SPIRIT MOVES CLOSER TO THE CENTURY MARK

The Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, moved one step closer to the century milestone today, picking up BIS number 98 at the San Mateo Kennel Club show in Vallejo CA. This Best came courtesy of Judge , Dr Robert D Smith.

CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit

Also in contention for the BIS were the German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Star K’s Mile Hi Valentine, the Basset Hound , CH Blossomhil’s Mamma Mia, the Kerry Blue Terrier, CH Perrisblu Paris, the Pekingese, CH Pequest Grand Slam, the Chow Chow, CH D-Jin Gang Of Anna Kennel, and the Shetland Sheepdog, CH Paray Cirque De Soleil.

We think you should keep an eye on the Kerry Blue, a four year old bitch, that was campaigned heavily last year on the east coast by handler Ernesto Lara. She ended 2008 as the number one Kerry Blue and the 15th highest scoring Terrier. It should be interesting to see how she fares under the direction of Bill McFadden who handled the unforgettable Kerry Blue, CH Torums Scarf Michael, know worldwide as Mick.

CA WHIPPET WINS IN TN

CH Starline's Chanel

Franklin TN is just 200 miles up the road from us, but today’s BIS went to a dog from 2,000 miles a way. Judge W. Everett Dean Jr gave the nod to the Whippet, CH Starline's Chanel.,at the Maury County Kennel Club show. With a name as elegant as her appearance, Chanel resides with breeders/owners Carey and Lori Lawrence in Rancho Santa Fe CA. She is flawlessly presented by handler Lori Wilson.

Like many of us in the dog fancy, the Lawrences are multiple pet owners. Kentucky and Tennessee are home to many fine horse farms and trainers. So the Lawrences have chosen to stable their show Arabian horses here in Tennessee near Knoxville. Lori is spending the weekend with the horses and decided to bring Chanel along for the ride/flight. Now that’s multitasking.

BIG DAY IN RALEIGH

It was a big day at the Raleigh (NC) Kennel Club and it doesn’t get any bigger than the Irish Wolfound. Judge Robert Forsyth gave his Best In Show to CH Dun Myrica Speaker Of Eagle, the country’s number one wolfhound.

CH Dun Myrica Speaker Of Eagle

The other finalists were the German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Ripsnorter’s Mt. View Lookout, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton, the Skye Terrier, CH Cragsmoor Buddy Goodman, the Toy Fox Gterrier, CH Valcopy Hannah Montana, the Chinese Shar-Pei, CH Vaje’s Miss Jayne Hathaway, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek Sangria V Barick. It was BIS number three for the three year old male, bred by Samuel Evans Ewing III & Sam Houston McDonald, owned by McDonald & Joe M Roland, and handled by Marie Sommershoe.

IT'S CEEJAY IN VALLEJO

We have the results in from Vallejo CA where the thousands of people go every day to see the Killer Whales and ride the thrill rides. If we had been able to be there in person, we would have been on our own thrill ride watching some of the best dogs in the country face off.

CH Rokeena Carte Blanche

Mrs Robert D. Smith was the judge and her finalists were the English Setter, CH Artizoe High Caliber, The Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, CH Rokeena Carte Blanche, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee’s Pure Of Spirit, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Warfox Double Exposure, the Pekingese, CH Pequest Grand Slam, the Bullodg, CH Legacy Empress Of The Copa, and the Bearded Collie, CH Brigadoondaybarbelieveitonot.

The country’s number one Hound, the PBGV, CeeJay, took home his seventh BIS this year, serving clear notice that he is a contender for the number one spot in our allbreed top ten.

HERDING GROUP HEAVIES

We’ve commented on it before, Herding Groups these days are brutally competitive. When Judge Janet Tunage Nahikian surveyed her final seven today at the Durham Kennel Club show in Raleigh NC, she had no idea that the German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek Sangria V Barick, had to get past three recent BIS winners in the group judging. Finishing two, three, and four behind Ria, a three year old bitch, were yesterday’s BIS winner, the Puli, CH Cordmaker Field Of Dreams, the Old English Sheepdog, CH Lambluv’s Daydream Believer, and the Bearded Collie, CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins.

