THE MORE, THE MARYLAND

As we reported earlier, the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, took another BIS today. Let’s not to get complacent. After all, we watch Michael Phelps win eight in a row and still maintained a national hysteria. We now have the rest of today’s final seven from the Carrol Kennel Club show today in West Friendship MD.

CH Laurelwood's Noah's Ark Av JNKR

They were the Basenji, CH Reveille Push Button. the Akita, CH Wicca's-CR Lethal Weapon, the Bedlington Terrier, CH Velvety Angels Eyes, the Italian Greyhound, CH Honores Lily-Belle, the Chow Chow, CH Liontamer’s Dial 1-800 Hotstuff, the Swedish Vallhund, CH Laurelwood's Noah's Ark Av JNKR. Congratulations to them all.

MIXING IT UP

If things seem to be repetitive in Maryland, the crowd in Brooksville FL seems intent on mixing things up. The German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek s Sangria V Barick, was the only dog from yesterday’s final to make it back to the BIS ring at the Tampa Bay Kennel Club event. Also presenting themselves to Judge Robert Indeglia for consideration were the Black Cocker Spaniel, CH Bracon’s Leaping Lily Pads, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Adili's American Idol , the Doberman Pinscher, CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton, the Airedale Terrier, CH Stirling’s Cool Hand Luke, the King Charles & Ruby English Toy Spaniel, CH Southdown Nonetheless, and the Lhasa Apso CH Rushmar’s Charmer.

CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton
and Handler, Carissa DeMilta Shimpeno

Keeping with the spread the wealth theme, the three year old Dobie bitch walked off with the BIS, her first. Bred by Carmen Pitts and Gwen DeMilta, and owned by Carmen, Nancy Bosley, and Julie Porter, she is handled by Gwen’s daughter, Carissa DeMilta Shimpeno.

REPEATING OURSELVES

If we are repetitive, It’s because some of our featured dogs are so insistent on winning. The Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, extended her winning streak to eight in a row, today adding the Carroll Kennel Club show to the 2009 edition of her resume. We shall have a full report from West Friendship MD soon.

FLORIDA, DAY TWO OF FIVE

On day two of the Florida Classic II 1324 dogs gathered to compete at the Inverness Florida Kennel Club show in Brooksville FL. We are in the second week of this Florida marathon and we are starting to look on the participants as traveling companions on the long voyage of the 2009 campaign season.

CH Alpha's Road Warrior

Several of the exhibitors in Judge Kent Delaney’s ring must have been thinking, “Haven’t we met before?“ Six of the seven finalists had already made the trip to a final at the Florida Classic Park during the last week. The Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe’s Hidalgo At Goodspice, the Pug, CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek’s Sangria V Barick, had all already been there in the final ring during the last week. Today the Irish Setter, CH Vinyard's Bad Boy, the Irish Wolfhound, CH Dun Myrica Speaker Of Eagle, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Alpha's Road Warrior, and the Keeshonden, CH Sprookje Lunar Appellation, also were asking for the big rosette.

CH Sprookje Lunar Appellation

Once again, the Sealie, Charmin, showed us why he’s one of the winningest dogs in history, taking home one more BIS, and there are still three more Florida shows to go this weekend.

NO REST FOR DOG FANCIERS OR BLOGGERS

We know, we’ve been taking a breather too, but there are show results to report and surprises aplenty. No sooner do we start talking about old friends when new dogs start showing up.

CH Efbe’s Merci Pour Le Poivre

The first we’ve seen before. Back in December the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe’s Merci Pour Le Poivre, won a surprising Group First at the Eukanuba National Championship, with his brother, CH Efbe’s Hidalgo At Goodspice, the 2008 winner, sitting on the sidelines. Today, he came out of a tough group to join three dogs who have already won BIS this year, the Golden Retriever, CH Toasty’s Treasure Island, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, CH Rokeena’s Carte Blanche, and the Pug, CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu.

Also looking for a BIS in Judge Chris Walkowicz’ ring, were the Alaskan Malamute, CH Sno Klassic Play The Game, the Standard Poodle, CH Bar-None Travelin’ Man, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek’s Sangria V Barick. The GSD, a two year old bitch, had to beat the last year’s number 20 all breed dog and number one GSD, CH Woodside Pacino, to get into the group.

CH Shoal Creek’s Sangria V Barick

Not content with leaving Jimmy Moses and Tony behind in the breed, she went on to top the BIS winning Rough Collie, CH Sylvan Argent Simply Irresistible , in the Herding Group, and figured why stop there, becoming this week’s first BIS winner. Bred by Giovanni Middei, who co-owns her with Edward Farrell, Barbara Stamper, and Lee Jewel, she is handled by Scott Yergin. Congratulations to the lot of them.

