ch. Tameron Mr Penhaligons | Gold & White. A shame to meet 1, could swop places any time. Such a soft, gentle expression with darkest of eyes, lovely balance, heavy boned and well built, level topline, and correctly set tail. Showing full pad as he moved around the ring, beautifully presented and handled to perfection. |
| Veteran Dog | ||
| 1st | Marbo Whatever You Want | 7yr old gold and white. Just a youngster, sweetest of expressions, nice round head and dark eye. Good balance, high tail set, moved and presented well. BVIS. |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Jacquinta Moonlight Shadow | 6 months old, confident solid black with lovely expression, strong head, darkest of eyes, good reach of neck, into level topline and great tail set. Moved well showing full pad. |
| 2nd | Ethelsmead Midnite In Paris Avec Coursani | 8 months old gold and white. Pretty little girl with the loveliest of heads, round dark eyes, tip tilted nose, and great mouth. Well balanced, tucked in elbows, level topline with high tail set. Moved really well. These two will swop places any time, 1 was just a little more mature. |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Shenleyvale Simply The Zest At Evieshu | 11 months. Gold and white with the most melting of expressions. Round dark eyes, good reach of neck, well ribbed and moved well. Tail needs to loosen a little. Coat coming on well. |
| 2nd | Norboo Dark Aura | 10 month old. Solid black, round dark eyes set into a good head. Lovely tail set finishes a good overall outline. Moved with drive |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Eastfanes Jubilee Ballet Dancer | Gold and white, on the smaller side, but a very feminine girl with lots to like, dark eye, lovely round head, broad rib, correct balance, with high set tail, presented, handled and moved very well. |
| 2nd | Shenleyvale Simply The Zest At Evieshu | 11 months. Gold and white with the most melting of expressions. Round dark eyes, good reach of neck, well ribbed and moved well. Tail needs to loosen a little. Coat coming on well. |
| Novice Bitch | ||
| 1st | Jacquinta Moonlight Shadow | 6 months old, confident solid black with lovely expression, strong head, darkest of eyes, good reach of neck, into level topline and great tail set. Moved well showing full pad. |
| 2nd | Yazhi Dancing Queen | Gold and white. What a pretty little girl with lots of personality! Reminded me of one I have at home. Such a sweet expression, with the largest, darkest of eyes, great mouth and good reach of neck. Well balanced with lovely high tail. She showed full pad as she moved around the ring. Special mention to her handler who presented this little dog sympathetically – what a lovely little pair they made! |
| 3rd | Shenleyvale Simply The Zest At Evieshu | 11 months. Gold and white with the most melting of expressions. Round dark eyes, good reach of neck, well ribbed and moved well. Tail needs to loosen a little. Coat coming on well. |
| Res | Norboo Dark Aura | 10 month old. Solid black, round dark eyes set into a good head. Lovely tail set finishes a good overall outline. Moved with drive |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Norboo Ya Gotta Have Faith | Solid gold with black mask. Nice expression, level topline, showed full pad as she moved round the ring. Out of coat at the moment. |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Chanikos Harper Seven At Evieshu JW | Black and white who presents a beautiful outline, with a great head/tail ratio. Typical oriental expression in a large round head, table top level topline, and shows a clean pair of paws as she powers around the ring. |
| 2nd | Shidizzle Bryamzy Sue at Maskeen | Gold and white, gentle expression with dark eye. Adequate reach of neck, good layback of shoulder, and moved well. |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Sassyshi Cake By The Ocean With Shirkeira JW | I have watched this little girl grow from a promising puppy into the beautiful example of a Shih Tzu she is today. A gold and white, with the gentlest of expressions in a stunning head, perfect reach of neck, into well set shoulders. Low set, well bodied and heavy boned, elbows tucked in and straight front. Her correctly level topline ends with a typical teapot tail, strong thighs and hocks which she uses to her advantage as she powers round the ring. Presented and handled to perfection. Reminds me very much of a bitch I admired years ago, and was so glad to have the opportunity to appreciate her beautiful qualities. BCC and BIS. I hope her 3rd ticket is not too far away. |
| 2nd | Thaisu Sister Bliss | Black and white. A lovely oriental expression, dark eyes set into a good head, which is typical of this kennel. The older type of breeding, solid, heavy boned, with good overall balance, well coated, and powerful movement. |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Eastfane’s Garam Masala (N/Fin/SE/UCH) | Gold and white and like a carbon copy of my limit bitch winner. Beautifully soft expression, strong round head, darkest of eye, adequate reach of neck into a level topline, balanced tail, and strong back movement powered her round the ring. Presented and handled to make the most of her attributes. |
| 2nd | Ch. Tameron Miss Ruby Orchid | Gold and white and a shame to meet 1 on the day. Very pretty, with lovely dark eyes, adequate neck into well laid back shoulders. Level topline and moves around the ring with a powerful drive, as is typical of this kennel. Preferred the tail set of 1. |
| Veteran Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Paliden Bucks Fizz To Ekland JW | 8yr old solid gold. Lovely arrogant expression, with feminine head, moves with drive. In profuse coat, which is beautifully groomed. |