PARTING THE WATERS IN TEXAS

Another club reporting in late is the Brazos Valley kennel Club in Navasota TX where judge Donald Gill gathered the following for BIS consideration:

CH Morningstar Must Be Dreaming

The Golden Retriever, CH Morningstar Must Be Dreaming, the Norwegian Elkhound, CH Vin-Melca's Wells Fargo, the Boxer, CH Bravo N Sunset Stealing Time, the Cairn Terrier, CH Winsome Fergus MacFlynn, the Yorkshire Terrier, CH Stringer's Somethings Gotta Give, the Standard Poodle, CH Donncada Sweet Dreams, and the Rough Collie, CH Sylvan Argent Simply Irresistible.

And when it’s raining it’s a bid of a comfort to see a dog named “Moses” going BIS. It was the first BIS for the three year old Golden, in just his second weekend as a special. Congratulations to breeder Carol Love, owner Coleen Maddox and handler Janice Hayes.

CH Hi-Kel Terrydale Soldier Of Fortune

On Sunday, Moses was the only Saturday finalist to make it to judge Kenneth Buxton’s final seven. Showing up for the first time were the Smooth Dachshund, CH Bessdach Drisheen Hot Shot, the Komondor, CH Nagyalma Slew 'Em, the Lakeland Terrier, CH Hi-Kel Terrydale Soldier Of Fortune, the Pekingese, CH Franshaw Hear Me Roar, the Chinese Shar-Pei, CH Elite's By Design, and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, CH Heart Of Gold Power Play.

However, Moses could not return to the promised land. It was the Lakeland, Ranger, who caught the judge’s eye and the BIS award. The red head started the year on fire, winning five BIS in January, but has not had a top win the last two months. Perhaps the drought is over?

Check back in a few. We have more results.

NEBRASKA REPORTS IN

What is it, March came in like a lion and went out like a lamb? Well this lamb packed quite a kick this weekend as exhibitors battled the elements all over the US. However, as always, our determined AKC competitors prevailed.

CH Cambrian Four Star General

We had not heard previously from the Scottsbluff Kennel Club. Perhaps the Pony Express does not run on weekends? However now we know that judge Jon Cole found his way to Mitchell NE to look over the Golden Retriever, CH Toasty’s Treasure Island, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, CH Afterglow Ebeneezer, the Tibetan Mastiff, CH Drakyi Gold Standard, the Welsh Terrier, CH Cambrian Four Star General, the Pekingese, CH Dunkirk I’m Gonna Live Forever, the French Bulldog, CH Hollady’s Cream Enduro, and the Old English Sheepdog, CH Bugaboo’s Georgie Girl.

And who would have thought that we would have another Welsh Terrier go BIS this weekend? Yet, it was the four year old male, Finnegan, picking up his fist top prize of the year. Finnegan was bred by Caryl & Harley Rudofsky, is owned by Janet Stephens, and handled by Christian Rangel.

Sunday, Finnegan, the PBGV, Ebeneezer, the Tibetan Mastiff, Midas, and the OES, Georgie, joined the English Setter, CH Country Squire Heaven Can Wait, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, CH Orchard Hill Shirmont Backtalk, and the Chow Chow, CH Dreamland’s Light Up The Sky, in judge Dorothy MacDonald ‘s BIS ring.

CH Drakyi Gold Standard

Somehow, a big, hairy, rare dog is an appropriate BIS winner in a cold, remote town and so the Tibetan Mastiff, Midas, picked up his second BIS. Midas, bred by Rick Eichhorn, who co-owns the four year old dog with handlers Michael & Linda Brantley, is the only TM to ever win an AKC all breed show. Congratulations to them all!

We’ll be back with more.

ANOTHER BIS BOXER

Thunder storms did not dissuade our brave canine athletes nor their human counterparts as they all gathered in Palmetto Fl today for the day two show of the St Petersburg Dog Fanciers Association.

