IT'S FLORIDA'S TURN

GCH CH Sporting Fields Bahama Sands

Frank Sabella was in FL to kick off the show season in the Sunshine State For the Greater Daytona Dog Fanciers Association.  The seven dogs making their first final of the rear were the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Cerise Tender Is The Night, the Whippet, GCH CH Sporting Fields Bahama Sands, the Great Dane, GCH CH Longo Miler n Lore Diamond Lil, the Kerry Blue Terrier, GCH CH Heritage Mickey Devine of Kilgawny, the Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare, the Bicon Frise, CH Glenleigh Gangs 'n Roses, and the Border Collie, GCH CH Sporting Fields Heiress HSAS.

His BIS was the Whippet, Tawny.  Tawny wrapped up last year with 14 all breed big rosettes & 65 Hound Group wins.  Congratulations to breeder/owner Dionne Butts, co-breeder Jesse Martin, and owner Jane Cooney Waterhouse.

FIRST ALL BREED OF 2012

GCH CH Hallmark Jolei Austin Powers

Tallmadge OH joined the new dog show year with the Columbiana County Kennel Club's all breed show. Peter Green's final showcased the Weimaraner, GCH CH Northwood's Send Money Honey, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Whirlaways Ida Belle's a Ringing, the Great Pyrenees, Saddle Ridge Power of Won, the SkyeTerrier, CH Of Skyeline's Captain Hook, the Shih Tzu, GCH CH Hallmark Jolei Austin Powers, the Standard Poodle, CH Hillwood Dassin Rock On By, and the Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Quiche's Grand Finale. 

Taking home the first all breed BIS was the Shih Tzu, Austin.  Austin & breeder/handler Luke Erlicht finished 2011 with five BIS & 57 Toy Groups.  Congratulations to Luke, co-breeder Diane Ericht, and owners Joe & Roberta Walton. 

PALM SPRINGS DAY ONE

 

GCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore

There have been the occasional Palm Springs week when the weather wasn't perfect, but yesterday wasn't one of them.  Today was the day for the Desert Empire Terrier Club of Southern California, the Toy Dog Breeders Association of Southern California, & the Sand to Sea Non-Sporting Association of Southern California limited breed shows and a plethora of local Specialty shows.

While we did spend most of the day enjoying the hospitality of DETCSC Show Chair, Dr John Low, we ducked out late in the afternoon to catch the SSNSASC Group judging.  Dr Jerry Klein Group winner, was the Standard Poodle, GGCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore, handled beautifully by Taffee McFadden for Tim Brazier.  Rounding out the placements were the Bulldog, GCH CH Itsa Brix, the Bichon Frise, GCH CH PaRay's Power & Privelege, and the French Bulldog, GCH CH LeBull Wooly Bully.

Ally & Tim started their 2011 campaign with an all breed BIS here in Palm Springs.  We think it's just as lovely the second time around.

BE THE FIRST ON YOUR BLOCK

Beautiful Palm Springs CA

We’ve made our last run to the airport to drop off holiday visitors, packed away the Christmas decorations for another year, and now turn our attention to the coming week and our first dogs shows of the new year.

We will be at the legendary Empire Polo Grounds in Indio CA this first week in January for two of the largest shows we will see all year, the Kennel Club of Palm Springs two all breed offerings. We expect to see many of 2012’s serious contenders for the first time, vying for a share of the 6500 dogs available on Saturday & Sunday.  As a bonus there are seven of the largest limited breed shows we will see all year, the Inland Empire Hound Club Of Southern California Friday show and Thursday/Friday twofers hosted by the Desert Empire Terrier Club Of Southern California, the Toy Dog Breeders Association Of Southern California, & the Sand To Sea Non-Sporting Association Of Southern California,

For those of you who can’t make it to California’s desert playground, there are plenty of regional contests to enjoy.   The Land O' Lakes Kennel Club’s two weekend shows in St Paul MN will also feature Friday limited breed warm ups, the Northstar Working Group Association, the North Star Toy Dog Club, & the North Star Herding Group Club shows.  The North Texas Non-Sporting Association will do the Friday kick off for the Nolan River Kennel Club’s Saturday/Sunday shows in Glen Rose TX, 80 miles southwest of Dallas.

There are three all breed shows for Great Lakes residents in Tallmadge OH starting Friday courtesy of the Columbiana County Kennel Club & the Rubber City Kennel Club.  Finally weekend warriors will be in Clemson SC & Deland FL for traditional Saturday/Sunday fare with the Clemson Kennel Club & the Greater Daytona Dog Fanciers Association.

