Good Bloggie!

For those die-hard Rocksie fans, we have some very good news. This weekend Rocksie earned her Nationale Championat – CAC (National Champion) and Internationale – UCICB (International Champion) titles from IABCA – International All Breed Canine Association. She also snagged a Reserved Best in Show, Bred-by rosette! This adds to her IABCA National and International Jü.A Puppy Championships she earned a couple of years ago.

IABCA shows are different from AKC shows, as they are based on the European model of a written critique by the judge and puppies aren’t allowed to compete with adults. The nice thing about this show is the judge does the traveling, not you and your dog, but you can still get an international title because the dog is judged by an international judge. Make sense?

These shows are also more laid back than most AKC shows, but with two shows per day, a total of four shows a weekend, it keeps things lively when you have a dog or two entered! The shows are small and people stick around most the day, giving a real chance to visit with other dog people and get to learn about other breeds and rare breeds, such as Mi-Kis, Miniature Australian Shepherds, and Biewers (pronounced “beavers.”)

Rocksie loves shows, whether she wins or not, but it’s sure nice bringing home some medals and ribbons to decorate her room with. Though, gotta watch her around that big rosette ribbon – she has that Cat Toy gleam in her eye…

Reality TV has caught up to the dog show world. A new program about showing dogs in the conformation ring debuts on the TLC channel July 21 at 8 PM ET/PT. Now to see if the show takes its cue from “Toddlers & Tiaras,” “Best in Show,” or “Nightline.” At least someone at TLC had the smarts to schedule this show for a Wednesday. That’s about the only day of the week a pro handler or dedicated owner-handler might even be home to watch!

From the Discovery/TLC site:

Super Pooches

Premieres on July 21 at 8 PM ET/PT
SUPER POOCHES reveals what it takes to raise and train show dogs and takes an in-depth look at their dedicated and obsessive handlers. Cameras follow four handler teams as they pull out all the stops to ensure their dog ends up on top. Some of these top handlers show dogs at a whopping 180 different shows a year, and tend to be on the road constantly. Keeping their dogs happy, healthy and perfectly groomed is their number one priority. SUPER POOCHES captures all the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the business and the entertaining life on the road that each handler leads. While each of the teams intersect at the competitions, the pressure is on and drama ensues backstage as each of the handlers fight for the coveted prize.

SUPER POOCHES is produced by Departure Films for TLC.

Has been quite awhile since we’ve posted show news about our home-bred girl Cocoa (Ch Fleurdelys Chocolate Confetti), but last week she proved she still has the stuff to strut. On March 26th, she took 1st in Veterans, then went on to claim one of the three Awards of Merits available at the regional specialty in Dallas.

The Veterans class is a non-regular class, usually only found at a Specialty. To qualify, the dog must be a champion, over the age of seven years, and can be spayed or neutered. Cocoa had some stiff competition. She was competing against three other veteran ladies of high stature. In the Best of Breed ring, Cocoa faced off with some of the current top dogs in the country. We were just glad to be out there for consideration and were absolutely delighted when judge Wayne Brower pointed at us and said the magic words “Award of Merit.” Many thanks to him and for his recognition of Cocoa, especially since she yawned at him after her Down & Back!

This is Cocoa’s second AOM, and to win it from the Veterans class is a wonderful and special treat.

There were many impressive winners both Thursday and Friday. The Best in Show Specialty winner on Thursday stands out for us. We had the thrill of seeing a pretty, brindle pied girl (aptly named CH Monet’s Pretty N’ Pied) take the BISS win and we couldn’t help being rather pleased to see a girl AND a pied take that title. Pied Power! Friday’s BISS winner was the ever impressive Bru, Ch Robobull Fabelhaft I’m On Fire.

The entire list of winners will be posted soon on the French Bulldog Club of Dallas/Fort Worth website. There were some very nice dogs in attendance and you’ll probably see many of these names again this year. Certainly a list of names worth keeping your eye on.

Will post a win photo of Cocoa when it’s available.

It has been pointed out, a near Non-Sporting Group win almost happened last year with “Lola,” Ch. LeBull’s Midnight Confessions. She took Group 2 (second place), which made her squeaky close to winning Group in 2009. Our congratulations and apologies for leaving out her impressive placement on a prior blog entry. She is a gorgeous girl.

