LAST WEEKEND OF THE YEAR

This last weekend of the year was billed as the clash of the titans and it did not disapoint. Eight of the top ten dogs were entered at the San Mateo CA venue. Only the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, and the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot had decided to stay home. Unfortunately, the Salinas Kennel Club’s Saturday main event was cancelled when the number one dog in the country, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, failed to make it out of Judge Joe Tacker’s Sporting Group, who tapped the country‘s number one Vizla, CH Koppertone's Classical Minuet, as his number one Sporting Dog. Show goers were further disappointed when the top two Toy dogs, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, and the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, and the number one Herding dog, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry’s Vanity Fair, who were entered, all failed to show.

CH Koppertone's Classical Minuet

Nonetheless, there was drama to spare in the preliminary as the number one Hound in the nation, the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition, squared off against the number two Hound, the Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv Ouija. The deerhound, Ouija, advanced to Judge Stephen Hurt’s final seven, hoping to garner a BIS to take over the top Hound spot, but it was not to be. Her kennelmate, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, was on a mission to take back the number one dog slot and she took a major step in that direction by taking the top prize. Also on hand to witness the win was the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice.

CH Pupukearidge Ikaika O Sprngvly

However, spectators at Sunday’s San Mateo Kennel Club final failed to get a look at either of the top Hounds, as Judge Robert R. Frost gave the Deerhound a Group Two, gave the Harrier a wave good bye, and advanced the BIS winning Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Pupukearidge Ikaika O Sprngvly, to Judge Peter Baynes final. However, they did get a chance to tell other doggy folks, that they saw two of the greats of the canine world go toe to toe and, on that day, the Giant Schnauzer prevailed. Once again, the reliable Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice was also present.

While, Spirit has regained her number one position, Holly is still within striking distance as we come down the backstretch. Today's results will determine if we have a photo finish or a win by a cold, wet nose.

BLACK IS BACK

This was one of the most exciting doggy weekends of the year. In a wild roller coaster of a ride, the top ten dogs jockeyed for position in the backstretch as they head for the end of the year and a permanent place in the record books. By Monday morning the two big winners were black dogs with wiry coats, one large, one small. The Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, dominated the big shows in Columbus Ohio, taking three of the four BIS, the last on Sunday from Judge James Frederiksen at the Central Ohio Kennel Club show. The Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, managed to win one at the same location on Friday, but in the end decided discretion to be the better part of valor and adjourned to Syracuse NY where she picked up a top prize from Judge Donald M. Bookbaum at the Central New York Kennel Club show. When the points were all tallied Spirit stood with a firm grip on the number one ranking with a 2,500 lead over Holly.

Meanwhile, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, also exited Ohio on Sunday, after tiring of watching the big dogs swap wins. He surfaced in sunny Florida at the Greater Ocala Dog Club event in Ocala FL, of course, accepting the BIS trophy from Judge May Lou Kniola. His defeat of 1,273 dogs was good enough to hang on to the number four spot and the title of Best Toy Dog. The Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, squandered the opportunity to overtake Taser, failing to keep pace with the little, black dynamo. Lincoln started the weekend promisingly enough with a BIS on Thursday, but failed to make it out of the Toy Groups on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, finishing 3rd, 4th, and 3rd, respectively. When the dust settled Taser was sitting on a better than 1,500 lead over Lincoln.

An editorial aside, We’ve been around this game a long, long time, and we seen a lot of very wealthy dog owners go after a national title with a vengeance. However, we have never seen a better combination of a great dog, a superb handler, dedicated owners, and smartly spent dollars. Special congratulations to everyone involved in the 2008 campaign of CH Tamarin Tug. Besides, no other dog has afforded us such an opportunity to print some of the worst puns in the blogosphere. Shocking!

CH Karnovanda's North By Northwest

And, yes, Virginia, there were other top ten dogs in action this weekend, including Yes, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, who decided to take it easy, close to home, competing at the two Whidbey Island Kennel Club shows in Monroe, WA. Blasé as only a Poodle can be, she still holds on to the number three spot by more than a 1,000 points on the strength of a big Best In Show win on Sunday over 1,778 other dogs. On Saturday, Yes was bested by the Siberian Husky, CH Karnovanda's North By Northwest. Rusmore, who is handled by Randy Schepper, has been one of the country’s top working dogs for the last three years. He was bred by Judith Russell & Donna Beckman, who co-own him with Maryl Foster.

CH Coppertone Classical Minuet

Two of the top ten were in Tucson AZ (How’s that for alliteration?). The Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Conventry Vanity Fair, shared a trio of BIS with the Vizla, CH Coppertone Classical Minuet. It was the first Best In Show for the stylish bitch from Palo Verdes, CA. She was bred by the doggy conglomerate of Mark & Bonnie Goodwein and Alyson & Sid Lyons, who co-own her with D. Stankey & Pam Lambie. Congratulations to all. Meanwhile, down in SOCAL (For our non-US readers, that’s southern California), the Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv’s Ouija spent two days at the smallish San Luis Obispo Kennel Club’s double header in Paso Robles CA, watching the Bichon Frise, CH Paray’s Paragon, and the Puli, CH Bokar Barney Rubble RN AX AXJ, take BIS. Ouija’s Group one and Group 4 did little to close the gap beween her and the Number One Hound, Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition.

CH Evan’s Rumor Has It

Coda, in very workman like fashion, found a cluster close to home and spent the weekend there giving it his all. The four day literarily named Leatherstocking Cluster in Syracuse NY allowed him to pick up a Group four, a BIS, and a couple of Group firsts and over 1700 points. Coda also got the opportunity to witness the rarity of a a Field Spaniel going Best In Show. Judge Douglas C. Taylor gave CH Evan’s Rumor Has It his first top prize. Rumor was bred by Sarah W Evans, is owned by Cheryl McGowen of Silver Spring MD, and handled by Sam Mammano. Field Spaniels are incredibly versatile dogs, equally at home on the sofa or on the hunt. Too bad there were less than 200 registered in the US last year. At least we all got to see this excellent example win a Best In Show.

The remaining top ten dog out and about this weekend was the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, who picked up three Group firsts and a BIS in the DC suburbs. On Sunday another rare breed hit the jackpot with a BIS at the Upper Marlboro Kennel Club show in West Friendship MD. American Foxhounds rank 155 out of 157 breeds in the AKC registry. So we are very about CH Kiarry's Reflections Of The Sun getting the nod from Judge Col. Jerry H. Weiss. Congratulations to owners/breeders Les Millman, Donna Millman, and Lisa Miller.

CH Kiarry's Reflections Of The Sun

Be sure to let your elected officials at the metropolitan and state level know that mandatory spay and neuter regulations are threatening these rare breeds. Think about it, this is a breed established by George Washington, the first President of the United States. Are we going to let a bunch of terrorists disguised as animal rights activists steal our history? Doesn’t your family pet deserve the same protection as any wild animal threatened with extinction? Wake up people. (Soap box stored until provoked again)