RICKY MARTIN, EAT YOUR HEART OUT

CH Velocity’s Shake Ur Bon Bon

We have some early Saturday results in and reports on one of our top ten dogs. The country’s top terrier, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, spent another day in Savannah GA with the same results as yesterday, a group one win and a chance to watch another lesser known dog impress BIS Judge Melvin Beech. The nation’s number one Pomeranian, CH Velocity’s Shake Ur Bon Bon, an impressive multiple BIS winner was bred by Daniel Yona, is owned by Margo Koga, and handled by Pom specialist Noble Inglett. Daniel, who lives in Brooklyn NY, is something of a Pomeranian wunderkind. At just 24 years old he is already made a name for himself both here and overseas. Congratulations to Daniel, “Bon“, Margo, and Noble. We expect to see more of Bon in 2009.

SHOW RESULTS BEFORE THE MALL CLOSES!

CH Allure s U Chenoa Joe

It’s Friday evening and my wife and daughter are home from the mall and the front room is full of shopping bags. I’ve been playing the doting father and husband, feigning interest in the spoils of the day, nodding and murmuring admiration as they display one captured prize after the next, all the time wondering how I can find someone who knows the results from the Yuma (Arizona) Kennel Club Show.

CH Alpha's Road Warrior

However, we do have the results from the first day of the Savannah (Georgia) Kennel Club show. As we expected it was not a large show, 576 dogs present and competing, but, like any AKC show there was something to admire. One of our top ten, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, was there and made it all the way to Judge Pete Dawkins final seven. Charmin was joined by the ASCOB Cocker Spaniel, CH Lydgate Rise N’ Shine, the Basnji, CH Klassic’s Ms Mata Hauri JC, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Alpha's Road Warrior, the Pug, CH Norkus Risky Business, the Bichon Frise, CH Allure s U Chenoa Joe, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek s Sangria V Barick. In addition to Charmin, the Cocker, the Basenji, and the Bichon have previously won Best In Show, and the remaining three are young dogs that are already challenging their elders.

CH Shoal Creek s Sangria V Barick

But it was the Cocker, who went BIS last weekend over the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, recording the weekend’s first BIS. However, I have to admit, I look for the Doberman and German Shepherd to add the “BIS Winner” prefix to their names before too long. Take a look at the photos. Don’t you agree?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Here in the US, Thanksgiving is a special holiday. It is a holiday that embraces all religions, races, and political affiliations. It is a holiday that brings family and friends together no matter what their imagined grievances be. It is the one holiday where all of America shares in an identical sacrament composed of turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. It is the one holiday where we forget about what we want and give thanks for what we have. So, all of you here in the US, count your blessings and give thanks for what you have and the people in your life and, please, be thankful for the dog that shares your home. Lest we offend our non US readers, you are all invited to participate. This is a holiday that will fit in any home.

MALL OR DOG SHOW?

As we race toward the end of 2008, we only have a few more chances to see this years group of top dogs. This coming weekend you can spend your time watching football with your cousin Hal, who used to steal your Def Leppard tapes, or you can go to a dog show in one of seven places. There are four day clusters in Arizona and Georgia, the Desert Southwest Cluster in Yuma AZ and the Coastal Low Country Cluster in Savannah GA and for those of you who have to hit the sales at the mall on Friday there are two day events in five locales: Arcadia FL, Kankakee IL, Fitchburg MA, East Lansing MI, and Conroe TX. Normally, we would expect the four day clusters to draw larger entries than the traditional Saturday/Sunday fare. However, expect the largest entries in Michigan, where you may see as many as 1500 dogs on Saturday, and in Massachusetts, where entries should be over the 1000 mark. The Arizona shows will be a little shy of 1000 and the Georgia shows should be around 700 to 800. Ditto for the Texas shows. The Illinois and Florida shows will be the boutique shows of the bunch with entries between 500 to 600. Nonetheless, every AKC show always has some spectacular dogs. So what are you going to do, stand in line with the bargain hunters at the mall or see a dog show?

PHOTO FINISH

CH Monkham's Famous Grouse

It was a dramatic end to a dramatic week. Five of the country’s top dogs showed up one more time in West Springfield MA for the Holyoke Kennel Club show, three of which would make it to the final ring. The Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition was bested in the Hound Group by the Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeens, CH Monkham's Famous Grouse. “Fabio” was bred by Jenna Skerritt & Linda Skerritt who co-own the dog with Jill Neuschaefer, Donna Bruce and handler Julie Lacey-Black. CH Cilleine Masquerade fell once again to AKC’s toy dog, the Pug, CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu. The other three, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, and the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice joined the PBGV, the Pug, the Chow Chow, CH Kelin's There Can Be Only One TT, and the Bearded Collie, CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins, in Judge Karen S. McFarlane’s BIS ring. The Pointer, Holly was capping a phenomenal week with four BIS in four outing’s including one over the Giant Schnauzer, Spirit. Spirit had struggled, failing to make the final seven twice in the last four days. However, today was Spirit’s day and she would leave Reading with another notch in her BIS belt and a 2,001 point lead over Holly.

