IRISH SETTER BIS IN WASHINGTON

CH Chamberlaynes Mutiny O' Captiva
(photo by Austin Ojanen)

Our second West Cost offering is in the Pacific Northwest in Moses Lake WA where the Ephrata-Moses Lake Kennel Club is set up for two days. Their Saturday final was in the hands of judge Debra Long Gschwender. 

The seven dogs asking for her consideration were the Irish Setter, CH Chamberlaynes Mutiny O' Captiva, the Afghan Hound, GCH CH Polo's Air Force One, the Akita, GCH CH Mojo's Continuation Of A Myth, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Raybills Yesireebob, the Pug, GCH CH Prima Lucca Wishing On A Shoboat Tu, the Keeshond, GCH CH Cedarhills First Harvest-Quincy, and the Belgian Tervuren, GCH CH Sky Acres Maximum Altitude. 

GCH CH Cedarhills First Harvest-Quincy 

The two who succeeded were the Irish Setter, Colin, and the Keeshond, Sydney.  It’s the first for Colin and handler Christy Marley. Congratulations to Christy, breeder/owner Craig C Cooper, and owner Jillian Taylor.

OES BIS IN SACRAMENTO

GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect 

Bolstered by two all Terrier limited breed shows, the Sacramento (CA) Kennel Club’s two shows this weekend drew dogs from across the US hoping to get a share of the big numbers. The dog that took the points on Saturday was the nation’s Number One Herding Dog, the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect. 

GCH CH Shaireab's Bayleigh Maid Of Honor 

(photo by Gay Glazbrook)

Challenging Swagger for the big payday were the Clumber Spaniel, GCH CH Clussexx Over The Legal Limit, the Basset Hound, GCH CH Topsfield-Sanchu Eenie Meenie Miney Moe, the Boxer, CH R And G N Hunter Creeks Mystical Attraction, BIS judge Rita Holloway’s RBIS, the Welsh Terrier, GCH CH Shaireab's Bayleigh Maid Of Honor, the Maltese, CH P-Birdie Of Princess MTS, and the French , GCH CH LeBull's El Morocco At LeCirque. 

On Friday Swagger and breeder/owner/handler Colton Johnson picked up their 41st Herding Group at the limited breed Northern California Herding Dog Association. Saturday’s BIS, Swagger’s 20th of the year, puts him 1354 points closer to a Number One All Breeds ranking.

CHIHUAHUA BIS IN RHODE ISLAND

GCH CH Sonnus Filho (Sanchez) 

Our New England offering this weekend is the Rhode Island Kennel Club’s two shows in Warwick RI. Judge Sonny Ambrosio chose his BIS & RBIS from a seven that included the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Cerise Sentinel, the Saluki, GCH CH Takara The Time Is Now, the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Cnsand Ardanwood Whitewash The Fence For Me, the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH Lil'Itch Pretty Woman At Foxwatch, the Smooth Cot Chihuahua, GCH CH Sonnus Filho (Sanchez) , the Dalmatian, GCH CH Erin's I'M Your Man, and the Bearded Collie, GCH CH Classical’s It’s My Turn. 

GCH CH Erin's I'M Your Man 

His top two were the Chihuahua, Sonnito, and the Dalmatian, Colin. Sonnito is currently the Number Four Toy Dog with seven BIS and 13 Toy Groups.

MASTIFF BIS IN OKLAHOMA

GCH CH Willow Ridge Risky Business 

The third Friday all breed show could be found in Grove OK where the Bartlesville Kennel Club was hosting their second show of the four day stop. Judge Anne Bolus considered the Welsh Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Trystyn Statesman Cactus Blue, the Whippet, CH Bretica’s Gotcha By The Jewel, the Mastiff, GCH CH Willow Ridge Risky Business, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Fire Creek Stella Luna, the Brussels Griffon, GCH CH Fist Face A Penny For Your Thought, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Dawin Hearts on Fire, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Aubrey Moon River. 

GCH CH Fist Face A Penny For Your Thought 

Her Best In Show was the biggest among them, the Mastiff, Kruz, and the her Reserve was the smallest, the Griff, Penny. It’s a tough year for Working Dogs, but Kruz has managed to collect five BIS and 17 Working Groups this year, good enough to make him the Number Two Working Dog. Check back with us mid-week and we will let you know if Kruz has climbed back into the Top Ten All Breeds.

PWD BACK2BACK BIS

GCH CH Claircreek’s Impression de Matisse 

(photo by Jeffrey Hanlin)

Over 2000 dogs gathered in Perry GA for yesterday’s Valdosta Kennel Club show. Judge Marjorie Martorella chose her top two from the English Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Fieldstone Carousel Hell's Kitchen, the 15” Beagle, GCH CH Tashtins Lookin For Trouble, the Bloodhound, GCH CH Flessner's International S'Cess, the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Claircreek’s Impression de Matisse, the Skye Terrier, CH Cragsmoor Good Time Charlie, the Pekingese, CH Pequest General Tso, the Bichon Frise, GCH CH Saks Winning Card, and the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V Kenlyn. 

Picking up his second BIS was the PWD, Matisse. Collecting the RBIS was the Peke, General Tso. The win, Matisse’s 34th BIS in 46 final appearances this year, will give him a 7,500 point lead over the Number Two Dog and more than 32,000 points on the Number Three Dog, just one third through the season.

MINPIN BACK2BACK BIS

GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare 

(photo by Rhonda Cassidy)

The Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare, continued her record setting season pace collecting her 132^nd career BIS yesterday’s Lebanon  Kennel Club show in Harrisburg PA.