We hope you will join us and our Best In Show Daily partners on the Polo Grounds to help us celebrate the launch of our new site and to see 2012’s Top Dogs for the first time.  If you can’t be in Palm Springs, do take in the AKC dog show nearest you.  Be the first on your block to see the new crop of contenders for Number One Dog All Breeds!

A VERY GOOD YEAR

 We had Two Standard Poodles 

in the Top Ten All Breeds

We don’t know if it’s the sentimentality of advanced age or just the wisdom that comes with the passing years, but we come each year to appreciate more each new place we visit, each new person we meet, and each new show dog we encounter.  2011 has been a year when we’ve been treated to many new friends, both the two legged and four legged kind.

When we look back on this year we marvel on what experiences life laid out for us.   Three things that will remain in our scrapbook were the close races in individual breeds, in the individual Groups, and even in the all breed race; the number of breed records that fell during the year; and dramatically, the intervention of the very real natural world into our cloistered sporting world.

2011 Top Two Hounds

We had dramatic races in the breed in English Springer Spaniels, Maltese, & Standard Poodles.  The Poodles were especially interesting as both the Number One & Two, GCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore & GCH CH Jaset’s Satisfaction, were in  the Top Ten All Breed Dogs.  Also galloping toward the finish line were two Hounds, another pair in the Top Ten, the Whippet, GCH CH Starline’s Chanel & the Pharaoh Hound, GCH CH Northgate’s As You Like It, with the Whippet pulling ahead in the stretch.

Lurking just outside the Top Ten were the Top Two Herding Dogs, the German Shepherd, GCH CH Babheim’s Captain Crunch, & the Bearded Collie, GCH CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins, who ended the year separated by just a handful of points.  We also had a down to the wire race in the Terrier Group between the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH Slyfox Sneaks a  Peek, & the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH Steele Your Heart, with the Wire pulling out in front the last week of the year. 

We had several breed records set during the year.  In addition to the aforementioned Pharaoh Hound & Whippet, the 15” Beagle, GCH CH Torquay Midnight Confession, also set a breed record 45 career BIS this year.  Another Top Ten Dog that finished the year as the breed record holder was the Kuvasz, GCH CH Szumeria’s Wildwood Silver Six Pence.  Though they failed to make it to the top in all breed points,  both the Skye Terrier, GCH CH Cragsmoor Buddy Goodman, and the above named Beardie, captured the most Group Ones in their respective Groups while setting new breed records, the Skye breaking an almost 40 year old record.

Lightening in Florida, Floods in New Jersey

Finally, we started the year with show cancellations in Florida caused by severe thunderstorms & lightening, endured September interruptions in New Jersey caused by flooding, and finished with show stopping November blizzards in New England.  Nonetheless, exhibitors and fanciers returned to the ring unabated, finishing the year with a record setting AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Orlando FL.

We think this has been our favorite year.  Did we mention that we also welcomed our second grandchild, Olivia Willow Wheeler, to the family on November 16th?  A very good year.

LONG BEACH CLOSEOUT

GCH CH Perrisblu Kennislain's Chelsey

West Coast dog fanciers finished out the old year at the site of  the 2010 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, Long Beach CA.  You can read our report on Friday’s Beverly Hills Kennel Club show here.

The Los Encinos Kennel Club took over on Saturday and gave Carolyn Cederman her pick of the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Otein Cap'n Jack Sparrow, the Bloodhound, GCH CH Quiet Creek's Kiss And Tell, the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Fishbay's Faith Hope And Love, the Kerry Blue Terrier, GCH CH Perrisblu Kennislain's Chelsey, the Long Coat Chihuahua, GCH Kokura Yama JP Silent Rose, the Keeshond, GCH CH Summerwind's Rumor Has It, and the Bearded Collie, GCH CH Aellen Jive Talkin'.

Her BIS was OUR DOG2WATCH, the Kerry, Chelsey.   Chelsey and handler Bill McFadden now have as many BIS as all the other Kerries in the US combined, five.  We like that.

GCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore

Sunday, it was Ken McDermott in the final ring for the Long Beach Kennel Club.  Back for one more try at the last big rosette of the season were Chelsey, the aforementioned Bloodhound, & Portie, the English Setter, GCH CH Set'r Ridge's Exclusively Gold, the Shih Tzu, GCH CH Peking Midnight Vision At Wenshu, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore, and the Australian Cattle Dog, GCH CH Carben Copy's If The Shoe Fits. 

It was the winner of the Friday BHKC show, the Standard Poodle, Ally closing the season with her 46th Best In Show.  Ally finishes the year as AKC’s Number Four Dog All Breeds. 

