Back to Crufts again. Even before the event the media were getting a bit silly! For example, in The Times on March 5th Brian Leonard, who was the Kennel Club Press Officer for six years in the mid-nineties, was earning a few pence with a satirical piece about Crufts – at least, I hope it was intended to be satirical. By the way, he said he is now a consultant for the electronics company Samsung. Did you know that? Nor did Dogsbody.

Brian wrote, among other contentious comments, “In the world of dogs, exhibiting at Crufts is the most important thing in your life”. EXCUSE ME, Brian, get a life please! I’ve already questioned just how different this show is from any other, and suggested that the number of overseas visitors may be its most distinguishing feature. And a Shih Tzu exhibitor has just written to the Dogsbody diary as follows:

“I think yesterday may well be the last time I show at Crufts. I hate it. I really don't enjoy exhibiting there. I queued for ages last night for the shuttle bus. I've been back today (Sunday) for some shopping and it was heaving. It was just about impossible to get through Hall 3. That's not a dog show. Today the dog show really did seem to be an add-on to a trade fair.”

Part of the BBC TV coverage included Sue and David Crossley representing the Shih Tzu breed. People have commented to me that they did not seem to smile much. We did catch a glimpse of Helen Howard, our representative in the Utility Group, but only briefly. Yesterday morning, on BBC’s FiveLive radio programme, there were some acid comments about the final results, both from the studio presenters and from listeners’ e-mails. Two stick in my mind. First a listener wrote that the highly “barbered” poodle was not a “proper dog”: imagine, he said, going into the pub for a quick one with that in tow. Another e-mail to the BBC commented that the runner-up looked like a hairy caterpillar on a lead and the that only way the writer could tell which end was the front was by seeing the “bulging eyes” and the panting mouth.

Yes, our image in the media is not all that impressive at times, is it? Did anyone find any more positive media coverage than I did? Never mind, see you there next year.

So here I am at last, sitting at my new desk to catch up with the diary. Ikea or Chippendale, I hear you ask? Well, you choose! That’s the beauty of the Internet: - you can imagine my new desk/server to be whatever you choose!

Had we finished with Crufts? Well, just about, except for a couple of things. First, our judge Ann Arch has published her critique and, amongst her general comments, she says that she was a bit worried about some features of the breed, such as ears set on too high, upright shoulders, incorrect rear conformation and toplines which rose to the rear. Ann does, however, say that she found sufficient good exhibits to finish up with a line-up to please her.

Lastly, before we consign this year’s Crufts to the armpit of history, an appeal to all our judges in the future. “Please, Dogsbody, if you ever get the chance, ask our judges to give us a warm-up lap of the ring. At Crufts, I had a puppy and a veteran, and I would really have appreciated a warm-up lap to settle them and loosen them up. All the exhibitors I speak to also say they like to go once or twice round the ring. I also would have thought a judge would like a general view of the whole class. I know we can get big entries but I want a warm-up lap.”

Entries closing . . .
UK championship shows with March closing dates . . .
April
Scottish Kennel Club (May): 10th April 2002: it’s worth mentioning about this one that SKC is breaking new ground by enabling exhibitors to enter online. This is certainly worth considering - surely, this way lies the future?
Bath: 12th April 2002
Border Union: 15th April 2002

May
Windsor: 13th May 2002. (schedule can be downloaded from Higham Press)

And now it’s time to “top and tail the Tzus” as a friend of mine always puts it. This means checking their feet for knots, foreign bodies, long nails or other problems, checking their bottoms to make sure nothing has got stuck there and then tidying little hairy faces, retying topknots and washing whiskers. These are all daily tasks when the Shih Tzu own you.

Thank you, gentle readers, for your helpful advice for the owner of the Shih Tzu with arthritis. One of the first responses to this request for help was particularly informative, describing a 15 year old Shih Tzu with bad arthritis, and saying, “Rimadyl didn't work very well for him. My vet changed him to Metacam, which is a liquid you add to their food, and it does seem to work better. Also, I give him a supplement called "Flexi-joints" available from Vetvits."