CH Shoal Creek Sangria V Barick

Joining The GSD in the BIS ring were the Pointer from the classes, Fieldfine Redclay Lightening Rod, Thursday finalist, the Irish Wolfhound, CH Dun Myrica Speaker Of Eagle, the Boxer, CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, Wednesday finalist, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH J’cobe Kemosabe Vigalante, the Japanese Chin, Chindale’s Farrah Fawcett, and the Chinese Shar-Pei, CH Vajae’s Miss Jayne Hathaway.

Rhea’s hard path was recognized with her third BIS of the year. Congratulations to breeder/owner Giovanni Middei, co-owners Edward Farrell, Barbara Stamper, & Lee Jewel, and handler Scott Yergin.

ANOTHER GIANT BIS

The Solano County Fairgrounds, adjacent to the Six Flags theme park, is not the most glamorous venue in the Bay area, but there was plenty of glamour among the competitors. Attendees at yesterday’s Santa Cruz Kennel Club show were treated to another Best In Show performance by the 2008 Highest Scoring Dog in Conformation, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit.

CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit

In addition to the Giant, Spirit, Judge Stephen Hubbel had the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, CH Flatbrook Royal Point Attitude JH, the Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen, CH Rokeena Carte Blanche, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Warfox Double Exposure, the Pekingese, CH Pequest's Grand Slam, and a duo of Paray pooches from Tray Pittman, the Bichon Frise, CH Paray’s Rime Time, and the Shetland Sheepdog, CH Paray Cirque De Soleil.

For those of us keeping score (and who isn’t?), this was all breed BIS number 97. Got the fireworks ready?

GWP BIS IN RALEIGH

CH Ripsnorter’s Mt. View Lookout

We have the day two results from Raleigh NC where the Alamance Kenel club was hosting and Charles Trotter was doing the judging. Only two of the previous day’s finalisst returned, Wednesday’s BIS winner, the Puli, CH Cordmaker Field Of Dreams, and the Italian Greyhound, CH Integra’s Purple Passion.

They were joined by the German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Ripsnorter’s Mt. View Lookout, the Irish Wolfhound, CH Dun Myrica Speaker Of Eagle, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe’s Merci Pour Le Poivre, and the Bichon Frise, CH Bodacious In Enemy Territory.

Today’s winner was the GWP, “Scout”, who picked up his second BIS this year. As consistently as he has been winning in the Sporting Group we suspect we will see another BIS soon.

OPENING DAY IN RALEIGH

We are back from Washington and before we unpack, we will tell you what happened to in Raleigh NC where the Salisbury Kennel Club was the first of five shows. Judge Jon Cole had no idea how hard some of his seven finalists had making it to his BIS ring. Virtually all the finalists had to defeat Best In Show winning dogs just to make it to the final.

The Doberman Pinscher, CH Alex De Akido San, had an especially tough time, leaving the white hot Doberman bitch, CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton. Another multiple BIS winner that failed to make it out of the breed was the Boxer, Ch Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, who lost out to CH Sharledar’s Crown Jewel.

CH Cordmaker Field of Dreams

The Dobie was joined by the German Shorthaired Pointer, CH Fieldfine’s Back In Action, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Adili’s American Idol, the Smooth FoxTerrier, CH J’cobe Kemosabe Vigalante, the Italian Greyhound, CH Integra’s Purple Passion, the French Bulldog, Ch Raindrop Justus Life’s A Game, and the Puli, CH Cordmaker Field of Dreams.

It’s the sixth 2009 BIS this year for the five year old Conrad.

TO RANT OR NOT TO RANT

We had promised you (or threatened you with. We confuse the two.) an editorial. Those of you my age may remember the great Gilda Radner, one of the original Saturday Night Live cast members. One of Ms Radner’s memorable creations was the elderly, hard of hearing, Emily Litella, who would frequently do editorial rants on such malaprops as endangered feces, eagle rights, and flea elections in China. When confronted with her misunderstanding of the subject (it’s endangered species, not feces), Ms Litella would smile sweetly and say, “Never Mind“.

Well, we find ourself in a similar circumstance. After receiving a couple of e-mails about a proposed $25 annual activity fee to be imposed on every AKC dog participating in sanctioned shows, we began writing a rant. Once we had a first draft we decided to wait a day until we could verify the facts with AKC. After a couple of e-mails and a long telephone conversation with Dennis Sprung, AKC’s President, we are happy to report that no such fee has been proposed. The fee had been discussed as part of a “conceptual plan” to support a project currently known as the “Future Program”, which has as its primary purpose the collection and preservation of frozen semen from top dogs to support future breeding programs.