GCH CH  Unique Da Maya Dancing Queen

Classie and owner/handler Armando Angelbello were joined in judge Terry Berrios’ final by the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Telltale American Ride, the Whippet, GCH CH Sporting Fields Shameless, the Alaskan Malamute, CH Tugars Taking On Tyson, the Norfolk Terrier, GCH CH Yarrow Venerie Ticket To Ride, the RBIS, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH  Unique Da Maya Dancing Queen, and the Australian Shepherd, GCH CH Collinswood Sparks Fly.

The back2back BIS will make the winningest Toy Dog ever 2014’s Number One Toy Dog with 14 BIS and 32 Toy Groups this year.

THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED DAYS

Six years into writing this blog, we are more encouraged than ever about the state of our sport.  This year is turning out to be one of the most remarkable in recent memory.  We thought that we would give you a status report on the show season’s first 100 days.   

Already this year we have seen two major records broken.  First the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Clair Creek’s Impression de Matisse, set a new record for career BIS won by a Working Dog.  To date, Matisse has gathered 127 all-breed titles.   The Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare, followed, establishing a record for Toy Dogs with 130 Bests In Show.

Much of our focus this year has been on the remarkable race between Matisse, our current Number One Dog, and the Number Two Dog, the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect.  The two have given us a dazzling display of showmanship this year, racking up BIS at a rate unprecedented in out tenure.  Matisse has been awarded the big rosette 32 of the 44 times he has stepped into the final ring.  The OES, Swagger, started his career in 2013 by taking the very first Reserve Best In Show offered by the Westminster Kennel Club.  This year Swagger leads our “With RBIS” rankings with a record of 19 BIS, nine RBIS, and 40 Herding Groups.

The above chart shows the Top Twenty Dogs All Breeds as of 07 April 2014.   As much fun as it is watching our Top two Dogs, the most satisfying thing we have witnessed this year is the overall level of competition.  A look at the above chart shows that the balance of our Top Twenty are incredibly close to one another, with only a few points separating each dog from the dog in front of him and her.  At this point in the season less than 1000 points separate the Number Ten Dog, the  English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Telltale American Ride , and the Number Twenty Dog, the Chinese Shar-Pei, GCH CH Shine’s Deck the Halls.   While the Working and Herding Group leaders may be difficult to catch, we expect the rest of the groups to be highly competitive throughout the year.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the call names of our current Top Twenty Dogs, we provide the below crib sheet.  

CORGI GETS FIRST IN OKLAHOMA

GCH CH Coventry Just a Little Crush 

Our remaining Thursday report comes in from Grove OK where the Bartlesville Kennel Club had the day one spot for the Grand Lake Cluster. Thursday’s finalists were the Welsh Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Trystyn Statesman Cactus Blue, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, CH Raviro Chiposhi Remington Rimfire, the Mastiff, GCH CH Willow Ridge Risky Business, the Smooth Fox Terrier, CH Fire Creek Stella Luna, the Brussels Griffon, GCH CH Fist Face A Penny For Your Thought, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Dawin Hearts on Fire, and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, GCH CH Coventry Just a Little Crush. 

GCH CH Willow Ridge Risky Business 

Judge Don Duerksen’s BIS was the Corgi, Etta. His RBIS was the Mastiff, Kruz. It was the first BIS in ten final appearances this year for Etta. Congratulations to breeders/owners Bill Shelton, Steve Leyerly & Beckie Williams, co-breeder Kerry Kirtley, owners Jim & Judy Johnson, and handler Michael Shepherd.

NUMBER ONE BIS IN GEORGIA

GCH CH Claircreek’s Impression de Matisse 

 (Photo by Rhonda Cassidy) 

Thursday’s Valdosta Kennel Club show in Perry GA drew over 1700 dogs, including many of our top ranked contenders. The seven that saw BIS judge Terry Stacy were the English Setter, GCH CH Stargaze'R 'N Wingfield Wait Wait Don'T Tell, the Bloodhound, GCH CH Flessner's International S'Cess, the Portuguese Water Dog, GCH CH Claircreek’s Impression de Matisse, the Skye Terrier, GCH CH Cragsmoor Good time Charlie, the Pekingese, GCH CH Pequest General Tsao, the Dalmatian, GCH CH Spotted Bliss Oreo Delight, and the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V Kenlyn. 

GCH CH Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V Kenlyn 

Judge Stacy’s BIS was the Portie, Matisse, and his RBIS, was the GSD, Rumor. Matisse is the nation’s Number One Dog All Breeds with 33 BIS in 45 trips to the final ring this year.

MINPIN OPENS HARRISBURG

GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare 

We are back at our keyboard this morning, reviewing Thursday’s results and they are impressive. First we go to Harrisburg PA where the geographically confused South Jersey Kennel Club opened the four day set. 

GCH CH Tells Matrix Reloaded 

(photo by Gay Glazbrook)

Judge James Noe had the day one final and his pick of the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Telltale American Ride, the Afghan Hound, GCH CH Tells Matrix Reloaded, the Alaskan Malamute, GCH CH Samaljankan’s I’m the One at Nyrakym, the Sealyham Terrier, GCH CH Efbe’s Thunder Rd at Burberry, the Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Marlex Classic Red Glare, the Tibetan Terrier, CH Aurora’s Welcome to the Jungle, and the Australian Shepherd, GCH CH Collinswood Sparks Fly. 

Best went to the winningest Toy Dog of all time, the MinPin, Classie. Reserve went to the Afghan, Matrix. The win gives Classie 131 career BIS, including 13 BIS in 31 final appearances this year.