Canadians impressed at Orlando!
The AKC National Championship returned to The Orange County Convention Centre in sunny Orlando, Florida on December 15
th and 16
th, 2018. The event showcased the top American and international canine athletes. The show also included popular attractions such as the Best Bred-by-Exhibitor competition, the AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals, AKC Meet the Breeds and the NADD/AKC Dock Diving National Championship. Returning this year was the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, which had a very successful inaugural competition last year. The show also took place alongside the AKC Agility Invitational and AKC Obedience Classic, both which had Junior events in each sport.
The AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin is the largest dog show in North America and, in its 18
th year drew a record number of entries. An entry of 5,003 dogs competed for the title of National Champion. Combined with the other weekend events, the overall show totals topped 9,023 entries, which made the AKC National Championship the largest dog show held in the United States since the AKC 1984 Centennial.
Although this is an American event, the show attracts such high quality dogs that it is not surprising that many Canadians and their dogs head south to compete in this great show. We had Canadian Kennel Club members competing in conformation, agility and dock diving both at the AKC National Championship and in the Orlando cluster of shows that were held the week leading up to the National Championship.
Here are some of the Canadian Dogs that did incredibly well in Orlando at the AKC National Championship.
Best of Breed Winners
Beagle
GCH Gwencalon’s Tam O’Shanter. Tam was bred and is owned by Kathleen and William Friend. He is shown by Doug Belter.
Miniature Smooth-Haired Dachshund
GCH Paradachs Wee Mr Grandgables. Gable is owned by JoAnne Griffith, Guy Jeavons, Mark Houston-McMillan. He was handled to this win by JoAnne Griffith.
Norwegian Elkhound
GCH Elgwood N Highpoint’s Summit. Cliff took Best Of Breed all four days he was in Orlando. Cliff was bred by Donna Weeks and is co-owned by Donna Weeks and Kathi Molloy.
Both the Beagle and Miniature Smooth-Haired Dachshund were pulled out in the final 9 dogs out of the 726 Hounds entered.
Miniature Schnauzer
GCH Destineez Wild Blue Yonder. This handsome boy was bred by Catherine McMillan and Terrie Houck. He is owned by Terrie Houck and Catherine Pendleton. George also took Group 2
nd which was the best showing of any Canadian-bred dog at the AKC National Championship!
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
CH Keepsake’s Raise Your Glass. Blaine was bred by Shari and Sydney Robinson and is co-owned with Cheryl Satherley. He was showed at the AKC National by Sydney Robinson and was pulled, part of the final 9. Very impressive for such a young dog in a very tough Terrier Group!
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
GCH Lackyle Bairille Dubailt. Stan was bred in America by James Byrnes. He has been a fixture at Canadian shows this year. He is owned by Emily Burdon and Robert Gilbert. Stan not only took Best of Breed but also placed 3
rd in Group. He is handled by Emily Burdon.
West Highland White Terrier
CH Skyehigh’s James Bay. This young dog won Best of Breed from the Open Dog Class. Hudson is owned and was co-bred by Lindy Barrow. He is handled in the U.S by Courtney Kniola.
Two Canadian dogs placed in the Top Four of the Terrier Group from a total of 624 Terriers!
Standard Poodle
CH Cabernet’s Mercury Rising. This gorgeous Standard Poodle is American. He was bred and is owned by Mary and Scott Olund, Rachel Corbin, and Christian Manelopoulous. Freddie won under Dr. John Reeve-Newson. Freddie was shown superbly by Canada’s Colton O’Shea.
Bouvier des Flandres
GCH Cornus One in a Row. Willie is co-owned by his co-breeders Frank and Corrine Dreyfus, Serge Bilodeau, Yvonne Savard. He was shown by handler CJ Favre.
Old English Sheepdog
GCH Bagatelle Rock and Moon Roll. Matteo was bred by Bernard and Joanne Charest and Linda Menard. He is owned by Bernard and Joanne Charest and Sandy Berretta. Matteo was shown by U.S. handler Cliff Steele and defeated America’s # 1 Dog All Breeds!
Norwegian Buhund
GCH Tsarshadow’s Ragnar Lodbrok. This handsome boy was bred and is owned by Dawne Deeley. He won Best of Breed all 3 days of the Orlando Cluster, as well as Bes Of Breed at the AKC National Championship and Specialty! He was handled by Doug Belter.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT AWARDS
Breeder, Owner, Handler Annette Dione of Alberta was awarded the Working Group in the National Owner Handler Series under Judge Mr. Clay Coady with her home-bred Siberian Husky GCH Nanook’s Alberta Clipper.
