GO TO A DOG SHOW THIS WEEKEND

We don’t expect to see too many large entries as the season winds down, but two places this coming weekend will have some major events. In our part of the country we have a four day cluster in Marietta, GA, near Atlanta, kicking off tomorrow with the first of two shows hosted by the Griffin Georgia KC followed by The Kennesaw KC sponsored events Saturday and Sunday. These four events will field more than 6,000 entries total, including 13 Harriers at each of the four shows, 13 Harriers. There were only 23 Harriers registered in the whole country last year. Most of us will never see a Harrier at a show and here’s the chance to see 13 in one place.

CH DOWNHOME FAMILY TRADITION

TOP WINNING HARRIER IN HISTORY

Out on the west coast, the Sacramento Valley Dog Fanciers will host a double header Saturday and Sunday and expect more than 1600 dogs on each day. We expect most of the top dogs from last weekend’s Del Valle show to stay over for this event. If you are in the area this weekend, this is your chance to see some great dogs in the flesh. Support your local AKC clubs. Remember more than half of the AKC registered breeds are more endangered than Polar Bears or Gorillas and you can’t keep a Polar Bear or Gorilla in your house.

BULLY FOR YOU

CH Dazlin Defiance

It was a bully weekend in West Springfield, MA for the Harrier. CH Downhome Family Tradition. Coda would make it to the Best In Show ring three times and would lose three times to bully dogs. On Friday, it was the White Bull Terrier, CH Dazlin Defiance, getting the recognition from Judge Patti Widick Neale at the first of two Albany KC shows. “Marshall“, was bred by Darren & Lindsay Blakeley, is owned by Amy Woodman of Bolton, MA, and is handled by Marianne Tuni Claflin. It is the first AKC BIS for Marshall, a British import. Trust us, it won’t be the last. After all, he already has a tribute video.



Judge Sam Houston McDonald would give Sunday’s Albany KC event to the country‘s number two Bulldog, CH Kepley’s Showbiz Razzle Dazzle, bred by Marjorie & Jack Kepley, owned by Joan L Fisher, Robert Speiser & Barbara Wolfe of New York, NY, and handled by Phoebe Jordan Booth. Monday, Judge Jaqueline M. Rayner would follow suit and make it a double header for the bulldog bitch.

It’s getting close to the end of the year and the competion for top ten spots is reaching critical mass. Did you notice that six of the top ten dogs were at four shows this week? Two more were at three shows. Doesn’t look like the economy is affecting these folks.

SUNDAY IN PLEASANTON

Five of the country’s top dogs were at the country’s largest show in several weeks, the Del Valle Kennel Dog Club of Livermore show with 2565 dogs present and competing, held Sunday in the San Francisco suburb of Pleasanton, CA.

CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation

With Groups larger than many all breed entries at other shows, it was amazing that all five of our favored dogs would make it to Judge Helen Lee James’ Best In Show ring. The Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv Ouija, would have the hardest time of it, with 554 other hounds to overcome to get to the final. The Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee’s Pure of Spirit, had it nearly as hard in the working group with 535 competing. Also advancing for final consideration were the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, The Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, and the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation. Spirit and handler, Taffee McFadden did have the home court advantage, but it failed to pay off, as it was the Standard Poodle, Yes, who would capture the top prize.

This year Del Valle has added a Monday show on top of the 49 specialty events that preceded Sunday’s extravaganza and all five of our ranked dogs would make it to Judge Mary Ann Alston’s BIS ring. This is Taffee McFadden’s backyard and she and Spirit made the most of it besting 2411 other dogs. It was a must win for the duo as the number two dog had closed within just a few points of the number one pair.

CH Galilee’s Pure of Spirit

That dog, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, capped off a four day weekend in Springfield, IL, taking a backseat to the number ten dog, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair, who took the nod from Judge Lesley Hiltz. Also competing at the Illinois Capital show was the Brussels Griffon, CH Celleine Masquerade, who took a Group 2.


We do have a change in the standings as a result of this weekend shows. Yes has moved ahead of Charmin into the number three spot. You heard it here first. We still are awaiting a report on the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition who spent the weekend in New England. Will post those results, with a new tribute video (it’s been too long), as soon as they come in.

