It’s A Small World After All

The wailing toddlers, foot-stomping kindergarteners, eye-rolling preteens, all accompanied by parents in various stages of caffeinated stress. The crushed Cheerios underfoot, the red-bow-topped Minnie backpacks, the juice-spurting sippy cups …

Welcome aboard your average Orlando-bound flight in the holiday season, a melee of chaos and expectancy, as multiple generations strap themselves in on their much-anticipated journey to The House of The Mouse.

Squeezing in amid this mid-December crush of human breeders and their offspring are their dog-show counterparts. They, too, have various levels of experience with this bucket-list destination — some first timers, others old hands. But all have opted to freeze-frame their lives in the most hectic month of the year, delaying the tinsel-hanging and cookie-baking to head to (theoretically) balmy Florida for the AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin.

Just as Uncle Walt knew if he would build it, they would come, so too has the American Kennel Club shrewdly positioned its two-day namesake show, both literally and figuratively.

On balance, Orlando is a more appealing locale than Long Beach, California, where AKC unveiled its flagship show way back in 2001, shuttling between coasts until permanently settling in its Florida outpost in 2011.

Though West Coasters likely disagree — as the show is astronomically far for them — Florida was arguably a more affordable option for exhibitors, and more easily accessed via a manageably sized international airport. The sheer number of restaurants within a 15-minute radius of the show site satisfies all tastes and budgets. (Based on this year’s culinary excursions, I can heartily recommend The Pub, not just for its award-winning fish and chips, but also its kilted waiters.) Being the nation’s prototypical resort town, Orlando offers a dizzying variety and number of accommodations, including the nearby Vista Cay townhouses — an affordable and no-fuss option for handlers travelling with a truckful of dogs. And the sprawling Orange County Convention Center permits the AKC to utilize enough square footage to cover some 200 regulation-size basketball courts.

This year, a gnawing concern for exhibitors and executives alike was the mysterious respiratory disease that had been gaining both traction and headlines across the country. Just like the AKC’s decision to hold its 2020 show — successfully — in the thick of the Covid pandemic with mandatory masking and social distancing, this year’s ounce of prevention paid off: Whether it was the emphasis on hand-sanitizing between exhibits, vats of Purell ever in reach, or just plain luck, the show dodged any outbreak. Of the canine variety, that is: A virus with what we’ll delicately call intestinal implications landed its fair share of human casualties.

Like Disney, the AKC National Championship is a pilgrimage that requires the stamina of a marathoner. Held this year on December 16 and 17, with a whopping conformation entry of 5,762, it was likely the largest AKC show in almost 40 years, eclipsed only by the kennel club’s 8,000-plus-entry centennial show in 1984. The two-day Orlando show was preceded as usual by three days of all-breed shows (Tuesday through Thursday) and one day of specialties (Friday). The AKC event itself seems to grow exponentially, with non-regular competitions such as the Puppy and Junior Stakes, the Bred-by-Exhibitor competition and the National Owner-Handled Series Finals.

The meat and potatoes of the show, however, remains the National Championship competition, culminating with the seven Best in Show finalists on Sunday night.

The Sporting Group, judged by Karolynne McAteer (replacing Pluis Davern), went to German Shorthaired Pointer GChG Vjk-Myst Heir to the Throne JH FDC CGCA CGCU TKN BN-V, top-ranked in that breed in last year. “Phoenix” is bred by Susan Stutz, Yvonne Hassler-Deterding and Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, owned by them with Robert Grant, and breeder-owner-handled by Valerie.

Charles Olvis judged the Hound Group, finding his winner in the Chilean-bred Afghan Hound bitch GChG Zaida Bint Muti Von Haussman. The number-two dog in the country, “Zaida” is owned and bred by Ramon Podesta Valenzuela, and co-owned by Scott Pfeil, James Donahue and A. Sobrado.

The nation’s number-one Working dog, the Doberman Pinscher GChP Alcher Tmac Witchcraft V Gentry, topped that group, which was judged by Vicki Seiler-Cushman, herself an authority on the breed. “Wicked” is owned by Cheryl Green and Tony Mackenzie, and bred by them and Deborah Romans.

The Terrier Group, adjudicated by Harold “Red” Tatro III, went to the Bedlington Terrier GChG First Class Victoria Berland Empress of Magic (“Tori”), owned and bred by Jacquelyn Fogel.

The Miniature Poodle GChG Surrey Sage captured the Non-Sporting Group under David Kirkland. Owned by Cathy Gauche, “Sage” was bred by Kathleen Wallen and Kaz Hosaka, who handled her.

Among the Toys, the nation’s number-one dog, the Shih Tzu GChP Hallmark Jolei Out of This World, took the top slot under Rosalind (Roz) Kramer. “Comet” is owned by Bonnie Miller, Susan Carter, and Luke and Diane Ehricht, and bred by the Ehrichts, who fittingly are the 2023 AKC Breeders of the Year.

The Herding Group, judged by Dr. Carmen Battaglia, went to a breed he knows all too well: the German Shepherd GChG Kaleef’s Mercedes, the nation’s number four dog overall. “Mercedes” is owned by Cynthian Wilhelmy and Sheree Moses, and bred by Sheree Moses, Lauren Arbaugh, Madeline Llewellyn and Jeanne Hamilton.

