IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO LONG BEACH

While the focus of the dog world this week is on Long Beach CA, there are other dog shows this weekend. There are four day clusters in Illinois, Mississippi, and Ohio, three day events in Florida and Pennsylvania and a traditional weekend in Virginia. If you are in the Chicago area and can’t make it to Long Beach, the Starved Rock Kennel Club will host shows Thursday and Friday in Wheaton IL and the Skokie Valley Kennel Club has events Saturday and Sunday in Rosemont IL. If you are in Cleveland and can’t make it to Long Beach, the Lorain County, Medina, Richland, and Western Reserve Kennel Clubs will take over the Cleveland International Exposition Center for four days beginning Thursday. If you are in Memphis TN (as am I) and can’t make it to Long Beach (I can’t), there is the Magnolia Christmas Classic at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson MS for four days starting Thursday (I will be there Friday).

If you are in the New York City area and can’t make it to Long Beach, the Delaware Water Gap Kennel Club will sandwich events around the Lehigh Valley Kennel Club’s Saturday show in convenient Bethlehem PA. (Just pretend you a wise man. OK, one demerit for lame Christmas joke) For those of you who can’t make it to Long Beach, but can make it to Disney World, there are shows Friday through Sunday in Orlando FL hosted by the American KC, the Space Coast Kennel Club of Palm Bay (my nomination this week for most cumbersome club name), and the Central Florida KC. Finally, for those in the Navy town of Norfolk VA and who don’t want to go anywhere near San Diego (that’s an inside Navy joke, folks) there is a two day event in Virginia Beach.

And for those of you who can make it to Long Beach CA, do go to the Eukanuba National Championship at the Long Beach Convention Center and/or one or all of the warm up events hosted by the KC of Beverly Hills, the Los Encinos KC, and the Long Beach KC, all at the same location. You will be amazed and we will all be jealous, that is until February when we have Westminster to gloat over. If you are at the Jackson MS show on Friday, please stop by the Cairn ring on Friday and say “Hi”. I’ll be the short, fat, bald guy with the tall, thin, blonde (and, yes, that’s my wife. Now who’s jealous?)

ALL EYES ON CALIFORNIA

It’s rare that you get six of the top ten dogs to gather at one show. It’s even rarer for five of the top ten to end up in a final seven. Especially when the one who didn’t make it is the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit. So it was at the Malibu Kennel Club show wrapping up the long weekend in Costa Mesa CA. As we reported here last night Spirit finished Group Three behind the Great Pyrenees, CH Honor's Promise of Glory. “Glory”, the country’s number one Great Pyrennes, was bred by Bernadette M Ducker & Dorothy Sisco and is owned by Ducker.

CH Honor's Promise of Glory

That left Judge Bart Miller with the dazzling dessert tray of the Weimaraner, CH Smokycity Silhouette Dbl Ur Pleasure, the Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv Ouija, the aforementioned Great Pyrenees, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair. To recap the weekend’s BIS winners, it was Mercedes on Friday, Spirit on Saturday, and Carly on Sunday. Keeping it in the top ten family, it was Taser taking home the heavy silver on Monday. Taser logged more miles this week than President Bush on his farewell tour, making stops in Biloxi MS, Winston-Salem NC, and Ridgefield WA, before arriving in southern California.

What we can learn from this weekend is that the Eukanuba National Championship is definitely up for grabs. Have you voted for your favorite? Come on, dog people don’t have commitment issues.

PARTIAL RESULTS FROM MALIBU

One of our readers has advised us that the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, went Group three today at the Malibu Kennel Club show in Costa Mesa, a finish which leaves Spirit in second place in the national rankings behind the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, by the slimmest of margins, perhaps as little as 50 points. However, first is first. Just ask Michael Phelps.

RED FACED AND EMBARASSED

I am. For a week now I have been promoting a live play by play of the Eukanuba National Championship. After visiting the AKC events page, I report, chagrined, that the event will not be televised live, and will not be aired until 31 January, some six weeks after the fact. I apologize for providing you all with bum information. However, I will be getting field reports and will be publishing them as they come in to keep you all up to date. And for all of you with longer attention spans, we will do a play by play for the 133rd Westminster Kennel Club Show on 9&10 February, Monday and Tuesday.

