SMOKE AND MIRRORS
By Bonnie L. Guggenheim
O nce upon a time, when the breed was young (at least inAKC terms) Shih Tzu had one rubber band in the topknot, had hair that had one or two strands out of place, and probably a less-than-sculptured look overall. Structurally, the dogs were not better… they did not move better… and they did not grow anymore or less hair. They did, however, have better heads!!! This is a head breed! Shih Tzu in the ring today are groomed to perfection, with topknots that are a work of art and scissored under, around, and underneath to create the impression of the “perfect” Shih Tzu. Skillful grooming creates the “smoke and mirrors” effect, but it is a dog show, beauty contest, and a game of sorts. It is also the presenter’s job to make his dog look the best it possibly can, and it’s the judge’s job to actu- ally understand what the dog looks like “undressed.” Reading the standard should give judges a clear understanding of the breed, with a few areas that need discussion. Of utmost importance is an overall, well-balanced dog without exaggeration. The neck is to be well-set and flow smoothly into the shoulders. This does not mean a long, exaggerated neck with a small head sitting on top. Lev- el topline with a rectangular body… SLIGHTLY longer than tall. The tail shouldbehigh set, curvedwell over the back (not a tightly curled doughnut)
“SKILLFUL GROOMING CREATES THE ‘SMOKE AND MIRRORS’ EFFECT, BUT IT IS A DOG SHOW, BEAUTY CONTEST, AND A GAME OF SORTS.”
and should give the illusion of being close to square. Shoulders are to be well-angulated and laid back, fitting smoothly into the body with straight legs, well-boned and wide apart, and fitting under the chest. Hindquarters should be angulated and in balance with the forequarters. The Shih Tzu going away should show smooth, flow - ing, effortless movement without ex - aggerated kick-up. I’m seeing more of this than I’d like, and while it is flashy, it is not correct. The Shih Tzu may be any color, andwhile symmetrical head markings do give a more striking ap- pearance and make the heads look larger, there are no disqualifications for uneven markings. Shih Tzu in the ring today often have an inordinate length of neck, a head of a less than desirable size and shape, andakick inthe rear that isveryLhasa- like. Top these thingswith a three-inch
topknot, and the “go-around” side picture looks elegant and correct, despite the dog being truly out of bal- ance. Careful table examination will give a true picture of the head if you have done your homework, and a loose lead at a moderate speed will tell even more. Strung up and flying around the ring does not give the true picture. One last comment: Do not swing your dog off the table by the lead and the tail. You could collapse a trachea or cause other injuries. Reprinted from The Shih Tzu Bul- letin. Author Bonnie Guggenheim, Former Vice President of the Ameri- can Shih Tzu Club, began breeding Shih Tzu before AKC recognition. She previously served as Shih Tzu breed columnist for the AKC Gazette and as chair of the ASTC Judges Education Committee. Her license to judge is on inactive status.
T op N otch T oys , N ovember 2021 • 35
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