BACK TO BACK BOO

We have some partial results for you from Midland TX. We may make fun of the name, Cotton Pickin’ Oilfield dog show cluster, but we have nothing but admiration for the dogs they have attracted. We hear that judge Bob Moore had some of the nation’s best in his final today.

CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu

The Golden Retriever, CH Toasty’s Treasure Island, the Portugese Water Dog, CH OdyseasCard Shark, the Lakeland Terrier, CH Hi-Kel Terrydale Soldier Of Fortune, the Pug, CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu, and the Old English Sheepdog, CH Bugaboo’s Georgie Girl. We hope to have the names of the Hound and Non Sporting Group winners for you later.

We remarked that the Toy Dog race was getting hot. The Pug, Boo, decided that he had better make the most of this long weekend and added another BIS to the one he won yesterday. Boo is currently leading all Toy Dogs still being campaigned. However, there are still three other Toy Dogs in hot pursuit of that spot. We recommend you get out to an AKC dog show and see one of them.

DEJA VU IN MERCED

No, this is not a duplicate post. Yes, it was Merced CA and the Sierra-tuolumne Kennel Club hosting. But it was day two, Friday, and Sandra Goose Allen was the Best In Show judge.

CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot

Yes, her finalists included the Wirehaired Poiting Griffon, CH Flatbrook Royal Point Attitude JH, the Basset Hound, CH BlossomRhill’s Mamma Mia, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot, and the Bouviers Des Flandres, CH Avalon Frontier Sleepnlady Webber. But she also had the Alaskan Malamute, CH Catayana’s Latin Lover, the Brussels Griffon, CH Cashin’s Walk The Line, and the Keeshond, CH Windrift's Dance To The Music.

Yes, the BIS winner was CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot, but it was Best In Show number 17 this year. Yesterday was number 16. Although Sadie is 20,000 points ahead of her competition this year, last year’s top dog finished the year with almost 120,000 points. There are still lots of final sevens to go. But Sadie is certainly tearing it up for now.

KICKIN' IT IN W TEXAS

We have our first results from the Cotton Pickin’ Oilpatch Cluster (just the sound of that wants to make you clean your boots) and the West Texas Kennel Club.

Judge Judy Webb had the helm yesterday and the Black Cocker Spaniel, CH CH K J’S Othello, the Longhaired Dachshund, CH Sunteckel’s Samuel II, the Tibetan Mastiff, CH Drakyi Gold Standard, the Lakeland Hi-Kel Terrydale Soldier Of Fortune, the Pug, CH Tupelo ShoBoat Tu China Tu, the Chinese Shar-Pei, CH Chaoyang Chick Magnet At Asia, and the Belgian Tervuren, CH Snaroyale’s Devil’s Delight.

The Pug, Boo, decided that it was a good time to make his bid for the number one Toy Dog, starting the weekend with a his 30th career BIS, his ninth this year. You do remember that we told you there are five Toy Dogs in the top 15?

SADIE IN MERCED

We do have one timely report for you, from Merced CA where judge Raymond Bay had the pleasure of choosing Best In Show on day one for the Sierra-tuolumne Kennel Club.

CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot

He chose from the Wirehaired Poiting Griffon, CH Flatbrook Royal Point Attitude JH, the Basset Hound, CH BlossomRhill’s Mamma Mia, the Boxer, CH R And G’s Sonorans Simply Irresistable, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes At Maryscot, the Papillion, CH Arkeno’s Ears To You, the Bichon Frise, CH Myblis Petite Coquette, and the Bouviers Des Flandres, CH Avalon Frontier Sleepnlady Webber.

The Scottie, Sadie, epitomizes front runner and she has garnered yet another Best In Show, number 16 this year. It’s worth the drive to Merced to see this one.

OVERLOOKED PITTSBURGH RESULTS

We warned you that our recent visit to the oral surgeon would result in some errors and we have found one of omission. We failed to give you the Sunday results from Pittsburgh Pa, where the Western Pennsylvania Kennel Association had James Reynolds making the BIS call.

