2010 Top Twenty and Futurity

[Elaine]

Last night was the Top Twenty… though for some reason, it seemed more like the Top 15 or 18. It’s hard to tell without some actual numbers, but the crowd seemed a bit thin (in numbers… I am not making any comment on what the scale says these days :(:rolleyes:). Other general impressions: the crowd seemed quite a bit older, and if you want to stand out in this crowd I suggest you ask your colorist for any color other than blonde. :cool: Some were there dressed to the nines. Terry Hunt, Kelly, Vicky… the Breeder Judge from CO (who’s name I can’t recall at the moment), Linda George (in something classic and black), all looked fabulous. Gwen was wearing an aubergine colored outfit, and Carissa wore something a bit more purple... both looked lovely. In the men, Jeff Philbrick (Mr. Kelly Marquis), Rick George and Phil Martin were standouts too. :) I thought I saw a few sweats, T-shirts and blue jeans ring side… might have been mistaken, but that would never fly before for the Top Twenty. In the past the Top Twenty has always been a very formal affair. As far as the handlers in the ring, Andy and Jeff Brucker were dashing (or as dashing as those two can manage these days), Cindi looked soft and feminine in a sort of moss brown/greenish colored floral crepe thing that hit her mid-calf, with a gold belt and shoes to match, a bit like a Wood Nymph, the effect was lovely), Dawn was a Creme surprise (we don't see her often and none of us even recognized her, we had to make a call to see who she was:))… and Jocelyn’s attire and hair complimented each other perfectly.

As for the dogs… the Top Twenty often leaves one scratching their heads, so I’m not sure what I can say except to ask, as a whole (with a few exceptions), would this collection of dogs be competitive anywhere else in the world?

ON the up side, we clearly have superb handlers in this country. Esteban and Cindi stood out, and Fifi takes it to another level all together. The connection she has with Michelle was worth the evening.

[Minka]

who won?

[Elaine]

Don't know.

They do not announce the winner until the Awards Banquet later in the week.

For me, the question is, which of these dogs would you breed to or want a puppy from? And as a whole, what does the group say about what we are breeding in this country? Are we breeding a powerful square dog with heavy bone? Or do we have dogs that win simply because of the handler at the end of the leash? :cool:

[pretty dobe]

Don't forget the bucks to keep showing them....... That is why several are in there.

[Elaine]

Gwen DeMilta judged the DPCA Futurity yesterday... the winner was the sweet 6-9 black puppy bitch BLUE MAX PRETTY WOMAN V ENCORE, whelped on 3-05-10 She is by Ch Ravenswoods Azure Sky - Ch Caleb's Undeniable V Encore and is owned by Beverly Seielstad; bred by Rose Benanti. I didn't see this bitch listed in Dobequest so here is Ch. Ravenswoods Azure Sky's DobeQuest page http://www.dobequest.org/profile.php?DOGID=19630 and here is the dam's page http://www.dobequest.org/profile.php?DOGID=39254 This puppy bitch's dam is sired by Ch. Foxfire's Magic Dragon, a lovely dog that Gwen showed a few years back. This puppy bitch showed with a good deal of poise and confidence... I see wonderful things in her future. :)

In it till the end was the red Eddie / Eddie son - Cambria's I can't remember his name. This young dog is stunning, he seems to have it all structurally (and when Ann pulls him together in a stack, it's a picture that's hard to beat), but he does not seem happy about being a show dog. He did not have a free stack, and in the end he was just not "on." It's hard not to think that his lack of enthusiasm to show played a part in Gwen's final decision. He simply did not show as well as the 6 month-old. And by "Eddie /Eddie" son I mean that he is sired by Eddie and his dam is out of CH. Orion's Rasberry Beret, who was also sired by Eddie. Kafka figures prominently in the pedigree as well. Given what Dr. Meurs presented, this dog's genetic test results will be important to a lot of breeders. If he is negative as per Meurs' genetic test for the mutant gene related to DCM, he is a potential gold mine for the Whites as a stud dog. I can hear breed records falling.

As for Gwen as a judge, she was as I expected her to be, quick, decisive… she knew what she liked immediately and did not need to move the dogs again and again and again. I could easily follow her in every class, except her 15 months and over AOAC class. #170 Ch. Cambria's It Must be Fate (the Alex- Reigny daughter who won Sweeps under Linda George) won the class. This bitch is a clear stand out, and it was easy to follow what Gwen did, until she gave second to the Dino daughter that Andy showed. That bitch is very nice, but very different from the class winner in terms of phenotype. Going second to the Alex - Reigny bitch made no sense in the class where there were other bitches who's phenotype more closely matched the class winner. Still, I wasn't in the ring judging; maybe the other bitches had missing teeth or whatever; but from outside the ring, it felt like a nod to Andy.

If/when Gwen gets an AKC license, I’d show to her in a heart beat, but I have to say that given her close relationship with Carmen Pitts, and given Carmen’s ugly threatening phone call to us the other day that she was at “War” with us, if we show to Gwen I will always wonder about games in the ring. Frankly, exhibitors spend too much time, effort and money breeding /showing to have judges pushing the personal agendas of others.

[Elaine]

For those who haven't heard, FIFI won the Top Twenty...:):):)