DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN

Like a doggy version of the Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, and the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, met in a BIS ring for the third day in a row in Reading PA. And for a third day in a row Judge Dorothy Collier followed the example of the two judges who preceded her and selected the Pointer, Holly as the top dog at the Kennel Club Of Philadelphia show. Although the show was a little larger than last year, Holly did not garner enough points to catch the country’s number one dog.

CH Kepley’s Showbiz Razzle Dazzle

That dog, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, and two other top ten dogs, the Harrier, CH Downhome Family and the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade were in West Springfield MA for a second day at the South Windsor Kennel Club show with their own version of déjà vu. Only one, the Harrier, Coda, made it to Judge Dorothy Hutchinson’s final ring to watch her award BIS to the number two Bulldog in the US, CH Kepley’s Showbiz Razzle Dazzle. The nation’s number one dog, the Giant Schnauzer, Spirit, finished second in the group behind the nation’s number two working dog, Doberman Pinscher, CH Cambria's Victoria Secret, and the nation’s number two toy dog, the Brussels Griffon, Lincoln, finished second in the group behind the nation’s number three toy dog, the Pug, CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu.

The group two win was good enough to give Spirit 336 points, enough to hold onto the top ranking for one more day. However, one more BIS by the Pointer without a reply will be enough to change the lead again. Check back here on Monday to see who’s the Number one dog in AKC.

ONE, TWO, THREE STRIKES

Six of the top ten dogs showed up on Thursday in Reading PA to watch the country’s number two dog, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, take the first BIS of the weekend. However, only one was there on Friday to watch Holly receive the hand off from Judge Carmen Battaglia at the Greater Philadelphia Dog Fanciers Association show, the local favorite, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice. Three of the top ten headed further north to West Springfield MA and the first of four shows, the Windham County Kennel Club event.

CH Cobblestone Tuscany Corazon

Unfortunately none of the three made it to Judge Lester Mapes’ final seven to watch the English Cocker Spaniel, CH Cobblestone Tuscany Corazon, win Best In Show. The nation’s top hound, the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition failed to take home a group placement; the country’s number one dog, the Giant Schnauzer, could only manage a group four; and the number two toy dog, the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade finished second in the group behind the number three toy dog, the Pug, Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu. It was the first BIS for the country's number one English Cocker, “Tyler”, who was bred by Susan Karsch & Donna O'Connell, is owned by Donna of Dallas TX, and handled by Kellie Fitzgerald. Congratulations to them all.

The sixth dog? That would be the jet setting Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug. Taser was entered at both shows, but failed to show at either. We’ll have to wait until Monday to track him down. You think we could put a GPS on his luggage?

QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY

It wasn’t a particularly large show, with only 712 dogs present and competing, but there was as much quality present as we have seen all year. Six of our top ten dogs showed up in Reading PA for the Penn Treaty Kennel Club, but not all of them would make it to the final seven. The Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, may be the country’s top toy dog, but yesterday he was the third best toy behind the Toy Poodle, CH Smash JP MoonWalk, and the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, who advanced to the last dance. The country’s number one dog, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, was left behind in the working group by the number 15 dog, the Boxer, CH Dramatic Story Of Sherry Shoot JP.

CH Dramatic Story Of Sherry Shoot JP

The Brussels Griffon and the Boxer, were joined in Judge Dany Canino’s BIS ring by the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, the French Bulldog, CH Petite Cherie Femme De Puissance, and the Bearded Collie, Ha Penny Harwood Heartthrob. When it was all over it was the Pointer, Holly, standing behind the Best In Show sign. However, Holly needs to win two BIS to every one the Giant Schnauzer, Spirit, wins if she is to take over the number one position. Will she make it? You will read it here first.

PETA MEMBER TURKEY KILLER

My wife, a breast cancer survivor, is a tireless advocate of all things healthy. She is mostly vegetarian and will only eat the occasional morsel of fish, chicken, or turkey. Therefore, Thanksgiving is the one holiday that she will enjoy a meal the size consumed by normal humans. She loves Thanksgiving so much, she puts up the Christmas tree early and decorates it with autumn leaves, little pumpkins, and miniature turkeys. So it is with some irritation that she read the following story on every pet lover’s nemesis, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).


Seems it’s time for PETA’s annual expose on the cruel conditions under which domesticated turkeys are housed and slaughtered. A PETA operative went undercover at a West Virginia farm operated by Aviagen, Inc, a global supplier of turkey. This poultry super sleuth was able to capture Aviagen employees on video killing turkeys by inhumanely “twisting” their necks. Now, I was raised in the big city, but even I got to occasionally visit my great grandmother in the country and witness her “wring” the neck of the unfortunate selection for Sunday dinner. What I found curious was that this would be investigative reporter spent two months at the turkey farm, during which time he must have witnessed the processing of tens of thousands of birds. Now, I will eat anything, as long as it used to have feathers, fur, scales, or a shell, but I’m not sure I could watch the slaughter of turkeys day in and day out. These PETA guys must be really dedicated to participate in all that carnage.

