IT'S TERRIER TIME!

GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky

(Photo by Infocusbymiguel)

I’m here in suburban Philadelphia PA going over my Terrier statistics in anticipation of today’s Terrier Week kick off, the day one show of the Hatboro Dog Club.  Yes, it is an all breed show, a big all breed show with over 1900 entries…of which over 1000 are Terriers.  And the Terrier counts just keep getting bigger, culminating in Sunday’s Terrier Super Bowl, the Montgomery County Kennel Club show with 1662 Terriers entered.  To put that in perspective, that’s bigger than the Terrier entry at 22 average all breed shows combined.  No other group can boast that kind of participation.

GCH CH Goldsands Columbus

(Photo by Lynda Beam)

Many of you have gone to shows all year long and have not seen a single Sky Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, or Glen of Imaal Terrier.  There are 67 Glen of Imaal, 48 Sealyhams, and 112 Skyes entered at Sunday’s MCKC show.  While you even the casual dog lover is familiar with the Cairn, Scottish, and West Highland White Terriers, you can be sure they never saw 115 Cairns, 132 Scotties, or 114 Westies gathered in one place.  No other show this side of the Atlantic can boast such a following, Not the Westminster Kennel Club, not the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, not any other fine marquee shows in the US.  One can see that why Terrier aficionados consider the Montgomery County Kennel Club show the Hajj of Dogdom, a must do pilgrimage for the Terrier true believer.

GCH CH Shaireab Bayleigh Maid of Honor

Anyone following this year’s all breed race knows that the nation’s Number One Dog is a Terrier,  the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky.  Sky might have been the favorite at last year’s MCKC show had she not been prevented from competing when her breeder, Dr Al Pertuit, was chosen to be the Wire Fox breed judge.  This year she has no such prohibition.  What she does have is substantial competition in the breed where the BIS winning Wire Fox dog, GCH CH Crispy Legacy, could possibly pay the spoiler.  Once again the breed judge will be from England, Andrew Goodsell.  Should Sky make it out of the breed, she will face plenty of competition.

GCH CH Allaruth Just Kidding v Sole Baye

The Number Two Terrier, the Russell Terrier, GCH CH Goldsands Columbus, has had several head to head meetings with Sky and has won a number of them.  However, just last week, Sky went three for three in matchups with the Russell, Bosse.  Bosse is currently the Number Seven Dog All Breeds.

CH AbsolutelyTalk of the Town

The Number Three Terrier, the Welsh Terrier, GCH CH Shaireab Bayleigh Maid of Honor, has 14 BIS and 50 Terrier Groups, good enough to make her the Number 13 Dog All Breeds.  The Number Four Terrier, the Miniature Schnauzer, GCH CH Allaruth Just Kidding v Sole Baye, brings 17 BIS and 49 Terrier Groups into the big dance.  Two more dogs that we think are serious contenders are the Sky Terrier, GCH CH Cragsmoor Good Time Charlie, and the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Absolutely Talk of the Town.

GCH CH Cragsmoor Goodtime Charlie

Whatever the final placements are, the Hatboro Dog Club, the Devon Dog Show Association, and the Montgomery County Kennel Club show provide an unmatched opportunity to enjoy the Terrier Group.  See you there!