It’s encouraging that AKC has such ambitious and forward thinking discussions going on. We all, as part of the AKC constituency, should allow our elected representatives the freedom to exchange ideas and discuss new concepts. As fashionable as the term “transparency” is we have often counseled clients that “no one should be allowed to watch the making of sausage”. Dennis Sprung, like us, is well aware that this not the time to be raising fees on dog show fanicers. So if some starts to rant about the evil proposed fee, tell them it is not true. They just might say, “Never mind!”

THIS COMING WEEKEND

We spent the morning taking our daughter to tour the usual monuments and museums in our capital city and now she has permitted me to retreat to my computer in exchange for our Visa Card and directions to the Georgetown shops.

While she shops, we are perusing this week’s shows and have discovered the weekend began today in Raleigh NC where the Tarheel Cluster kicks off a five day weekend. We’re kind of fuzzy about the details, but we do know that this cluster has the special participation of the Professional Handlers Association and that can only mean lots of top dogs in Raleigh. Another major cluster of shows is the four day weekend in Vallejo CA (just up bay from San Francisco) hosted by the Santa Cruz Kennel Club, the Oakland Kennel Club, the Kennel Club Of Salinas, and the San Mateo Kennel Club. You may recall that the last time these four clubs got together the outcome decided a national championship. We can’t promise you that much drama this time, but we do expect that most of the great dogs on the West Coast will be there.

West Coast exhibitors can also choose from two day venues in Bremerton WA or Tucson AZ, while East Coasters can opt for a double in Edison NJ. If you prefer a “T” state try weekends in Fort Worth TX or Franklin TN (near Nashville). You can’t go wrong. They are all AKC dog shows.

WEEKEND CATCH UP TWO

Our final stop this weekend is in Houston Texas where the Houston KC and the Galveston County KC joined forces for two days of shows.

CH Risgae Miabella Sweet Georgia

On Saturday, Judge Vincent Grosso assembled a group of familiar names, the Golden Retriever, CH Toasty's Treasure Island, the Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen, CH Afterglow Ebenezeer, the Komondor, CH Nagyalma Slew 'Em, the Lakeland Terrier, CH Hi-Kel Terrydale Soldier Of Fortune, the Pekingese, CH Franshaw Hear Me Roar, the Bichon Frise, CH Risgae Miabella Sweet Georgia, and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, CH Heart Of Gold Power Play.

Day one went to arguably the least well know name among these, the Bichon, Georgia. Congratulations to breeder/owner Rick Day, co-owner Sheryl L Kapella, and handler Kayley Kovar.

CH Toasty's Treasure Island

Sunday, the Bichon, the Golden, the PBGV, the Lakeland, and the Peke would all show up for another try at BIS with Judge Robert Vandiver. They were joined by the Doberman Pinscher, CH Alex De Akido San, and the Australian Shepherd, CH Aliyah's Semper Fi Of Joywalk. Sunday’s BIS would go to arguably the best known of the finalists, the Golden, Treasure, who soon will be 2009‘s top Sporting Dog.

We are off to find out how our daughter’s Georgetown interview went. Later today we will celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day at The Tombs, the Georgetown bar made famous in the movie, St. Elmo’s Fire. We will be back later with a weekend preview and, yes, an editorial. Don’t go rolling your eyes. You’ll want to know about this one.

WEEKEND CATCH UP ONE

And now for the best of the rest. First, from Dubuque IA where we had given you partial results, on Saturday in addition to the BIS winning Lab and the Hound Group winning LH Doxie, Judge Mareth Kipp had the Giant Schnauzer, CH Tanglewood’s Bocephus, the Miniature Schnauzer, Tomar’s Just Dream’n, the Pomeranian, CH Char’s Bringin’ Sexy Back, the Tibetan Terrier, CH Cedard C & Barnstorm’s Ltd Edition, and the Old English Sheepdog, CH Lambluv’s Daydream Believer.