Now I am in a quandry. I've been an outspoken opponent of PETA since they first climbed out from under the rock. Am I going to be giving thanks next week to a PETA member for the that big, perfectly roasted turkey on my Thanksgiving table? We will just have to pretend they are one of us People Eating Tasty Animals.

PHILADELPHIA AND DOG SHOWS

The close we get to the holidays, the harder it is to find a dog show, but we manage. The weekend kicks off on Thursday with the four day Philadelphia Cluster in Redding PA. Despite being in one of the most populous areas of the US, expect a smallish entry, especially on Thursday and Friday. We don’t see the logic in it. There are plenty of fanciers in the area. It’s centrally located. The weather hasn’t turned nasty yet. It has become something of an American tradition that if you name your club or circuit for a great American city, then you must look for a show hall in some place other than the great American city. Here’s an idea for you elected officials, if a dog show is named after your city, embrace it. Promote it. Give it sponsored status. Do you know of anything that will bring your citizenry together like the love for dogs? You politicians are missing a big opportunity here. Next year, we expect to see bigger entries. We knew that soap box wouldn’t stay stowed for long.

Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia's most famous citizen,

Owned a Newfoundland

Meanwhile up in New England we have a four day cluster, the Thanksgiving Classic in West Springfield MA , starting on Friday. Centrally located between New York and Boston, this will be the largest entries this weekend. Expect entries over 2,000 Saturday/Sunday and up to 1700 Friday and Monday. The towns of Stockton and Turlock CA are due east of San Francisco along the I-5 corridor, which means that folks from Mexico to Canada have easy access to the four shows hosted by the Golden Valley Kennel Club of Turlock and the San Joaquin Kennel Club of Stockton. However, don’t anticipate huge entries, but entries in the reasonable 1,500 range. Hopefully, the fires ravaging SOCAL will be under control by this weekend.

Elsewhere in the US there’s a three day weekend of shows in Montgomery AL and two day events in Belton TX, Crete IL, Tallmadge OH, and Naples FL. So get out there and support your local dog show and then come back here and find out what happened everywhere else.

BLACK IS BACK

This was one of the most exciting doggy weekends of the year. In a wild roller coaster of a ride, the top ten dogs jockeyed for position in the backstretch as they head for the end of the year and a permanent place in the record books. By Monday morning the two big winners were black dogs with wiry coats, one large, one small. The Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, dominated the big shows in Columbus Ohio, taking three of the four BIS, the last on Sunday from Judge James Frederiksen at the Central Ohio Kennel Club show. The Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, managed to win one at the same location on Friday, but in the end decided discretion to be the better part of valor and adjourned to Syracuse NY where she picked up a top prize from Judge Donald M. Bookbaum at the Central New York Kennel Club show. When the points were all tallied Spirit stood with a firm grip on the number one ranking with a 2,500 lead over Holly.

Meanwhile, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, also exited Ohio on Sunday, after tiring of watching the big dogs swap wins. He surfaced in sunny Florida at the Greater Ocala Dog Club event in Ocala FL, of course, accepting the BIS trophy from Judge May Lou Kniola. His defeat of 1,273 dogs was good enough to hang on to the number four spot and the title of Best Toy Dog. The Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, squandered the opportunity to overtake Taser, failing to keep pace with the little, black dynamo. Lincoln started the weekend promisingly enough with a BIS on Thursday, but failed to make it out of the Toy Groups on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, finishing 3rd, 4th, and 3rd, respectively. When the dust settled Taser was sitting on a better than 1,500 lead over Lincoln.

An editorial aside, We’ve been around this game a long, long time, and we seen a lot of very wealthy dog owners go after a national title with a vengeance. However, we have never seen a better combination of a great dog, a superb handler, dedicated owners, and smartly spent dollars. Special congratulations to everyone involved in the 2008 campaign of CH Tamarin Tug. Besides, no other dog has afforded us such an opportunity to print some of the worst puns in the blogosphere. Shocking!

CH Karnovanda's North By Northwest

And, yes, Virginia, there were other top ten dogs in action this weekend, including Yes, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, who decided to take it easy, close to home, competing at the two Whidbey Island Kennel Club shows in Monroe, WA. Blasé as only a Poodle can be, she still holds on to the number three spot by more than a 1,000 points on the strength of a big Best In Show win on Sunday over 1,778 other dogs. On Saturday, Yes was bested by the Siberian Husky, CH Karnovanda's North By Northwest. Rusmore, who is handled by Randy Schepper, has been one of the country’s top working dogs for the last three years. He was bred by Judith Russell & Donna Beckman, who co-own him with Maryl Foster.