CH Hillwood Dassin De-Lovely

His finalists were the English Springer Spaniel, CH Tiffany Esspecial Imagery, the 13” Beagle, CH Roirdan’s meant To Be, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Alex De Akido San, the Airedale Terrier, CH Stirling Cool Hand Luke, the Blenheim & Prince Charles English Toy Spaniels, CH CH Royalist Ready To Reign, the Standard Poodle, CH Hillwood Dassin De-Lovely, and the Old English Sheepdog, CH Lightnings Tequila Sunrise.

It was just two weeks ago that the Poodle picked up her first 2009 BIS. We figured she liked it because she took home another on Sunday. We know that it was old hat for breeder/owner/handler Dr. Joseph D. Vergnetti, the most successful Poodle breeder in history, but we bet he was a little pleased.

LOTS OF SHOWS

We have shows aplenty this week, in all seven regions, and 14 different locales. First for those weather weary sun seekers there are four day clusters in Puerto Rico and California starting tomorrow. We’ve never done the island dog show thing, but we’ve heard that it will make you forget how many zeroes are in the budget deficit. It all comes courtesy of the Caribe and Ponce Kennel Clubs in Bayamon PR Thursday through Sunday.

Puerto Rico

We have done the California dog show thing, many, many times, and it was always fun and sometimes downright delightful. This weekend it’s the Gold Rush Cluster in Merced where the prizes will more likely be silver and the dogs Golden Retrievers. It’s the Sierra-tuolumne and Yosemite Kennel Clubs hosting.

Yosemite

Because they offer us four shows in one place we will forgive the them for naming it the Cotton Pickin’ Oilpatch Cluster (You see, Texans, are real proud of their oil and cotton…never mind), but we hope the Concho and West Texas Kennel Clubs rethink that name for their Thursday to Sunday offering in Midland TX.

The Salina, Wichita, and Hutchinson Kennel Clubs are offering just three shows, but a much more charming name as the Sunflower Cluster kicks off Friday in Valley Center KS. Meanwhile, the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa Kennel Clubs opted out of silly cluster names altogether and are just extending an invitation for all to visit them Friday through Sunday in Columbiana AL.

Kansas Sunflowers

For those working five day weeks (lucky, you are) there are traditional weekend fare everywhere you turn. In Region One, there’s the Troy and Great Barrington KCs in West Springfield MA. In Region Two take your pick from the Piedmont KC in Charlotte NC or the Greater Orange Park Dog Club in Elkton FL. Region Three folks can visit the Saginaw Valley KC in Birch Run MI. Region Four has both the Kennel Club of Yorkville in De Kalb IL and the Indian Head KC in Eau Claire WI. There’s another Region Five show in Texas, in Crosby, courtesy of the San Jacinto KC. Region Six’s Timberland Valley Dog Fanciers holds their show in Centralia WA. Finally, Region Seven exhibitors can visit the Kachina Kennel Club show in Glendale AZ.

Chevy Suburban

So visit an AKC dog show this weekend. It may be one of your last chances to see a Chevy Suburban.

CLINTON IOWA CHECKS IN

We’ve just returned from the oral surgeon after a double extraction. We offer this information not in a search for sympathy, but as an explanation for drug induced errors that are sure to follow.

CH Cedar C Barnstorm’s L&D Edition

We now have your results from the Clinton Iowa Kennel Club’s double header. Lining up Saturday in Dewitt IA to see BIS judge Loraine Boutwell were the Gordon Setter, CH Firethorn & Sandpiper Easy On The Eyes, the Irish Wolfhound, CH Druick Rock Shellane Skylark JC, the Bullmastiff, CH Royal Allr’s Of Steelsaheart, the Norfolk Terrier, CH Max-Well’s Viper, the Pug, CH Tupelo Shoboat Tu China Tu, the Tibetan Terrier, CH Cedar C Barnstorm’s L&D Edition, and the Rough Collie, CH Highcroft Bourne Ultimatum.