JACKSON MS END OF YEAR

GCH CH Rhapsody‘s Regarding Henry

We’ve stowed the netbook with the suitcase now that we are back home in the study at our regular keyboard and are now ready to give you the rest of the end of year results.

First we go to the Mississippi State Capital. Jackson, for a report on the Mississippi State Kennel Club’s two shows.  Check our archives for a report the Brandon Mississippi Kennel Club’s two shows on Thursday & Friday.  The MSKC’s day one final was judged by Betty-Anne Stenmark, who chose her Best from the  Golden Retriever, GCH CH Glengowan's Great Balls Of Fire, the Saluki, GCH CH Aurora‘s Song and Dance Man,, the Kuvasz, GCH CH Szumeria's Sing A Song Of Sixpence, the Norwich Terrier, GCH CH Itsy Bitsy Rocky Mountain High, the Maltese, GCH CH Rhapsody‘s Regarding Henry, the Tibetan Terrier, GCH CH Barnstorm's Grissom TTCSI, and the Smooth Collie, GCH CH Traveler’s Pierce Arrow.

GCH CH Glengowan's Great Balls Of Fire

BIS went to the country’s Number One Maltese, Henry.  Henry waited all year to pick up his first BIS two weeks ago, but finishes the year with a flourish bringing home his second all breed Best of the year.

As always they close the weekend in style in Jackson MS with Terry Carter doing the MSKC day two final.  Hoping to get their last big rosette of the year were the Maltese, Henry, the above named Golden, Saluki, Norwich, & Collie, the Samoyed, CH Polar Mist Cruz'n T' Party At Zamosky, and the Dalmatian, GCH CH Lakeshore's Tail Of Two Cities.   Topping off his 2011 resume with his second Best In Show of  the Golden, Jerry Lee.  

We congratulate the two kennel clubs on their great hospitality.  If you can't make it to Orlando for the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, this is a great alternative.

THE END IS HERE!

GCH CH PalaceGarden Malachy

As bittersweet as it is, we bring to your our final Monday Morning Mop up of 2011.  We start in Allentown PA where the Delaware Water Gap Kennel Club celebrated the end of the season.  Bruce Schwartz was on hand to close out the year with the Vizsla, CH Elgincariad Dorratz Kindofblue,  the Whippet, GCH CH Starline’s Chanel, the Doberman Pinscher, GCH CH Jaroe Legend Of Irish Spirit, the Cairn Terrier, GCH CH Rocco's Collar King Carl XVI Gustaf, the Pekingese, GCH CH PalaceGarden Malachy, the Miniature Poodle, GCH CH Surrey Sugar Baby, and the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Begendorf's Sambucca.

The Number Two Dog All Breeds, the Peke, Malachy, took home his 49th big rosette of the year.  Our congratulations to  breeders Jim & Jean Smith of England, owner/handler David Fitzpatrick, and owners Iris Love, Sandra Middlebrooks and thanks to them all for sharing this wonderful dog with us this year.

THE NATIONAL CHAMPION IS...

GCH CH Jaset’s Satisfaction
(Photo by Jeffrey Hanlin)

A hush came over the crowd in Orlando FL while it waited for Polly Smith’s seven finalists at tonight’s Eleventh Annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.  The last seven standing were the  Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrill Seduction, the Harrier, GCH CH Downhome Hitech Innovator, the Boxer, GCH CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH Steele Your Heart, the Affenpinscher, GCH CH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Jaset’s Satisfaction, and the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Babheim’s Captain Crunch.

Each of the night‘s competitors showed no sign of lagging at the late hour and received enthusiastic applause and they swept around the ring individually.   Each one gave a BIS worthy performance.  However, there can only be one National Champion and 2011’s is the Standard Poodle, London.  London never put a foot wrong during the evening, impressing judge and gallery alike.  Our congratulations to breeders Sandra Tompkins & Chris Bailey, owners Beth Harris, Michele Molnar, & Jamie Danburg, and handler Ann Rairigh.

ORLANDO WORKING GROUP

GCH CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream
(Photo by Infocusbymiguel)

Edd Bivin had the final group of the night here in Orlando FL.  His final four were the Boxer, GCH CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH GCH CH Spyglass's Legend Of Bahia, the Newfoundland, CH Good As Gold Anmalamual Del Basaburua, and the Standard Schnauzer, GCH CH Charisma Maxim Von Diable.

The Boxer, Scarlett is the Number One Working Dog and the Number Three Dog All Breeds, with 33 BIS  and 99 Working groups this year.  Congratulations to breeders Tina Porter & Lee Stanton, owners Debbie McCarroll, Mark Fagan, Mrs Jack Billhardt, & Sergio Tenenbaum, and handler Diego Fernando Garcia.