On Sunday, Only the OES and Tibetan Terrier made it back to Judge Marcia Feld’s final. The remaining finalists were the Golden Retriever, CH Goldentrip Snow Dream, the English Foxhound, CH Whisperinn’s Wizard, the Siberian Husky, Pvt Stk Hricane Nanook, and the Kerry Blue Terrier, CH Krisma’s Licensed To Thrill. The three year old Bobtail, the latest from OES maven Jere Marder, took home his fourth BIS this year.

CH Lambluv’s Daydream Believer
with owner/handler Jere Marder

Meanwhile out in beautiful Del Mar CA, we told you that Saturday BIS winner was the Corgi, Carly and now we can tell you that the other finalists were Golden Retreiver, Masters Rags To Riches, the Wirehaired Dachshund, CH Jake’s Desparado SW, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Marienburg’s Inaqui Sukiyaki, the Welsh Terrier, CH Sanherpinc Paisa, the Pug, CH o-Day Mystical Klondike, and the American Eskimo Dog, CH Smokey Mtn Trader Pup.

We also had reported that Sunday’s winner was the Welsh Terrier, but we did no tell you that Paisa was joined by the ASCOB Cocker Spaniel, CH RX Victorious Secrets, the WH Doxie, the Siberian Husky, CH Trillium Blue Czar Nikolas, the Pug, the Shiba Inu, CH Jogoso’s Notorious, and the Australian Cattle Dog, CH Reddenblu’s Lokkin Again.

We’ll be right back with the rest of the weekend round up.

BLING AND PA RESULTS

Today we caught a plane at 6:00 AM and managed to visit DC’s Union Station and the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History. Ladies (and all of you who aspire to impress them), if you are ever in this town visit the National Gem Collection for the ultimate in bling. All the Hip Hop artists on the planet can not come close to the sparkle that Marie Antoinette, Marjorie Merriweather Post, and Janet Anneberg Hooker regularly displayed.

Here on this blog, we have our own kind of sparkle and it comes with fur. East Coast denizens that decided to eschew Kentuck and stay closer to home were in York PA for the last four days. We’ve told you about Thursday’s results, but we have kept you waiting for the remaining results.

On Friday, Judge Lydia Hutchinson assembled the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, CH Fireside’s Sugar Plum Faerie, Irish Wolfhound, CH Wildisle Castkekeepers Quest, the Bernese Mountain Dog, CH Avatars Try Try Again, the Airedale, CH Stirling Cool Hand Luke, the Toy Poodle, CH Smash JP Moon Walk, the Standard poodle, CH Hillwood Dassin De-Lovely, and the Rough Collie, CH Kelso’s Moon Dancin,PT, before naming the Bernese her BIS. It was the first Best In Show for the three year old “Ty.”

CH Avatars Try Try Again

On Saturday, The Bernese,, the Airedale, and the Standard Poodle, all showed up to plead their case with Judge Ken Ryner Jr who also entertained the Labrador Retriever, CH Casbar’s Hart To Hart, the Scottish Deerhound, CH Foxcliff Hickory Wind, the Italian Greyhound, CH Honores Lilly-Bell, and the Old English Sheepdog, CH Whisperwood’s Wild Biscuit. Ty showed all of us that lightening can strike twice in the same palce as he collected another top prize.

On Sunday, it was a doggy reunion as the Bernese, Ty, the Toy Poodle, Walker, the Standard Poodle, Sissy, and the Rough Collie, Prince Phillip all returned to see Judge Doris Cozart. Also looking for attention were the German Shorthaired Pointer, CH Fieldfines Back In Action,JH, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Of Afrikka Spring Valley Dorian Gray JC, and the Kerry Blue Terrier, CH Bluebeard’s Suddenly Bridey. It was the Standard Poodle, Sissy, Thursday’s winner adding to her resume, taking home another BIS.

Now, we are going to help our daughter prepare for tomorrow’s Georgetown interview. But we will be up bright and early to give you the rest of this weekend’s results.

LOUISVILLE WRAP UP

Well, we are here in the nation‘s capital wrestling with the Marriot’s rent by the day internet. As all of you serious exhibitors who are frequent flyers know, travel these days sucks. We have experienced tarmac captivity, sprints from connection to connection, and lost luggage. Add in major blisters from walking more than normal and we have the archetypal tourist.

But we are nothing if not dedicated and we have your weekend results all be they delayed (like our flight schedule). Shall we start in Louisville? We had already told you that the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot took the top prize on Thursday and Friday and that the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, CH Rokeena Carte Blanche, captured BIS on Saturday.

CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot

and Handler Gabriel Rangel

We now want you to know that in addition to the Scottie, Sadie, there were six other finalists on Friday, the Black Cocker Spaniel, CH Exl’s Leather ‘N’ Lace, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Pupukearidge Ikaika O Sprngvly, the Boxer, CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, the Bichon Frise, CH Mybliss Petite Coquette, and the Puli, CH Cordmaker Field Of Dreams.

On Sunday Judge Stephen Hurt brought back the Boxer, Scarlett, the Scottie, Sadie, the Griffon, Lincoln, and the Puli, Conrad, as well as the German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Ripsnorter's Mt.View Lookout, the PBGV, CeeJay, and the French Bulldog, CH Robobull Fabelhaft I'm On Fire. Well the Frenchie may be named “On Fire”, but it is the Scottie, Sadie, burning up the BIS ring at all the big shows lately, as she took her third BIS of the weekend. We don’t know what handler Gabriel Rangel is doing, but we want him to bottle it and sell it on QVC.

We’ll be right back with more weekend results.

FT LAUDERDALE RESULTS

CH Dawin Spitfire

The day two show of the Fort Lauderdale Dog Club went much like the first. Judge Dana Cline saw five of the same dogs that made it to the previous day’s final. The Afghan Hound, CH Genesis Silverado, the Boxer, CH Sabo’s Majestic Provocation, the Skye Terrier, CH Cragsmoor Buddy Goodman, the Standard Poodle, CH Dawin Spitfire, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Woodside Pacino, all returned for another go at BIS. Also throwing their hats in the ring were the Black Cocker Spaniel, CH Bracon‘s Leapin Lily Pads, and the Maltese, CH Angel‘s Addicted To Love.

The Poodle, Spitfire, picked up her first BIS just two weeks ago in Pensacola FL and today she collected number two. Apparently she likes Florida.

DEL SUR BIS

CH Sanherpinc Paisa

We just heard that DOG2WATCH, the Welsh Terrier, CH Sanherpinc Paisa, has taken her second BIS. This one came today at the day two show of the Del Sur Kennel Club in Del Mar CA courtesy of Judge Robert Stein. Congratulations to breeder Santiago Pinto, owners Bruce Schwartz & Larisa Hotchin, and handler Wood Wornall.

LAB BEST IN DUBUQUE

CH Ridge View's Magician

We have more partial results in from one of our dedicated readers. Yesterday, at the Dubuque (IA) Kennel Club show, Judge Mareth Kipp named the Labrador Retriever, CH Ridge View's Magician, her BIS. The only other finalsist we know is the Longhaired Dachshund, CH Insight On The Verge.

It was the first BIS for the three year old dog, Magic. Congratulations to breeders Donna Reece & Ann Merkle, owners Reece & Donna Bloom-Schwartz, and handler Erin Henlon-Hall.

PBGV CEEJAY WINS ANOTHER

We have a show report from yesterday’s Evansville Kennel Club event in Louisville KY. Judge William Cunnigham had the formidable task of choosing from seven of the country’s best dogs.

CH Rokeena Carte Blanche

They were the German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Ripsnorter's Mt View Lookout, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, CH Rokeena Carte Blanche, the Rottweiler, CH Cammcastle's Friar Tuck, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, the Pug, CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu, the Bichon Frise, CH Mybliss Petite Coquette, and the Bearded Collie, CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins.

Breaking through to take Best In Show was , the PBGV, CeeJay. It’s 2009 BIS number seven and the biggest win yet for everybody’s favorite Australian import. Congratulations to breeder/owner Robin Wallis of Gisborne, Australia, co-owners Russell Wallis (Robin‘s husband) and Jose, Yvonee, & Christina Herrera, and handler Jane Alston-Myers.

CARLY WINS IN CALIFORNIA

CH Coventry Vanity Fair

This morning, we have partial results from Del Mar CA where the Del Sur Kennel Club opened two days of shows yesterday. Judge Edward F Lyons Jr chose the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair, as his BIS. The only other finalist we know at this time is the Welsh Terrier, CH Sanherpinc Paisa.

It was the third BIS this year for the Corgi, Carly, who has been quietly dominating the Herding Group at shows in the west lately.