MICHIGAN FINALISTS

We now have the names of all the finalists from yesterday’s Ingham County Kennel Club show in East Lansing MI.

CH Lehigh Darkwynd Enella

In addition to BIS winner, the Bouvier des Flandres, CH Avalon Frontier Sleepnlady Webber, Rick Gschwender saw the English Setter, CH Kaska’s Capture The Moment, the Scottish Deerhound, CH Lehigh Darkwynd Enella, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Ravenswood Bluemoon Rising, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice, the Blenheim & Prince Charles English Toy Spaniel, CH Loujons Backroads To Paris, and the Boston Terrier, CH Annalee Told Ya So.

Congratulations to them all.

2 MORE BIS 2 REPORT

CH Avalon Frontier Sleepnlady Webber

We have two BIS winners to report. It’s a long way from Sacramento CA to East Lansing MI, but it was worth the trip for the nation’s number one Bouvier des Flandres, CH Avalon Frontier Sleepnlady Webber, who picked up the top prize at today’s Ingham Country Kennel Club show. That’s Webber’s tenth BIS this year.

CH Abbedale Take Two At Taliesen
(Photo by Derek Glas)

Meanwhile, the Norwich Terrier, CH Abbedale's Take Two at Taliesin, was picking up his second BIS this year, both coming this month. It happened today in Kankakee IL where the Kankakee River Valley Kennel Club hosted the first of their two shows this weekend.

HERDING DOG RACE

Arcadia FL may not be everyone’s Thanksgiving tradition, but for Jon Cole’s seven lucky finalists today’s Greater Vencie Dog Club show seemed the perfect destination.

CH Sylvan Argent Simply Irresistible

They were the German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Ripsnorter Mt View Lookout, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Adili’s American Idol, the Siberian Husky, CH Topaz T.R.O.U.B.L.E., the Border Terrier, CH Standish’s Total Knockout, the Papillion, CH Queen Bless Jp World Idol, the Cow Chow, CH Kelin’s There Can Only Be One, and the Rough Collie, CH Sylvan Argent Simply Irresistible.

It was another BIS for the red hot collie, Sax, her second in the last week. That makes Sax the number three Herding Dog and puts her on the heels of the number two.

OUR KIND OF ROAD SHOW

We are back at our keyboard after a family forced separation to take in the Rockettes Christmas road show. It’s a Christmas tradition like your Aunt Tillie’s fruitcake and just about as cloyingly sweet and palatable, but the family loved it and it will earn me enough good will for a couple of my kind of road shows, the ones sponsored by AKC.

CH Kridler's Nutmeg V Signature

And just such a show was today’s Savannah Kennel Club show. Frank Sabella cast his expert eye on the English Springer Spaniel, CH Tiffany Esspecial Oimagery, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, CH Rokeena Carte Blanche, the Boxer, CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Dream, the West Highland White Terrier, CH Mac-Ken-Cahr’s Here I Am, the Italian Greyhound, CH Bo-Bett’s Open Button, the Keeshond, CH Trumpet’s Shoot To Thrill, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Kridler's Nutmeg V Signature.

It was the GSD, Meg, picking up her second BIS this month. Just two weeks ago we predicted we would be seeing this girl picking up another big rosette soon. We just didn’t know how soon it would be.

DAY ONE IN YUMA

Paula Nykiel did our BIS yesterday on day one of four in Yuma AZ with the hometown Yuma Kennel Club hosting.

CH Duba Dae’s Who’s Your Daddy
(Photo Courtesy of Carol Beuchat)

Her finalists were the Golden Retriever, CH Toasty‘s Treasure Island, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, CH Afterglow Ebenezer, the Boxer, CH Duba Dae’s Who’s Your Daddy, the Lakeland Terrier, CH Tuscaroran Champ Luna, the Papillion, CH Arkeno’s Ear’s To You, the Dalmatian, CH Nspir D Spotsafire Its A Wrap, and the Shetland Sheepdog, Sansdcastle Demanding Mandy.

It was the impressive Boxer, Bosco, the country’s number six Working Dog, picking up his seventh BIS this year. Bosco has been threatening the top 25 for a while. This weekend may make him one of them.

SCRAMBLING IN SAVANNAH

We have our first results of the weekend in. From the genteel south, we have word of a most genteel winner, the Toy Poodle, CH Smash Jp Moon Walk.

CH Smash Jp Moon Walk

(Photo by Miguel Betancourt)

Dr Lee Anthony Reasin had a look at the Labrador Retriever, CH Salty Dog Of Tampa Bay, the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, the Boxer, CH Winfall Brookwood Styled Drea, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Kemosabe Broxden high Button Shoes, the Bichon Frise, CH Bodacious In Enemy Territory, and the Shetland Sheepdog, CH Suntera City Life, before going with the nation’s number one Toy Dog.

The Boxer, Scarlet, the PBGV, CeeJay, and the Poodle, Walker, are the US’ fifth, sixth, & seventh dogs all breed, respectively. That could all change by the end of this weekend. Makes it kind of exciting, huh?

SHOP OR SHOW?

