RUSSELL BIS IN INDIANAPOLIS

GCH CH Appassionato Jp Monamour’s Star

While last year’s top dogs were picking up awards in New York at the annual Dogs In Review Show Dogs of the Year dinner, many of this year’s hopefuls were competing today for the more than 2,000 points at the Central Indiana Kennel Club show in Indianapolis.

GCH CH Shine's Deck the Halls

Judge Faye Strauss chose her top two dogs from the Golden Retriever, CH Forever’s All Jacked Up, the Saluki, GCH CH Sandstorm Blue Nile Bubbles of Jatara, the Mastiff, CH Kimmit’s Rockstar, the Russell Terrier, GCH CH Appassionato Jp Monamour’s Star, the Pug, CH Careva’s Boodelicious, Matiff, CH Kimmit's Rickstar, the Chinese Shar-Pei, GCH CH Shine’s Deck the Halls, and the Australian Shepherd, GCH CH McMatt’s Autumn Breeze.

Collecting all those points was the Russell, Tribute.  Picking up the Reserve award was the country's Number One Shar-Pei, Tinsel.  It’s the second BIS in three final appearances this year.  Tribute is one of only two Russells to win an AKC BIS.  He is likely to meet the other next week at the Westminster Kennel Club.  We look forward to that moment.

COME TO OUR GARDEN PARTY!

 2013 Westminster Working Group

At our doctors’ request we will stay home this year and will host our annual Garden Party from our family room in Memphis TN this year.  So come and join us Monday evening at 7:50 PM EST and watch the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting, & Herding Group judging on CNBC.  We will give you all the back story on the competitors and sharing an insider’s look at the competition. 

We will be doing the same thing on Tuesday evening at 7:50 PM ET when we cover the Sporting, Working, Terrier, and Best In Show judging.  We always have lots of in-the-know visitors join us.  Come and root for your favorites.  It’s the next best thing to being there!

SALUKI & SHELTIE REPEAT WINS

GCH CH Sandstorm Blue Nile Bubble of Jatara

It was déjà vu all over again in Indianapolis on Friday as the Saluki, GCH CH Sandstorm Blue Nile Bubble of Jatara, and the Shetland Sheepdog, GCH CH Grandgables The Frat Boy, repeated their Thursday BIS and RBIS wins. 

GCH CH Grandgables The Frat Boy

Joining them in judge  Ralph Lemcke’s final at Yesterday’s Hoosier Kennel Club show were the Golden Retriever, CH Forever’s All Jacked Up, the Rottweiler, GCH CH Gameguard I’ll Have Another At Braeside, the Scottish Terrier, Peabar Goodness Gracious, the King Charles English Toy Spaniel, GCH CH LTO Prosperity, and the Standard Poodle, CH By Request Bon Mot.

Bubble’s impressive 2014 record is two BIS and two RBIS in four final appearances.  Can we add her to our Westminster favorites now?

PROGRESSIVE DOG CLUB

GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare 

(Photo by Rhoda Cassidy)

The opening salvo has been fired in New York with today’s all Toy Dog Progressive Dog Club show.  With 456 entries, today’s limited breed show is as large as many all-breed shows these days.  Judge Peter Green’s four placements were the Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare, the Yorkshire Terrier, GCH CH Trio’s Big Shot, the Pekingese, GCH CH Yakee Easily Persuaded, and the Toy Poodle, GCH CH Smash Jp Beauty & Beat.

GCH CH Trio’s Big Shot

It was the 12th Toy Group this year for 2013's Number One Toy Dog.

ON THE ROAD TO NYC

GCH CH Sandstorm Blue Nile Bubbles of Jatara

The entire dog world is making its way to New York this week for next week’s 138^th annual Westminster Kennel Club.  Many of them are stopping in Indianapolis for the Indy Winter Classic, four chances to pick up big points.

GCH CH Grandgables The Frat Boy

The seven dogs that were vying for the points on Thursday were the Pointer, GCH CH Oncore Mykyna Run To Daylight, the Saluki, GCH CH Sandstorm Blue Nile Bubbles of Jatara, the Boxer, GCH CH Nantess Caleno Numero Uno, the Russell Terrier, GCH CH Appassionato Jp Monamour’s Star, the Havanese, GCH CH Q’Bin’s Strictly Confidential At Enginuity, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Litilann’s Photo Finish, and the Shetland Sheepdog, GCH CH Grandgables The Frat Boy.

Judge Jon Cole’s top two were the Saluki, Bubbles, and the Sheltie, Brother.  Bubbles was 2013’s Number Five Hound with 16 BIS and 67 Hound Groups.  Congratulations to breeder Kathleen Morton, owners Sandra Middlebrooks, Jackie Harrington, & Sara Winsted, and handler Erin Roberts.

