OUR FAVORITE AENC

(Photo by Robert Young © AKC)

For some time now we have believed the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship to be the perfect way to end the show season.  The AENC has become increasingly the most satisfying experience on the calendar.  

For exhibitors, the week offers opportunities galore to gain points and titles for your dogs.  Grooming spaces are generous and ring sizes maybe the largest around.  For spectators it is the one show where you can see not only quality specimens of every AKC breed, but breeds from around the world.  One of the most interesting things for us was the opportunity to see AKC breeds from countries outside the United States.  While we are still getting used to Old English Sheepdogs with tails, we found several Yorkshire Terriers with tails to be highly impressive.

Fanciers interested in seeing the top dogs around the world were well rewarded this year.  63 of  this year’s Top 100 Dogs All Breeds were in attendance, including nine of the Top Ten.  We were also treated to a couple of  “Ghosts from Christmas Past”.  2012’s Number Three Dog All Breeds, the Doberman Pinscher, GCH CH Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici, represented the United States in the World Challenge.  The faceoff between this year’s Number One Sporting Dog, the Irish Water Spaniel, GCH CH Whistlestop’s Riley on Fire, and the Top Winning Sporting Dog of all time and 2011’s Number One Dog All Breeds, the Black Cocker Spaniel, CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction, was a highlight of the competition.

It is conventional dog show wisdom that exhibitors don’t get a look at marquee shows.  Such was not the case this year.  Both the Number One Toy Dog, the Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare, and the Number Herding Dog, the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect, failed to make it out of their respective groups.  Ten of the 28 group placements went to dogs not in the Top 100 Dogs All Breeds.

Like most fanciers, we paid our own way at this year’s AENC.  We have to count it money well spent.  Look for us in Orlando next year.

AND SO THE YEAR ENDS

GCH CH Tells Matrix Reloaded

While most of the dog world was focused on Orlando, a sizeable group of fanciers were having a great time in Allentown PA where the Lehigh Valley Kennel Club & the Delaware Water Gap Kennel Club offered up a weekend alternative.  One of our Top Dogs made the most of it.  The nation’s Number Three Hound, the Afghan Hound, GCH CH Tells Matrix Reloaded, took both of the BIS awards.

GCH CH Cerise Sentinel

At Saturday’s LVKC, Matrix and handler Christian Manelopoulos, were joined in judge  Lorraine Bisso’s final by the Reserve Winner, the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Cerise Sentinel, the Samoyed, GCH CH Pebbles Run Cot'N Pic'N Cotton Gin, the American Staffordshire Terrier, CH LBK’s Night Ryder, the Havanese, GCH CH Viva’s Angus Khan, the Bichon Frise, GCH CH Vogelflight’s “Honor” to Pillowtalk, and the Briard, GCH CH Deja Vu Mia Cool as a Cucumber.

GCH CH Blazin’s Joie de Vivre

Sunday judge David Miller named Matrix his BIS and the Flat-Coated Retriever, GCH CH Blazin’s Joie de Vivre, his RBIS while the above named Samoyed, the Sky Terrier, GCH CH Gleanntan Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the same Havanese, the Schipperke, GCH CH De LaMer Point Break, and the returning Briard looked on.

Matrix finishes 2013 with 11 BIS and 73 Hound Groups.  Congratulations to Christian, breeder Marie Louise Tell Collinge, and owner Missy Ann Galloway.

PWD WINS AENC!

GCH CH Claircreek's Impression de Matisse

(Photo by Michael McGuire)

Tonight’s AKC/Eukanuba National Championship final turned out to be one of the most competitive in AENC history, featuring the Number One Sporting Dog, the Irish Water Spaniel, GCH CH Whistlestop’s Riley on Fire, the Number One Hound, the American Foxhound, GCH CH Kiarry’s Pandora’s Box, the Number One Working Dog, the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Claircreek’s Impression de Matisse, the Number One Terrier, the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky, the Pekingese, GCH CH Yakee’s Easily Persuaded, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Dawin Hearts on Fire, and the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Wolf Creek’s Galaxy of Merivern.

GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky

At the end of the day it was the PWD, Matisse, claiming the title of National Champion, while the Wire Fox, Sky, took home the coveted Reserve Best In Show.  It was the second AENC title for handler Michael Scott, who piloted the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, to the title in 2008.  Congratulations to Michael, breeder  Donna Gottdenker, and owners Milan Lint, Peggy Helming, & Donna Gottdecker.

AENC HERDING GROUP

GCH CH Wolf Creek’s Galaxy of Merivern

Our last group of the night here in Orlando was judge Robert Slay’s Herding Group.  He would send the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Wolf Creek’s Galaxy of Merivern, forward to judge Barbara Alderman’s final, while the Bred By Exhibitor BIS winner, the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect, would take the Group Two, followed by the Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Stonepillar’s Steel Blu, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, GCH CH Coventry Allure at Wyndstar.  Mr Fritz become the fifth GSD to win the Herding Group at the AENC.

AENC BEST BRED BY BIS

GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect

Tonight’s AENC Bred By Exhibitor Best In Show included two dogs that would again go head to head in the regular BIS competition, the American Foxhound, GCH CH Kiarry’s Pandora’s Box, and the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect.  

 Joining them in judge Dr Anthony DiNardo’s final were the Parti-Colored Cocker Spaniel, Galaksi This Is Me, the Rottweiler, GCH CH Robban's Invincible CD, the West Highland White Terrier, GCH CH Camcrest Andsurely Jasmine, the Shih  Tzu, GCH CH Krissy's Savvy Jasper, and tonight’s World Challenge winner, the Standard Poodle, CH Afterglow Maverick Sabre.  Dr DiNardo would choose the as his BIS, the OES, Swagger.   We will wait a little longer to see if Swagger can carry that into a National Championship.

AENC TERRIER GROUP

GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky

One  of the most anticipated groups tonight is the Terrier Group.  We have a Terrier, Clay Coady, judging and one of the most competitive groups assembled here this week.  Judge Coady’s placements did not disappoint.  First went to the country’s Number One Dog All Breeds, the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky, second to the Number Two Terrier, the Russell Terrier, GCH CH Goldsands Columbus, third to the Scottish Terrier, GCH CH Mcvan's To Russia With Love, and fourth to the Norfolk Terrier, GCH CH Yarrow Venerie Ticket To Ride.  Sky is the defending AENC champion and is the first champion to defend its title.