IT'S A NEW SHOW SEASON!

We haven’t even said a proper good-bye to 2012, but we are already looking forward to 2013’s first shows.

It’s hard to beat the Kennel Club of Palm Springs and its limited breed warm-ups for a place to start the doggy new year.  The venue combines all the glitz and glamor of Southern California in one of the US’ most beautiful areas.  In addition to the palm trees, mountains, and the rat pack history, you get a look at some of the most beautiful dogs anywhere.   The Desert Empire Terrier Club Of Southern California, the Toy Dog Breeders Association Of Southern California, and the Sand To Sea Non-Sporting Association Of Southern California will kick it off with entries of 372, 356, & 369, respectively.  They will be joined on Friday by the Southern California Sporting Dog Fanciers and the Inland Empire Hound Club Of Southern California bringing the total entry to over 2400 in the five groups.   This year’s two all breed shows have drawn 6500 dogs.   Now if you want to play what if games, a dog could walk away with over 7000 points to start the season.

If you are going to Palm Springs for the first time, or if you have never strayed very far from the Indio polo fields on your past trips, we think you should do a DRIVE BY of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, billed as the world’s largest rotating tramcar.  The ten minute rid takes you up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon to the tram’s mountain station, 8,516 feet above sea level.  Just a half hour from the show grounds on your way back to your regular life, it’s worth the time Not for those squeamish about heights and it will be cool in January, but you’ll get a view you will remember a lifetime.

We haven’t eaten there ourselves, but we hear really good things about El Mirasol, 140 East Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.   One of the things we learned in our 25 years in California is that Mexican food can be every bit as complex as our own country’s.  Put something adventurous in your DOGGY BAG.

There are other options this first weekend.  Columbiana County Kennel Club and theRubber City Kennel Club will team up for three all breed shows in Tallmadge OH.  The take won’t be as large as Palm Springs, but the over 3300 points available could make for a very nice beginning.    The North Star Toy Dog Club, the North Star Working Group Association, and the North Star Herding Group Club will open on Friday for the Land O' Lakes Kennel Club’s two all breed offerings Saturday and Sunday.  We can’t think of a better excuse to wear your fur coat.

Texas fanciers will head for Glen Rose TX where the North Texas Non-Sportinng Association will open fot the Nolan River Kennel Club’s two all breed shows. Our three remaining options are thoughtfully arrayed from New England to Florida.   The Merrimack Valley Kennel Club opens the season with a weekend in Fitchburg MA, the Clemson Kennel Club will do two in Pendleton SC, and the Greater Daytona Dog Fanciers Association will keep you warm for two days in Deland FL. 

Remember, you can get your dog’s photo and win on Dog Show Poop for free, just become a DSP Contributor and send us in a show report.  This week we had to do our own research for a DRIVE BY and DOGGY BAG recommendations.  Hopefully, our readers will help us out next week.  This is gonna be a great year.

DSP CONTRIBUTORS, DRIVE BYS, & DOGGIE BAGS

We spent the past year visiting every corner of the US talking to doggy folk about the game we love.  What I have found is that technology has made our sport more enjoyable.  Everywhere I went people were aware of what was going on all over the US.  Many had a firm grasp on the global fancy. 

We are going to attempt a few enhancements to Dog Show Poop this year.  The first is a no brainer.  To encourage participation by the average exhibitor, we are creating the Dog Show Poop Contributor.  The first person that emails us a show report (bill38112@aol.com) with the registered names of the BIS, the RBIS, and the other five finalists, will be recognized as a DSP contributor.  We will feature his/her dog’s photo along with the BIS and RBIS from the show with a report on the dog’s performance, e.g. “This report was contributed by John Doe, whose Pug, DSP Fan, was Reserve Winners Dog, today.”  We are seeking to increase the average owner/handler’s participation, but we will make this open to all.  In the event of duplicate show reports, we will use the one with the earliest timestamp.  For those with a limited, or nonexistent, advertising budget, this is an great way to get your dog before the public eye.

"Drive By" Multnomah Falls on your way home from Portland OR

We are also going to return to our weekly preview of shows, including a designated “Drive By”.  So many of us go to shows in spectacular locations, but come home never having seen anything other than the show grounds.  We understand that a show weekend gets hectic, but most of us find ourselves heading home long before the day is over.  Rather than go home muttering about the judge that left you out of the ribbons, drive by something beautiful and make that your favorite memory of the weekend.  Please send us your recommendations for a Drive By to the above email address.

Jantzen Beach Bar and Grill, Portland OR

Finally, apart from our family and our dogs, our greatest loves are food and opera.  We have eaten way too many bad meals on show weekends.   We are always on the lookout for a reasonably priced spot frequented by locals, serving regional dishes, that gets us in and out quickly.  Let us know what your favorites are and we will add them to our weekly  “Doggy Bag”.

We have already designated 2012 as Our Favorite Year, but we think the best is yet to come.  Help us make 2013 a great one!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Wheelers

(L/R:  Emily, Billy, Brenda, Windy & Tom, Olivia, Lori, & Winston)

2012 has been a wonderful year for Dog Show Poop and the Wheelers.  We have been all over the US visiting with our fellow dog fanciers and reporting on the most exciting race for The Number One Dog All Breeds since 2008.  We also saw our daughter, Windy, marry a wonderful young man, Tom Fitzhugh. 

In 2013 we will continue our thrice weekly Back Story column over on Best In Show Daily as well as ringside reports starting with January’s  Rose City Classic in Portland OR and the Westminster Kennel Club show in February.  Next week we will announce some new features for you here on Dog Show Poop.

In the meantime we wish you Merry Christmas & Happy New Year and hope you and your families are as blessed as we have been.