This week is one of those abbreviated show weeks. Even hardcore dog show folks normally take a break to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with their non-fancier relatives and friends. While many will be lined up at the mall or your local electronics super store today, true doggy folk will head for the show grounds.

Forsyth Park Fountain in Savannah Georgia

This week we have but two four show sites, on opposite sides of the country. The first is in one of my favorite southern cities. No place evokes graciousness more than Savannah, Georgia. Even if you are not a fan of Paula Deen or Johnny Mercer (and you should be) you will love Savannah. The Beaufort & Savannah Kennel Clubs will be set up Friday through Monday. The second city giving us four days of shows is Yuma, Arizona. The quintessential old west town is good for your allergies and you Tequila habit. Also running Friday through Monday, the Yuma & Imperial Valley Kennel Clubs are hosting.

Yuma Arizona Wildflowers

Our five remaining shows are all Saturday/Sunday offerings evenly distributed across the country, from Fitchburg MA (the Worcester County Kennel Club) to Arcadia FL (the Greater Venice Florida Dog Club) to East Lansing MI (the Ingham County Kennel Club) to Kankakee IL (the Kankakee River Valley Kennel Club) to Conroe TX (the Conroe Kennel Club).

So while some may want to spend the weekend looking for a battery operated hamster (ask you nephew) or a discounted flat screen TV, true believers will be out there enjoying the sublime beauty AKC purebred dogs.

HAPPY THANSKGIVING!

Before we put the turkey in the oven and steel ourselves for the onslaught of relatives, here’s a few details to hold you over to our return on Friday.

CH Penndragon Masaniello

First, we owe you the rest of the results from Monday’s San Joaquiin Kennel Club show in Stockton CA. In addition to the previously reported BIS winner, Golden Retriever, CH Toasty’s Treasure Island, and finalist Alaskan Malamute, CH Catanya’s Latin Lover, judge Pluis Davern saw the Saluki, CH Carmas Indian Summer, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundown Mercedes Of Maryscot, the Brussels Griffon, CH Cashin's Walk The Line, the Standard Poodle, CH Penndragon Masaniello, and the Bearded Collie, CH Brigadoon Daybar Believe It Or Not.

In our continuing effort to bring you the results of National Specialties, we have this from Kansas City MO where the Bulldog Club of America held their 2009 National Specialty yesterday. Breeder Judge Darlene Stuedemann had a magnificent entry of 542 (bigger than some all breed BIS shows these days) with a Best Of Breed entry of 80 (more specials than most BIS winners face in any show).

CH Legacy Empress Of The Copa

Her BISS was CH Legacy Empress Of The Copa. That give Empress bragging rights as the number one Bulldog in the US (based on breed points). Congratulations to breeder Mathew Bonner, owner/breeder Kelly Coppen, and owner/handler Jay Serion, on a very impressive win.

Don't forget to watch the National Dog Show presented by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and Purina on NBC. And don't forget to give thanks to those lovebale dogs that make our lives so rich. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

MONDAY IN STOCKTON

CH Toasty's Treasure Island.

We’ve been stalling all day hoping we could get you more on yesterday’s San Joaquin Kennel Club show in Stockton CA, but here’s what we know. The Golden Retriever, CH Toasty’s Treasure Island took home the weekend’s last big rosette courtesy of Ms Pluis Davern. We do know that Saturday’s top dog, the Alaskan Malamute, CH Catanya’s Latin Lover, was among the finalists.

Treasure is the country's number one Golden Retriever, number one Sporting Dog, and number four dog all breeds. We hear this was her 30th career BIS. Congratulations to breeders/owners Pamela & Jerome Oxenberg, co-owners Carolee Douglas & Jane Bares, and handler Clint Livingston.

COLLIE DOUBLE DOWN

We don’t remember the last time this happened, two dogs of the same breed/variety winning BIS on the same weekend in the same location. It happened this weekend in Belton TX and the Cen-Tex Kennel Club gave us two shows.

CH Diamante's Little Red Corvette

Saturday’s BIS judge was Ralph (Sonny) Ambrosio. His seven candidates were the Weimaraner, CH Harline Win'Weim It's My 2nd Martini, the Greyhound, CH Quicksilver's Sierra's Jaguar, the Boxer, CH Bravo N Sunset Stealing Time, the Lakeland Terrier, CH Hi-Kel Terrydale Soldier Of Fortune, the Papillon, CH Queen Bless JP World Idol, the Rough Collie, CH Diamante's Little Red Corvette. His choice for the Best In Show was the Collie, Trevor. It’s Trevor’s first Group win this year and first BIS this year. Congratulations to breeder/owner Rebecca Myers-Barth and co-owner Alice Inman.

CH Sylvan Argent Simply Irresistible

Sunday Carolyn B. McKenna saw another Rough Collie, the nation’s number one Collie and. with this win, the number three Herding Dog, CH Sylvan Argent Simply Irresistible, and made that collie her BIS. Wondering who declared Texas Collie country were the aforementioned Weimaraner, the Whippet, CH Starline Chanel, the Akita, CH Buckridge's Showtime Celebri Te, the above named Lakeland, the Shih Tzu, CH Symarun's Look N Good, and the Lhasa Apso, CH Rushmar's Charmer. That’s her twelfth this year and 16th career BIS.