Page 23 - ShowSight Presents - The Shih Tzu
P. 23
Illustrating Two Styles of Topknots: Left, Today’s One Piece Topknot. Right, A Split Topknot from the 1980’s.
Temperament
In judging Shih Tzu, temperament should never be an issue. This is a happy breed, which would rather kiss you than have you examine it. A bit of happy “naugh- tiness” should be expected. Please do not expect the Shih Tzu to be a robot. At the same time, any hint of shyness, should be noted and considered, when making your decisions. Aggressiveness, as in any other breed, is not to be tolerated.
nce ooon
The Shih Tzu is a rectangular breed. The distance from the withers to the set of the tail is ‘slightly’ longer than the distance from the withers to the ground. The limits for height are from 8” to 11”; ideally from 9 to 10-1/2.” Therefore if a dog’s height measures 10-1/2” at the withers, then the distance from the withers to the set of the tail should be approximately 10-3/4.” When you add fore-chest and buttocks to the trunk section, you have a distinctly rectangular dog. Judging height to length balance is done best on the table, (where all dogs in the Toy Group must be examined). Judging Shih Tzu outdoors, in grass will add at least an inch or more to apparent overall length and of course will distort the true balance and make the dog look much longer than it really is. Toy exhibitors fre- quently complain that the grass is never mowed short enough. On a flat surface this is much less of a problem. Of course judg- ing the breed in the wind and rain creates a real disaster. When looking at a class of dogs, look at where their toplines are and not at the top of their heads. Typically a dog with good shoulders will carry him- self more upright and might appear to be taller. Begin your examination by getting a sense of the overall balance from the side, looking at and comparing all the entries in a class. I always take a single dog or an entire class around the ring before tabling for examination. If you feel it necessary to re-examine any aspect of a toy dog, re- table the dog. It is permissible to put no more than two at a time on the table to make comparison. As with some other toy breeds, having the handler pick the dog up to eye level for examination to re check details of the head is permissible.
Grooming
The Shih Tzu is just as much a “groom- ing breed” as the Yorkshire Terrier, the Maltese, the Poodle and the Terrier breeds to name a few... Grooming and presen- tation are important. Excesses are not acceptable. Grooming techniques have evolved over the years, often to the det- riment of the breed. Anyone approved by AKC to judge any breed, knows what the AKC rules are and what is and is not allowed. You all know what your options are and how to deal with it.
I find it difficult to penalize a dog for what a human has done to it. Regarding the Shih Tzu Standard, there is nothing specific in the standard as to ‘how’ the topknot is supposed to be ‘prepared’. The standard simple says, “Hair on top of head is tied up.” In fact the standard prior to 1989, simply said hair... MAY be tied up. Notice there is nothing specific as to what the topknot should look like or how many band may be used, etc. If you as a judge find something excessive, you will have to deal with it as you see fit. I would suggest though, that if you are going to penalize Shih Tzu for perceived grooming abuses, I ask that you be just as consistent with other highly groomed breeds. Before the 90s, almost all topknots were tied up with a dental ligature and split, with the hair flowing down both sides of the head. The Shih Tzu has a habit of shaking violently when first coming off the table, which leaves the hair flying in all directions, but especially over the face. To minimize the effects of shaking, exhibitors began to shorten the topknots. As time passed other techniques were employed to keep the hair
in place. Some feel the reason topknots have gotten “higher” is to give the appear- ance of more neck. This may or may not be the reason. Some feel that this ability to manufacture an intricate topknot gives the expert groomer an advantage over the average breeder/exhibitor. To be sure some feel these intricate topknots are a way of intimidating the judge from really exam- ining the read. Most Shih Tzu exhibitors believe they would not win if they did not use the “modern” topknot. I was recently told that on one occasion, an exhibitor using the ‘old fashioned’ topknot was told by a judge to go to the other exhibitors who could teach them how to do up the topknot the correct way. I prefer the split style topknot, but the style of topknot, in which an entry is presented, would have almost no effect on my judging or place- ments. There are simply too many other aspects of the breed which are more impor- tant and critical. Recently I was critical of the tail, of a Terrier I was judging and did not reward it a win. When I stated this to a breed expert, I was asked “what about the dog in front of the tail.” Again, the stan- dard states “Care should be taken to look and examine well beyond the hair to deter- mine if what is seen is the actual head and expression rather than an image created by grooming technique.” Regarding trim- ming, the standard says “Trimming - Feet, bottom of coat and anus may be done for neatness and to facilitate movement. Fault: Excessive trimming.
The most important characteristics to keep in mind while judging these beautiful dogs. Are: Temperament, Balance, Heads, Body, Coat and Color and Movement.