WWW: THE HERDING GROUP

GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect 

(Photo by Bettina Bienfeld)

This year’s Westminster Kennel Club Herding Group is likely to be the show’s biggest media magnet.  Whom should Watch at Westminster (WWW) in the Herding Group?  Last year the New York crowd got behind the young Old English Sheepdog from the classes, Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect, early and shook the arena with their applause for the WKC’s very first RBIS.  He’s now GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect, finishing 2013 as the Number One Herding Dog and the Number Ten Dog All Breeds with 23 BIS and 56 Group Ones.   

This year Swagger has one of the best starts of any dog in recent memory, winning BIS at both Palm Springs and Portland, to bring his 2014 take to six BIS, two RBIS, and eight Group Ones.  Swagger was bred and is owned by handler Colton Johnson, who co-owns Swagger with fellow breeders Heather Johnson, Douglas & Michaelanne Johnson, and owners Ron Scott & Debbie Burke.

GCH CH Wolf Creek’s Galaxy of Merivern

As formidable as Swagger has been, he isn’t invulnerable.  He was bested at Eukanuba by 2013’s Number Four Herding Dog, the German Shepherd, GCH CH Wolf Creek’s Galaxy of Merivern.  Galaxy, who had 13 BIS and 70 Herding Groups last year.  This year Galaxy comes into the Garden with  one BIS, one RBIS, & ten Herding Groups.  This year’s Herding Group judge, Judge Walter Sommerfelt, had Swagger and Galaxy in the same Herding Group back in Louisville in March and put The OES one and the GSD two, but that was almost a year ago.  Galaxy was bred by Pat Walker & Mary Ann Imhoff, is owned by Pat & Edward Farrell, and handled by Scott Yergin.

GCH CH CordmakerTopsy Turvey

Handler Linda Pitts won back-to-back Herding Groups at Westminster with the Puli, CH Cordmaker Field of Dreams, in 2009 and 2010.   This year she has another Cordmaker Puli, GCH CH Cordmaker Topsy Turvey.  Charlotte had three BIS and 79 Herding Groups in 2013 and has collected two BIS and five Group Ones this year.  Charlotte was bred by Sue Huebner, who co-owns Charlotte with Jacquelyn Beaudoin & Penny Kelly.

 

GCH CH Take Aim’s Playing for Gryffindor

The Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Take Aim’s Playing for Gryffindor, had a pretty good 2013 with three BIS and 28 Herding Groups, but he has really caught fire this year, picking up five all breed Bests, one RBIS, and seven Group Ones.  Gryf was bred Anthony & Mo DiMercurio  & Mo Hieronimus, Sue Digiorno, & Lee Calhoun.  The DiMercurios co-own Gryf with Terry & Penny Peterson.  Gryf is handled by Larry Fenner.

WWW: THE NON-SPORTING GROUP

GCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore

Whom will we Watch at Westminster (WWW) in the Non-Sporting Group?  Judge Jackie Stacy will have one of the toughest decisions to make.  She has given all four of our picks a Group One in the last four months.  And you thought it was tense for the exhibitors.

It will be the third Westminster appearance for last year’s Number One Non-Sporting Dog, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore.  Ally is owned by a New York City couple and is a hometown favorite.  This past year she had 25 BIS and 62 Group Ones.  However, with eight different Standard Poodles winning at least one BIS last year, few breed rings will be more competitive than the Standard Poodle ring.  Ally was bred by L'Dyne Wicker Brennan & Debra Ferguson Jones, is owned by Toni Sosnoff & Martin Sosnoff, and handled by Tim Brazier, 

GCH CH Kan Sing’s Tenzin

The Tibetan Spaniel, GCH CH Kan Sing’s Tenzin, collected seven BIS and 23 Non-Sporting Groups in 2013 to become the Number Three Non-Sporting Dog.  This year Tenzin has one BIS and four Non-Sporting Groups.  Tenzin was bred by Diego Garcia & Martha Feltenstein, owned by Martha, and handled by Diego.

GCH CH Shine’s Deck the Halls

The Chinese Shar-Pei, GCH CH Shine’s Deck the Halls, copped the very first Best In Show of the year on January 3^rd in Ohio.  Since then Tinsel has logged one BIS and nine Non-Sporting Groups against world class competition.  Tinsel was 2013’s Number Five Non-Sporting Dog with seven BIS and 48 Group Ones.  Tinsel was bred by Rebecca Pentecost DVM, who co-owns Tinsel with Deborah & Robert Cooper & Linda Teitelbaum.  Tinsel is handled by Nina Fetter.

GCH CH Mytoys Epic Against the Wind 

(Photo by Rhonda Cassidy)

Our most recent DOG2WATCH is the Bulldog, GCH CH Mytoys Epic Against the Wind.  We first met Ralph in Michigan back in 2012 and were impressed with his balance.  Since then Ralph and breeder/owner/handler Dennis O’Conner have put together an impressive resume, amassing five BIS and 26 Group Ones in 2013, including a Group One under judge Stacy in Cleveland in December  against Tinsel, the Shar-Pei.  In addition to Dennis, Team Ralph includes breeders/owners breeders/owners Ann McDearmon & Terri O'Connor, co-breeder Dan Haley, and owner Linda Scott.

Next:  The Herding Group