THE SHIH TZU H E A D by Jo Ann White
L et me begin by saying that the Shih Tzu is a “head breed.” The desirable Shih Tzu head is a com- plex collection of recessives. It is the most distinguishing feature that makes a Shih Tzu a Shih Tzu, rather than a generic dog. Despite its impor- tance, the head seems to be the part of our breed that is most difficult for judges to understand. Correct Shih Tzu heads are becoming a rarity. That “bubble” over the nose can hide the lack of a definite stop, and “teasing” canmake a narrow head appear wider or a muzzle seem to have proper cush- ioning. The genetic difficulty of main - taining the distinctive head, coupled with skillful grooming techniques that disguise flaws, means that judges MUST look beneath the grooming and feel what is actually under all that hair. The American Shih Tzu Club website ( shihtzu.org ) has a video un- der “Education/Judges Education” that demonstrates how to examine the head without destroying the pic- ture it may have taken the handler hours to create. The accompanying il- lustration from the Illustrated Guide to the Shih Tzu Standard (much of which is also on the ASTC website under “About Our Breed”) shows the correct broad, round head with full, dark, expressive eyes placed well- apart and looking straight ahead, and a well-cushioned muzzle with broad, open nostrils set no lower than
“Despite its importance, the head seems to be the part of our breed that is most difficult for judges to understand.”
T op N otch T oys , N ovember 2021 • 61
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