POODLES, SMALL AND LARGE

While we await the results of the giant Del Valle Dog Club of Livermore show results, we do have some interesting and impressive results from elsewhere in the country. We start in a geographicly orderly manner on the east coast with results from Buena, NJ where our number one dog, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee’s Pure of Spirit, had back to back losses to the Toy Poodle, CH Smash J P Moon Walk. In a reverse Moby Dick kind of thing, the little white dog would best the big black dog, taking BIS on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Judges Joan Scott, Lorraine Bisso, and Linda Riedel, at the Gloucester KC and South Jersey KC shows. Spirit and handler Bill McFadden would jet back to California late Saturday for the Sunday Del Valle show with Group 2 and Group 1 ribbons from the two Gloucester events.

CH Smash J P Moon Walk

Meanwhile, down the coast in Cumberland, MD, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, would wrap up a tough weekend, watching the Standard Poodle, Ch Hillwood Dassin De-Lovely, take BIS at the Upper Potomac KC show under Judge Keke Kahn, the same judge who gave Charmin a Terrier Group 4 on Friday. Breeder/owner/handler Dr. Joseph D. Vergnetti of Medina, OH, co-owns the country’s number two Standard Poodle with Ellen Charles, K LeFrak and W Sammet. Dr. Vergnetti is the top champion-producing Poodle breeder of all time. He has bred all three varieties for more than 30 years, but is best known for his distinctive Dassin line of Miniatures and Standards. He was named 2003 AKC Non-Sporting Group Breeder of the Year and is the Dogs in Review Outstanding Breeder of the Year for 2007.

Dr. Joseph D. Vergnetti

Further west, in Springfield, IL, three of our top ten would spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday slugging it out. The Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, and the Pembroke Welch Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair, would find themselves out of their weight class with the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, who swept all three shows garnering Bests from Judges Judy Webb, Michelle Billings, and Edd Embry Bivin. The Corgi, Coda, would take three Herding Group 1s, while the Brussels Griffon, Lincoln, would finish with a Group 2 on Friday, followed by Group 1s on Saturday and Sunday. As a warm up for Del Valle, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, made a pit stop in Rapid City, SD, and pick up two big rosettes, the first from Judge Lee Hubbel and the second from Judge Jean Fournier.

Will we see a new number one dog soon? If and when we do, you will read it here first!

CHARMIN STRIKES BACK

The Bedlington Terrier, CH Velvety Angel Eyes, took another run at the country’s number one Terrier in Cumberland, MD today at the Upper Potomac KC show. However, Group Judge Betsy Dale, sided with the majority opinion and placed “Loppan” second behind the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, and Charmin justified her confidence by taking the BIS from Judge Paula Hartinger. I suspect that this is a rivalry we will see repeated up to and at Westminster 2009.

WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

CH Velvety Angel Eyes

Just two weeks ago, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, won the all terrier extravaganza at the venerable Montgomery County Kennel Cub show. Yet today Terrier Group Judge Keke Kahn relegated “Charmin” to a Group 4 win behind a dazzling Swedish import, the Bedlington Terrier, CH Velvety Angel Eyes at the Laurel Highlands KA show in Cumberland, MD. It was the worst showing by Charmin in over 18 months. Also bettering the Sealie, was the Airedale Terrier, CH Sterling Cool Hand Luke, with a Group 3, and the Norfolk Terrier, CH Cause For Celebration, who garnered a Group 2.

CH Cause For Celebration

The Bedlington, call name “Loppan” (Swedish for “Flea”, no kidding), was bred by Lise Lotte Nilsson and is owned by MS Nilsson and Anki Bengtson & Joan Weiskopf of Sinking Spring, PA. Loppan did have the good manners to win BIS after defeating the country’s number three dog in the Terrier Group. Judge Leonora Riddle gave this dog in lamb drag his second AKC Best In Show. His first was just three weeks ago in Oyster Bay, NY at the Westbury KA . This is a dog to watch.