Curious to see whom else may have been left out, checked the Westminster site for results. Only one Frenchie has won Group 1 placement, five Frenchies made their way to Group 2, one to Group 3, and thirteen placed Group 4. A total of 20, not too shabby for a snorty, little breed that is often greeted with the line, “A face only a mother could love,” by the non-initiated.

Below is a list each year a French Bulldog placed in the Non-Sporting Group at Westminster. You might notice a few names are missing. If you know the winner for that year, or know a link where the list can be found, comment below and will add the name(s) to complete the list. Have a few guesses of the winners from the excellent list of National Specialty winners complied by Frenchbulldogz.org, complete with photos of most winners. The Specialty Winner list is also available from The French Bull Dog Club of America.

2010 – Group 1 – Ch. Robobull Fablehaft Im On Fire – “Bru” – male
2009 – Group 2 – CH. LeBull’s Midnight Confessions – “Lola” – female
2004 – Group 4 – Ch. Bandog’s Jump for Joy – “Joy”- female
1999 – Group 4 – Ch. Licks Cool Hand Luke – “Luke” – male
1989 – Group 4 – ?
1970 – Group 4 – (Best guess: Ch. Ralanda Ami Pierre)
1963 – Group 2 – (Best guess: Ch. Ralanda Ami Francine)
1959 – Group 4 – Ch Bouquet Nouvelle Ami – “Jo Jo” – male
1957 – Group 3 – Ch Bouquet Nouvelle Ami – “Jo Jo” – male
1956 – Group 2 – Ch Bouquet Nouvelle Ami – “Jo Jo” – male
1955 – Group 4 – Ch Bouquet Nouvelle Ami – “Jo Jo” – male
1953 – Group 4 – Ch Bouquet Nouvelle Ami – “Jo Jo” – male
1951 – Group 4 – ?
1950 – Group 4 – ?
1942 – Group 4 – (Best guess: Ch Glamourette)
1931 – Group 4 – ?
1930 – Group 4 – ?
1927 – Group 4 – ?
1926 – Group 2 – ?
1924 – Group 2 (Reserve) – (Best guess: Evergay Charmer)

Before 1924, the Non-Sporting Group didn’t exist. The highest award was Best of Breed and the occasional special trophy within the breed. In 1907, Westminster began awarding Best in Show. In 1992, show entries were limited to Champions only.

Show Lingo

For those who aren’t quite up on their show talk, show people have their own type of verbal shorthand for Group placing dogs. This is probably to distinguish from regular class wins, where a 2nd-4th place win is nice, but no chance at points. Whereas, even a 4th place Group placement earns all-breed points for dogs on the show campaign trail, as well as considerable bragging rights. Here’s a guide to the lingo:

1st place = Group One placement/win or G1 or Winning Group

2nd place = Group Two placement/win or G2

3rd place = Group Three placement/win or G3

4th place = Group Four placement/win or G4

What a show and what a time to be present as a French Bulldog fancier. To see the first French Bulldog win Non-Sporting at Westminster! It was the ultimate treat for a first-time attendee. Read on to share a little of the experience and see a few of the better snapshots. Note to self: next time take a camera with a telescopic lens!

Big congratulations to Bru, his handler Perry Payson, and his breeders and owners, Shelley St. John, James Dalton, and Marion Hulick. To get any dog to the Westminster level takes determination, drive, and above all patience. Patience to create the breeding program, patience to wait (and hope) for that promising little puppy to come along one day; patience to raise, train, and keep attending and winning shows with that special dog to qualify for Westminster.

Bru and Perry waiting for their G1 ribbon.

“Bru,” Ch Robobull Fablehaft I’m On Fire, is the first French Bulldog to win the Non-Sporting Group since the AKC created Groups in 1924. (The original five Groups are: Sporting, Working, Terriers, Toys, Non-Sporting.) Before this, the closest a Frenchie ever came to winning Non-Sporting at Westminster was the early 1960s with Ch Ralanda Ami Francine, a top Non-Sporting winner bred by Amanda West. In 2004, Ch Bandog’s Jump for Joy was nationally-ranked with 16 Best in Shows, and a contender to vie for G1 placement, but despite both girls’ outstanding win records, neither ever walked out of Westminster the winner of the Non-Sporting Group.

Bru wasn’t the only winner at Westminster. Let me back up to Monday morning, when several other dogs expanded their list of credentials and I had the thrill of seeing so many beautiful and handsome Frenchies in one place.

