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What to Watch for at Westminster
The Non-Sporting Group

Evaluation of the Non-Sporting Group presents some problems for us. First, there was only one Non-Sporting Dog among the 2008 top twenty. Now that does not mean that there were not quality dogs aplenty. It simply means that they were not as visible as some of the other top dogs. First the Non-Sporting Group is the smallest of the groups, with 18 breeds (We are counting the Poodles separately). Second, few, if any, of the Non-Sporting dogs campaigned outside their own region.

CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation

Even the 2008, number one Non-Sporting Dog, the number four dog over all, the Standard Poodle, CH Randenn Tristar Affirmation, pretty much spent 2008 close to her home in Washington state, rarely leaving the West Coast. However, she made the most of it winning 48 BIS in 2008. “Yes” ended the year by winning her group at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. In her first outing this year she went three for three, winning BIS all three days in Puyallup WA. Yes was bred by Dennis McCoy, Randy Garren, & Joe & Joan Lacey, is owned by Toni & Martin Sosnoff, and is handled by Timothy Brazier.

Last year’s Westminster Non-Sporting Group Three winner has a daughter that just hit the show circuit, the Bichon Frise, CH Paray Rime Time. “Sloan” started off her 2009 campaign with a bang winning the group at the US’ largest show, the Palm Spring KC. She then thrilled the crowds at the giant Portland shows by winning one of the four Non-Sporting Groups and placing in the other three. Since then she has won the group at both shows she entered. “Sloan” was bred by Deb Wentz, is owned by Laura Rosio & Dr Martin Winston, and is handled by Raymond (Tray) Pittman.

CH Hillwood Dassin De Lovely

We will be watching the Standard Poodle breed judging closely as the four most famous names in Poodles field their latest entry, the Standard, CH Hillwood Dassin De Lovely. The three and half year old bitch completed 2008 with eight BIS and 35 Group firsts and, in a textbook illustration of momentum, has won ten of the last eleven groups she has entered. Breeder/owner/handler Dr. Joseph D. Vergnetti of Medina, OH, co-owns the country’s number two Standard Poodle with Ellen Charles, Karen LeFrak and Wendell Sammet. Dr. Vergnetti is the top champion-producing Poodle breeder of all time.

CH Player’s Protocol,

Another second generation Westminster entry is the Tibetan Terrier, CH Player’s Protocol, whose father was the breed winner in 2008. The three year old bitch won one BIS in 2008 and 30 Group Firsts and a very impressive Group 4 at the National Championship. This year she has won four Group Ones in five outings. She was bred by David Murray & Laurel MacMinn, is owned by DavidMurray & Louis Krokover, and is handled by David. Krokover was a consultant for the film, “Best In Show”, coaching the actors on how to be believable show dog handlers.

Next, the Herding Group