A WEEKEND IN PLEASANTON CA

GCH CH Eastern-Magic Fly Me Safe 

We spent three decades in the bucolic Diablo Valley of Northern California. It was a magical time in a magical place very different than the current Golden State. Each year the West Coast dog show calendar reached its apex the third weekend in October, when the Del Valle Kennel Club of Livermore set up camp in the aptly named town of Pleasanton. The stop was always one of AKC 25 largest and drew competitors from all over the United States. 

GCH CH Friends Sargeant Breakthough 

This year’s entry was down considerably from those shows 30 years ago, but still very respectable in today’s environment. Friday’s Skyline Dog Fanciers of San Mateo County show, preceded by several specialty events on Thursday, drew nearly 1900 dogs. The seven that made it to judge Elliot Weiss’ final were the Irish Setter, GCH CH Evergreen Good Intentions, the Afghan Hound, GCH CH Thaon’s Wallstreet, the Mastiff, GCH CH Friends Sargeant Breakthough, the Scottish Terrier, GCH CH Round Town Queen of Hearts of Maryscot, the Shih Tzu, GCH CH Wenrick’s Don’t Stop Believing, the Chow Chow, GCH CH Eastern-Magic Fly Me Safe, and the Australian Shepherd, GCH CH Wind Spirit’s Amazing Grace. 

Finishing one two were the Chow, Pilot, and the Mastiff, Sarge. Pilot, AKC’s Number One Chow and Number Five Non-Sporting Dog, was bred by Matthew Fan and is owned by Matthew, Kiki Pratna & Layla Loveless, and handled by Chow specialist Michael Brantley. Congratulations to Team Pilot. 

GCH CH Hitimes What the Inferno 

(photo by Rhonda Cassidy)

The DVKCL drew almost 2800 dogs to Saturday’s show. Judge Doris Cozart would consider the same Mastiff, Chow & Aussie, the German Shepherd Pointer, GCH CH Vjk-Myst Garbonita’s California Journey, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, GCH CH Celtic Lore’s Moonlight and Magic CGC, the Miniature Schnauzer, GCH CH Yanga’s All the Time, and the Pomeranian, GCH CH Hitimes What the Inferno, before choosing the Pom, Danny, as her BIS and Pilot, the Chow, her RBIS. Danny, the Number One Toy Dog and the Number Two Dog All Breeds, was bred by Joan Carcasole & Ashley Carcasole , is owned by Bonnie A Bird & Udomsin Littichaikun, and expertly presented by Curtiss G Smith. Congratulations to them all. 

GCH CH Vjk-Myst Garbonita’s California Journey 

Dorothy Collier would close the weekend with the now aforementioned GSP, the Bloodhound, GCH CH Blossomhill’s Topsfield Sanchu A Little Princess, the Akita, GCH CH Peace River’s Gathers No Moss At Sunstra, the White Bull Terrier, GCH CH Lordbull Larry, the Pom, Danny, the Chow, Pilot, and the American Miniature Shepherd, GCH CH Abington’s Da Vinci CM15. CJ, the GSP, would pick up the Best In Show and the Pom, Danny, would had the reserve ribbon to his big rosette from Saturday. CJ, the nation’s Number One GSP and Number Five Sporting Dog, was bred and is owned and handled by Valerie Nunes-Atkinson. Congratulations to Valerie, fellow breeder/owner Alice Manning, and owner Yvonne Hassler-Deterding.