WWW: THE HERDING GROUP

GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect

(photo courtesy of AKC)

Whom to Watch at Westminster (WWW), the Herding Group:  Our Herding Group this year is topped by the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect.  Swagger came from the classes to win the first ever Westminster Kennel Club Reserve Best In Show in 2013 and had gone on to become the top winning OES in AKC history.  Last year Swagger finished with 88 BIS and 147 Group Ones, defeating 118,634 dogs along the way.  In any other year that would have been good enough to make him the Number One Dog All Breeds.  However, Swagger had to contend with the top winning male show dog ever and finished in the runner up spot.  Swagger was the clear crown favorite in 2013 and is sure to have a huge cheering section this year.  Swagger was bred by and is owned by Colton Johnson, Heather Johnson, & Douglas & Michaelanne Johnson, with  owners Ron Scott & Debbie Burke, and handled by Colton.

GCH CH Lockenhaus Rumor Has It v Kenlyn

Swagger’s main competition in the group will come from the current Number One Dog All Breeds, the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Lockenhaus Rumor Has It v Kenlyn.   Rumor has already has nine BIS, four RBIS, and 16 Group Ones this year, with the latest BIS coming over  last year’s Number One Dog All Breeds.  Rumor was bred by and is owned by Kent Bolyes &  Pamela McElheney, with owners Deborah Stern & A & M Derose.

GCH CH Cordmaker Topsy Turvey

Last year’s Number Two Herding Dog was the Puli, GCH CH Cordmaker Topsy Turvey, finishing  with 15 BIS and 68 Herding Groups.  Charlotte was the Group Two at last year’s Westminster and is sure to be in the contention this year.  Charlotte’s handler Linda Pitts won back-to-back Herding Groups at Westminster with the Puli, CH Cordmaker Field of Dreams, in 2009 and 2010.   Charlotte was bred by Sue Huebner, who co-owns Charlotte with Jacquelyn Beaudoin & Penny Kelly.

GCH CH Riverside Telltail Coco Posh 

(photo by Jeffrey Hanlin)

Last year’s Herding Group winner was the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, GCH CH Riverside Telltail Coco Posh.  Coco was 2014’s Number Three Herding Dog with 13 BIS and 50 Herding Groups.  Coco is in the same spot so far this year with one BIS and 11 Group Ones.  Coco was bred by and is owned by Julie & Bill Divens & Deborah Shindle, with Dina Manship Planche, and is handled by Lois DeMers.

So who do we think will win the heavy silver?  We never bet the lunch money, especially at Westminster, but we do think that the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Claircreek’s Impression de Matisse, is one of the most impressive dogs we have seen in our nearly 50 years in the sport.  However, we will leave you with this.  WATCH FOR THE SPOLIERS.  Rumors abound, but we do expect some of the dogs we expected to be in New York to stay home and there are always surprise appearances by dogs from Westminsters past and the possible interloper from abroad.