WE HAVE SOME CHICAGO NEWS

CH Cilleine Masquerade

One of our readers tells us that the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, picked up another BIS on Friday at the Blackhawk Kennel Club show in Chicago IL, and that the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, took away the heavy silver today at the first day of the International Kennel Club of Chicago. We are sure that there are some readers out there that have more detail. Please share with us!

WHITE OUT IN SNOWY NY

CH Smash JP Moon Walk

Juli Lacey-Black has braved the snowy roads of Suffern NY to bring us this report on day one of the Rockland Country Kennel Club show. Judge William Dolan had an experienced bunch in his final seven including the the English Setter, CH Reidwood Red Alert , the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition, the Boxer, CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, the Parson Russell Terrier, CH Thunder Hill Soul Journey , the Toy Poodle, CH Smash JP Moon Walk, The Standard Poodle, CH Hillwood Dassin De-Lovely, and the Bouvier Des Flandres, CH Drewlynn’s Louis Vuitton.

The snow white Toy Poodle, Walker, bounced back from a disappointing Toy Group appearance at Westminster to win today’s show. This impressive little guy, finished 2008 with seven BIS, and we feel he is still a DOG2WATCH.

SUFFERN NY RESULTS

We have some partial show results in from Suffern NY and the Wallkill Kennel Club where the Bulldog, CH Kepley's Showbiz Razzle Dazzle, went BIS. You may remember this beautiful bitch from Westminster where she took a Non-Sporting Group Three.

CH Kepley's Showbiz Razzle Dazzle

Among the other finalists were the Bloodhound, CH Soonipi Dncin In The Moonlite MLH, and the Toy Poodle, CH Smash JP Moon Walk. The two year old Bulldog, bred by Marjorie D Kepley & Jack Kepley, owned by Joan L Fisher, Robert D Speiser & Barbara Wolfe, and handled by Phoebe Jordan Booth, finished 2008 with four BIS.

MAJOR MILESTONE

We have just hit a major milestone. We have recorded over 100,000 hits on our site. Our thanks to you all for making our little site into a success. We are very grateful that so many of you have found this blog entertaining. We hope we can continue to live up to your expectations

UPDATED RANKINGS

We have completed updating our national and regional rankings. Our national rankings are on the right hand side bar. Our regional rankings are on the left hand side bar below the traditional national rankings. Now that we are two months into the year, we are starting to see some variation between our rankings and the traditional rankings. Chief among these differences is the appearance of the Lakeland Terrier, CH Hi-Kel Terrydale Soldier of Fortune, on our top ten and the absence of the Doberman Pinscher, CH Allure Blazing Star Alisation, who is number four on the traditional list.

Under the traditional system a Terrier Group winner will receive, on the average, 40 percent of the points that the Working Group winner receives, even though there are 26 breeds in the Working Group and 27 breeds in the Terrier Group. Under our system all group winners receive the same number of points at any given show. In any event, peruse the rankings, especially the regional rankings. If you find your dog is on our regional rankings and we have no photo, please provide us with one. Finally, remember our rankings are designed to give exposure to more of your lovely dogs, so enjoy and don’t go getting too serious on us.

SADIE BLOWS INTO CHICAGO

The nation’s top dogs have descended upon Chicago and on the first day it was Sadie, Sadie, Scottie Lady. Judge Dana Cline followed the lead of so many others, handing the 2009 Park Shore Kennel Club BIS title to the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot.

CH Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot

Sadie fought her way out of a Terrier Group chockablock full of BIS winners to face the Gordon Setter, CH Firethorn & SandpiperEasy On The Eyes, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, CH Afterglow Ebeneezer, the Rottweiler, CH CammCastle Friar Tuck, the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, the Standard Poodle, CH BAr-None Dawn Travelin`Man, and the Bouvier Des Flandfres, CH Quiche`s Demetrius. This win puts Sadie in the second place slot in the national rankings just ahead of the recently retired Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry. Although Sadie has twice the number of points than any other Terrier, she still lags behind the number one dog in the US, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, by nearly 5,000 points.

However, the year is young and there are lots of big shows to come in the next few weeks. And, as always, you will read about them here first.