CH Sabo’s Majestic Provocation

Judge Joseph Gregory had the pleasure of going over the Labrador Retriever, CH Robnie’s Chantilly At Lighthouse, the Harrier, CH Jackpot Kingsbury Beamer, the Boxer, CH Sabo’s Majestic Provocation, the Scottish Terrier, CH Barbary Bitofa Vamp, the Pomeranian, CH Velocity’s Shae Ur Bon Bon, the Bichon Frise, CH Bodacious In Enemy Territory, and the Shetland Sheepdog, CH Summerlove’s Caught You Lookin.

It’s bit a great year for Boxers and here we have another, picking up his first BIS of the year. The four year old “Adam” is a native Floridian, bred by Robert & Sandra Williams, owned by Sandra, and handled by Danny Sanchez.

IT NEVER RAINS IN CALIFORNIA

It is almost always sunny and warm in Bakersfield CA and so it was yesterday at the Kern County Kennel Club show where judge Kitty Steidel had the duty.

CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot

She chose from the German Shorthaired Pointer, CH Robin Crest Charismatic JH, the Black & Tan Coonhound , CH Windbourne Every Hands A Winner, the Rottweiler, CH Chancellor’s Grand Slam Sam, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot, the Affenpinscher , CH Tamarin Tug, the Bichon Frise, CH Mybliss Petite Coquette, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Coventry Vanity Fair.

Almost as predictable as the weather was another BIS by the Scottie, Sadie. That’s number 15 this year for the country’s number one dog and a 15,000 point lead over the rest of the top ten, excepting number two the Giant Schnauzer, CH CH Galilee's Pure Of Spirit, who trails by 8,000 points in limited showing.
However, it is only March and this race is a marathon, not a sprint.

SIBERIAN IN OREGON

In the Pacific Northwest you rarely have terrible weather. Then again, you rarely have beautiful weather. Chilly and cloudy, it may be in Albany OR, but the dogs were there at the Chimtimini Kennel Club show.

CH Paragon's Red Red Wine

Judge Jean Fournier made the call from a group that included the Golden Retriever, CH Rush Hill's River Road Payoff, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Pupukearidge Ikaika O Sprngvly, the Siberian Husky, CH Paragon's Red Red Wine, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Warfox Double Exposure, the Silky Terrier, CH Barb-B's Tawnymist Topias, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, and the Australian Shepherd, CH Whidbeys Moonlight Frost.

We are pleased to tell you that the Siberian, Merlot, took home another BIS. Congratulations to our reliable I-reporter, breeder/owner Terri Erickson and handler Scott Price.

We’ll be back with one more report.

SOUTHERN SUPER HERO

We are not immune to the vagaries of the weather here in the Mid-South. We have had devastating tornadoes in Kentucky and Tennesee. We spent yesterday evening pumping out our own flooded basement. Parts of the metro Atlanta GA area were without power yesterday.

CH Bayleigh Shaireabs Super Hero

However, down in Newnan GA the show must go on and it did with judge Madison Weeks presiding at the Newnan Kennel Club Of Georgia. Her finalists were the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, CH Ches-shores Hurricane Hattie, the Greyhound, CH Lorricbrook Tribute, the Portuguese Water Dog, CH Camlin Sea Dancer Makitso Secretariat, the Welsh Terrier, CH Bayleigh Shaireabs Super Hero, the Pug, CH Norkus' Risky Business, the Bulldog, CH Kepleys Showbiz Razzle Dazzle, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Woodsides Pacino.

We don’t know if he can climb walls, but he can win BISs, the Welsh Terrier, “Spyder” walked away with his second top prize of the year. Congratulations to breeders/owners Keith Bailey & Sharon Abmeyer and handler Tracy A Szaras-Deloria.

Come back soon. We’re not done yet.

PITTSBURGH RESULTS

The weather in March in Pittsburgh PA can be dicey, but the show committee booked the David Lawrence Convetion center as the venue for the Western Pennsylvania Kennel Association show and we‘re sure that judge Robert Forsyth appreciated that.

CH Stirling Cool Hand Luke

We know that his finalists were the Irish Setter, CH Jewelsets Second Attraction, the Bloodhound, CH Wychways Bilboa Baggins, the Doberman Pinscher, the Airedale, CH Stirling Cool Hand Luke, CH Alex De Akido San, the Pomeranian, CH Mountain Crest U Don't Own Me, the Dalmatian, CH Perdita's Absolute Adorable, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Stoneridge Whol Stop T Rain.