Congrats to the following dogs, and their handlers, breeders, and owners:
Best of Opposite Sex - Ch Lebull’s Midnight Confessions (see her winning photo at the Westminster site)
Award of Merit – Ch Devine’s LA Confidential
Award of Merit – Ch A’Vigdors Caudataire Du Roi Tuunrat’s El Che
Award of Merit – Ch Evergreen’s Lavish Looks
Award of Merit – Ch Raindrops Justus Lifes A Game

Award of Merit winner - Ch Raindrops Justus Lifes A Game

After the breed judging on Monday, I visited the benching area (a test of stamina for dogs, caretakers, and visitors alike) cruising the benching booths, admiring winners and champions up-close. A Frenchie to keep your eye on in the next couple of years is “Che,” Ch A’Vigdors Caudataire Du Roi Tuunrat’s El Che. Not even a year old yet and he’s already a standout specimen of the breed with his handsome, brindle looks.

Award of Merit winner - Ch A'Vigdors Caudataire Du Roi Tuunrat's El Che

For more info about the French Bulldogs winners of the 2010 Westminster show, click here.

To see breed judging video, click here.

To see Monday night’s Non-Sporting and Tuesday night’s Best in Show video, click here. Look for Best of Non-Sporting or Best in Show from the list at the bottom.

And there are more Westminster-related, Frenchie wins to report. The night before Westminster, I attended the Dog Writers Association of America Annual Awards Banquet where the 2009 writing competition winners were named. Maxwell awards went to:

• A booklet created by the French Bull Dog Club of America titled French Bulldogs: The Basic Course
• An article titled “Exposed” written by Lisa Ricciotti and published in the September 2008 The French Bullytin.

These were a just a couple of winners that evening from a wide-cross section of breed clubs, dog publications, websites, and other forms of media. Imagine, a whole room of people dedicated to nothing else but the news and well being of their breeds and to dogs in general.

You can view the entire list of DWAA 2009 nominees and winners, here.

If you found this blog entry because you saw the French Bulldog on TV and are interested in learning more about the breed, good for you! You are doing your homework first. Each breed has pros and cons, which should be considered carefully. The purpose of the booklet created by FBDCA is to educate people interested in the breed by telling the good, the bad, and to answer “Just how do I go about finding a good one?” You can get a copy of your very own for a mere $5 bucks, shipping included. Just click on the booklet image to order your copy. As wonderful as Frenchies are, they aren’t for everyone. Best to find out now, and it’s quite okay to admit this isn’t the breed for you.

The winning French Bullytin article was about a notorious dog broker importing sick French Bulldog puppies for sale. Many who died once placed in their new homes from illness or poor breeding. This broker is not an isolated case. Don’t be a contributor to the import/puppymill trade in your desire to own a Frenchie. If you’ve decided a Frenchie is for you, take the time to find a reputable breeder or check with a Frenchie rescue. (Okay, off that soapbox and back to show news!)

Westminster plays a very special part in the development of the French Bulldog breed. The first exhibition of Frenchies debuted at the 1896 Westminster show. At this time it was still acceptable for French Bulldogs to have both the rose (folded over) and bat (upright) ear. The following year, only French Bulldogs with rose ears were selected as winners at Westminster by an English judge. American exhibitors were so disgruntled, they formed the first breed club for the French Bulldog, the French Bull Dog Club of America. A breed standard was drafted which stated ONLY bat ears were allowed. This set the breed standard for the French Bulldog, which was eventually adopted worldwide. The FBDCA also hosted the very first breed specialty, for any breed, at the posh Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1897. In 1930, the Waldorf was torn down and the Empire State Building built in its place. A small fact I’d forgotten until I was standing in line watching a nearby screen flash Empire State Building factoids during the long wait for an elevator ride to the top. Didn’t realize until that moment my touristy detour was in fact a trip to Frenchie Mecca; the very spot where the American French Bulldog breed really took off.

If you ever get a chance to attend Westminster, take it. It is a real treat to see so many quality dogs and dog lovers in one spot, a true celebration of the efforts of so many dedicated handlers, breeders, owners, and just plain dog people. Maybe on your trip you’ll be lucky enough to see the first win of a Westminster Best in Show French Bulldog!

Bru and Perry competing for BIS.