GREAT LAKES ALL TERRIER ASSOCIATION

We know we don’t always report out on limited breed shows, but we have a request for the results on yesterday’s Great Lakes All Terrier Association in Chicago and we are Terrier people ;-) So without further ado, here they are.

CH J'cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice

The Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot, continues to dominate her group, going Group One. DOG2WATCH, the Welsh Terrier, CH Sanherpinc Paisa, took Group Two. The Smooth Fox Terrier, CH J'cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice, also a DOG2WATCH, got the Group Three. The final spot went to 2008’s top Airedale, CH Stirling Cool Hand Luke. This is shaping up to be quite a year for the Terriers.

SADIE TAKES ANOTHER

While we were working on our rankings we realized that we had not given you the results from Monday’s Colorado Kennel Club in Denver CO. With nearly 10,000 dogs entered over the four days, this cluster has a huge impact on our rankings.

CH Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot

Judge Donald Jones had a trio of 2009 top ten dogs in his final, the Golden Retriever, CH Toasty‘s Treasure Island, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, and the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilliene Masquerade. Also standing for consideration were the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, CH Afterglow Ebeneezer, the Newfoundland, Good AS Gold Animalamual Del Basabura, the Miniature Poodle, CH Alegria Shamus, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek’s Sangria V Barick.

Picking up another BIS and closing in on the number two position in the rankings was the Scottie, Sadie. We won’t know for sure if she has passed the Pointer, Holly for a couple of days. But is clear that she has served notice that she intends to take on all comers.

WINDY CITY, SUNNY SKIES

This week it’s all about the Windy City where four all breed shows kick off tomorrow on fashionable Lake Shore Drive with the Park Shore Kennel Club show, continuing on Friday with the Blackhawk Kennel Club event, and culminating with two shows hosted by the International Kennel Club of Chicago. These used to be mega events, but hard economic times have reduced entries to the 2000 dog level, still very respectable, if not top 25. In the New York metro area, you can head up to Rockland County and the town of Suffern NY where we have the Wallkillsunday Kennel Club hosting on Friday, and the Rockland County Kennel Club doing the honors on Saturday and Sunday.

Chicago Lakefront

If you’ve had enough of winter already, you need a six show weekend to gather those last few points, and you don’t mind driving between shows, check out the Valdosta Kennel Club’s offering Friday in…. Valdosta GA, then pack up the SUV and drive the 90 minutes to Tallahassee FL for the double header from the Ochlockonee River Kennel Club Of Florida. Then pack up and drive two hours to Dothan AL for the Southeast Alabama Kennel Club’s show. Then if you still need points and you have any gas left in the tank, drive less than an hour to Marianna FL for the two shows by the Greater Panama City Dog Fanciers Association. You may not finish your dog, but if you leave the sunroof open, you’ll get a nice tan.

Boca Raton FL, Intercoastal Waterway

Finally, if you are like us and like to visit places you could never afford to live, get a blood test and visit the Boca Raton (FL) Kennel Club on Saturday or the Silver Bay Kennel Club of San Diego’s two day event in the ocean front town of Del Mar CA. Oh, and they will have some really nice dogs there as well.

INIDIANA HOUSE BILL 1468

Susan Lowder, Downhome Harriers, contacted us about Indiana House Bill 1468, which is being fast tracked through the Indiana State Assembly, disguised as an anti-animal cruelty bill. It will, in fact, make it extremely difficult to even show in Indiana. You can read the whole ugly thing at http://www.in.gov/legislative.

We sent the following to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and 54 members of the Indiana House of Representatives. We encourage you to contact the Governor and as many of the house members as you can. (We won’t get into the tedious cut and paste process we used). Feel free to borrow from our ideas and words, but do put your own thoughts in to it too.

