WHERE, OH WHERE, HAS MY LITTLE DOG GONE?

One of the challenges in bringing you timely, accurate reporting is finding where our top ten dogs are each day. This is a relatively easy task when the dog wins a Group placement or a Best In Show award. However, when a dog manages only a Best OF Breed or, even worse, gets dumped in the breed, we may not learn of the dog’s presence at the show at all. Such was the fate this weekend of two of our top ten dogs Friday.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair, decided to attempt a limited breed show on Friday in Dixon, CA, hosted by the Northern California Herding Group Association. Limited breed and specialty events bring out folks we don‘t always see at all breed shows. Many of the exhibitors and judges are dedicated breed connoisseurs that only show up at these type events. As such the competition can be especially tough for those exhibitors that are used to focusing on what a Best In Show judge looks for. Carly would not even make it out of the Breed Friday, losing to CH Caamora All Dolled Up PT, bred and owned by Vicki Kirsher & Patricia Seifert of Tehachapi, CA, with Sharon Stone at the other end of the lead.

CH Aquarius Garbo V Tiburon

Meanwhile our Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition, did win the Breed at Friday’s Queensboro KC show in West Springfield, MA (OK, he was the lone Harrier entered), but failed to make the top four Hounds, much less advance to the final to watch the Affenpinshcer, CH Tamarin Tug take BIS. Saturday Taser would be seeking greener pastures, fairer skys, and a more agreeable judge in Virginia, but Coda would still not make it to the BIS ring, managing only a Hound Group 2. Too bad, as Judge Roberta C. Davies put up the spectacular Doberman Pinscher bitch, Ch Aquarius Garbo V Tiburon. Aptly named Garbo, this vision was bred by Jim Briley & Ron Babics, is owned by the lucky Margaret Mee of Germansville, PA, and handled by Diego Garcia. For all you people who live where they show Dobermans au natural, take note. This is what a Doberman should look like.

JETSET AFFENPINCSHCER

One dog that racks up the frequent flier miles is the top ten dog, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug. The Arizona based “Taser” was In Georgia on Thursday, but managed to be in West Springfield, MA on Friday to accept the Best In Show award from Judge Carol A. Reisman. Taser is in a close race for 2008 Top Toy Dog with the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade. Thursday, the Griffon, Lincoln, took the Toy Group top prize over Taser, at the first of four shows this weekend in Marietta, GA.

CH Tamarin Tug

So far this year, Taser’s strategy of targeting the smaller, less competitive shows has paid off. He is currently 2500 points ahead of Lincoln with just over two months left in the year. However, if Lincoln and handler Paul Catterson pull of a BIS this weekend at the larger Georgia shows, they could wear the Toy Dog crown for a little while, at least.

PEACH OF A TIME IN GEORGIA

As we reported here ealier, we have a four day cluster of shows in suburban Atlanta this weekend. It kicked off yesterday with the first of two events from the Griffith Georgia KC. Based on the first day results, it looks like it’s going to be a star studded weekend. Three of our top ten dogs were in attendance and they were challenged by several other BIS winners. CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry managed to get the top prize from Judge Denny Mounce, but she had to beat the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, and the Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen, CH Afterglow Ebeneezer, another top winner to do it.

CH Cordmaker Field Of Dreams

The groups were no cakewalk either. The Griffon, Lincoln, had to get past the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, who got the second spot in the Toy Group, and the Pointer, Holly, left the country’s top Golden Retriever, CH Toasty's Treasure Island, a runner up in the Sporting Group. The county’s best German Shepherd Dog, CH Woodsides Pacino, a top 20 dog, also could do no better than a Group 2, behind the Puli, CH Cordmaker Field Of Dreams, the country’s number three herding dog and winner of nine Best In Shows. The dog with the dreadlocks was bred by P Turner, A Quigley, and A & S Lawrence; is owned by Susan Huebner & Jackie Beaudoin of Raleigh, NC; and handled by Linda Pitts.