Another owner phoned to say that her Shih Tzus had had adverse side effects from Rimadyl, although this was only after using it over a long period of time. The use of a magnetic collar has also been recommended by a couple of owners, one of whom told me that using such a collar had kept her dog mobile and happy for the last five years, and this without the aid of any drugs. From enthusiast for natural and homeopathic remedies came advice to the effect that green-lipped mussel extract and vitamin C can all be effective in treating arthritits, as well as rhus toxicodendron, calcarea carbonica, calcarea flourica or bryonia. It seems that dogs with arthritis can also respond very well to acupuncture.

All of this information has been passed on to the owner of the dog with arthritis, who is consulting her vet to discuss future treatment. The latter is an important point, by the way, as here on Dogsbody no-one is suggesting any new treatment is tried without a vet’s approval.

Competition time! All you have to do is to guess how many dogs there are in this picture? And what about an amusing caption for the photo? OK, so we are not talking lottery-type stakes here at Dogsbody, but we can have some fun and there might even be a prize for anyone who can also guess to whom this pile of happiness belongs!

And now for some UK show news. At the Shih Tzu Club of Wales & the South West’s championship show today, Best in Show was won by Howard’s Ch Tameron Mr. XS. This was on the decision of the referee judge, B. Cadogan, after Mr XS won the Dog Challenge Certificate under the judge for the dogs, Val Goodwin (Chelhama). Mr XS is sired by Tameron Mr Han-Sum ex Miss Beautiful of Tameron. Mrs Goodwin’s choice for the Reserve Dog Challenge Certificate was Franks’ Ch Hashanah Hot Shot, (Huxlor Trigger Happy ex Hashanah Sheer Audacity JW).

In bitches, judged by June Saunders (Camglia), the Bitch Challenge Certificate went to Woodbridge’s Bowchild Siew Fu, This, being her third certificate, gives her the title of champion. Homebred by Pam Woodbridge, she is sired by Chanikos Hi-An-My-Tee ex Bowchild Forever In The Red. Siew Fu is gold/white, was born in October 1997 and gained her first “ticket” from Linda Howard at Richmond in 2001 and her second at the Shih Tzu Club championship show in that same year when Anne Pickburn was judging. The reserve Bitch Challenge Certificate was won by Culverhouse’s Lykath Spell By Starlight, (Camglia Heraeus Noblelight ex Hiona Cast A Spell on Lykath). Best Puppy in Show was won by a dog puppy, Franks’ Hashanah Lock Stock ‘N’ Barrel (Ch. Hashanah Hot Shot ex Hashanah Against All Odds).

More news from Nigel about his incredible Wynele puppies! When he got back from Crufts he found the high wind had caused a bit of damage in his gardens, but fortunately nothing too serious. The next morning, after clearing up he let the baby Shih Tzu out and guess what? I’ll let Nigel tell you:

“Specs (Tiffany's son) took off after the duck. Yes, you've guessed it, the duck headed straight for the pond - with Specs after it in full flight! In went the duck and in went Specs, and round and round the pond they went, with the duck quacking like mad, as if to say you can't catch me.

“All the cockerels were standing on the edge of the pond, stamping their feet - the noise was unbearable although Specs was quite unperturbed as to what was going on around him. The duck headed for dry land, with Specs in tow, and headed straight for the cockerels, thinking maybe there was safety in numbers, and she stopped short just of them. You have to bear in mind that this duck makes up to the cockerels so she evidently thinks she is a chicken. Well, I think that this time Specs thought he was a duck . He pounced on the duck held, her down and tried to mate her – very much NOT to the amusement of the cockerels, who were furious and gunning for Specs.

