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New dog owner who doesn't have a clue?

Or have you had your dog for a while but have, um, challenges?

Stop by Arthur Johnson Park (1200 W. 170th St.) in Gardena between 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday (9/18) where you'll find some excellent resources on how to be a wonderful dog owner.

The event is sponsored by the South Bay Kennel Club and the Southwest Obedience Club of L.A. -- it's part of the national AKC outreach to spread the word about the basics of being a good dog owner. There are nearly 600 events being held throughout the nation in the month of September.

Sunday's event in Gardena will feature a mini Meet-the-Breeds area where you can scope out representatives of some of the many breeds of dogs.

There also will be information about classes, demonstrations and performance demos.

Barbara Millman, obedience chairwoman for the South Bay Kennel Club, will be administering the AKCs Canine Good Citizen exam. If you feel your dog is ready to take the test, bring him along with his collar, lead and a brush.

The event is being dedicated the memory of Bertha Rizzo, who served as treasurer of the South Bay Kennel Club for many years. She died on Sept. 3 at the age of 95.

"We dedicated the 2006 (dog) shows to Bertha in honor of her 90th birthday," said Cynthia Woods, a director of the club. "Any job that needed to be done, she was there to do it. She and her competition orange 1965 Mustang were known throughout the South Bay. Her chocolate chip cookies were enjoyed from coast to coast not only by dog show people but cat show fanciers as well."

For information, call 310-324-3549 or email sobykc@aol.com.

Information about the Responsible Dog Ownership program and the Canine Good Citizen test is available at www.akc.org.

September is shaping up to be a busy month for pet-related events in the South Bay. Here's an early heads-up on a few of them:

• Sept. 10, 10:30 a.m. to noon:  PAWS to Read Program will hold a reading-aloud session for youngsters at the Hermosa Beach Library, 550 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach (310-379-8475). More info at www.spcaLA.com.
  

• Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to noon: spcaLA presents a foster class for volunteers interested in temporarily taking in pets waiting to be adopted into a permanent home. The class is free and applications are available at www.spcaLA.com. "We provide the pet, you provide the home." Pets that have been fostered in a family environment have a much better chance of being adopted. Class meets at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village (in the auditorium), 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach. Call 323-730-5300, Ext. 300, or email foster@spcaLA.com.

• Sept. 18, 1-3 p.m.: Dog owners can celebrate back-to-school month by picking up some education for themselves at the Responsible Dog Ownership Day presented by the South Bay Kennel Club. The free, AKC-sponsored event will take place at Arthur Johnson Park, 1200 W. 170th St., Gardena, with the stated purpose of educating "first-time dog owners about the responsibilities of dog ownership and helping current owners enhance their relationships with their pets." San Pedro's Barbara Millman, obedience chairperson for the South Bay Kennel Club, will provide information about the AKC's Canine Good Citizen certificate. She will also administer the test for those who want to apply for the certificate. Members of the Southwest Obedience Club of L.A. also will provide information about obedience classes and give demonstrations. Dogs of several breeds and varieties also will be on hand in a mini "Meet-the-Breeds" show. Call 310-324-3549 or email sobykc@aol.com for information; also, www.akc.org. The public also is welcome to attend the South Bay Kennel Club's meeting at 8 p.m. Thursday (9/1) at the Nakaoka Community  Center, 1678 W. 162nd St., Gardena. There will be a discussion about the upcoming event. We'll be sure also to post a reminder when the time gets closer.

• Sept. 18, 4-5:30 p.m.: A concert for the animals -- Animal-Loving Musicians Support will donate a performance to help raise funds for Diamonds in the Ruff, a nonprofit animal rescue organization based in Los Angeles (310-699-2747). The benefit concert will feature jazz and pop standards performed at The Strings Connection, 716 Deep Valley Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Call 310-377-0803 or email alms4animals@hotmail.com for details. 
  

They were the best of the best:

A Pembroke Welsh Corgi -- GCH (Grand Champion) CH Segni at Coventry -- and a black Miniature Poodle -- GCH CH Danfour Debutante -- won Best in Show honors this past weekend at the South Bay Kennel Club's all breed dog show.