The Airedale, Lucas, showed why he has dominated his breed for the last two years, winning his second BIS of 2009. Check back soon. We'll have more results.

BRAVING THE ELEMENTS

Earlier we made light of the intervention of Mother Nature in our fancy. The truth is that most exhibitors have their story of a show where the weather was more dramatic than the competition. We still have nightmares about being stuck in the mud in Trenton NJ at the always soggy Monmouth County weekend.

CH Cordmaker Field Of Dreams

We’ve already received e-mails on how bad the weather was in Claremore OK, but these dogs braved the elements in an attempt to catch the eye of judge Keke Kahn at the Claremont Kennel Club of Oklahoma, the Black Cocker Spaniel, CH Exl's Leather-N Lace, the Afghan Hound, CH Symphony's Peacemaker JC, the Boxer, CH Lattalane's Kiss Me I'm Irish, the Kerry Blue Terrier, CH Irisfingel Blue Badge, the Pug, CH Bleuridge's Eja, the French Bulldog, CH Raindrops Justus Lifes A Game, and the Puli, CH Cordmaker Field Of Dreams.

The country’s number one Herding Dog, the Puli, Conrad, made it BIS number eight. Conrad is currently sitting in the number four all breed spot, but is pushing to take over number three.

We’ll be back with more.

SYRACUSE SUMMARY

We awoke to find that our intrepid AKC computer staff has been hard at work posting results. So first we get to play catch up.

Up in Syracuse NY, there have been some unsung finalists the last few days. We reported that the Dobie, CJ, and the Toy Poodle went BIS on Thursday and Friday respectively. Here are the finalists from those two days.

CH Banshou Go Ryuukyuu Uruma

On Thursday, CJ was accompanied by the English Springer Spaniel, CH Cereise Jesse James, the Irish Wolfhound, CH Garbo Of Eagle, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe's Merci Pour Le Poivre, the Toy Poodle, CH Smash JP Moon Walk, the Shiba Inu, CH Banshou Go Ryuukyuu Uruma, and the Briard, CH Fairytale's Balthazar Le Sage. On Friday, Walker, was joined by the Dobie, the Sealyham, the Shiba Inu, the German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Star K's Mile Hi Valentine, and the Bouvier des Flandres, CH Quiche's Demetrius.

CH Torquay Midnight Confession

On Saturday, it was judge Roger Hartinger making the call and the GWP, Sealyham, and Toy Poodle were all back with the 15” Beagle, CH Torquay Midnight Confession, the Alaskan Malamute, CH Nanukes Still The One, the Standard Poodle, Afterglow Sugar Daddy, and the Briard, CH Iniquehengo Des Uns Et Des Autres. Saturday was everyman’s day as the Beagle took home her second career BIS, the first this year. At just under two years old, the 2009 Westminster breed winner is a DOG2WATCH. Congratulations to breeders/owners Marcello Chegas & M F & Alessandra Botelho.

Will be back in just a few with more results.

SHAKING IT IN FLORIDA

We may have volcanoes in Alaska and floods in North Dakota, but in Palmetto FL, the skies are blue and the dogs are making the most of it. Judge Michelle Billings had the helm today at the St Petersburg Dog Fanciers show and a superlative bunch to review.

CH Velocity’s Shake Ur Bon Bon

Asking for the big rosette were the Labrador Retriever, CH Robnie’s Chantilly At Lighthouse, the Irish Wolfhound, CH Highgate’s Andrew Of The Ridge, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Sun Style’s Sensation, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Kemsabe Broxden High Button Shoes, the Pomeranian, CH Velocity’s Shake Ur Bon Bon, the Bichon Frise, CH Bodacious In Enemy Territory, and he Rough Collie, CH Sylvan’s Command Performance.

Today was a good day for Bon, the Pom, who took home his fourth BIS of the year, moving him a couple of positions closer to that coveted all breed top ten. Anybody else notice that we currently have five Toy Dogs in the top 15?