“The shortest way to get to Specs was across the corner of the pond, which I might add wasn't too deep, but deep enough for me to get a soaking. I reached Specs before they did and pulled him off the duck. I got a pecking from the big cockerel for interfering, but all the duck did was stand up, waggle her tail a couple of times, quack and waddle off. Specs looked at me as if to say, Well, I nearly made it!”

The Northern Counties Shih Tzu Club held an enjoyable Open Show on April 7th at Longridge, near Preston in Lancashire. The judges were Denise Williams (Paliden) for dogs and Sue Bird (Joyberna) for bitches. Best in Show was won by the winner of the Open Bitch class, Paczkowski’s Ch. Santosha Seashell To Lauramist JW, (Ch. Santosha Red October ex Santosha Disco Queen). Andertons’s Pekoe Pick Me Up (Ch. Hashanah Relentless Pursuit ex Pekoe Polly Put The Kettle On) won reserve Best Bitch from the Junior Class.

Reserve Best in Show and Best Dog went to Roberts’ Zuthis Hurdy Gurdy Man (Zuthis Brownhills Tixtion ex Zuthis You’ve Been Framed), while the reserve Best Dog was Morris’ Santosha Golden Sunrise Over Sazkey (Santosha Midnight Caller ex Santosha Golden Ribbons). Best Puppy in Show was won by the Best Dog Puppy, Rosser’s Stenross Harry Potter (Amorina Licensed To Riot At Zuthis ex Amorina Glad About That Girl For Stenross) and reserve BPIS went to Roberts’ Zuthis Moon Dreamer (Zuthis Moon Shaddo ex Zuthis Moongem). Interestingly, Moongem was not only present at the show but she also won the class for Veteran Bitches.

This question reached Dogsbody by e-mail today. "Is the Internet the best way for me to find a Shih Tzu puppy?"

I guess the answer is no, it is not the best way, nor is it the worst. It may well be the best way to find information about the Shih Tzu breed in general, and also about breeders, but choosing a puppy is a bit more complicated than that.

The ideal way to select a puppy is through personal recommendation and after carrying out a good deal of research. The essentials for which you're looking are breed type (yes, you want your Shih Tzu to look like one!), health, soundness of conformation, a typical coat which is comparatively easy to care for, a good temperament and freedom from inherited or congenital diseases. Only after that can you afford to indulge your preferences for colour of coat, size and so on.

Perhaps you know someone who already has a Shih Tzu. This may have led you to want one for yourself. Is that dog, which you so much admire, healthy, strong and good-tempered? OK, so from where did the owner get this dog? Find that out and you could be half way there. Failing that, you are best to follow a recommendation from someone you trust or who has an impeccable reputation. You could also approach a breed club for help, but that may not be the whole answer.

If your purpose is to obtain a Shih Tzu for show, do please tell the breeder this. You will have to pay a little more perhaps, but you may have a chance to purchase what is called the "pick of litter". This is a puppy which, in the opinion of the breeder, is the one which is nearest to perfection as described in the breed standard - although of course the accuracy of this judgement depends on the breeder's skill, knowledge and honesty. You'll have to take that on trust, although when you go to see a puppy you MUST have read the standard, and it will help if you've visited some shows too. Unless you know how to read a pedigree, looking at one may well be a waste of time. It may be just a list of names to you.

Suppose you do not want to show your puppy? Run a mile from anyone who talks about you "only wanting a pet"! This phrase, often heard on the lips of commercial breeders, can mean that they think you will settle for any old pup. Wrong! You require all the attributes of a Shih Tzu puppy which I've described above - you just don't need to pay that bit extra for a "pick of litter" puppy which might excel in the show ring.

Whichever, you are seeking, a companion dog or one to show, you will want:
a) to see the puppy with its mother when you visit. The mother's size, health and temperament will give you a bit of a clue about the puppy's potential. Anyway, if the mother is not even on the premises, who knows where the puppy has come from?
b) to be guaranteed that the puppy will be registered with the Kennel Club.
c) to know that the puppy will be innoculated before it leaves home.
d) an assurance that there will be "after-sales service" - which is to say that you will be able to turn to the breeder for help and advice throughout the life of your new baby.