Judi Elford’s outstanding home-bred Samoyed CGH Vanderbilt ‘N Printemp’s Lucky Strike won the Working group at the Brevard Kennel Club Dog Show, which is a part of the Orlando Cluster preceding the AKC National Championship.
Canadian Bred Shih Tzu GCH Wenricks’ n’ Palaquin’s They Call Me Mr. Bates, co-owned by Wendy Paquette won Best of Breed each day during the Orlando Cluster.
The indefatigable and timeless American Eskimo, GCH Nuuktok’s Atka Inukshuk at 11 ½ years of age took Award of Merit at the AKC National Championship. Inuk is owned by Sharon Robertson and co-owned and handled as always by Graeme Burdon.
Although the entry deadline for the weekend portion of the event was missed, Canadian Dogue De Bordeaux, GCHB Chateau Rouge's Valentin, was chosen as the 2018 National Owner-Handled Series Champion during the Friday event. He is owned by Tracey, Peter & Sarah Muth and Cindy & Rene Wisman. In addition the Muth’s also won Select Dog in the three cluster shows with Valentin and Select Bitch in two of the shows with his sister GCHS Chateau Rouge's Vavava Voom, this year's Westminster BOB winner.
Standard Poodle CH Briarside TG All The Glitters took Best Bred By Exhibitor in Breed and BBE Group 3 at the AKC National Championship! Twink was bred by Dr. Michael Tipple and Allison Foley. She is handled by Allison Foley.
DOCK DIVING
North America Dock Diving Dogs held a competition and four Canadians participated in the event.
Megan Ferguson with Wilson, Stephanie Oosterhof with Zeus, Lisa Sun with Syx and Melissa Blazak with Ruby, who jumped 22.6 feet and took 2
nd in the Veterans Masters Competition.
OBEDIENCE
In the Novice Class, Marcia Caplan’s Golden Retriever Rideauview's Dawson So Bright CD MX MXJ MXF T2B totalled 321 points in the Individual Exercises.
AGILITY
Three Canadians competed in the AKC Agility Invitational: Suzanne Boldt and her Shetland Sheepdog Fable (Cassbar’s Kickstart My Heart); Annelle Hilton and her Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Arson (Foxgrove’s Ignite Your Soul), and Wendy Beard and her Belgium Sheepdog Tuula (The Swirling Tuula Du Josar).
Each dog was top in its breed, and Suzanne Boldt’s Fable was top in the Groups final round.
Team Small -Suzanne Boldt & Fable:
Results:
- Top 12” dog and best score of all dogs competing after 4 rounds of competition
- Top Herding dog of the competition
- Top International competitor
- 12” finalist
- 2nd place in the final, only to an 8” jumping dog scored with the 12” dogs for placement
“My Shetland Sheepdog, Fable, and I had the honour of being selected as the small dog to represent the CKC for the AKC Agility Invitational. We loved escaping the frozen tundra of Alberta to play our favourite game together in Orlando. The event was exceptionally run and it was an exhilarating experience stepping to the line each run with Fable. Without a doubt Fable rose to the challenge and ran masterfully all weekend.” Suzanne Boldt
Team Medium - Anneli Hilton & Arson:
Results:
-Clean and Third in T2B
- Clean and Third in JWW 1
- Clean and First in Standard
- Clean and Third in Hybrid 1
- Clean and Third in Standard 2
- Clean and Third in JWW2.
“Arson and I had an amazing weekend with a final placing of 36 out 139 dogs, a third place in both rounds one and four , a first place finish in round two, top sporting dog and top international dog recognition. As always, I am so appreciative of the CKC for allowing me the opportunity to represent the CKC and Canada at this amazing event. It is the perfect way to cap off our 2018 competition season!” Anneli Hilton
Team Large - Wendy Beard & Tuula:
Results:
-JWW Clean - 9th place
-Hybrid Clean - 2nd place
-JWW Clean - 5th place
-Overall top International dog in 24"
“I was very pleased how Tuula handled the environment and she ran her heart out for me! She earned top 10 placements in 3 of the 4 rounds. A mistake in our standard run on the first day meant that we were not in the running to make the Finals on Sunday, but she had shown me that she had the heart and the ability to work in such a high pressure environment. I am so proud of her.” Wendy Beard
Congratulations to all Canadian dogs and their people who did so well at the AKC National Championship. I would like to thank my friend Mike Macbeth for sending me so many of the Canadian brags at the event. If I have missed a brag, please let me know in the comments section below.