YES COLLECTS NUMBER 98

We’ve another dog applying for membership in the century club, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation. Yes, last year’s top Non-Sporting Dog, had been stuck at the 97 BIS mark for the past couple of weeks, but today judge Joyce Vanek selected her Best In Show at the Ephrata-Moses Lake Kennel Club day one show in Moses Lake WA.

CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation

The other finalists were the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, CH Wyncliff’s Wanna Be Love By U, the Borzoi, CH Sedona’s Cloud Dancer, the Siberian Husky, CH Paragon’s Red Red Wine, the Bedlington Terrier, CH Robrac’s Talladaga Nights, the Brussels Griffon, CH Belleterre’s Shall We Dance, and the Gerrman Shepherd Dog, CH Von Hamm Bedkar Leathern’ Lace.

When Yes collects two more BIS, she will be the third dog within the last twelve months to enter that exclusive club of dogs to win 100 career all breed BIS. The Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, and the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, are the others.

CH Belleterre’s Shall We Dance

As the record holders retire, new dogs emerge to attract our attention. The aforementioned Griff, better known as Abby to her fans, was the 2009 Best of Opposite Sex at Westminster to her sire, CH Cilleine Masquerade, the top winner in breed history. Abby, bred by Anne & Harlowe Jahelka (Belleterre Kennels Reg ), was owner hanlded to the Group win by Summer Wentland of Oak Harbor WA.

ONE HUNDRED FOR SPIRIT!

We have just heard that the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, has taken Best In Show at today’s Sacramento Kennel Club show under judge Mareth Kipp. It was Spirit’s 100th career BIS. As usual, she was handled by 2008 Professional Handler of the Year, Taffe McFadden.

CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit
with handler Taffe McFadden

On hand to watch this historic moment were the Irish Water Spaniel, CH Poole's Ide Got Water, the Greyhound, CH Sobers Galathea At Grand Cru, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Merceds At Maryscot, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, the Standard Poodle, CH Penndragon Mansinello and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair.

When a dog wins as frequently as Spirit and Taffe have, we sometimes become jaded about the wins, but this win was long awaited and met with universal excitement in the fancy. Virtually everyone present knew they were witnessing something extraordinary. It was a day when we all got to relive the moment we first got hooked on dog shows, that moment that transcends the usual routine and provides each of us with a special memory to keep as our very own.

We owe our thanks to Taffe and the entire Mcfadden group for presenting this wonderful girl in top condition week after week, to breeders Maryann Bisceglia & Mary Hayes for the years of dedication it takes to produce such a peerless specimen, and to owners Mary Hayes & Joe & Carla Sanchez for making it all possible. Congratulations to them all on this momentous accomplishment.

GOOD, BETTER, BEST IN SHOW

CH Velocity’s Shake Ur Bon Bon

We’ve had a rash of repeat winners and today we have another. The Pomeranian, CH Velocity’s Shake Ur Bon Bon has added BIS lucky number thirteen to his 2009 resume, winning the Providence County Kennel Club show in Lincoln RI under judge Charles Foley. Just to remind you, Bon was bred by Daniel Yona, is owned Margo Koga, and handled by Noble Inglett.

SADIE BACK ON TOP

As we head into this weekend’s Sacramento Kennel Club shows and the expected drama of a potential 100th BIS by the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, we have a some coming attractions.

CH Roundtown Merceds At Maryscot

Yesterday, the nation’s number one dog, Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Merceds At Maryscot, returned to her winning ways, picking up the Best In Show on day two of the Northern California Terrier Association limited breed shows. Thursday’s winner, the Irish Terrier, CH Fleet St Fenway Fan, was second. The Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Warfox Double Exposure, and the Welsh Terrier, CH Sanhepinc Paisa, were third and fourth, respectively.

The Terrier entry at this weekend’s Sacramento shows will be about 25 percent of the total entry, nearly three times higher than the normal show Terrier entry. However, we wouldn’t say that is really an indicator of the final outcome of the show. Whatever that is, you will read it here first. Check back with us this evening.

PREZ'S POOCH ARRIVES TUESDAY

2008 Number one Portuguese Water Dog
CH Pouch Cove's Monkey See Monkey Do

We hate to say we told you so (not really, we relish it), but we did tell you this back on on February 2nd, way before anyone else. TMZ is reporting that a purebred, AKC registered, Portuguese Water Dog named Charlie will arrive at the White House Tuesday. Charlie, who will likely be renamed, is from the same line as the PWDs owned by Senator Ted Kennedy. Charlie is being rehomed and, therefore, not quite a shelter dog, meets the politically correct agenda of some.

We hope that the First Family and Charlie will have a long life together and that all Americans will celebrate the joy that comes with a family’s first dog. Come on, you Labradoodle people, don't be haters.

ALL GOOD IN RHODE ISLAND

CH Velocity’s Shake Ur Bon Bon

We just heard that the Pomeranian, CH Velocity’s Shake Ur Bon Bon, has picked up his twelfth BIS today under judge Robert Moore at the Rhode Island Kennel Club show. If you’ve been reading us this past two weeks, you know that we have had five different Toy Dogs win all breed BIS. We also have four Toy Dogs in the Top 15 all breed dogs that are separated only by 2,000 points, or said another way, separated by one large BIS win.

Visit us frequently to see who else wins this weekend.

NOT YOUR USUAL LIMITED BREED SHOW

Ch Fleet St Fenway Fan

It waa just six days ago that the Irish Terrier, Ch Fleet St Fenway Fan, won his first Best In Show. Today, Fen, still two months shy of his second birthday, went Best In Show under judge Lydia Coleman Hutchinson at the Terriers only show hosted by the Northern California Terrier Association in Sacramento CA. Fen was chosen best over 460 other Terriers that included several of the top twenty terriers including the Number One dog in the country, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot.