CH Kelin's There Can Be Only One TT

The last final of the weekend was in Stockton CA and five of our top ten were there, the Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv’s Ouija, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair and the frequently flying Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug. Unfortunately the Corgi failed to make it into the herding group placings, but the other four all made it to Judge Suzanne Dillin’s BIS ring. And the last dog to win a BIS this long, long weekend was the Scottie, Sadie. It was her second Best this weeeknd.

It is still too close to call a projected 2008 winner for AKC’s top dog, but when it happens, you will read it here first.

A TOUR OF I - 5

I used to live 20 minutes off of I-5, the freeway that runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington state. It’s the quintessential American interstate, 12 lanes across in some sections, six lanes for most of the way. I can recall tooling along I-5 heading north to Portland OR, on cruise control at 85 MPH, when I was passed by a Mercedes S class and a Cadillac STS traveling at speeds that made me feel like I was sitting still. So when there are dog shows in the little towns along I-5, you can expect decent entries and so it was in Turlock and Stockton CA this weekend.

CH Ashton Peaceful Easy Feeling

On Friday three of our top ten faced off at the Golden Valley Kennel Club show in Turlock. The Scottish Deerhound, CH Jarluv’s Ouija, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair, all showed up in Judge James R. White’s final seven snd it was Ouija picking up her first BIS this month. It was so much fun that they thought they would all do it again on Saturday at the same location and the same club and it was the Scottish Terrier, Sadie, charming Judge Cecilia Ringstrom and taking home the top prize. On Sunday the three would head 40 miles north to Stockton for the first day of two shows hosted by the San Joaquin Kennel Club. Again all three would gather in the final ring of the day, but it was the Irish Setter, CH Ashton Peaceful Easy Feeling, who impressed Judge Butch MacDonald enough to win a Best In Show. Congratulations to breeders/owners Janet & Gary Hylton and handler, Jennifer Holmberg.

CH Jadee Top Secret

Conde Nast poster child, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, started the weekend on Thursday with a Toy Group Three at the Penn Treaty Kennel Club show in Reading PA, but was in the deep South on Friday for the Anniston Kennel Club show in Montgomery AL. Taser did make it to Judge Judy Webb’s BIS ring, but it was the Wire Fox Terrier, CH CH Jadee Top Secret Feeling , who caught the Judge Judy’s eye. Congratulations to breeders Linda Hembree & Ruth Dawson & Joyce Diehl, owners Janet Lange & James Moses, and handler Tracy A Szaras-Deloria. Saturday Taser tried out his charms on BIS Judge Lee Canalizo who was more smitten by the multiple BIS winning ASCOB Cocker Spaniel, CH Lydgate Rise N Shine. The nation’s number five sporting dog was bred by Deborah Knight who co-owns him with Jacquelyn Beaudoin & Mary Walker. Bravo to them and handler, Linda Pitts. Sunday, Taser headed west to Benton TX and the Cen-tex Kennel Club event hoping for his first BIS of the weekend. Unfortunately, the country’s number 13 dog, the Lakeland Terrier, CH Hi-Kel's Terrydale Soldier Of Fortune was also there and caught the eye of Judge Dr. Harry Smith Jr.

CH Lydgate Rise N Shine

One top ten dog has not recorded a major win this weekend, the nation’s number three dog, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation. If any of our faithful readers know the skinny on Yes’ whereabouts let me know. Inquiring minds want to know. I will have two more shows to report on tomorrow. Will it change our rankings? You’ll read it here tomorrow.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

As the show results roll in for the weekend, we were reminded of the Road Runner cartoons. Remember how the Road Runner always would tease Wile E. Coyote by letting him getting close, then stick out his tongue, waggle his toes, and streak off into the distance? So it must have seemed to the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, today as she left Judge W. Everett Dean Jr’s BIS ring today at the Kennel Club of Philadelphia Show in Readng PA. Today’s win put her 479 points ahead of the number one dog in the nation, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit. Only a BIS win would allow Spirit to retain her top ranking and she had struggled this weekend, only making it to the final seven once in three days.

CH Action Chaos And Charisma

However, like the Coyote, Holly was to be denied the lead once again, as Judge Doris Cozart ended the drought and awarded Spirit Best In Show at the Springfield Kennel Club show in West Springfield MA and the 2058 points that went with it. Joining Spirit in the final was the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition and the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade. The Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice had spent three days in Reading with the Pointer, but decided to test the stronger competition in New England in hopes of the getting the big points. However, Charmin was waylaid in the Terrier Group by the White Bull Terrier, CH Action Chaos And Charisma, who had won the same group in 2007.

Check back with us tomorrow to find out how the other five top ten dogs fared this weekend.