I write a blog about dog shows. A reader of mine has alerted me to the subject bill currently under your consideration. Before you saddle you constituents with unnecessary requirements, I ask you to consider the following:

• This past weekend Indianapolis hosted one of the country’s largest dog shows. This show brought several thousand exhibitors, vendors, and spectators. This bill would make it virtually impossible for out of state exhibitors to come and spend their money in your cash strapped state. This weekend’s shows were but four of the dozens of shows held in your state each year.
• Limits on hobby breeders (and this bill will limit hobby breeders) has a ripple effect on the pet economy which according to a recent CNBC special is a $43B a year industry. Whatever Indiana’s share of this is, it is income your state can ill afford to lose.
• States and communities that have such legislation have incurred unnecessary administrative costs. The sponsors of this bill that have told you that this is self funded have mislead you. San Mateo County California (South of San Francisco, where else?) has never been able to recoup costs in the over 20 years since passing such legislation.
• Thirty of the AKC registered breeds have less than 200 registrations a year, making them more endangered than Polar Bears, Gorillas, or Grey Whales. These breeds include the Sussex Spaniel, one of which just won the Westminster Dog Show, and the American Foxhound, a breed created by our first President, George Washington. These restrictions will eliminate the rare breeds produced in your state.
  

This bill will not prevent unethical people from exploiting animals, but it will contribute to the loss of income to your state and impede many of your constituents’ ability to own and keep the dog of their choice.

TWO TOYS IN TOP TEN

We’ve updated the traditional top ten rankings and the big change is we now have two toy dogs in the top ten. On the strength of BIS and Toy Group wins at the weekends two largest shows, the Pug, CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu, and the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade moved into the top ten. The Pug, Boo, ended 2008 at number eleven, barely missing the top ten. Lincoln, the Griff, came in last year at number five.

We will will publish our top ten tomorrow when we finish the iterative regional ranking process.

MILE HIGH WIN

In the mile high atmosphere of the Denver CO, one can get a little light headed, but throw in a BIS over top ten dogs, and a 2500 plus dog entry, and you can get get a little giddy. However, for the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade , it was just another day at the office.

CH Cilleine Masquerade

Judge Faye Strauss’ job was made no easier by the presence of the Golden Retriever, Toasty’s Treasure Island, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Strasridge’s Femme Fatale CGC, The Great Pyrenees, CH Rivergroves Trump This, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, the American Eskimo Dog, CH Silveroak’s First & Foremost, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creeks’s Sangria V Barick. Lincoln is already the number two Toy Dog in the US this year. This win will put him back in the top ten dogs all breed.

IT'S A WIRE IN TEXAS

Down in Texas Judge Michael J. Dachel had the top job at the Guadalupe Valley Kennel Club in San Marcos Texas and his choice for BIS was the Wire Fox Terrier, CH Dalriada's Mystic.

CH Dalriada's Mystic

Also on hand in the final seven were the Field Spaniel, CH Bitterblue's Here Comes Da Judge, the Wirehaired Dachshund, CH Rivendell Dark Side Of The Moon SW, the Great Dane, CH Summerfield's Lady Of Hope, the Chinese Crested, CH Pahlavi Peepin' Tom, the Standard Poodle, CH Donnchada Sweet Dreams, and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, CH Heart Of Gold Power Play. We understand this is the first BIS for the 19 month old bitch. Congratulations to breeder/owner Cara Campbell DVM, co-owner Mike Doleski, and handler Klayton Harris.

ARKANSAS RESULTS

Down South at the South Arkansas Kennel Club in Camden AR, Judge Dorothy Nickles gave another Pekingese a BIS this weekend. This one went to CH Franshaw Hear Me Roar.

CH Franshaw Hear Me Roar

Also in contention were the Labrador Retriever, CH Ridge Views Magician, the 13” Beagle, CH Alamos El Caporal, the Black Russian Terrier with a tongue twisting name, CH Stioplyh Zved Lizaveta Prokaznitsa, the Westminster Terrier Group Three winner, the Norwich Terrier, CH Skyscot’s Poker Chip, the French Bulldog, CH Daystars A Touch Of Gold, and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, CH Twinroc Santa Paws. It was the third BIS this year for the Peke, the latest collaboration between breeder/owner John Shaw and Pekinese handler extraordinaire Hiram Stewart.

PAINT IT BLACK IN IOWA

Moving west to another “I” state, we had the Keomah Kennel Club show in Des Moines IA where Judge Dana Cline was in a black mood giving his BIS to the Black Cocker Spaniel, CH Exl's Leather N Lace.