In the end, the Shih Tzu prevailed, winning Best in Show under Clay Coady, with the Shepherd Reserve.

(Those who missed the main event were able to catch it on New Year’s Eve, when the show aired on ABC affiliates in early afternoon. Perhaps because it was broadcast at a time when most Americans are more focused on cocktails than Corgis and so programming is thin, the three-hour special showed every breed in competition. That’s certainly gratifying for the fancy, though how much it means to the general viewing public — which only seems to care if the breed on the couch beside them gets air time — is a legitimate question.)

As the main event played out in the cavernous group and Best in Show arena on Sunday, the group judging of the Best Bred-by-Exhibitor competition occupied another prime piece of real estate — the huge red-carpeted central rings on the main floor.

The Sporting Group winner and eventual Best Bred-by-Exhibitor in Show (under Dana Cline and Terry Stacy, respectively) was the English Springer Spaniel GChG Telltale Bohemian Rhapsody. Bred by Celie Florence, Robin Novack and Beth Fink, he is owned by Beth Fink, L. Pike, J. Vanderlip, T. Low and S. Hatch, and breeder-handled by Robin.

In Hounds, the Whippet GCh. Pinnacle Garden Party — whose maternal grandfather, the famous “Whiskey,” won the whole enchilada in Orlando in 2018 — prevailed under Daniel Smyth Esq. Bred by Justin Smithey, who handled her, and Cheslie Smithey, she is owned by them and Nancy Shaw.

The Working Bred-by winner under Rita Biddle Esq. was the Samoyed GChP Pebbles’ Run Prince Louis With Sammantic, bred by Andrew Green and Amy Kiell Green, who handled him; the Greens were also this year’s Working Group Breeder of the Year. He is owned by them with Barbara Bruns and W. Stamp.

The Terrier Bred-by group, judged by Kathleen Ferris, went to the Wire Fox Terrier GChB Fleet St. Roque Down Easter, who is also the nation’s top-ranked Terrier. Bred and owned by his handler Robert Carusi and Heather Carusi, he is co-owned by George and Nanette Herrick.

In Toys, Andrew Brace found his winner in the Pomeranian GChG Notorious Bombay Sapphire and Tonic, bred and owned by Christine Crane Goodin and Sonya Ratiff, and owned by Sonya.

The Lhasa Apso GChS Ta Sen Westgate Jingle Juice topped the Non-Sporting Bred-by group under Robin Stansell. Bred by Susan Giles, Cindy Sehnert and Ellen Lonigro, he is owned by Susan, Cindy and Steve Campbell.

And, finally, in Herding, Jon Cole pointed to the Norwegian Buhund GChG Cloudpointe Ringside Gossip, the top-winning Buhund in the history of the breed who later took a Group 2nd in the “regular” group. Bred and owned by Amelia McLaughlin, he is co-owned by Garrison Sharp and Octavia Stensen.

Other keenly watched competitions of the weekend included the All-Breed Puppy & Junior Stakes. Held on the Friday before the AKC National Championship, the competition was open to puppies (dogs under 12 months) and juniors (dogs 12-18 months old).

Judges and group winners were:

Sporting, Desi Murphy: Labrador Retriever Ch. Ghoststone Honey Nut Cherrios, owned and bred by Judy Schenk Chambers.

Hound, Vicki Seiler-Cushman: Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Trio Bugaboo’s Peaky Blinders, owned by Karen and Clint Livingston, and Cameron and Taylor Johnson, and bred by Patty Opperman and the Livingstons.

Working, David Kirkland: Rottweiler Ch. Von Hawes Forever Forward, owned and bred by Peter and Kathleen Hawes and Erin Maureen Foreman.

Terrier, Amy Rodrigues: Miniature Schnauzer Beauideal The Magic Flute, owned and bred by Dr. Lisa Sarvas and co-owned by George Frederick.

Toy, Linda Rowell: Pomeranian Kimmilove Newberry Volcano, owned by M-Iae Kim Yong-Jae Lee of Yangpyeong-Gun GD and bred by Mi-ae Kim.

Non-Sporting, Joseph Vergnetti: Xoloitzcuintli Dreamstar’s Reigning Queen, owned and bred by Teresa Campbell, Jose Miguel Sanchez and Whitney Meeks.

Herding, Nioma Stoner Coen: Australian Shepherd Harmony Hill’s Always Wright, owned by Catherine Dougan, Kaylene Scotton and Heather Braddock, and bred by the latter two with Emma Jenkins.

The triumvirate of Puppy and Junior Stakes Best in Show judges — Sunday’s BIS judge Clay Coady, Terry Stacy and AKC President Dennis Sprung — presented the big ribbon to the yearling Rottweiler.

The AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals spanned Friday and Saturday. The following judges adjudicated all the dogs at the breed level as well as the group. Their group winners were:

Sporting, Alessandra Folz: Irish Setter GChB Kinloch So There! owned by Linda Layfield and Adam Kucera, and bred by Patty and Mike Fanelli.

