2010 NUMBER ONE DOG ALL BREEDS

GCH CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice

We always like to ring in the New Year with a bang and we couldn’t have asked for a more thrilling end to the year that the down to the wire rankings race.  For most of the year the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice, led the field, though he was constantly challenged by the Number Two Dog, the Pekingese, GCH CH PalaceGarden Malachy, and the Number Three Dog, the Irish Setter, GCH CH Shadagee Caught Red Handed.  By November, the Smooth & Peke had pulled ahead of the field.

Weekend after weekend the Peke, Malachy, would come within one win of overtaking the Smooth, Dodger, only to have Dodger answer with another BIS.  However, on November 20th Malachy would grab the top prize at the big Lima Kennel Club show in Columbus OH and take the Number One ranking.  It was beginning to look like the determined little Peke would remain there for the duration of the year.  However, there is nothing like Terrier Tenacity and Dodger and owner/handler Amy Booth would doggedly pursue Malachy until they finally regained the top spot on December 18th  with a huge win at the Richland County Kennel Club show in Cleveland OH.  He would double down the next day taking the BIS at the Western Reserve Kennel Club show.  It all came down to the last week of the year and the Final Four shows in San Mateo CA.  Malachy fired the opening salvo on the 28th with a BIS at the Oakland Kennel Club show.  However the Peke’s valiant final rally would fail and Dodger would finish at the head of the line for 2010.

Dodger first caught our eye in January of 2009 when he went three for four in Florida against the 2009 Crufts winner, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe’s Hidalgo At Goodspice.  We immediately made him a DOG2WATCH.  He has since gone on to become the winningest Smooth Fox Terrier in history, winning 105 all breed BIS including 74 this year alone.  Dodger was bred by William Dalling & Stacy Turner, is owned by Sandra & Howard Hoffen & Phil & Amy Booth.  Our congratulations to them all on a splendid campaign and career.  We also offer out sincere thanks to Team Dodger for providing us with one of the most exciting years in recent history.

FINAL SHOW OF THE YEAR

GCH CH Avalon Frontier Sleepnlady Webber

The 2010 race to Number One Dog All Breeds came down to the wire at the San Mateo Kennel Club Show.  Rick Gschwender gathered the final final seven  in San Mateo CA.   They included the Norwegian Elkhound, GCH CH Vin-Melca’s Voyager, the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH Slyfox Sneaks A Peek, the Pekingese, GCH CH PalaceGarden Malachy, and the Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Avalon Frontier Sleepnlady Webber.  We will bring you the full lineup shortly.

Best went to the Bouvier, Webber, one of our original DOGS2WATCH.  Webber and handler Larry Fenner have collected eight BIS this year.    We have heard that Larry  Fenner will be leaving the professional handling ranks to take another job.  It's a big loss to the show ring.  Hopefully we will still see Larry frequently.  We find it fitting that he should cap his handling career with a BIS over the toughest competition AKC has to offer.

The win decides the National Title of Number One Dog All Breeds of 2010.  Congratulations to the little engine who could, the winningest Smooth Fox Terrier in history, GCH CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice!

SAN MATEO DAY THREE

(Photo by Carol Beuchat)

The Kennel Club of Salinas is the third of our Final Four shows of the year as we hurtle toward a decision on who will be 2010’s Top Dog.  Today’s BIS was called by Carl Gomes who had his pick of the Sussex Spaniel, GCH CH Seamist On A Windward Tack RN, yesterday’s BIS, the Whippet, GCH CH Starline’s Chanel, the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Aviators Luck Be A Lady, the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH Slyfox Sneaks A Peek, the Pekingese, GCH CH PalaceGarden Malachy, the Bulldog, GCH CH Bodhi's Light, Life, And Love, and the Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Avalon Frontier Sleepnlady Webber.

He chose the Whippet, Chanel.  Cha Cha and handler Lori Wilson have repeatedly shown they can can hang with the big boys, showing in every venue in the US and winning several of the marquee events in the US.  Chanel now makes tomorrow’s San Mateo Kennel Club show a must see for us all.

SAN MATEO DAY TWO

GCH CH Starline’s Chanel

(Photo by Carol Beuchat)

Our count down to the New Year continued today in San Mateo CA with the Santa Cruz Kennel Club’s show.  It was judge Robert Frost’s turn to gather the seven best of the day.  They were the German Shorthaired Pointer, GCH CH Robin Crest Great Expectations, the Whippet, GCH CH Starline’s Chanel, the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Aviator’s Luck Be A Lady, the Kerry Blue Terrier, GCH CH Trozian Onyx At Torum, yesterday’s BIS, the Pekingese, GCH CH PalaceGarden Malachy, the Bulldog, GCH CH Globe And Anchor Sgt Iron Mike, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Kaleef's Lasting Impression.

His BIS was the Whippet, Chanel.  Chanel and handler Lori Wilson have had a habit of winning big shows since they hit the scene at Palm Springs last January.   Chanel and Lori have locked down the Number One Hound title for the year and are currently the Number Seven Dog All Breeds.  Who will be the Number One Dog All Breeds?  That is still up for grabs wuth only two shows to go.  Check with us tomorrow to see who sits where.

SAN MATEO DAY ONE

GCH CH PalaceGarden Malachy

Many of the nation’s airports have been closed due to a holiday week blizzard.  One that is operating is the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which is actually south of the fabled City by the Bay.  Just a few minutes south of SFO is the town of San Mateo, site of the only AKC dog shows remaining this year.  The four day set often draws dogs from all over the US.  This year the quartet of shows will determine who is the Number One Dog All Breeds for 2010.

The Oakland Kennel Club opened the Final Four and had Jeffrey Pepper in their final ring with the German Shorthaired  Pointer, GCH CH Robin Crest Great Expectations, the Norwegian Elkhound, GCH CH Vin-Melca’s Voyager, the Mastiff, CH Lexington Divine’s Put Me In, Coach, the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH J’Cobe Vigilante Justice, the Pekingese, GCH CH PalaceGarden Malachy, the Bulldog, GCH CH Globe And Anchor Sgt Iron Mike, and the Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Avalon Frontier Sleepnlady Webber,

Round One went to the nation’s Number Two Dog all Breeds, the Peke, Malachy.  We don’t have exact numbers yet, but we do know that the win was not enough to take over the Number One position.  However, this is the first of four.  There are three days of excitement yet to go.