UNITED KINGDOM TOYDOG SOCIETY - Ch

Judges Critiques

Mrs B SUTTON

Judging: Toy Group

My Thanks to the Officers & Committee of UKTDS for their invitation to judge the Smoothcoat Chihuahua entry at their Championship Show on 30 March 2024.

I was most fortunate that I had two absolutely super ring stewards in Jayne Pinky & Ia O'Shea. They kept the ring flowing, & sorted any minor hiccups out  with the minimum of fuss.

My overall impression of the breed is one of disappointment, I feel the quality & standard has deteriorated dramatically since I last judged the breed in 2021.  A far greater diversity in the 

breed than usual, with some  dogs well up to size, front movement on many was wide with paddling action, & on some they also had the ultra close hind action which was prominent on several. Mouths on some were undesirable, & I noticed that the small eyes are beginning to appear in the breed, which is a definite no go area, plus some exhibits were displaying ears much smaller than  they ideally should be.

I know all those in favour of crossing the coats will not agree with me, but I have to say I honestly do wonder if this deterioration in the breed along with these problems the breed is experiencing, has any reflection on the crossing of the two coats   

 Also, I was non too happy with dogs presented with tacky coats in desperate need of a good bath & nails in need of a trim. Really, how difficult is it to keep a smooth coated breed

clean & presentable.  If judges continue awarding top honours to  inferior dogs that their friends are exhibiting under them, then new comers to the breed will deem these dogs to be

 of  good, correct show  quality  & purchase/breed/exhibit these type of dogs themselves, thereby changing the breed standard totally. Having said all that, I have to say I was well pleased      

 with several of my class winners  and delighted with my principal winning dogs. I am judging long coats next week & will be very interested to see how/if they have improved/changed.