CH Exl's Leather N Lace

Also vying for the judge’s attention were the Wirehaired Dachshund, CH Daybreaks Awesome Blossom W, the Great Pyrenees, Valle D'Aspe Polar Indecision, the Miniature Schnauzer, CH Rampages Jewel Thief, the Toy Fox Terrier, CH Azefer Hopalongcassidy, the Keeshond, CH Karolina Bonnyval Deal No Deal, and the Belgian Tervuren, CH Majics Image Maker. It was the first BIS this year for the top winning Black Cocker, who had five BIS in 2008. Congratulations to breeders/owners Sandy Knaus & Jan Huml and handler Jeff Wright.

BIG WIN IN THE HEARTLAND

The largest show this weekend, with 2522 dogs entered, was in the heartland, in Indianapolis IN, where the members of the Hoosiers Kennel Club know how to pick a name. And Judge Darryl Vice knows how to pick a BIS winner, tapping the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, CH Cornerstone Soliloquy, as his top dog.

CH Cornerstone Soliloquy

The finalists included the Gordon Setter, CH Firethorn & Sandpiper's Easy On The Eyes, the Afghan Hound, CH Karakush Dot Com A U, the Alaskan Malamute, CH Nanuke's Still The One, the Pug, CH Tupelo ShoBoat Tu China Tu, the Standard Poodle, CH Bar-None Dawin Travelin' Man, and the Old English Sheepdog, CH Lambluv's Daydream Believer. It was a very big first BIS for the 16 moth old bitch, “Piper”. Congratulations to breeders Damon Folmar & Sam Royall, owners, Maryanne & Larry Goethals, and handler Holley Eldred.

LAKELAND FL RESULTS

CH Halcyon-Cofina Queen Isabela

Those preferring sun to snow headed to Lakeland FL where Judge Mark Kennedy was holding court at the Lakeland-Winterhaven Kennel Club. His final seven included the timely named German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Star K’s Mile Hi Valentine, the Afghan Hound, CH Genesis Silverado, the Newfoundland, CH Halcyon-Cofina Queen Isabela, the Skye Terrier, CH Cragsmoor Buddy Goodman, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, CH Modrian VH Lamslag, the Standard Poodle, CH Dawn Spitfire, and the Bouvier Des Flandres, CH Warwick’s Paint the Town Red. Queen for the day was the Newfoundland. We applaud breeders Roberta Jarel & Mary Price, owner Lourdes Cofino, and handler Arvind De Braganca.

FINALLY, WEEKEND RESULTS

Well, now that the computer staffs of the AKC and INFODOG are back from their ski weekend.,(We heard Tahoe was a mess.) we can finally give you a full report on this past weekend. Since we last reported on the West Coast we shall begin on the East Coast in Hartford CT where we have the country’s least dog related named kennel club, the First Company Governor's Foot Guard Athletic Association, hosting a show.

CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins

Judge Judy Harrington had a group of dogs who have done their share of winning, 2008’s number one English Springer Spaniel, CH Cerise Jesse James, the BIS winning 15” Beagle, CH Torquay Midnight Confession, the BIS winning Rottweiler, CH Blackrocks Kazanova, the 2008 AKC/Eukanuba Terrier Group winner, the Sealyham Terrier. CH Efbe's Merci Pour Le Poive, the 2008 top Miniature Pinscher, CH Kimro’s Soldier Boy, the young Group winning Schipperke, CH De Lamer Point Blank, and the BIS winning Bearded Collie, CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins.

Congratualtions to breeders/owners Larry & Angela Stein, Robert Lamm, & Lesley Woodcock, co-owner Ellen Charles, and handler Clifford Steele on the Roy's (the Beardie) first BIS of 2009.