OK, once you've got this far, and with a bit of luck, you have got yourself a lovely, happy, healthy puppy, which is also a typical specimen of the breed. The rest is up to you. That gorgeous bundle of fun must be reared, fed, trained, groomed and cared for in the correct way if it is to fulfil its potential. It's no good blaming the breeder if you do everything wrong once you get the baby home!

That was my answer. What would yours have been?

And another question has just arrived:
"Oh great and mighty "Dogsbody", fount of all knowledge, knower of all things, seer of all our faults, your humble subject craves an answer to a most stupid question. " Why is it that the two biggest dogs in the house cram themselves on to the smallest dog bed, such that their heads, tails and other extremities dangle over the side, when within two paw strides there is an empty bed which would accommodate both with ease" ??? My humble brain fails to see the wisdom of this, so I feel that they know something that I do not. I have been told that the Shih Tzu is infinitely smarter than those beings that feed them. Of this I am sure . Which is why, Oh all omnipotent one I ask you, why?"

Is someone is "taking the mickey" here? Me, omnipotent - no, I'm just a humble Dogsbody. And, anyway, I don't know the answer. I always thought this was just the way Shih Tzu were. So I asked my favourite Oracle. She said it 's simple. Togetherness!

Here are two responses to the last entry in the diary.

First, on the subject of trying to buy a puppy via the internet, someone who is obviously another Dogsbody like myself writes:
“I do get enquiries via the internet re finding a shih tzu puppy as I have put my name on a couple of dog websites. I have no puppies to sell - my reason for doing this is when I first looked at the sites I was amazed and horrified to discover that there were obvious indescriminate "breeders" offering puppies for sale. My advertisement on these sites indicates that I will do my best to put a prospective purchaser in touch with a reputable breeder in their area. Obviously I cannot guarantee either that there will be puppies available and I only ask basic questions from the prospective purchaser as the breeder is the person to make a final decision as to the suitability of said purchaser. For many people getting a nicely bred and good representative of the breed is a minefield, not many would know where to go - I hope that my small effort will help at least a few people not to add to the coffers of the indiscriminate breeder, and in turn, help protect the breed if only a little.”

And, when it comes to the two biggest dogs in the house cramming themselves on to the smallest dog bed, Matthew Russell writes that:
“The real reason that dogs and cats (not just Shih Tzu) like to cram themselves into small beds, is that when they sleep, they like to feel secure. They like the sense of security of something around them. It goes back to when these animals were wild. You don't know what might happen to you while you are asleep, so you need to feel secure. This is why they do not like large beds.”

The Manchu Shih Tzu Society held its thirty-fourth Championship Show on Sunday, 21st April at the Harry Mitchell Recreation Centre in Birmingham. The show was judged by Juliet Cunliffe for the dogs, and Wendy Brown for the bitches.

The Challenge Certificate (Dog), with Best of Breed was won Helen Howard with her Ch. Tameron Mr. XS (Tameron Mr Han-Sum ex Miss Beautiful of Tameron).
Franks' Ch. Hashanah Hot Shot (Huxlor Trigger Happy ex Hashanah Sheer Audacity) won the reserve Dog Challenge Certificate, and Judy Franks also won the Bitch Challenge Certificate and Reserve Best in Show with the litter sister to Hotshot, Ch. Hashanah Flash Point. The reserve Bitch CC went to Townsins' Redhall With One Look (Ch Hashanah Relentless Pursuit ex Redhall Tickled Pink).

The Best Puppy in Show Award was won by Glenys Dolphin's Dolha's Deja Vue (Ge-Mihs Yump To The Moon with Darralls [Imp] ex Santosha Puttin’ On The Chic for Dolha} from the Minor Puppy Bitch class.