Topknot with single elastic band as recommended
in UK by the Kennel Club. Secondly, as a very long time exhibitor, I appreciate knowing the preferences of the judge before entering the ring. If she preferred ‘no bows’, that would have been fine for me and I would have taken advantage of the heads up. In November 2016, the Kennel Club sent a letter out to all Shih Tzu Clubs, advising of an amendment to the Shih Tzu Breed Standard, that “it is strongly recommended that the hair on head is tied up without adornment.” Matthew Russell, chairman of the Shih Tzu Club in the UK said his club had been lobbying for this recommendation on bows because they are part of a “trend in recent years” to regard the dog as a “designer or hand-bag dog” which is “as much a status symbol as it is a pet and companion.” He said this is of great concern to the vast majority of breeders and exhibi- tors in the UK. For me personally, I do not have a grave con- cern about this but I feel it was not anything that needed to be included in the standard. The danger I see, is if this becomes the FCI standard. Many countries around the world respect the standard of the country of origin. China is the country of origin but the United Kingdom is the country of development. For this to become the FCI standard, it may cause some con- fusion in countries that use the FCI standard. As I judge, I judge by the standard used by the country I am judging in. Exhibitors in countries which traditionally use a bow, such as most Asian countries and Russia for example, may be asked by judges to remove the bows. Will they be forced to adhere to a requirement that was primarily for shows in the UK or does the UK want all countries around the world to adhere to this policy? The high level presentation includ- ing bows, as seen in Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese in the UK, has never been a focus of UK Shih Tzu breeders and I can appreciate and respect that but I fail to understand the Kennel Club discouraging bows in Shih Tzu while condon- ing them in Maltese and Yorkshire Terriers. It is most likely that the AKC or CKC breed standards will never be changed to reflect ‘no bows’ because the tradition is entrenched in our countries and used to draw attention and importance to our beautifully headed breed and not as a mechanism to hide faults as is the impression of some. Whether a dog is shown with an inappropriate topknot, with or without a bow, is of very little importance when judging as it should not hinder the proper assessment of our affectionate, sturdy and beautiful breed. ABOUT THE AUTHOR “...IT SHOULD NOT HINDER THE PROPER ASSESSMENT OF OUR AFFECTIONATE, STURDY AND BEAUTIFUL BREED.”
in the new UK Breed Standard.
Typical Shih Tzu topknot with bow.
More extreme topknot. (Photos by Wendy Anderson)
Shih Tzu owner and breeder since 1971 under the kennel name ‘Wen- rick’. In 2017 Richard will judge the American Shih Tzu Club National for the 2nd time.
T op N otch T oys , A pril 2017 • 77
Powered by FlippingBook