A LESSON IN HUMANITY

I have been accused of preferring the company of my dogs to most people and this report from Colorado only bolsters my attitude. An all too common tragedy was played out on a local freeway. A stray dog was hit by a car and left injured in the road while motorists callously went on their way. However, there were two things about this incident that were uncommon. One, the whole thing was caught on camera. Two, another dog risks his own life to pull the injured dog out of traffic. What an incredible statement on our society. Orwell was right. Some animals are more equal than others.

THE FIGHT FOR NUMBER ONE

It probably won’t last long, but we say give credit where credit is due. By our numbers, and they are our numbers and ours alone, we have a new number one dog. Yesterday’s shut out of the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit has allowed the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry to take over the number one spot, if by the slimmest of margins. By our calculations Holly has amassed 93 BIS this year and 113,080 points to Spirit’s 64 Bests and 112,855. Folks, that’s a difference of just 225 points or 0.2 percent. Now that’s a horse race. As we said, Spirit is competing today and Holly is packing her bags for the trip west. Thus, it is likely that Spirit will regain the lead by tomorrow morning.

MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING

Monday morning means show results and we have them aplenty. First, we had previously reported that the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, had taken the BIS at the Saturday iteration of the Malibu Kennel Club. Here are how the other top dogs fared in Costa Mesa CA. The Scottish Deerhound, CH Jaraluv’s Ouija, took a group three behind Hound Group winner, Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Pupukea Ridge Ikaika of Springvalley , and the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, finished second in the Terrier Group behind the Welsh Terrier, Sanherpinc Paisa. Joining Spirit in Judge Hans Brunotte’s final seven were the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair.

CH Pupukea Ridge Ikaika of Springvalley

As is our practice, we gave you the first of Sunday’s results on Sunday night and here are the rest, working east to west. The Brussels Griffon, CH Cilleine Masquerade, has been hunting a BIS all week. To reiterate, he started out auspiciously enough, on Thursday taking a Toy Group one in Biloxi over number one toy dog, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug. However, on Friday Lincoln failed to place in the Toy Group in Biloxi. Saturday he resurfaced in Belleville IL taking another Toy Group first. Finally, on Sunday, Lincoln broke through and grabbed the big rosette from Judge James G Reynolds at the second show of the Edwardsville Illinois Kennel Club in Belleville.

CH Cilleine Masquerade with Handler Paul Catterson

As we said, number one Toy Dog, the Affenpinscher, Taser, was in Biloxi MS on Thursday (Group 2), Winston-Salem NC on Friday (BIS), and Ridgefield WA on Saturday (BIS). He decided to stay in Ridgefield one more day, but Judge Lester Mape gave the Greater Clark County Kennel Club Best In Show title to the Welsh Springer Spaniel, CH Royailes Hasta B A Cut Above. Congratulations to breeders Nora & Gerald Carlton and owner Dayna Maddox on a very impressive win. Nonetheless, Taser picked up an impressive 292 points for the group win.

CH Coventry Vanity Fair

Of course the real drama was at the glamorous Malibu Kennel Club show in Costa Mesa. One of the warm up shows for the Eukanuba National Championship, this show drew five of our top ten dogs and four of them made it to Judge W. Everett Dean Jr’s BIS ring, the Scottish Deerhound, Ouija, the Scottish Terrier, Sadie, the Standard Poodle, Yes, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Carly. Proving, that all ten of the top dogs are exceptional, the number ten dog, Carly, trotted away with the title. Congratulations to Carly and her breeders/owners/handler on a spectacular win.

Oh! And the remaining ranked dog, the one that didn’t make it to the final seven? That would be the country's number one dog, the Giant Schnauzer, Spirit, who was defeated in the breed. We are feverishly searching for the name of that dog and his owners who will certainly have bragging rights for a while. Fear not, there is another iteration of the Malibu show today and we we expect Spirit will fare a little better. And you will read it here first.