Smoothcoat Chihuahuas Sp.Begs D/B  2 (0) 1) Alexanders Motobello Once In A Blu Moon At Alderxena, 2 yr old blue/fawn girl with pleasing head  & correct mouth, decent neck, nice spring of rib, with a level topline, she moved happily and well around the ring, well handled. 2) Burrows Slavinchi  Ready Freddie Go, Promising 15 month old young boy with the most beautiful of heads, enhanced by large round dark eyes, not sure the pup really enjoyed himself, but he is of very good breed type, just lacking body, which hopefully with both time & maturity will improve.  VD N/E. MPD  8 (2)  1 Andersons Lumanatil Thunder Returns, Mischievous fawn lad of 6 months, he is very nicely put together, well balanced & will be a handsome lad when older. Showed himself quite well. Has everything as it should be & is of correct size & shape, one for the future I am sure. 2)  Alexanders Alderxena Ruler Of A Kingdom, rather classy looking puppy, smaller than the winner, but nowhere near the finished dog he promises to be, but who showed glimpses of what he is capable of.  I do think his handlers nervousness went down the lead, which didn't help  him. 3) Dodds Anadeia Aldaron. PD 6 (2)  1 Slavinecs Charonchi Sultan Of Swing,  very pleasing pale red  9 month old  who has a lovely head, ears large & used well. Not a lot to actually wish to change on him, he moved purposefully around the ring, never faltered when the tannoy blared out a message. BPD & later BPIB, his future looks very bright. 2) Rooneys Yorone Make My Day, larger10 month old blue/fawn who has been well trained,  decent head, & good reach of neck, may have benefitted  from a  trim of his nails,  for me, he isn't as positive in movement as 1st. 3) Seniors Jahneemahs Hitman. JD 4 (1) 1 Rooneys Yorone Two Can Play That Game, litter brother to 2nd in  previous class,  blue fawn white,  went through his paces ok, maintained a level topline,  head nice but eyes still small at present, would prefer more substance on him as tends to look a little shelly, but won this class on his showmanship. 2 Burrows S.R.F.G,  3 Redferns Zoomeera Talk Of The Town. PGD. 6 (1) 1 Poyners Anadeia Ovation For Mikichi Pleasing fine boned  well presented cream of nice size, pretty head enhanced by large ears & large dark eyes, topline good, as was his tail carriage, showed well. 2 Humphreys Amarantos Theo,  when he first came into the ring I was confident he would win the class. All quality masculine headed boy who has a good mouth, nicely arched neck, & level topline. His problem was, he very seldom walked with all 4 feet on the ground, he spent most of his time stood on 2 legs jumping up at his owner. A great shame, this dog will go far if his owner can teach him to walk properly. 3 Daly's Lozmarchi Pure Intention. LD.6 (0) 1 Milton handling for Bruguera, A very smart looking black tricolour whose head is copybook, mouth is perfect, he has a good reach of neck,  leading to correctly placed shoulders, topline level, tight elbows & tail flat broad & carried on high. Lovely conformation  on this dog, CC & BOB, his 1st, but I am sure he will soon gain his title. 2 Fairbairn's Tidos Undercover Operative, white with lovely dark pigment, very pleasing to go over, front is tidy, topline level, & tail carried correct. Would just have preferred more body on him, a tad thin for my liking, but that can easily be rectified. 3, Slavinec's Charonchi Ignatius. OD 12 (2) 1, Hunt & Fothergill's Diamonchi Mr Moonstone,  Light red  with good head, nice width between large well placed & well used ears, muzzle moderate & tapering, pleasing mouth, good reach of neck, topline & tailset as it should be, presented in excellent condition, unfortunate to meet the CC winner. Res CC but feel confident this boy will soon wear his crown. 2, Tyson's Starceylon Love To The Moon, a solid, compact  heavier boned cream lad with large dark eyes,  not the reach of neck or finesse of the first, but has plenty to like about him, moved with purpose. 3, Holmes & Entwistle's Ch. Cazants The Gaffer Luvs Dorenty. VB. 2 (1) Smiths Valenchino Catching Fire At Diamonchi VW.  A 9 year old rich red  girl with a pleasant head, lovely body shape & presented in good condition, strutted her stuff around the ring with fluency, no other competitors but could hold her own had there been. MPB  9 (2) 1 Anderson's Lumanatil's This Is It (and she may well be it)  Lovely fawn girl who already possess' pleasing reach of neck, flat & broad tail, her head is pretty with dark eyes & nose, she has her legs well set under her chest already. She is very nice, just needs to mature as all minor puppies need to. 2 Bakers Silverbriar Sweet Juliet, another very promising baby,  has lots to like about her, but she was a little overawed by the whole occasion, but showed me enough  glimpses of the promise as to what could, & hopefully will come. 3 Moggridge & Senior's Jahneemahs Fancy That With Recuerdo. PB 7(1) 1 Stading's Stadmeyer Jesslyn, strikingly pretty blue/fawn/white who has a very nice head, large eyes & ears, correct mouth, nicely balanced, at 11 months old she knows what is expected of her but personally I would prefer her tail to be slightly higher set but a worthy BPB, 2 Silversteins Silverchi Endless Love A petite gold  with strong head & classic chihuahua smiley face, of decent breed type, she is a cobby, well bodied,  & well balanced little girl, covered the ground easily, very attentive to owner. 3 Tyson, Tyson & Tyson's Yanet Leo Valentina. JB 4(1) 1Fothergill's  Diamonchi Miss Beautiful, & beautiful she is. Has the correct shaped head with desired large round dark eyes, deep stop, slightly tapering muzzle & a correct mouth.  Of very nice type, with excellent front she is correctly balanced, & has that mischievous chihuahua character about her. 2, Prinzi's ManchinoMiss Congeniality By Lollymoos, At that rangier stage just now, making her longer cast than winner , but pretty blue/fawn/white. Her head shape is good & has large well placed ears, a good mouth & decent bone. Owner should have fun with her. 3 Fryett's Slavinchi Penny Buttons.  PGB. Silverstein's Silverchi Mona Lisa,  Not a great deal to dislike on this attractively marked white/fawn particolour. Her eyes are  dark & large well set,  as were the ears, her muzzle is of correct length, & mouth great, to complete a  very nice picture she moves around the ring with ease, displaying her level topline & strong stiffles. 2, Entwistles Cazants The Geisha Luvs Dorenty. White with fine bone of nice size, pleasing dark pigment, has all the desired major points & showed herself faultlessly,  was very attentive to her owner. 3 . Crowley's Copymear Flash Dance At Christalchi. LB 8 (0) 1  Rossin handling Langford's Boetandales Rhythm Goes On, a fawn/cream/white who sports the best head of the girls, such a lovely soft expression enhanced by her large eyes, ears & correct length of muzzle hiding the perfect mouth. She is a fabulous dual purpose with no coarseness about her. Holds her top line, when going through her paces, covering the ground with great ease, to top the picture off, she never stopped showing. I loved her. 2 Fothergill's Diamonchi Miss Sparkle JW, who initially I though would be my class winner, absolutely nothing wrong with this very pretty fawn who has a nice head with a pleasing expression. Of different type to the winner, she is cobbier & shorter in back. Moved really well, she has tight elbows giving her a straight front & correct movement, with plenty of drive from behind. Truthfully splitting hairs here, but delighted to award her the ResCC. 3 Fairbairn's Tidos Critical Mission, who was in no way disgraced in such great company. OB .4 (0) 1 Dodds Mikichi Diamond Marquise, a fine boned white girl well presented  with pleasing pigment, ears large & used well, decent top line & tail carriage, showed with enthusiasm,  would have preferred a slightly stronger head in this company,  2 Taylor's Ch. Arkoschi Diamond In The Rough, fawn of nice size & shape with great character & charisma, enjoying her day out, she showed very well for her owner,  just wish she had a higher set tail to complete the perfect picture. 3 Davies's Chibull Boom Shakalak.

Beverley Sutton (Judge)