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What to Watch for at Westminster, the Boxers

We started reviewing our notes on the Working Group and soon realized that a separate discussion of Boxers is called for. Before we go any further, we should caution, that we do not know for certain if all of these dogs will be at the Garden. Exhibitors at this level of the dog game are very circumspect about their plans. We have heard from some of these dogs and we are assuming that the others will be present and you know what they say about that. If we mention your dog, it’s because we admire your dog and we have been told by others they admire your dog. Feel free to correct us. We are never shy about admitting we were wrong.

CH Ein-Von's Just A Rumor

In the top 20 all breed dogs in 2008, the top winning Boxer is CH Ein-Von's Just A Rumor, with ten BIS. Jasmine is also the defending Westminster BOB winner. She was bred by Leontine M Branam & Zwei A Pierson, is owned by Jefff Bennett & C Desmond & Z & V Pierson, and is handled by Kimberlie Steele-Gamero, daughter of Boxer legend, Gary Steele.

CH Dramatic Story Of Sherry Shoot Jp

Also in the top 20 all breed last year was the Boxer, CH Dramatic Story Of Sherry Shoot Jp, who finished just behind Jasmine with eight BIS. The four and half year old bitch was at Westminster last year, but failed to collect any award. However, last August in Ballston Spa NY, she went BIS defeating three top ten dogs along the way, including the Giant Schnauzer, Spirit, the Pointer, Holly, and the Deerhound, Ouija. “Jane” was bred by Shinoyo Teragaki, owned by Teragaki, Dr & Mrs William Truesdale & Masao Hanabusa, and handled by Kim Pastella-Calvacca.

CH Hi-Tech's Southern Belle

However, Kim has been seen lately with another, younger, Boxer bitch from the Truesdales, CH Hi-Tech's Southern Belle. Dixie is only just two years old and has been consistently winning Groups, the latest coming last Saturday at the Boardwalk Kennel Club in Wildwood NJ. Dixie was bred by G Alix & T Alix & Zoila Truesdale & Dr William Truesdale, and owned by Jeri Poller & Tina Truesdale & Gail Alix. In a small dog world aside, Dr and Mrs Truesdale are the co-owners of the number one Hound, the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition.

CH Capri's Magic Maker Of Sassy

Finally we come back to the man whose name is synonymous with the breed, Gary Steel, who showed up last month in Puyallup WA with CH Capri's Magic Maker Of Sassy, a four year old dog, and won back to back Working Group firsts over some very stiff competition. “Dante” has been out and about for the last two years with different handlers and owners, but seems to have new life with Gary. Dante, bred by Sydney Brown & Kristine Anderson and owned by Richard & Marsha Servetnick & Barbara Bachman, closed out 2008 by beating the top two Boxers of 2008, Jasmine and Jane, at the Oakland Kennel Club show on 30 December.

Next, the rest of the Working Group.

BEACHES AND BITCHES

Virginia Beach

“Virginia Beach Is For Lovers” proclaimed the old tourist billboards, but this weekend Virginia Beach is for dog lovers with four days of all breed dog shows. Yesterday the Harrier’s, CH Downhome Family Tradition, decision to stay close to home paid off with a Best In Show award. Although Coda was the only top ten dog attending the Middle Peninsula Kennel Club of Virginia event, he did not go without serious competition. Among the other Group winners were three top 20 dogs, the Weimaraner, CH Colsidex Seabreeze Perfect Fit, the Boxer, CH Dramatic Story Of Sherry Shoot JP, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Woodside Pacino, all multiple BIS winners. Also showing up in Judge Rosemary Shoreman‘s ring were the Scottish Terrier, CH Blueberry Surely You Jest, the Long Coat Chihuaua, CH Will-CM Paloma Blanca, the Minature Poodle, CH Surrey Sweet Spice, also BIS Winners.

There’s still lots of weekend left and lots of dogs to see.

BRITISH KENNEL CLUB CAVES

The British Kennel Club has succumbed to months of pressure and announced the review of all dog breed standards. The review follows a anti-breeder BBC documentary which accused the Kennel Club of supporting the breeding of deformed animals through its standards. The documentary, titled "Pedigreed Dogs Exposed”, showed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with syringomyelia, a condition which occurs when a dog's skull is too small for its brain. It also singled out Boxers, Pugs, and Bulldogs for criticism.

Top US Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
CH Mondrian V H Lamslag, RE

Citing increasing public pressure, the Kennel Club stated that it was pushing through its review of all breed standards, “…with added urgency.” The RSPCA, which announced last month that it was pulling out of Crufts over concerns about the welfare of pedigree dogs, responded with this statement: "We welcome the (Kennel Club) review of breed standards and hope it will make a difference for pedigree dog health and welfare in the future."

Top US Boxer
CH Ein-Von's Just A Rumor

The Kennel Club also issued a statement against the action of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel national breed club for ousting a member that had appeared in the BBC documentary and criticized her fellow breeders. However, all of this did not placate the Kennel Club’s critics. The Veterinarian Director of the Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog charity, sniped, “We are saying that the Kennel Club should look at the consequence of what it hasn’t done in the past 50 years. We are more than happy to help in every way to resolve the situation, but doing it at a snail’s pace is just not good enough.”

Top US Pug

CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu

The Kennel Club, determined to make the most of a bad situation, is asking that it be given the legal power to make its Accredited Breeder Scheme compulsory throughout the country, which would allow only Kennel Club members to produce or sell puppies.