COUNTDOWN TO THE BIG DANCE

Judge Diane Malenfant (now, there’s a name with an interesting derivation, like some eight year old did something really bad 1200 years ago) must have had a bad case of a déjà vu (wow, two French references in the first sentence) today as she surveyed her final seven at the second day of the Eastern Dog Club show in Boston MA. Five of the seven were In Peter Green’s final the day before. Once again the Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeens, CH Rokeena Carte Blanche finished ahead of the Harrier, CH Downhome Family Tradition. Once again the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, and the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Hidalgo At Goodspice, were joined by the Boxer, CH Dramatic Story Of Sherry Shoot JP, and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, CH Pinecrest Rock The Boat.

CH Surrey Sweet Spice

Joining the party for the second time this weekend was the Bearded Collie, CH Brigadoon`s Firecracker. Only the Non-Sporting Group winner, the Minature Poodle, CH Surrey Sweet Spice, was a newcomer. And once again, the Pointer, Holly, sang another chorus of “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” challenging number one dog, Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, to come up with another BIS to hold onto the top ranking. We knew they loved tradition in Boston, but we weren’t expecting anyone would win four in a row.

And speaking of lightning striking twice, our source in Biloxi tells us that the Chinese Shar Pei, CH Elite’s By Design, took her second BIS of the weekend, quite a feat at just 16 months old. All of this is leading us up to the big event, the Eukanuba National Championship. How about a poll? Who are you rooting for? Who do you think will win?

TOP DOG VIDEO

Susan Lowder, co breeder/owner of our number eight dog, the Harrier, Downhome Family Tradition, has been kind enough to provide us with reports on some of our west coast shows. However, I found this video of Coda on my own.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Coda is the top winning Harrier in history. We, on behalf of all rare breed lovers, thank Susan and her partners for promoting this wonderful specimen. Have you contacted your elected representative to tell him/her that you care about the preservation of rare breeds?

WEEKEND WARRIORS

Well, once again we have help from a couple of readers and that workaholic on the AKC “Weekly Wins” desk. First from an anonymous reader (Do include your name on the comments, so we can give you credit for your generous reports), the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, did pull off the BIS yesterday at the Shoreline Dog Fanciers Association Of Orange County show in Costa Mesa CA. Spirit just won’t let the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, have that first place ranking, not even for one day. I guess that’s why they call them Alpha Dogs.

CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit

Second, Terri Erikson was the first to tell us that the dog with the electric call name, that is, the Affenpischer, CH Tamarin Tug, aka Taser, took another BIS up in Ridgefield WA, at the Greater Clark County Kennel Club event yesterday. We learned from our AKC weekend warrior that Taser was in Winston Salem NC on Friday taking a Best In Show from Judge Dennis Kniola. Will someone please verify that Taser and handler Jorge Olivera have a Taser International corporate jet at their disposal? Seems it isn’t just Detroit that knows how to travel.

CH Tamarin Tug

One of our anonymous tipsters had already told us that the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, had won BIS on Friday at the Shoreline Dog Fanciers Association Of Orange County in Costa Mesa CA. From the AKC comes these details. Judge J. Andrenia Brunotte-Canada (the only AKC judge with more names than the dogs entered) had a plethora of top ranked dogs to choose from. Joining Sadie in the final seven were the Giant, Spirit, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair.

CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot

Finally, we learn that the Brussels Griffin, CH Cilleine Masquerade, is still looking for a BIS win. To refresh your memory, Thursday, Lincoln lost to Taser, in the Toy Group in Bilox MS. On Friday, he was left out of the ribbons in the group at that location. Saturday, he adjourned to Suburban St. Louis, and the Edwardsville Illinois Kennel Club show in Belleville IL (go figure), where he made it to Judge Mildred Bryant’s BIS ring just in time to watch the country’s number 13 dog get lucky, number one Doberman Pinscher, CH Cambria's Victoria Secret.

CH Cambria's Victoria Secret

There it is, folks, we have confirmed that all of the nation’s top 20 dogs are competing this weekend. Check back with us tomorrow for more results and a rankings update. Once again thanks to Terri and all the others who have contributed to this post.