A RARE WEEK

My regular readers know that I am a cheerleader for our rare breeds. It is my opinion that it is just as important that we preserve our rare domesticated animal breeds as it is that we save wild species from extinction (see my August 29 post). The rarest of AKC 157 recognized breeds is the English Foxhound, with only eleven registered in 2006. Yesterday one of our top ten dogs was unlucky enough (or lucky enough, depending on one’s perspective) to witness an English Foxhound go Best In Show. The number four dog, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, showed up in the unlikely town of Hot Springs, a lovely spa village in central Arkansas. It was a small entry, but Yes managed a Best in Show on Saturday and a Group one on Sunday. Sunday’s big winner was the English Foxhound, Whipperinn's The Wizard, bred by Virginia Crowell-Brook & Malcolm & Lynn Fellows and owned by Mike Penny & Virginia Crowell-Brook of Dripping Springs, TX. Note that this dog is not a AKC Champion, doubtless because it’s hard to find other English Foxhounds to compete against. You can, of course, win championship points by winning a Group one or BIS. Now that’s the hard way to win a major! Congratulations to the breeders and owners of this dog and all other English Foxhound enthusiasts.

English Foxhound

For the rest of our top ten dogs, it was a hit and miss week. Let’s start with the dog missing in action, the number eight dog, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair. Carly was conspicuously absent from the shows this weekend. She will certainly fall to the number ten spot, or lower, when all of the September numbers have been tallied. Our number seven dog, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, also had a rough weelend. On Saturday Sadie was surprised in the breed by another very good Scottie, CH Blueberry’s Attitude Dancing, at the Burbank KC show in Burbank, CA. Sadie rebounded on Sunday to win the breed and a Group one.

CH Blueberry’s Attitude Dancing

Also at the Burbank double header was our number six dog, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug. Taser had started the week in upstate New York with four other top ten dogs, but after going Group two on Thursday decided to try his luck closer to home, It proved to be a smart choice as he went Group one on Saturday and BIS on Sunday. Saturday’s BIS winner was the Bloodhound, CH Quiet Creek’s Mi Amor, bred and owned by Susan LaCroix Hamil & Evelyn Jones and handled by Bruce Schultz. Our applause for their first Best.

CH Quiet Creek’s Mi Amor

The four top dogs the stayed behind in Romulus, NY had a mixed bag. The most successful was number two dog, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry. Holly went Group one on Thursday & Friday and BIS on Saturday and Sunday. The number one dog, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, and the number ten dog, the Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv Ouija, each took home a BIS prize, Spirit on Thursday and Ouija on Friday, but were left out of the Group placements on Saturday. They did take Group ones at the remaining shows. The number five dog, the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, was consistent, taking first in all four Toy Groups.

CH Charisma Utopia Von Rocky

The remaining top ten dog, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, spent a three day weekend in Millwood, VA. On Friday, Charmin wiped out the competition, going BIS at the Warrenton KC show. Saturday, he stood by and watched the Standard Schnauzer, CH Charisma Utopia Von Rocky, take the top prize. Rocky was bred by Constance C Adel, is owned by Robert & Lois Ann Bedford of Livermore, CA , and is handled by Jody Paquette. We tip our hat to them all. Sunday, Charmin was at the Old Dominion KC show. This time it was the Old English Sheepdog, CH Reflection’s Delovely, bred and owned by Marti & Jack Harrison & Tim Cujdik., Salisbury, MD, taking the BIS.

CH Reflection’s Delovely

This was also the first Best In Show for Ellie. She is a very young bitch, less than two years old, and obvioulsy has a tremendous career ahead of her. Kudos to all.