Top US Bulldog

CH Cherokee Legend Rock

All of this bolsters two of my core beliefs.

1. Never give an inch to the animal rights wackos. I’m astonished that the British, of all people, fail to grasp the ramifications of appeasement, it didn’t work with the Third Reich and it won’t work with the RSPCA.
2. We have an obligation to police ourselves. If national breed clubs don’t take action to assure their breeds are protected, they risk having outsiders, who neither appreciate the breed or breeders, dictating to them.
   

Finally, take a look at these beautiful animals I have included in this post and imagine a world without them. How sad would that be?

TERRIER TOPSY-TURVY

We normally report results in a somewhat chronological order, but this week we will give you the big news first. It was the Sealyham, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, going Best In Show at the all terrier Montgomery County Kennel Club show in Blue Bell, PA, on Sunday. Charmin outlasted 1557 other terriers to top the 74th annual event. Our other terrier in the top ten dogs, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, never made it out of the breed, a frequent fate for top show dogs who come to Montgomery County. Most hardcore terrier breeders, would rather win a Montgomery County than a Westminster. Not only is this a major win for Charmin and owner/handler Margery Good. It puts them back in the number three all breed spot.

Charmin and owner/handler Margery Good

The remaining group placements were as follows:

2nd CH Hi-Kel Kerrydale Soldier of Fortune, Lakeland Terrier, Owner: Carol Dowd & B Dowd & C Ruggle & Terrydale Kennels of Southern Pines, NC. Breeder: M Wooldridge & D Hull McIndoe, Handler: Scott Sommer
3rd Of Skyeline Captain Hook, Skye Terrier, Owner: Eugene Z Zaphiris & Matthew H Stander & Krisi Sainio of Oyster Bay, NY. Breeder: Krisi Sainio, Handler: Scott Sommer
4th CH Stirling Cool Hand Luke, Airedale Terrier, Owner: Frank Pulice., Bloomfield Hills, MI Breeder: Shirley R Good & Susan S Rodgers, Handler: Ernesto Lara

It was the first weekend since we began reporting on the top ten dogs that the number one and number two dogs did not win a Best In Show. Yet, such was the result of the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit and the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, venturing into terrier territory this weekend. Each managed only to garner three group firsts. Spirit and Holly went to suburban Philadelphia seeking a share of the big point all breed shows that are the opening acts for the all terrier Montgomery County KC show.

Also competing In the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday preliminaries with the Sealie and Scottie were the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition, and the Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv Ouija. As previously reported Thursday the BIS winner, at the Hatboro KC 1, was the Sealie, Charmin, while Spirit, Ouija, and Holly also made it into the final seven. Coda finished Group two behind Ouija in the Hound Group. Charmin would repeat the win on Friday, but this time only Spirit and Coda, made it to the BIS ring. Ouija took a Hound Group two and Cookie failed to get a group placing.

Saturday, At the Devon Dog Association show, it was Ouija getting the nod and the big rosette, with Spirit and Holly getting Group one wins. However, Sadie and Charmin, finished Group two and three. This win was enough to move Ouija past Sadie into the number seven spot in our all breed top ten.

Sunday, the non-terriers were shown the door. Holly moved to western Pennsylvania for the Beaver Valley KC, in the Pittsburgh suburb of Aliquippa. Holly made it to the BIS ring only to be bested by the country’s number one Pekingese, CH Pequest Matchpoint. Spirit, Ouija, and Coda, all followed the Almighty’s example and took the day off.

CH Pequest Matchpoint

The Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, and the Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, spent a three day weekend in New Mexico, for three shows in Alamogordo. Yes sandwiched a Group one on Saturday between two BIS, Friday and Sunday, while Lincoln managed Group ones, the first two days, and a Group three on Sunday. Saturday’s big winner was the Boxer, CH. Ein-Von’s Just a Rumor. “Jasmine” was bred by Leontine M Branam & Zwei A Pierson, is owned by Jeff Bennett & F Casain & C Desmond & H Biermann of Riverside, CA , and is handled by Kimberlie Steele-Gamero.

CH. Ein-Von’s Just a Rumor

The Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, the cute dog with the alarming call name, was in northern California for the two Donner Trail KC events in Roseville. Saturday, it would be Taser’s turn to be shocked as the Bichon Frise, CH. Paray’s Paragon took the Best In Show. “Jake” is the country’s number two Non-Sporting dog. He was bred by Tray Pittman & Paul Flores & M Nelson and is owned by David & Dianne Anderson & Dr Dan & G Blue & P Flores of Mukilteo, WA. He is handled by Tray Pittman. Taser would bounce back on Sunday and take home the top prize.

CH. Paray’s Paragon

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair, would return to the show ring in Southern California, in the uber upscale community of Santa Maria (Remember the Michael Jackson trial? That was Santa Maria) for the Channel City KC and Santa Maria KC events. The Boxer, CH Duba Dae‘s Who’s Your Daddy, was awarded his first BIS on Saturday. “Boscoe” was bred by Lynn P. Jansson and is owned by Jansson & James & Wendy Bettis of Riverside, CA. Congratulations to all. Sunday the Lakeland Terrier, CH. Brocair’s Flower Power at Revelry, would get the nod. Bred and owned by Dawn Spencer & Danielle Green of Nice, CA, it was also the first Best In Show for the 22 month old bitch. This is a dog to watch. Applause to her and her breeder/owner/handlers.

CH Duba Dae‘s Who’s Your Daddy