DEL VALLE KENNEL CLUB SHOW

MT DIABLO, CA

I spent over 20 years of my life living in suburban San Francisco in the area known as the Diablo Valley. It is a beautiful place that epitomizes all the best that the US has to offer: breathtaking landscapes, exceptional schools, a thriving economy, and one of the country’s largest dog shows, the Del Valle Kennel Club show in Pleasanton, CA. Last year there were almost 3,000 dogs present and competing. This year, there is a warm up act of 49, repeat 49, specialty shows on Friday and Saturday, before this Sunday’s main event. If you will be in the Bay Area this weekend, plan to make it out to the East Bay and enjoy the mountain vistas and the canine drama. It won’t be bigger this year. See http://www.infodog.com/clubs/2008016301.HTM for particulars.

COLUMBUS DAY IN MARYLAND

Ch Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry

Our top three dogs decided to make the most of the long weekend and stay over in Maryland for Columbus Day and the Maryland KC show. Joining the Giant Schnauzer, the Pointer, and the Sealyham Terrier, was the number nine dog, the Harrier. All managed Group one wins and the Pointer, Holly added one more Best In Show to her record courtesy of Judge Nancy Simmons. However, no one lost or gained enough points to change their current positions in the top ten. Perhaps this weekend a win at the giant Del Valle KC show in Northern California will shake up the top ten?

STANDINGS SHUFFLE

CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot

The Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, has surpassed her highlands big sister, the Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv's Ouija, and moved up into the seventh spot on our real time top ten. Sadie managed two BIS over the weekend while Ouija did four shows, but could not do better than Group one. For you non-math majors out there, 'tis better to get a BIS at a small show than to get a Group one at a big show. Keep that in mind when mailing off the next entry.

IDAHO? I DON'T KNOW

And we pick up where we left off on Friday, In Boise Idaho, for the second iteration of the Idaho Capital City KC show. This show would go more to form, with our Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, getting the top prize from Judge Michael J. Dougherty, while Ouija and Taser watched. Once again Lincoln would fail to make it to the final seven. Saturday, the host was the Lizard Butte KC (Come on, folks, it’s Idaho) and Lincoln would take advantage of Taser’s absence and make it into the BIS ring. Once again Yes would take the big trophy, this time from Judge Arlene Benko with Ouija and Lincon standing by. Sunday, Lincoln and handler Paul Catterson would finally break through to the top spot taking the nod from Judge Kenneth Miller, with Yes and Ouija playing bridesmaids.

So where did Taser charge off to? Taser jetted down to Tyler, TX to watch Judge Doris Cozart to give the BIS to the Doberman Pinscher, Ch. Brachmars Magic Memory. “Kaiser” was bred by Barbara Weems & Marcia Harvey and is owned by Shannon Geiszlera. Sunday Taser would go home without a group placement. Meanwhile, Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, would go two for two in Boulder City, NV. On Saturday Judge Desmond J. Murphy awarded Sadie the Best In Show to Sadie at the Black Mountain KC show. On Sunday it was Judge Peggy Beisel-Macilwaine officiating and finding Sadie in the crowd. The question is is it good enough to regain the number seven spot? The Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair, made the most of a leisurely two days in Enid, OK, taking a BIS from Judge Donna Buxton on Saturday at the Sooner State KC, followed by a Group one on Sunday.

Our top three dogs were on the East Coast. On Friday, the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, and the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, faced off at the Catonsville KC show in West Friendship, MD with the larger dog getting the big rosette from Judge Robert Moore. At the same time, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, would have an easier go of it in Augusta, NJ getting the BIS from Judge Jean Fournier at the smaller Monticello KC show. Saturday The Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition, would join Spirit and Charmin in the final seven, only to find that Judge Betty Regina Leininger would see it the same and hand Spirit the win. Likewise, Holly would garner another top prize from Judge Angela Porpora on Saturday.

I guess Holly was feeling lonely, or ambitious, because Sunday she and handler Michael C. Scott decided to join the crowd in Maryland. However, she would be surprised in the group by the Weimaraner, Ch Colsidex Seabreeze Perfect Fit. Spirit suffered the same fate, getting bested by the Mastiff, Ch Lazdys Dixieland Tupelo Honey. Coda took the Hound Group, but Judge S. Candace Way couldn’t overlook the top Pekingese, CH Pequest Matchpoint. Everyone is entered in today’s Maryland KC show. Check back here tomorrow for results and the new standings.