CH Coppertone Classical Minuet

Two of the top ten were in Tucson AZ (How’s that for alliteration?). The Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Conventry Vanity Fair, shared a trio of BIS with the Vizla, CH Coppertone Classical Minuet. It was the first Best In Show for the stylish bitch from Palo Verdes, CA. She was bred by the doggy conglomerate of Mark & Bonnie Goodwein and Alyson & Sid Lyons, who co-own her with D. Stankey & Pam Lambie. Congratulations to all. Meanwhile, down in SOCAL (For our non-US readers, that’s southern California), the Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv’s Ouija spent two days at the smallish San Luis Obispo Kennel Club’s double header in Paso Robles CA, watching the Bichon Frise, CH Paray’s Paragon, and the Puli, CH Bokar Barney Rubble RN AX AXJ, take BIS. Ouija’s Group one and Group 4 did little to close the gap beween her and the Number One Hound, Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition.

CH Evan’s Rumor Has It

Coda, in very workman like fashion, found a cluster close to home and spent the weekend there giving it his all. The four day literarily named Leatherstocking Cluster in Syracuse NY allowed him to pick up a Group four, a BIS, and a couple of Group firsts and over 1700 points. Coda also got the opportunity to witness the rarity of a a Field Spaniel going Best In Show. Judge Douglas C. Taylor gave CH Evan’s Rumor Has It his first top prize. Rumor was bred by Sarah W Evans, is owned by Cheryl McGowen of Silver Spring MD, and handled by Sam Mammano. Field Spaniels are incredibly versatile dogs, equally at home on the sofa or on the hunt. Too bad there were less than 200 registered in the US last year. At least we all got to see this excellent example win a Best In Show.

The remaining top ten dog out and about this weekend was the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, who picked up three Group firsts and a BIS in the DC suburbs. On Sunday another rare breed hit the jackpot with a BIS at the Upper Marlboro Kennel Club show in West Friendship MD. American Foxhounds rank 155 out of 157 breeds in the AKC registry. So we are very about CH Kiarry's Reflections Of The Sun getting the nod from Judge Col. Jerry H. Weiss. Congratulations to owners/breeders Les Millman, Donna Millman, and Lisa Miller.

CH Kiarry's Reflections Of The Sun

Be sure to let your elected officials at the metropolitan and state level know that mandatory spay and neuter regulations are threatening these rare breeds. Think about it, this is a breed established by George Washington, the first President of the United States. Are we going to let a bunch of terrorists disguised as animal rights activists steal our history? Doesn’t your family pet deserve the same protection as any wild animal threatened with extinction? Wake up people. (Soap box stored until provoked again)

TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

You don’t see a lot of BIS winning Rhodesian Ridgebacks. I’ve often wondered why. A Rhodesian has the same kind of impressive presence you find in a Rottweiler or a Doberman, a kind of “Think about it before you come into my territory” look. They also have the reputation legends are made of. “You say you went hunting today? Took down a couple of foxes. Nice. Me? We bagged us some lion butt.” How do you top that? Can’t beat a Rhodesian for doggy machismo. Well, the weekend’s not even over and we already have two BIS won by Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

CH Adili's American Idol

The first came on Friday at the Greater Monroe Kennel Club show in Concord NC, when CH Adili's American Idol caught the eye of Judge Jim C. Briley. “Spirit“ was bred by Tammy Lynch, Karen LaFleur, & N Vaccarino. He is co owned by Tammy, Karen, and Kiki Courtelis of Micanopy FL and handled by Frank J Murphy. The second came Saturday at the Chesapeake Kennel Club Of Maryland show in West Friendship MD. Judge Whitney J. Coombs handed the top prize to CH Of Afrikka Spring Valley Dorian Gray JC, a dog with more family names than a crown prince in an eastern European country. This impressive looking fellow was bred by Dr Christina Wistrom, is owned by the good doctor and Sonnet McKinnon of Greenwich CT. and handled by Jack Secrest. And if all that is not impressive enough, he beat the country‘s number five dog to do it. The Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe s Hidalgo At Goodspice, finished the day with a Group win and just 149 points.

CH Of Afrikka Spring Valley Dorian Gray JC

Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders have been much maligned of late because of the BBC’s salacious documentary, Pedigreed Dogs Exposed, which claimed that the culling of ridgeless puppies was a routine practice, a claim backed by nothing more than unsubstantiated stories. Let’s hope that the animal rights terrorists don’t deprive us of this magnificent animal.