GO TO A DOG SHOW THIS WEEKEND

We don’t expect to see too many large entries as the season winds down, but two places this coming weekend will have some major events. In our part of the country we have a four day cluster in Marietta, GA, near Atlanta, kicking off tomorrow with the first of two shows hosted by the Griffin Georgia KC followed by The Kennesaw KC sponsored events Saturday and Sunday. These four events will field more than 6,000 entries total, including 13 Harriers at each of the four shows, 13 Harriers. There were only 23 Harriers registered in the whole country last year. Most of us will never see a Harrier at a show and here’s the chance to see 13 in one place.

CH DOWNHOME FAMILY TRADITION

TOP WINNING HARRIER IN HISTORY

Out on the west coast, the Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers will host a double header Saturday and Sunday and expect more than 1600 dogs on each day. We expect most of the top dogs from last weekend’s Del Valle show to stay over for this event. If you are in the area this weekend, this is your chance to see some great dogs in the flesh. Support your local AKC clubs. Remember more than half of the AKC registered breeds are more endangered than Polar Bears or Gorillas and you can’t keep a Polar Bear or Gorilla in your house.

HURRICANES AND HARRIERS

You don’t often get hurricanes on the North Shore of Long Island, but such was the luck of the Brookhaven Kennel Club, who held their show yesterday in Oyster Bay, NY. New Yorkers seldom visit Long Island after Labor Day and even dog enthusiasts opted to head upstate for the Finger Lakes cluster in lieu of visiting the shore in the off season. Only 554 dogs were entered and only 311 showed up to compete. Our number nine dog, the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition, garnered the BIS, getting the equivalent points of the group winners at the Finger Lake event. The only solace Long Islanders can take is this hurricane, Kyle, has the most WASPy name of the season. It would have been an embarrassment indeed had they been rained out by a storm named Ike.

Hurricane Kyle's Path

Further south, and further inland, in Millwood, VA, the Warrenton Kennel Club hosted 677 dogs for their Friday affair and it was our number three dog, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, who took the top prize. Will it be enough to keep Charmin in the top five come October 1? I’m betting not. We’ll know more come Monday morning.

ANOTHER RARE BREED BEST IN SHOW

Here’s a follow up on endangered AKC breeds. The current number three hound in the US is CH Downhome Family Tradition, a Harrier dog. “Coda” was bred by Barbara & Jeff Fox & Linda Johnston & Susan Lowder, and is owned by Dr & Mrs William Truesdale & Susan Lowder. Coda is capably handled by Kimberly A Calvacca. Coda led the pack at the Muncie KC and Anderson KC shows in Muncie, IN on August 16 & 17, judges Mrs Lee Canalizo and Mrs Donelle Richards presiding respectively. Harriers are the second rarest AKC breed in with only 23 registered in 2006. Only English Foxhounds are rarer, with eleven registrations.

CH Downhome Family Tradition

Susan Lowder literally grew up in the game as the child of professional handlers. We applaud Susan and Down Home Harriers for promoting this wonderful breed. I encourage you all to visit their terrific web site. It has lots of information on the breed and beautiful pictures. I would have provided a link here, but unfortunately, Coda’s breeders/owners not only sound like a law firm, they have more legal jargon on their web site than do drug companies. So just Google “Downhome Harriers” and find their site. It is worth the extra effort. Are you beginning to understand why some breeds are so rare?

And just so you know that I’m not singling out Poodle people, here’s Coda’s vanity video from You Tube.