Segni at Coventry, left.


Photo by Derek Glas









Danfour Debutante, right







Between 500 and 1,000 spectators attended the free outdoor show each day at North Torrance High School, said Cynthia Woods of the South Bay Kennel Club.

Many of the dogs entered -- more than 1,200 each day for two separate shows, with many overlapping and being in both events -- are earning points to advance to national shows, including Westminster held in New York in February.

Group winners on Saturday were:

• Sporting: Weimaraner, GCH Silhouettes Lifeinthefastlane
  
• Hound: Ibizan hound, GCH Harehill's Ace in the Hole
• Working: Great Dane, GCH Naples TLBRK Dana San Roques Naika
• Terrier: Scottish terrier, CH Jacglen's Forever Present
• Toy: Affenpinscher, GCH Tamarin Top Banana
• Non-Sporting: French bulldog, GCH Lefox Bor to Boogie
• Herding: Penbroke Welsh Corgi, CH Segni at Coventry

Sunday's group winners:

• Sporting: Weimaraner, GCH Silhouettes Lifeinthefastlane
• Hound: Ibizan hound, GCH Harehill's Ace in the Hole
• Working: Boxer, GCH Telstar's All That Glitters at Cinnibon
• Terrier: Fox terrier/wire, CH Steele Your Heart
• Toy: Affenpinscher, GCH Tamarin of Top Banana
• Non-Sporting: Miniature Poodle, GCH Danfour Debutante
• Herding: Old English Sheepdog, GCH Cottonwood Man in the Moon

The show also included obedience trails, with the big surprise this year being a pair of wins by Golden Retrievers. Border collies usually dominate that field. But before the AKC recognized the border collie breed, it was the Goldens that reigned in obedience trials, according to San Pedro dog trainer Barbara Millman.

Earning 197-1/2 points (out of a possible 200) in the top obedience competition was OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) Regal Gold's Diamond Girl of Whittier, owned by Mary Fry and Gerri Monahan.

Also winning top awards in obedience was OTCH High Times Hot Shot owned by Sandy Walton of Studio City.

All in all, the show went smoothly, Millman told me. "People had a good time," she said, adding also this important footnote: "I don't think anyone got bitten."

And check out Daily Breeze photographer Scott Varley's photo gallery from the weekend show.

If you wondered how judges made their selections at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club dog show, come to this Thursday's meeting of the South Bay Kennel Club.

Pam Woods, secretary of the club, and Roy Prado, a member of the board of directors, will give their expert opinions about the judging that took place this year at Westminster. They'll also take questions from the audience.

Both have judged shows in the past and have attended Westminster in previous years. They'll explain what goes into making the breed, group and Best in Show selections.

The meeting is at 8 p.m. Thursday (March 3) at the Nakaoka Community  Center, 1678 W. 162nd St., Gardena.

Admission is free.

For information, contact the club via email at SoBayKC@aol.com or by calling 310-324-3549.

A Pomeranian named "Simply Irresistible" proved to be -- well, irresistible this past weekend to judges at the South Bay Kennel Club dog show, according to Michael Lekov of the South Bay Kennel Club.

(Much thanks to Michael who provided us with the Best in Show & group breed winners in such a timely manner the day after the weekend show.)

The 4-1/2-pound "Palmer" took Best in Show on both days (each day offered separate breed conformation competitions). His full name is Ch. CR Simply Irresistible, clearly an apt name for the canine described on his website as "stylish" and having "great movement" -- and "enough attitude for a herd of Poms."

Daily Breeze Photographer Steve McCrank took these magnificent photos of him at the show on Sunday. And be sure check out Steve's full photo gallery from the dog show featuring some other stunning shots.

 

More than 1,150 dogs entered each day's show and the Best in Show was selected from a field of seven group winners. Pomeranians are members of the Toy Group, the smaller companion dogs.

Other group winners that competed with Palmer in the final Best in Show rings:

Hound Group: A Rhodesian Ridgeback (both days)

Non-sporting Group: A Miniature Poodle (both days)

Herding Group: Bouvier des Flanders (both days)

Sporting Group: A Weimaraner on Saturday and an Irish Setter on Sunday

Working Group: A Newfoundland Saturday; a Portuguese Water Dog Sunday

Terrier Group: A Staffordshire Bull Terrier Saturday; a Kerry Blue Terrier on Sunday.