Hound: Dr. Daniel W. Dowling, Greyhound GCh. Sobers Hazelyn, owned by Armando Sobrado, W. Santiago and Bitte Ahrens, and bred by Bitte.

Working, Dr. Johan Becerra-Hernandez: Bullmastiff GChG Ridgetop’N Marconian’s Aventador ATT, owned by Olga Contant, Ronie Whittall and Galina Taylor, and bred by Olga and Rene Contant, and Galina Taylor.

Terrier, Dr. Adam Stafford King: Colored Bull Terrier GChB Grabo Frankie Goes To Magor, owned by Sarah Byzewski and bred by Grace and Robert Thomas.

Toy, Robin Stansell: Papillon GChS Landd Shooting Star, owned by Deedy and Larry Sorenson and Paige Fink, and bred by Linda Knight.

Non-Sporting, April Clyde: Bulldog GChP Paintabull I’m the Pied Piper CGC TKN, owned by Phyllis Portera, and bred by her and Greg Rodgers.

Herding, Linda Clark: Australian Shepherd GChS Serendipity Collinswood Kestrel CGCA CGCU TKN ATT, owned by Savanna Michalak, and bred by Clare Cox, Terri Collins and Erin Aufox.

Dennis Sprung judged Best in Show for the NOHS Finals, settling on the Irish Setter, with Reserve going to the Australian Shepherd. Both dogs were piloted to their wins by Junior handlers — 14-year-old Adam Kucera and 15-year-old Savanna Michalak, respectively — a first ever for the show.

Perhaps just as interesting as the individual dogs who gained top honors were the trends they represent.

All seven AKC National Championship Best in Show finalists were among the top 50 dogs in the nation when they trotted onto that red carpet: the Shih Tzu first, the Bedlington 50th, the rest falling in between. There was no dark horse this year, but, arguably, there was no clunker, either. Not one murmur of “What was that doing in there?” but rather a genuine consensus on the high quality of the overall lineup.

Crushing any of the predictable the-top-dogs-always-win laments is another trend, one that seems to grow stronger with every ensuing year at this show: The Best in Show Shih Tzu was breeder-owner-handled, representing a kennel as well known for its longevity as its success — so much so that breeders Luke and Diane Ehricht were bestowed the coveted title of Breeder of the Year the night before under the bright lights of that same arena. In fact, several of the group finalists were bred by the professional handlers who showed them.

Conversely, this year’s Best in Show Bred-by English Springer Spaniel — which also took a Group 4th in the regular group competition — is also the number-three dog in the nation. And the majority of Bred-by group winners were shown by professional handlers who are also their breeders.

With these results, the drumbeat to celebrate the out-of-sight-out-of-mind toil of the whelping box grows ever louder: Bill Shelton’s “Don’t simply be the breeder of champions, but the Champion of Breeders” quote comes to mind, not just because it’s clever and catchy, but because it improves on the American Kennel Club’s dusty tag line of many years now: “We’re more than champion dogs. We’re the dog’s champion.” Bill’s much-shared meme reminds us that there is an important link between the AKC and the dogs it registers — the often unsung women and men who have willed the latter into existence.

The fact that professional handlers are now a reservoir of some of the nation’s most highly awarded show dogs arguably speaks far less about politics than inevitable demographic trends. A century ago, upper-crust Americans expressed their social standing with impressive kennels and the live-in staff to run them. Today, as far as the accoutrements of status go, the sinuous outline of a Greyhound and the noble expression of a Boxer have been replaced by the glint of a Patek Philippe wristwatch and the foamy sputtering of a Faema espresso machine. Sadly, in today’s society, where everyone expends a lot of effort to look effortless, a scruffy mixed breed or rescued pit scores a far higher hipness quotient than anything in our whelping boxes.

Over the final decades of the last century and well into the current one, the number of moneyed middlemen willing to back whole breeding programs and not just ala-carte dogs faded. And so professional handlers reached an inescapable fork in the road: If they desired a consistent source of quality animals to show, they could just as easily breed them themselves. It was something that the best of them had been doing for decades anyway — just under someone else’s name.

Those accustomed to the insularity of the NOHS ring might find this trend infuriating. In truth, they shouldn’t. Professional handlers’ emergence from the shadows of the whelping box may very well be our saving grace. Every entity has to evolve with the times. The Disney behemoth knows this as well, slowly but surely changing some of its more antiquated rides. Consider its rollicking Pirates of the Caribbean experience: Finally, Walt’s imagineers figured out that male pirates auctioneering off tightly bodiced women — “We wants the redhead!” — doesn’t quite cut it in the wake of the Me Too movement. We would do well in the dog world to follow suit.

Individual wins are just that — individual. But it was certainly tempting to see a glimmer of a new way forward when the Junior Showmanship Finals winner was presented in the main ring on Saturday evening. Judged by Dr. Adam Stafford King from a field of more than 150 Juniors, top honors went to Octavia Stensen with her Norwegian Buhund GChB Cultiva Cruisin For A Bruisin: a 19-year-old breeder-owner-handler — of a rare breed, no less.

Maybe there is some hope for our ever-smaller world after all.