NEWS FROM SOCAL

We’ve just had a very comprehensive report from a visitor to the San Fernando Kennel Club show in Ventura CA. Marcia Goldstein tells us yesterday’s winner, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, was waylaid in the Toy Group by the Papillion, CH Arkeno's Ear's to You. “Cobb”, winner of the 2008 Papillion National Specialty, is a Phalene, the drop eared version of the butterfly dog.

CH Arkeno's Ear's to You

Joining him in Judge Margaret Reed’s final were the English Setter, CH Artizoe High Caliber, the Bloodhound, CH Quiet Creek's Mi Amor, the Rottweiler CH Eryx of Olympus-walk, the Airedale, CH Huntwood's Wildest Performance, Chow Chow CH Charming Rockefella, and the Bouvier des Flandres, Donlee Man O'War. Running away with the BIS was the English Setter, Hector. It’s shaping up to be quite a weekend for the him.

Our thanks to Marcia for keeping us up to date.

NINE IN A ROW

We’re not sure that this is a modern record, but we do know that the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, is on a highly unusual run of BIS wins. Today’s BIS at the second day show of the Carroll County Kennel Club in West Friendship MD was number nine in a row.

CH Honore’s Lily-Belle

Judge Linda Robey joined the large group of judges who have contributed to making Holly the top winning Sporting Dog in history. Getting lost in the excitement around this phenomenal run of wins are several really good dogs. Back today to challenge Holly for the top prize were the the Basenji, CH Reveille Push Button, the Akita, CH Wicca's-CR Lethal Weapon, and the Italian Greyhound, CH Honore’s Lily-Belle. Also trying to break the winning streak were the West Highland White Terrier, CH Lite ‘N Lively’s Special Delivery, the Miniature Poodle, CH Surrey’s Sweet Spice, and the Rough Collie, CH Kelso’s Mood Dancin’ PT.

All of these dogs are experienced dogs with dozens of Group wins. At least two are all breed BIS winners. They are just up against one of the best show dogs ever.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DOG SHOWS

The Florida Classic II cluster continues to be an Equal Opportunity dog show circuit. Today two of Judge Robert Forsyth’s final seven had been in the BIS ring the day before, the Airedale Terrier, CH Stirling Cool Hand Luke, and the King Charles & Ruby English Toy Spaniel, CH Southdown Nonetheless. The Irish Wolfhound, CH Dun Myrica Speaker Of Eagle, had been there two days earlier.

CH Sylvan Argent Simply Irresistible

Only the Rough Collie, CH Sylvan Argent Simply Irresistible, had won a BIS this year. The Tibetan Terrier, CH Araki Tinckle Winckle of Dialynne, had a Group One back on 5 January, but it was the first Group First this year for the Labrador Retriever, CH Casbar’s Heart To Heart. The Doberman Pinscher, CH Phillmar Sobe Monster, had been battling a super competitive group of Dobies for the last two weeks including yesterday’s BIS winner. He had finished BOS several times in the last week, but this was his first breed win in the last eight shows.

CH Stirling Cool Hand Luke

So, we were likely to see a dog win his/her first BIS this year and we did. The Airedale, CH Stirling Cool Hand Luke, collected his first BIS of 2009. “Lucas”, bred by Shirley R Good & Susan S Rodgers, owned by Frank Pulice, and handled by Ernesto Lara, finished 2008 as the number one Airedale, with four BIS and 22 Group Firsts. Congratulations to Lucas and his whole team.

WE LOVE OUR READERS!

Easily the best thing about writing this blog are all the nice people we meet. Yesterday we had a few holes in our reporting. We asked for some assistance and our readers have come through as they always do.

CH Tamarin Tug

The mystery Affenpinshcer who went Best In Show at Yesterdays Simi Valley KC event was our old buddy CH Tamarin Tug, 2008 number three dog. We suspected as much, but there were two other specials entered and we didn't want to appear presumptuous.

CH Aritzoe High Caliber

Yet another reader has told us that it was the English Settter, CH Aritzoe High Caliber, who won the Sporting Group. And from a Terrier fan we hear that DOG2WATCH, the Welsh Terrier, CH Sanherpinc Paisa , took the Terrier Group.