Owners of the dogs that competed at North Torrance High came from a wide region, including entries from Arizona, Texas and Hawaii.

Hundreds of dogs competed today in the South Bay Kennel Club's 67th annual dog show at North High in Torrance.

The South Bay Kennel Club hosts the 67th AKC Licensed All Breed Dog Show Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 14 and 15) at North High School, 3620 W. 182nd St., Torrance.

Saturday's lineup -- see Saturday schedule details here -- focuses on conformation, with breeds and groups competing throughout the day beginning at 8 a.m. The Best in Show event is expected to take place at around 4 p.m.

On Sunday, obedience and rally trials will be the focus, also beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing through most of the day. Schedule details are posted here for Sunday.

Like to shop? There will be plenty of vendors on the grounds featuring dog-related products.

Admission is free but there is a charge for parking. Those fees are collected by and will go to benefit the North High School Band.

Dog show tours (free) will be offered by club members; when you arrive, check in at the superintendent's table or with the announcer for details.

 

This is just a heads up -- we'll post more details about this show in the week ahead -- but mark your calendars to attend the South Bay Kennel Club dog show next weekend (8/14-15) on the grounds of North High School, 3620 W. 182nd St. in Torrance.

This is the 67th AKC Licensed All-Breed Dog Show for the club, featuring 1,200 entries with more than 110 breeds represented.

Admission is free, although the school charges a parking fee which goes to benefit the North High School Band. Bring a chair if you plan to hang out and watch a while.

Dog show tours will be offered and there are always lots of vendors on hand selling dog-related gear, accessories, food, and other products.

You can find the schedule of breeds being shown and activities online here. The show runs pretty much all day both days.

I've gone to this event in the past and it's a great opportunity to see close-up how the dog show circuit works. Owners and handlers are more than eager (in their down times) to talk about their breeds and the work they've done with their dogs in order to qualify.

Sunday's schedule will feature obedience trials in which mixed breed dogs registered in the AKC's new mixed-breed program will compete.

Check out the photos and coverage in our post from last year's show. 

(Oh, and last year's Best in Show winner? A corgi.)

 

 

The South Bay Kennel Club will present an AKC-sanctioned all-breed match and Canine Good Citizen test  Sunday (Oct. 18) at Arthur Johnson Park (formerly South Park), 1200 W. 170th St., Gardena (that's north of Artesia between Normandie and Vermont).

The CGC Program was started in 1989 as a way to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The program stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for all dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. Entry fee is $6.

 

The program is foundational for obedience, agility and therapy work.

The day's events also feature conformation, junior showmanship and adult handling competitions.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with judging at 12:30 p.m.

Call Toni Woods, match chair, at 310-323-0811 or email SoBayKC@aol.com.

 

 

Photo by Carol Beuchat

 

Meet CH Maplecreek Back in Black, the 3-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi who won the Best in Show titles both Saturday and Sunday at the All-Breed Dog Show in Torrance. Those in the know are saying he is a dog to watch. Best in Show is the dog that has won in his breed category, group (herding in this case) and then over all the other top group winners.(What a cutie, no?)

And this special note from dog show watcher/blogger Billy Wheeler:  "The corgi beat the number one dog in the country, the Scottish Terrier, CH Roundtown Mercedes Of Maryscot (call name Sadie), to win the BIS.  Saide and handler Gabriel Rangel are from Rialto CA."

Our winning corgi is owned by Les and Ginger Veik and Bill Shelton. The two-day show at North High was sponsored by the South Bay AKC and drew more than 1,500 dogs to compete in breed conformation and obedience trials.

Our special thanks for permission to use this photo goes to photographer Carol Beuchat of Mission Viejo (check out her galleries of beautiful dog photos in natural, outdoor settings on her web site) and to Billy Wheeler of the the "Dog Show Poop" blog site.

And congratulations to all the winners at the show. Keep your eye out for that corgi at upcoming dog shows.

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