It was the first BIS this year for the three year old Tibetan Terrier, who finished 2008 at the top of his breed with eight BIS to his credit. Congratulations to breeder/owner Donna Ogden, co-owners, Patricia Bernardo & Mary Lou Laffler, and handler Lynn R Meyer.

CH Max-Well’s Viper

On Sunday he, the Norfolk, and the Pug all tried again with judge Jane Roppolo. She also had the German Wirehaired Point, CH Ripsnorter Mt View Lookout, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Adili’s American Idol, the Samoyed, CH Polar Mist, X-Tasy, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, CH Tim Tam Avante Garde.

The scrappy little Norfolk turned three on Monday and what better way to celebrate a birthday than to win a Best In Show? He is the latest collaboration of handler Susan Kipp & breeder Barbara Miller. Barbara was the 2007 AKC Breeder of the Year and has produced over 100 champion Norfolks including ten BIS winners. Congratulations to Susan and Barbara.

BACK TO BACK PULI

We do have one late report in, from Sunday’s Claremore Kennel Club of Oklahoma, where judge Donald Booxbaum was making the call.

CH Cordmaker Field of Dreams

He assembled the Black Cocker Spaniel CH Exl's Leather-N Lace, the Afghan Hound, CH Symphony's Peacemaker JC, the Rottweiler, CH Nighthawk's Born For Highwood, the Skye Terrier, CH Solana Avant Garde, the Pomeranian, CH Pufpride Somewhere In Time, the French Bulldog, CH Raindrops Justus Lifes A Game, and Saturday’s BIS winner, the Puli, CH Cordmaker Field of Dreams.

Conrad, the Puli, became the weekend’s second back to back BIS winner, taking home BIS number nine. He is safely in the number three all breed spot for now. However, next weekend’s shows could change all that. We will have new rankings tomorrow.

THANK YOU SYRACUSE

The masses in Syracuse NY may be licking their wounds over their loss to Oklahoma, but we are licking our chops over the terrific weekend of show dogs just completed. Judge Michael Heflin closed out the weekend calling the Best In Show at the Onondaga Kennel Association show.

CH Efbe’s Merci Pour Le Poivre

Lining up for his consideration were the Labrador Retriever, CH Casbar's Hart To Hart, the 15" Beagle, CH Torquay's Midnight Confession, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton, the Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe’s Merci Pour Le Poivre, the Toy Poodle, CH Smash JP Moon Walk, the Standard Poodle, Afterglow Sugar Daddy, and the Bouvier des Flandres, CH Quiche's Demetrius.

It was just a matter of time before the Sealyham Terrier, Merci, picked up a BIS here in the US. He was Canada’s top dog before joining his more famous brother, CH Efbe’s Hidalgo At Goodspice, here in the US last year to stand in for the family at the 2008 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. Since taking the Terrier Group there he has been mostly on the sidelines while Charmin finished out his show career. However, since Charmin retired earlier this month, Merci has been consistently making final sevens. Congratulations to breeder Frances Bergeron and owner/handler Margery Good and co-owner San dra Middlebrooks.

BOOKENDS

We have one more set of results for you, from Newnan GA, where the Douglasville Kennel Club had Mrs Robert Smith judging Best In Show.

CH Bayleigh Shaireabs Super Hero

She had the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, CH Ches-shores Hurricane Hattie, the Whippet, CH Tattershall Ticket To Fly, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, CH Red Ferns Beau Derby, Saturday’s BIS winner, the Welsh Terrier, CH Bayleigh Shaireabs Super Hero, the Pug, CH Norkus' Risky Business, the Standard Poodle, Diablo Da Maya, and the Australian Shepherd, CH Mysharas Dream Girl.

The Welsh Terrier, Spyder, decided that BIS was so much fun that he would do it again, picking up the second bookend for the mantle. Well done!

Four clubs have yet to check in. We will be back with those results as soon as they are available.