SAN JOSE RESULTS

CH Volcan De La Negresse

Judge Mildred Bryant had some familiar faces and some new faces in her final seven today at the Santa Clara Valley Kennel Club show in San Jose CA. Among those assembled were a Golden Retriever from the classes, Fairegold‘s Mr. Tambourine Man, the 2008 number one Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Pupukearidge Ikaika O Sprngvly, the 2008 number one dog all breeds, Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, the barely two year old Australian Terrier, CH Bluemoon Call Me Irresistible, the even younger Pekingese, CH Pequest Grand Slam, the multi BIS Standard Poodle, CH Penndragon Masaniello, and the four year old Beauceron, CH Volcan De La Negresse. Once again, it was the Giant Schnauzer, Spirit, showing everyone how it’s done, picking up another BIS.

PUGS, POMS, & PEKES

Maybe’s it’s my penchant for alliteration creating it’s own reality. After all we started the weekend with a Pug party. Now up in Albany OR, we had a Pom go BIS on Saturday and a Peke go BIS on Sunday.

CH Dunkirk’s I’m Gonna Live Forever

Judge Karen McFarlane chose the Pekingese, CH Dunkirk’s I’m Gonna Live Forever, as her top dog out of a final that included the Golden Retriever, CH Rush Hill’s River Road Payoff, the Pharoah Hound, Nefer-Temu Mia Sambasonic SC,the Saint Bernard, CH Tinkerbells Solid Gold, the Cairn Terrier, CH Kiowa MMDW Driving Miss Daisy, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Fair. Congratulations to Fame‘s, breeder/owner/handler Tim Reese, co-breeder/owner Randy Winters, and co-owner J. Robert Jacobsen.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY UPDATE

CH Harbor's It Had To Be Me

It wasn’t all bad luck on Friday the 13th. Among the BIS winners we have not reported are the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, at the Plum Creek Kennel Club in Denver CO, and the Havanese, CH Harbor's It Had To Be Me, at day two of the Sara Bay Kennel Club in Lakeland FL.

CH Westwood Alladin

On Valentine’s Day it was hearts and roses for BIS winners CH Westwood Alladin, the Rough Collie, at the Greenville Kennel Club in Greenville SC, CH Polar Mist X-Tasy, the Samoyed, at the Central Indiana Kennel Club in Inidanapolis IN, CH Country Squire Heaven Can Wait, the English Setter at the second Plum Creek Kennel Club show in Denver CO, and CH Modrian VH Lamslag, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, at the Lakeland-Winter Haven Kennel Club show in Lakeland FL.

We will be back later with Sunday's results.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS

CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit

Well, we had to wait until the witching hour for results, but we do have some for you. First the complete ones. In San Jose, the Santa Clara Valley Kennel Club ignored the blustery weather and put on a first class show with a first class BIS winner, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit. Judge Janet Sinclair had a great cast of supporting characters in the Golden Retriever, CH Birnam Wood’s Hoot Gibson. The Greyhound, CH Sobers Galathea At Grandcru, the Norfolk Terrier, CH Jaeva Golden Auric, the Pekingese, CH Pequest Grand Slam, the Standard Poodle, CH Penndragon Masaniello, & the Shetland Sheepdog, CH Paray Cirque Du Soliel.

CH Bayleigh Shaireab’s Super Hero

We’ve also have partial results for you from the Spartanburg Kennel Club in Greenville SC, where the Doberman Pinscher, CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton, went BIS under Judge Jean Fournier. Also in the final were the Geman Wirehaired Pointer, CH Ripsnoter’s Mt.View Lookout, the Whippet, CH Tattersall Ticket To Fly, the Welsh Terrier, CH Bayleigh Shaireab’s Super Hero, and the Standard Poodle, CH Anastasia Da Maya.

Later today we will catch you up on all the weekend’s results.

ALBANY OR RESULTS UPDATE

CH Paragon’s Red Red Wine

We told you yesterday that the Pom, Bon, won the Linn County KC event in Albany OR and that the Standard Poodle, Yes, and the Cogi, Carly, were among the finalists. Now we’ve learned from Terri Erickson, Paragon Siberians, that the other finalists were Terri’s Siberian Husky, CH Paragon’s Red Red Wine, the Irish Water Spaniel, CH Poole Ide,Got Water, the 15” Beagle, CH Talbot Hill’s Thyme After Time, and the Bedlington Terrier, CH Boardwalk’s Bling Bling.