Recently in South Bay Best in Show Category

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.

Photo: Tien Tran

From owner Deb Davidson-Harpur:

Breed: Rat Terrier

Name: Rickie was a birthday gift to me from her breeder. She came with the registered name Bur Way it's Like this -- and the call name of Rickie. I added the Roo when I got her because she hops up and down like a kangaroo. Now she's Rickie Roo. We often call her Rik or Rooster too.

Where did you find your best friend? Rickie Roo came to me from Bur Way Stars in Forestburg, Texas, and breeder Barbie Trannel. I had known of Barbie and her dogs for years because she is one of the top breeders of Rat Terriers in the U.S., but never dreamed I would get one of her dogs. Rickie roo's daddy was the No. 1 UKC Rat Terrier and Barbie always has lots of dogs in the top 10 for UKC Conformation. Since I don't show in Conformation, only in agility, who would think she'd let one of her dogs come to me? As it turns out, Rickie Roo was a natural born athlete and Barbie wanted her to go to a top performance home. She says my reputation as an agility handler and the way I love my dogs were among the reasons Rickie Roo was able to come to CA to me.

Personality: Rickie Roo is VERY naughty. She is full of spunk and is smart. If she gets in trouble, instead of looking sad like my other Rat Terrier, Gigi, Rickie Roo boldly stands there and acts as if she doesn't care if she is in trouble at all. She is a very talented agility dog who has a very strong work ethic. She is very, very fast and will work for other handlers, too. Her conformation is outstanding and she is an excellent example of her breed. She is also a doggie model, actress and athlete. If she were a person, she'd be like Gabrielle Reese.

Favorite trick? She does a very nice Huppy Puppy -- that is when she is running around and leaps up into my arms at chest level.

Best/worst habits: She's a hard worker and focused. Her worst habit is chewing up odd things like my eyeglasses, cell phones and pens.

Favorite things to do with your dog: My dogs do everything with me. I think Rickie Roo's favorite thing to do is go to agility class, kill her stuffed toys and go for rides in the car.

 

 

 Photo by Robert Moray

 

 From owner Deb Davidson-Harpur:

 

Breed: Border Collie

Name: Harpur's PJpupp -- Harpur is our family name so I used that instead of a kennel name and PJ pupp is a combo of PJ (for Paint Job) and Pupp so she would always be a puppy to us.

Where did you find your best friend? We got her from Drs. Judy Taylor and Rudy Tyler at Laguna Vista Vet Hospital in Harbor City. PJ's mom found her way to their home on The Hill during the El Nino storms of 1998 and had nine puppies in their backyard overnight in the rain. Judy and Rudy brought them to their vet practice and put them in the stable. I took her home at 8 weeks old and immediately put her into puppy kindergarten with Lomita Obedience Training Club (Ethel Mercer's class) where she was a star pupil.

Personality: PJpupp is the most mellow border collie in the world. This makes her easy to live with, but doesn't make her as hard working as other border collies when it comes to agility or sheepherding. Sure she enjoys it, but she doesn't NEED it. She's find just hanging out.

Favorite trick? She is the BEST dog to have if you play Mulical Mats -- she will sit or lie down so fast no one else can beat her. In Musical Mats, you walk around in a circle when the music plays and when the music stops you make your dog either sit or down. The last one to do it gets eliminated ... like musical chairs for people. PJpupp is 12 years old this year and has only been beaten once ... and we play that game A LOT at dog club parties, etc. She's great!

Best/worst habits: Best: She's the best-behaved dog I have. Many people tell me she's better behaved than many children. Worst habit? I can't really think of one, but I guess my husband would say it's that she hogs up his side of the bed at night and makes him sleep all crunched up.

Favorite things to do with your dog? My dogs and I do everything together. PJ loves coming to work with me everyday and likes attending the agility trials. She is retired now, but still comes out now and then to have fun and show them that old champions keep on tryin.'

 

Photo: Silver Gecko Photography

Here's Gigi, a shelter dog who's become an agility champion under the guidance and training of owner Deb Davidson-Harpur in Harbor City.

The details:

 

Breed: Rat Terrier

Name: Harpur's Giddy Upp "Gigi." I named her Gigi because she was originally with me short term as a foster dog. She was a good girl. when I decided to keep her, I thought G.G. Good girl. Her fancy registered name has our family name in the front where a kennel name would usually be and because I had Harpur's PJpupp, I wanted an "UPP" Name so she became Harpur's Giddy Upp -- got the family name, the Gi and the Upp all in one name!

Where did you find your best friend? I got this lovely purebred Rat Terrier from the Los Angeles Harbor Shelter in 2004 during their adopt-a-thon. She was on sale for 35 bucks.

Personality: She is the sweetest dog ever, but a true athlete. She came to us knowing nothing ... except how to pee on my new carpeting. She quickly became an agility dog and has earned multiple agility championships. She is also a doggie actress and model. She even has a job. She works as a canine ambassador for the Active Care line of dog food by Breeder's Choice and does the same for local compani ilovedogs.com.

Favorite trick? She LOVES to ride her skateboard. You can seeing her doing just that in the newest commercial for www.TJ.LA.

Best/worst habits? I would say her best habit is her nice manners. She is very polite. her worst habit? Gobbling food as if she will never see another kibble for the rest of her life. My favorite habit of hers is that she likes to sleep under the covers, like most Rat Terriers do. All you have to say is "push-push" and under the blankets she goes (and if you are lucky, she will give you a good foot bath, too. I think that's so cute).

Favorite things to do with your dog? I do EVERYTHING with my dogs. Gigi enjoys going to dog shows, having playdates with her friends in Portuguese Bend and just sitting back watching TV.

Sure, Sadie the Scottish Terrier is a fine looking dog.

From Felix's owner: 

Here's Mia, a Samoyed who's very active -- but likes to just sit on the couch and watch TV sometimes, too.

 

From her owner, Kasey: 

"Yes her name is Tuna. Tuna is a purebred pug we rescued from Little Angels Pug Rescue when she was just 6 months old. She was rescued from a hoarder house, where she was piled amongst trash, dirt and her siblings in a small cage.

"When we first met her, her name was Una, which was significant because she had only one eye. It was unsure if this was caused by a birth defect or from her neglectful months in the hoarder house. 

She was timid and would shake if anyone even tried to touch her." 

Looks like she's come a long, long way from those days. Amazing what a loving home will do for a dog who had a tough start in life. 

 

What a perfect pair to feature on Valentine's Day. 

These two are adorable. I've been dealing with a pinched nerve over the last couple days and not feeling my best. But when I opened the photos of these guys, I couldn't help but smile and forget my pain. 

Owner Maggie describes them both as "beautiful and sweet." 

First, Mochi (in the photo above and the two below): 

Breed: Maltese

Name: Mochi (She was so tiny, white and soft when I first met her. She reminded me of these white, chewy, sweet Japanese mochi.)

Where did you find your best friend: I got her from a breeder

Personality: She is just the sweetest little angel. And she loves to pose for pictures! (yes, we can see that)

Favorite things to do with your dog: Everything. 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's Jolie: 

 

Breed: Maltipoo

Name: Jolie (I adopted her and she came with this lovely name)

Where did you find your best friend: I adopted her from a rescue group

Personality: She loves cuddling. You can hold her like a baby and she will fall into sleep.

Favorite things to do with your dog: Everything 

 

 

 

How often is there an opportunity to adopt a Best in Show dog?