Don’t wait until the lights go out in Georgia to see these dogs. (Sorry, Gladys)

COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS

We encourage comments here at Dog Show Poop, especially as it relates to the accuracy of our reports. Much of what you read here is second hand. Obviously we don't witness first hand every Best In Show we report. We rely on a number of sources to help bring an overview of the AKC dog show world to you all around the globe. For most of our reporting we go to the official record , ie, the AKC and the show superintendents’ reports, although we do get reports from on site exhibitors.

We are always happy to correct errors in our reports and are grateful to our readers for keeping us informed. Two recent comments bear mention. One anonymous commentor first suggested that we had posted an incorrect photo of the terrific Swedish import, the Bedlington Terrier, CH Velvety Angel Eyes. Although the photo had appeared on the breeder’s website and had been labeled, we decided to err on the side of caution and replaced the photo. Later we heard from the breeder that the original photo was actually correctly published. In the end, we were left with an improved photo showing both handler and dog.

Today we received a comment that concerns us a great deal. We have since the first posting on this blog reported that the number one dog in the US, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, is handled by the well known handler, Bill McFadden. As a statement of fact, Spirit has always been entered as being agented by Bill McFadden. It is a common practice among professional handlers with several clients to enter all dogs under the name of one handler, even though the individual dogs may be routinely handled by other handlers in partnership with the principal in the business.

CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit and Handler Taffe McFadden

We have been advised, again by an anonymous source, that Spirit is always handled by Taffe McFadden, Bill's wife and handling partner, a distinguished professional in her own right. We have every reason to believe our anonymous commentor is correct and apologize to all for any confusion our reporting has caused. Taffe has done a terrific job with Spirit and we certainly want her to get credit for the job she has done. We will amend our reports to properly show Taffe as the handler of Spirit.

Again, we are grateful for your readership and participation as making this site we can all enjoy together.

GO TO A DOG SHOW THIS WEEKEND

We don’t expect to see too many large entries as the season winds down, but two places this coming weekend will have some major events. In our part of the country we have a four day cluster in Marietta, GA, near Atlanta, kicking off tomorrow with the first of two shows hosted by the Griffin Georgia KC followed by The Kennesaw KC sponsored events Saturday and Sunday. These four events will field more than 6,000 entries total, including 13 Harriers at each of the four shows, 13 Harriers. There were only 23 Harriers registered in the whole country last year. Most of us will never see a Harrier at a show and here’s the chance to see 13 in one place.

CH DOWNHOME FAMILY TRADITION

TOP WINNING HARRIER IN HISTORY

Out on the west coast, the Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers will host a double header Saturday and Sunday and expect more than 1600 dogs on each day. We expect most of the top dogs from last weekend’s Del Valle show to stay over for this event. If you are in the area this weekend, this is your chance to see some great dogs in the flesh. Support your local AKC clubs. Remember more than half of the AKC registered breeds are more endangered than Polar Bears or Gorillas and you can’t keep a Polar Bear or Gorilla in your house.

BULLY FOR YOU

CH Dazlin Defiance

It was a bully weekend in West Springfield, MA for the Harrier. CH Downhome Family Tradition. Coda would make it to the Best In Show ring three times and would lose three times to bully dogs. On Friday, it was the White Bull Terrier, CH Dazlin Defiance, getting the recognition from Judge Patti Widick Neale at the first of two Albany KC shows. “Marshall“, was bred by Darren & Lindsay Blakeley, is owned by Amy Woodman of Bolton, MA, and is handled by Marianne Tuni Claflin. It is the first AKC BIS for Marshall, a British import. Trust us, it won’t be the last. After all, he already has a tribute video.



Judge Sam Houston McDonald would give Sunday’s Albany KC event to the country‘s number two Bulldog, CH Kepley’s Showbiz Razzle Dazzle, bred by Marjorie & Jack Kepley, owned by Joan L Fisher, Robert Speiser & Barbara Wolfe of New York, NY, and handled by Phoebe Jordan Booth. Monday, Judge Jaqueline M. Rayner would follow suit and make it a double header for the bulldog bitch.

It’s getting close to the end of the year and the competion for top ten spots is reaching critical mass. Did you notice that six of the top ten dogs were at four shows this week? Two more were at three shows. Doesn’t look like the economy is affecting these folks.

