DAY ONE IN PHOENIX

The nation‘s capitol may be facing Snowmageddon, but the exhibitors in Phoenix are looking forward to four day’s of Arizona sunshine. The Sahuaro State Kennel Club opened the set today in Phoenix with Michelle Billings doing the first final.

CH Duba Dae‘s Who‘s Your Daddy

She had her choice of the Labrador Retriever, CH Salty Dog Of Tampa Bay, the Whippet, CH Starline Chanel, the Boxer, CH Duba Dae‘s Who‘s Your Daddy, the Wire Fox Terrier, CH Purston Spitfire Of Foxxfyre, the Affenpinscher, CH Tamarin Tug, the Standard Poodle, CH Penndragon Masaniello, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Enchanted's American Thunder.

Her Best was the Boxer, Bosco. Bosco and handler Wendy Bettis will go into the Garden as the number one Working Dog in the US a top five dog all breeds.

BLIZZARD ON THE BOARDWALK?

CH Fleet St Fenway Fan

Wildwood NJ is bracing for a blizzard on the boardwalk, but our five day cluster continues uninterrupted. Robert Clyde took over BIS duty and saw our current number one dog all breeds, the Irish Setter, CH Shadagee Caught Red Handed, the Scottish Deerhound, CH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, the Standard Schnauzer, CH County Clare’s Jewel of Beauty, the Irish Terrier, CH Fleet St Fenway Fan, the Toy Poodle, CH Smash Jp Moon Walk, winner of the two previous days, the Bulldog, CH Kepley’s Showbiz Razzle Dazzle, and the German Shepherd Dog, CH Shoal Creek’s Sangria V Barick.

Her BIS was 2009’s number one Irish Terrier, Fenn. Fenn and breeder/handler RC Carusi finished last year with six all breed Bests and 49 Terrier Group Firsts. Congratulations to RC, co-breeders Shari Boyd-Carusi & Stan Wodjewodski and owners Tony Barker & Victori Malzoni Jr.

BULLDOG BACK2BACK BIS ON THE BOARDWALK

CH Kepley’s Showbiz Razzle Dazzle

It was BACK2BACK BIS for the Bulldog, CH Kepley’s Showbiz Razzle Dazzle, on the boardwalk on day two in Wildwood NJ and at the first of the Sand and Sea Kennel Club’s two events.

Also in Christine E. Pollender-Calcinari’s final were repeat finalists, the German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Ripsnorter’s Mt View Lookout, the Scottish Deerhound, CH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton, & the Bearded Collie, CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins, along with the Irish Terrier, CH Fleet St Fenway Fan, and the Toy Poodle, CH Smash Jp Moon Walk.

The US’ number one dog, the Irish Setter, CH Shadagee Caught Red Handed, finished with a Group Two, while the country’s number two dog, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice, was bested in the breed by CH Foslorr Double Dare, who finished with a Group Three. We did tell you that this cluster would be full of surprises.

BULLDOG ON THE BOARDWALK

The Atlantic Ocean Classic cluster opened today at the Wildwoods Convention Center on the boardwalk. As impressive as the setting was, all eyes were on Carl Gomes’ final lineup at today’s Union County Kennel Club show.

CH Kepley’s Showbiz Razzle Dazzle

They were the German Wirehaired Pointer, CH Ripsnorter’s Mt View Lookout, (who had to get past the number one dog in the US, the Irish Setter, CH Shadagee Caught Red Handed, to join the last seven,) the Scottish Deerhound, CH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Allure Blazing Star Alisaton, the country’s current number two dog, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH J’Cobe Kemosabe Vigilante Justice, the Italian Greyhound, CH Homore’s Lily-Belle, the Bulldog, CH Kepley’s Showbiz Razzle Dazzle, and the Bearded Collie, CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins.

Day one went to the perfectly balanced Bulldog bitch, Uli. It’s the second all breed BIS this year for 2009’s top Non-Sporting dog. A quick look at the catalog reveals an entry chockablock full of BIS winners. Do expect lots of excitement before the week is over.

MUST SEE TV

You haven’t even paid off the credit card bill yet, but you can relive your weekend at AKC’s premier event, the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, held in Long Beach CA this past December 12th & 13th. Everyone pulled out all the stops for the
AKC’s 125th birthday celebration. Catch the taped broadcast premier on Animal Planet this Saturday, February 6th, from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM EST. And if you happen to miss the initial broadcast, don’t fret, you can catch one of the eight repeat broadcast visit the AKC online for all the show times. And if you can’t wait until then, revisit our own inimitable coverage.

THE CLUSTERS ARE COMING

Our retro weekend is done and we have replaced the eight tracks with the iPod to get ready for a dog show weekend in the 21st century.

Saguaro Cactus near Phoenix AZ

After a weekend of only two day shows, we will be awash in clusters again this week. We will start on tomorrow, Wednesday, in Wildwood NJ with the Union County Kennel Club and continue for four more days with double headers by the Sand And Sea Kennel Club & Boardwalk Kennel Club. The action kicks off in Hotlanta on Thursday with a round of specialties, followed by three all breed shows hosted by the Sawnee Mountain Kennel Club Of Georgia, Conyers Kennel Club Of Georgia, & Lawrenceville Kennel Club. Friday, the Sahuaro State Kennel Club & Lost Dutchman Kennel Club will launch their four day weekend in Phoenix AZ.

