WWW: THE NON-SPORTING GROUP

GCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore

Two Standard Poodles have topped the Non-Sporting Group these past two years, the black dog, GCH CH Jaset’s Satisfaction, and the white bitch, GCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore.  The black dog, London, 2011’s AKC/Eukanuba Champion, lead the Non-Sporting in 2012 with 38 BIS and 98 Group Ones, followed by the white bitch, Ally, with 23 BIS and 66 Group wins.  Both have posted BIS wins this year, but Ally leads the Group with two BIS and eight Group Ones.  There can be only one Standard Poodle among the top four in each Group and we think that Ally will be that one.

As we wrote this morning over on Best In Show Daily, the Bichon Frise breed ring will be a slugfest as well with three BIS winning dogs competing, GCH CH Vogelflight’s “Honor” to Pillowtalk, PaRay’s Power & Privilege, and GCH CH Saks Winning Card.  We think the PaRay dog, Dominick, will be the one under the spotlight Monday night.  Dominick made strong appearances in both Palm Springs and Portland and we think he will be hard to overlook.

Last year’s group winner was the Dalmatian, GCH CH Spotlight’s Ruffian, who went on to nail down the Number Four Non-Sporting Dog spot with six BIS and 60 Group Ones.  We have not seen him yet this year, but assume he will be at the Garden to try again.

We have often said that the Miniature Poodle is the perfect dog for everyone.  Big enough to survive small children, small enough to be a lapdog, non-allergenic, patient, active, a coat that can be dressed up or down, and smarter than most of its owners, we can’t think of any other breed that can be as many things as a Miniature Poodle can.  Unfortunately, we don’t see many of them anymore.  The one you should see is GCH CH Surrey Sugar Baby.  As flashy as her larger cousins, she was 2012’s Number Six Non-Sporting Dog with seven BIS in 50 tries.

Next, the Herding Group.

WWW. THE TOY GROUP

GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare

The Toy Group is always one of the most competitive at the Garden each year.  This past year we watched two Toy Dogs dominate the competition, the Affenpinscher, GCH CH Banana Joe V Tani Kazari, and the Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare.  The Affenpinscher, Joey, claimed the top spot with 37 BIS in 128 final appearances while the MinPin, Classie, went 30 for 102.  Joey has chosen to sit out this year and rest up for the Garden.  However, Classie has been busier than ever this year collecting six BIS in 14 attempts.

When we last stepped into the ring at the Garden it was with one of our Maltese.  Accordingly, we will be watching 2012’s Number Three Toy Dog, the Maltese, GCH CH Scylla’s Small Kraft Re-Lit.  Hank finished 2012 with 12 BIS and 55 Toy Groups.  The Pug, GCH CH Hill Country Tag I’m It, burst onto the scene in May winning back2back BIS in Alexander NY at the tender age of 13 months.  JJ has just gotten better since, capping the year with ten and 40 Toy Groups.

Next up, the Non-Sporting Group.

WWW: THE SPORTING GROUP

 GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction

(Photo by Jeffrey Hanlin)

One of our favorite conversations during the month of January is Who to Watch at Westminster (WWW).  While we have already declared our top picks, we caution that Westminster is the most unpredictable show we attend every year.  Because the level of quality of the dogs is so high, just about any breed can see an underdog walk away with the purple & gold ribbon.

The Sporting Group this year was the most hotly contested of any, with the German Wirehaired Pointer, GCH CH Mt View’s Ripsnorter Silver Charm, and the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova, finishing as the Numbers One and Two Dogs All Breeds.  The race was so close that the last show of the year decided the rankings.  When it was all over the GWP, Oakley, had accumulated 73 BIS and 152 Group Ones, to the Springer’s, Peyton’s, 63 & 147.

Challenging the top two for much of the year was 2011’s Number One Dog, the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction.  Beckham scaled back his appearances after breaking the record for the most BIS by a Sporting Dog back in July when he collected his 118^th career big rosette.  By the end of 2012 he would raise that bar to 121.  His record to date stands at 122.

The Clumber Spaniel, GCH CH Clussexx Collaboration with Traddles, had a very successful 2012, finishing as the Number 11 Sporting Dog with seven BIS and 31 Groups.  He is currently the Number Six Dog All Breeds (through February3rd) after taking the closing BIS at the Rose City Classic in Portland OR and 11 big Sporting Groups.

We have picked the Black Cocker Spaniel, Beckham, to head this Group, but we wouldn’t be surprised if any of these four walked away with the Group One.

WWW: THE TERRIER GROUP

GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky

(Photo by Infocusbymiguel)

No dog dominated it’s group last year like the Wire Fox Terrier, GCH CH AfterAll Painting the Sky,  who won 98 of 108 groups last year.  Her record this year is even more impressive as she has won 19 out of 19.  Although she did not join the 2012 campaign until after Westminster, she won 39 BIS and climbed all the way to a Number Four All Breeds ranking.  She storms into New York with those 19 straight groups and five BIS this year.

We have been impressed with the Miniature Schnauzer, GCH CH Allaruth Just Kidding V Sole Baye, since we first saw him in Sacramento in April.  Justin was 2012’s Number Four Terrier with 11 BIS and 58 Terrier Groups.  Justin has one BIS, one RBIS, and seven Group Ones so far this year.

The Russell Terrier did not join the fray until late June and by July, GCH CH Goldsands Columbus had collected the breed’s first BIS.  By the end of the year Bosse would accumulate three more BIS and 28 Terrier Groups and the Number Ten Terrier title.  He has continued setting breed records this year with two BIS, two RBIS, and seven Group Ones.  We think this guy will make the breed’s first appearance at the Garden count.

We nominate the Border Terrier, GCH CH Meadowlake’s Simply Sinful, as our dark horse of 2013.  Maya was 2012’s Number Six Terrier with four BIS and 53 Terrier Groups.  While some of the flashier Terriers have been gathering all the attention early in the season, Maya has quietly collected two BIS and eight Terrier Groups. 

Next the Toys.

WWW: THE WORKING GROUP

GCH CH Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici 

(Photo by Julie Ward Photography)

When it comes to Who to Watch at Westminster among the Working Dogs one stands out, last year’s group winner, the Doberman Pinscher, GCH CH Protocol’s Veni Vidi Vici.  FiFi criss crossed the US last year, collecting 46 BIS and 116 Group Ones, finishing the year as the Number Three Dog All Breeds.  However, FiFi was but one of three Working Dogs in the top Ten for most of the year.

The winningest Kuvasz in AKC history, GCH CH Szumeria’s Wildwood Silver Six Pence, completed the year as the Number Seven Dog All Breeds with 25 BIS and 88 Working Groups.  The third, the Boxer, GCH CH R and G’s Mystical Dancer, was in the Top Ten until the very last week of the year when he slipped to the 11^th spot, packing up 23 big rosettes and 67 Group One ribbons.  However, we think that Danny might have difficulty getting out of Dorothy Collier’s breed ring and where he will face GCH CH Winfall I Dream of Style.  Macey finished behind her litter sister, GCH CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, 2011’s Number One Working Dog, last year.  Macey  has already logged two BIS this year on her way to New York.

Nearly as competitive as Boxers, Great Danes will be one of the breeds we will seek out at the piers.   We look for our Dog2Watch, GCH CH Longo Miller N Lore's Diamond Lil, to fight her way out of the breed ring and make it to Robert Vandiver’s group ring.  Coupling a solid black coat with a breathtaking headpiece, Scout marched to a 13 BIS and 40 Group One record in 2012.    

Next up, the Terriers.