The other three group winners were the Scottie, Sadie, second, the Colored Bull Terrier, CH Soquel Millineum BlACK Fern, third, and the Welsh Terrier, CH Sanherpinc Paisa.

All eyes are on this weekend’s Sacramento all breed shows where the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, is expected to collect her 100th BIS. However, as today’s results show, you can never be sure of the outcome of an AKC dog show.

BUNNIES & BEAGLES

Wednesdays means weekend previews. Here in the US, we used to have a reduced schedule of shows on Easter weekend, but this coming weekend we have twelve venues holding shows. In lieu of bunnies and ducks, we have Beagles and Retrievers in the following places:

Harrisburg PA will kick off the weekend tomorrow with the first of four shows hosted by the Lebanon County, Chambersburg Area, Harrisburg, and Mason & Dixon Kennel Clubs. There will be three days of shows starting tomorrow in Valdosta GA presented by the Valdosra, Augusta, and Atlanta Kennel Clubs. Sunday everyone, except, the hounds and the Golden Retirevers, will observe the holiday.

Also hosting a trio of shows are the Rhode Island and Providence County Kennel Clubs, who will run Friday through Sunday in Lincoln RI. Likewise, the Northeast Okalahoma and Mid Continent Kennel Clubs will do three shows Friday to Sunday in Grove OK. In addition to the Oklahoma shows, Region Five the resident Kennel Club will hold shows in Stephenville TX and the Terry-All Kennel Club (all breed) will be partying in Brighton CO.

Custom Weathervane from Edwin B. Waskiewicz

Midwesterners can choose between the “I” states of Indiana and Iowa, where the Steel City Kennel Club will have a double header Saturday & Sunday in Crown Point IN and the Southeastern Iowa KC will share a pair of shows in Ottuma IA.

Region six will have shows in two locations, the first in Moses Lake WA hosted by the Ephrata-Moses Lake Kennel Club, the second in Sacramento CA where the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, will have two chances at her 100th all breed Best In Show.

Jello Shooter Easter Eggs

Finally, we have two be a little envious of Region Seven exhibitors who get to chose between Easter Brunch in Las Vegas NV or on the island of Oahu, HI in the Honolulu suburb of Kaneohe. Did I ever tell you about the Easter show where we had Easter Egg Jello shooters ?

EAU CLAIRE RESULTS

We’re not sure what the delay was, but we now have the results from Eau Claire WI where the Indianhead Kennel Club hosted a pair of shows.

CH Chargany’s Voyageur

Saturday BIS judge Jon Cole collected the English Springer Spaniel, CH Tagalong’s My Oh My, the Basenji, Sonbar’s Table Talk, the Newfoundland, CH Sunvalley Petitions Pouch Cove, the Bedlington Terrier, CH First Class Cormac McCarthy, the Shih Tzu, Mel San’s Cause 4 Applause, the Keeshond, CH Wund-ry’s Best Kept Secret, and the Belgian Sheepdog, CH Chargany’s Voyageur.

The Belgian Sheepdog, V’Ger, took home his first all breed BIS. Congratulations to breeders/owners Janice J Powers & John D Powers.

CH Sunvalley Petitions Pouch Cove

Sunday V’Ger, the Newfie, and the Keeshond, all returned to see BIS judge Kathleen Steele. Joining them were the Curly-Coated Retriever, CH Dryfork Curly Moe, the Longhaired Dachshund , CH Insight’s On The Verge, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Cofrnerstone Soliquy, and the Yorkshire Terrier, Kesar’s Two For The Show.

It was another black dog taking home the big rosette, the Newfoundland, Chris. Congratultions to breeder Lou Ann Lenner and owners Kathy Griffin & Peggy Helming.

REGION SEVEN RESULTS

Our last report of the day is from Glendale AZ where the Kachina Kennel Club offered up a doggy double header.

CH Impyrial’s Natural Selection

Day one belonged to judge Jane Forsyth who colledted the English Springer Spaniel, CH Tara’s Master Of D Game, the Afghan Hound, CH Jakar Winsong Elevate Your Game, the Great Pyrenees, CH Impyrial’s Natural Selection, the Lakeland Terrier, CH Brocair’s Flower Power At Revelry, the Affenpischer, CH Tamarin Tug, the Chow Chow, CH D-Jin Gang Of Anna Kennel, and the Bouvier des Flandres, Donlee Man O’War.

BIS went to the two year old Chinese import, the Chow Chow, bred and owned by Yang Ling, and handled by co-owner Kathy Beliew. Congratulations to them both.

CH Jakar Winsong Elevate Your Game

On day two the Afghan, the Chow, and the Bouvier all showed up in BIS judge Danny Canino’s ring s did the Golden Retriever, CH Dalane Doizaki Buckingham Pride, the Boxer, CH Duba Dae’s Who’s Your Daddy, the Airedale Terrier, CH Huntwood‘s Wildest Performance, and the Miniature Pinscher, CH Wannabee Biker Bob.

The Afghan, Nike, an Ohio native has recently taken up residence with handler Tara Schulz of Riverside CA. Not quite two years old, this boy looks like a DOG2WATCH. Congratulations to Tara and breeders.owners Nikki Gardner, Dr David & Amy Donnell, on Nike’s first BIS.

One note to all our readers, if a BIS winner’s photo did not appear in these pages, it’s because I could not find one. If you know the owner of the faceless BIS winner, tell them to send their favorite photo of the winner to me at bill38112@aol.com.