CH Sanherpinc Paisa

We also went to bed not knowing who the Toy Group w inner at the DFA of Oregon was. Now we know that it was the Miniature Pinscher, CH Kimro's Soldier Boy.

CH Kimro's Soldier Boy

Our thanks to all our intrepid reporters.

PLAYER TO BE NAMED LATER

We have been told that an Affenpinscher (yet to be identified) has won today's Simi Valley Kennel Club show in Ventura CA. Can anyone out there put a name to this mystery dog?

WHO'S ON FIRST? YES? NO, SPIRIT.

Terri Erickson, of Paragon Siberians, has been busy texting away and providing us with updates from Portland and the DFA of Oregon show. She and I had an Abbott and Costello moment when after three messages, I realized that when she typed, “…yes lost the breed to a class bitch.“ she did not mean that her Siberian Husky, CH Paragon’s Red Red Wine, had lost the breed to a class bitch, but that last year’s number four dog, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, had lost the breed to a class bitch.

CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit and Handler, Taffe McFadden

The eventual winner of the Non-Sporting group was the Bichon Frise, CH Paray's Rime Time, who joined the Irish Setter, CH Ashton Peaceful Easy Feeling, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Pupukearidge Ikaika O Sprngvly, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, and the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot in the final. While I can’t tell you who the Toy Group and Herding Group winners were, I can tell you that Spirit has won her third BIS in a row, adding another “giant” show to her number one tally.

This is shaping up to be a quite a memorable January.

JUST IN FROM PORTLAND

After a conspicuous absence since grabbing the BIS titles at the two mammoth Palm Springs Kennel Club shows back on the first weekend of January, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, has reappeared at today’s Dog Fanciers Association Of Oregon show in Portland OR. The show is still going on, but Spirit has already reserved her spot in the final seven, winning Judge Norman Kenney’s Working Group. Also on BIS Judge Peggy Beisel-McIlwaine’s dance card is the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot. Stay tuned. We will be back with updates.

THE MORE, THE MARYLAND

As we reported earlier, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, took another BIS today. Let’s not to get complacent. After all, we watch Michael Phelps win eight in a row and still maintained a national hysteria. We now have the rest of today’s final seven from the Carrol Kennel Club show today in West Friendship MD.

CH Laurelwood's Noah's Ark Av JNKR

They were the Basenji, CH Reveille Push Button. the Akita, CH Wicca's-CR Lethal Weapon, the Bedlington Terrier, CH Velvety Angels Eyes, the Italian Greyhound, CH Honores Lily-Belle, the Chow Chow, CH Liontamer’s Dial 1-800 Hotstuff, the Swedish Vallhund, CH Laurelwood's Noah's Ark Av JNKR. Congratulations to them all.

MIXING IT UP

If things seem to be repetitive in Maryland, the crowd in Brooksville FL seems intent on mixing things up. The German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek s Sangria V Barick, was the only dog from yesterday’s final to make it back to the BIS ring at the Tampa Bay Kennel Club event. Also presenting themselves to Judge Robert Indeglia for consideration were the Black Cocker Spaniel, CH Bracon’s Leaping Lily Pads, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Adili's American Idol , the Doberman Pinscher, CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton, the Airedale Terrier, CH Stirling’s Cool Hand Luke, the King Charles & Ruby English Toy Spaniel, CH Southdown Nonetheless, and the Lhasa Apso CH Rushmar’s Charmer.

CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton
and Handler, Carissa DeMilta Shimpeno

Keeping with the spread the wealth theme, the three year old Dobie bitch walked off with the BIS, her first. Bred by Carmen Pitts and Gwen DeMilta, and owned by Carmen, Nancy Bosley, and Julie Porter, she is handled by Gwen’s daughter, Carissa DeMilta Shimpeno.

REPEATING OURSELVES

If we are repetitive, It’s because some of our featured dogs are so insistent on winning. The Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, extended her winning streak to eight in a row, today adding the Carroll Kennel Club show to the 2009 edition of her resume. We shall have a full report from West Friendship MD soon.