The Pony Express Began in St Joseph MO

There are plenty of two day offerings as well. Try two with the St Joseph Kennel Club in St Joseph MO or with the Southeast Arkansas Kennel Club in Pine Bluff AR or with the Hobbs New Mexico Kennel Club in, where else, Hobbs NM or with the Sun Maid Kennel Club Of Fresno in Fresno CA. Whether you spend five days, two days, or just an afternoon, we promise you that time spent at an AKC dog show is time well spent.

GRAYSLAKE RESULTS

We now have the results from this past weekend’s Park Shore Kennel Club & Chain O'Lakes Kennel Club shows.

CH Jaset's Satisfaction

Dennis McCoy had the judge’s book on Saturday and the choice of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, CH Sandbar's Stock Exxchange, the American Foxhound, CH Devlon's Fame And Fortune, the Samoyed, CH Polar Mist War Admiral, the Norfolk Terrier, CH Max-Well's Violet, the Pomeranian, CH Lana's American Icon, the Standard Poodle, CH Jaset's Satisfaction, the Old English Sheepdog, CH Lambluv Gambolon Blue Thunder. He went with the big Poodle, London, who picks up his second Best this year. Guess which breed/variety has won the most BIS so far this year?

CH Sandbar's Stock Exxchange

On Sunday Randy Garren saw London, the same Chesapeake, Samoyed, & OES, the Afghan Hound, CH Majic Whatever I Want, the Border Terrier, CH Tyrolian Eight Belles At Meadowlake, and the Brussels Griffon, CH Knolland's Little Devon O' Luna. His BIS was the Chesapeake, Molson, 2009’s top winning Chesapeak, with seven Sporting Group top awards. Congratulations to breeders Diane K. Baker & Caroline Woods and owners Diane Baker, Fred Konrad & G & A & L Gearhart.

ORANGE EMPIRE DOG CLUB

Compared to the rest of the US, San Bernardino CA seems balmy, but just about everything about in Southern California is and the dogs are glorious.

CH Lugari Holdiay Rocco

We did tell you that the jaw dropping Tibetan Mastiff, CH Seng Khri Bartok Of Dawa, was Desmond Murphy’s Best In Show at Saturday’s Orange Empire Dog Club show. We didn’t tell you that he could have chosen the Golden Retriever, Eldorado Promises D’Best H3X, the Bloodhound, CH Quiet Creek’s Windfall, the Smooth Fox Terrier, Sunlyn Living Legend, the Smooth Chihuahua, CH Lugari Holdiay Rocco, the Miniature Poodle, CH Durandell Fashionista, and the Bouvier des Flandres, CH Avalon Frontier Sleepnlady Webber, but he didn’t.

CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot

Sunday, we saw the return of 2009’s number one dog all breeds, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot, as she accepted the BIS from Dorothy Collier. Welcoming Sadie back to the ring were the Irish Setter, CH Greengate Buzz Lightyear, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Oiakhurst Fruit Of The Vine, the Boxer, CH R And G’s Mystical Dancer, the Chinese Crested Whispering Ln’ ChasingThatSensation, the Schipperke, CH Bonchien Mr. Monopoly, and the aforementioned Bouvier.

In case you have forgotten, Sadie & handler Gabriel Rangel finished last year with 79 all breed Bests, 138 Terrier Group top prizes, & 122,426 dogs defeated. Congratulations to Gabriel, breeders Mary O’Neal & Anstamm Kennels (Miriam "Buffy" Stamm and Cindy Cooke), and owner Amelia Musser.

FIRST TIMER AT GOLDEN GATE KC

Thomas Wolfe said you can’t go home again, but every January we sure wish we were back at the Cow Palace for the Golden Gate Kennel Club’s annual party.

CH Mybliss Petite Coquette

We gave you Saturday’s results earlier. Sunday it was Dr Klaus Anselm with the Vizsla, CH Jen Penny’s Matra Baci’s Boogie Fever, the Irish Wolfhound, CH Cash Of Limerick, Saturday’s BIS winner the Boxer, CH Duba Dae's Who's Your Daddy, the Miniature Schnauzer, CH Regancy’s I Believe In Magic, the Maltese, CH Richelieu's Sugar Rush, the Bichon Frise, CH Mybliss Petite Coquette, and the Australian Cattle Dog, Dazzle's Wham Bam Thank You Mam.

With 19 Non-Sporting Group Firsts in 2009, this girl has been knocking on the door for a while and we are delighted to see the Bichon pick up her first all breed Best In Show. Congratulations to breeder/owner Myra Wotton, co-owners Loretta McDonald & Carolee Boele, and handler Bill McFadden.

HOUSEKEEPING IN ABILENE

Next it is house keeping in Abilene TX for the Abilene Kennel Club‘s two weekend shows. We gave you a complete report on Sunday’s happenings and the BIS winner for Saturday’s event’s. We won’t recap here, but will encourage to scroll through the prior reports to find them. Come on it’s Monday, you can use the exercise.

CH Sylvan Argent Simply Irresistible

Here’s the finalists from Saturday we have not yet recognized, the Labrador Retriever, CH Gingerbred Bacchus' Journey, the Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen, CH Afterglow Ebeneezer, the Rottweiler, CH Briaroaks Caliente V Barste TT, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, CH Mondrian V H Lamslag RE, the Standard Poodle, CH Hanna's Dam Inge Fair Sun, and the Rough Collie, CH Sylvan Argent Simply Irresistible.