SUNDAY IN PLEASANTON

Five of the country’s top dogs were at the country’s largest show in several weeks, the Del Valle Kennel Dog Club of Livermore show with 2565 dogs present and competing, held Sunday in the San Francisco suburb of Pleasanton, CA.

CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation

With Groups larger than many all breed entries at other shows, it was amazing that all five of our favored dogs would make it to Judge Helen Lee James’ Best In Show ring. The Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv Ouija, would have the hardest time of it, with 554 other hounds to overcome to get to the final. The Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee’s Pure of Spirit, had it nearly as hard in the working group with 535 competing. Also advancing for final consideration were the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, The Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, and the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation. Spirit and handler, Taffee McFadden did have the home court advantage, but it failed to pay off, as it was the Standard Poodle, Yes, who would capture the top prize.

This year Del Valle has added a Monday show on top of the 49 specialty events that preceded Sunday’s extravaganza and all five of our ranked dogs would make it to Judge Mary Ann Alston’s BIS ring. This is Taffee McFadden’s backyard and she and Spirit made the most of it besting 2411 other dogs. It was a must win for the duo as the number two dog had closed within just a few points of the number one pair.

CH Galilee’s Pure of Spirit

That dog, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, capped off a four day weekend in Springfield, IL, taking a backseat to the number ten dog, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair, who took the nod from Judge Lesley Hiltz. Also competing at the Illinois Capital show was the Brussels Griffon, CH Celleine Masquerade, who took a Group 2.


We do have a change in the standings as a result of this weekend shows. Yes has moved ahead of Charmin into the number three spot. You heard it here first. We still are awaiting a report on the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition who spent the weekend in New England. Will post those results, with a new tribute video (it’s been too long), as soon as they come in.

POODLES, SMALL AND LARGE

While we await the results of the giant Del Valle Dog Club of Livermore show results, we do have some interesting and impressive results from elsewhere in the country. We start in a geographicly orderly manner on the east coast with results from Buena, NJ where our number one dog, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee’s Pure of Spirit, had back to back losses to the Toy Poodle, CH Smash J P Moon Walk. In a reverse Moby Dick kind of thing, the little white dog would best the big black dog, taking BIS on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Judges Joan Scott, Lorraine Bisso, and Linda Riedel, at the Gloucester KC and South Jersey KC shows. Spirit and handler Bill McFadden would jet back to California late Saturday for the Sunday Del Valle show with Group 2 and Group 1 ribbons from the two Gloucester events.

CH Smash J P Moon Walk

Meanwhile, down the coast in Cumberland, MD, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, would wrap up a tough weekend, watching the Standard Poodle, Ch Hillwood Dassin De-Lovely, take BIS at the Upper Potomac KC show under Judge Keke Kahn, the same judge who gave Charmin a Terrier Group 4 on Friday. Breeder/owner/handler Dr. Joseph D. Vergnetti of Medina, OH, co-owns the country’s number two Standard Poodle with Ellen Charles, K LeFrak and W Sammet. Dr. Vergnetti is the top champion-producing Poodle breeder of all time. He has bred all three varieties for more than 30 years, but is best known for his distinctive Dassin line of Miniatures and Standards. He was named 2003 AKC Non-Sporting Group Breeder of the Year and is the Dogs in Review Outstanding Breeder of the Year for 2007.

Dr. Joseph D. Vergnetti

Further west, in Springfield, IL, three of our top ten would spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday slugging it out. The Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, and the Pembroke Welch Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair, would find themselves out of their weight class with the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, who swept all three shows garnering Bests from Judges Judy Webb, Michelle Billings, and Edd Embry Bivin. The Corgi, Coda, would take three Herding Group 1s, while the Brussels Griffon, Lincoln, would finish with a Group 2 on Friday, followed by Group 1s on Saturday and Sunday. As a warm up for Del Valle, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, made a pit stop in Rapid City, SD, and pick up two big rosettes, the first from Judge Lee Hubbel and the second from Judge Jean Fournier.

Will we see a new number one dog soon? If and when we do, you will read it here first!