IAMS HITS ONE MILLION ADOPTIONS

Bev over at My Fire Hydrant is celebrating the very successful end of the 2008 Iams Home 4 The Holdiays program. For those you unfamiliar with this project, the H4TH does a focused adoption campaign from 1 October to 2 January each year.


In 2007 they found homes for nearly 500,000 pets during the holiday campaign . In 2008 they set the very ambitious goal of one million adoptions. They just closed the 2008 books and the final tally was an amazing 1,202,751 animals. Visit the H4TH site here to learn more about this worthwhile program.

SHOWS EAST AND WEST

We just caught up on the past week’s shows and suddenly we are off again. The folks down in Brooksville FL are takin a two day breather before they begin the second leg of the Florida Classic tomorrow. This run will stretch from Wednesday to Sunday with shows hosted by the Manatee, Inverness Florida, Tampa Bay, Clearwater, and Pasco Florida kennel clubs. Once again these will be sizable entries with 1650, 1679, 1923, 2236, and 2223 dogs entered.

The largest entries this weekend will be at the Portland OR shows sponsored by the Dog Fanciers Association Of Oregon and the Tualatin Kennel Club. Starting Thursday with a whopping 2712 entries, there are 2988, 3034, and 2356 the following three days. Beginning on Friday another four day cluster will kick off in West Friendship MD, presented by the Carroll and Annapolis kennel clubs. Respectable entries of 975, 1483, 1400, and 792 have been logged.

Back on the West Coast a three day cluster is slated for beautiful Ventura CA, held by the Simi Valley & San Fernando KCs and the Ventura County DFA. They have drawn 970, 1170, and 1169 dogs starting on Friday. We also have traditional Saturday and Sunday events in Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, and Texas. The largest of these are the Oakland County KC shows in Detroit MI with 1192 and 1195 entries. The Central Iowa KC shows in Des Moines will come in at around 1000 dogs and the Fort Bend KC events in Rosenberg TX, will turn out about 700. The boutique shows will be the West Oahu and Greenville MS KCs with around 300 dogs.

So if you are in one of these locations stop in and see why we here are addicted to the AKC dog show.

BRRrrrr!

That’s how AKC rep Robert Fisher described Hamburg NY this weekend. The weather may have been cold, but 2008’s number four Herding Dog and top Old English Sheep Dog, CH Lambluv`s Daydream Believer, was hot, winning back to back BIS. As reported here previously the latest came at the Ashtabula Kennel Club on Sunday.

CH Lambluv`s Daydream Believer

Now we have the Group winners. They were the Golden Retriever, CH Waynewood`s Play It Again Sam, the 15” Beagle, CH Torquey Be Nice To Me, the Samoyed, CH Gilara`s Court Jester, the Irish Terrier, CH Breezy`s X-Tra Top Priorty, 2008’s number eight Toy Dog and best Shih Tzu, CH Hallmark Jolei Surfer Girl, and last year’s number eight Non-Sporting Dog and number two Standard Poodle, CH Hillwood Dassin De-Lovely.

ANNOUNCING WORKING AND HERDING DOG DIGEST

One of our most reliable resources for show results is Terri Erickson of Paragon Siberians. Terri tells us that Working Dog Digest is undergoing some exciting changes and will soon be reborn as Working and Herding Dog Digest. You can visit Working Dog Digest here. And you can contact Terri either at 253-334-0499 or workingdogdigest@hotmail.com for more details

MORE TOP TEN UPDATES

We have updated our top ten dogs and we have a new number one. It took seven straight BIS for the Pointer, CH Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry, to catch the Giant Schnauzer, CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, whose two BIS at the two humongous Palm Spring Kennel Club shows had kept her in first place on both the traditional and Dog Show Poop top ten. It’s a bit like eating elephant sandwiches. Sooner or later you’re going to run out of elephant.

We also have our two old friends, the Standard Poodle, Yes and the Sealyham Terrier, Charmin, making their debut on our list after very successful weekends. Also coming into our top ten is the dog that tried all 2008 to crack the traditional top ten, the Pug, CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu. And rounding out our top ten is 2008’s top Old English Sheepdog, CH Lambluv's Daydream Believer. “Winston”, bred by Ron Szekeres & Kathy McBride, is owned by Jere Marder & Kay Richardson, and handled by Jere.

If any of you out there know Jere or Kay, let them know we need a photo of their boy for our top ten list.