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Which Frenchie placed at Westminster that year?

2nd March 2010

Which Frenchie placed at Westminster that year?

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

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18th February 2010

A first-hand account of Westminster 2010 (with a Frenchie bias)

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 MeritCh Devine’s LA Confidential
Award of MeritCh A’Vigdors Caudataire Du Roi Tuunrat’s El Che
Award of MeritCh Evergreen’s Lavish Looks
Award of MeritCh 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.

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8th February 2010

Westminster 2010

It’s almost here, the BIG dog show of the year. Only AKC Champions of Record are allowed to compete and it’s often considered the pinnacle of a dog’s career to even attend.

Each breed’s top five dogs (from the national rankings of the prior year) are issued formal invitations to ensure the best is in attendance for the show. The five invited French Bulldogs for Westminster 2010 are:

  • CH Highwood’s Big Shot
  • CH Lebull’s Midnight Confessions
  • CH Petite Cherie Femme De Puissance
  • CH Raindrops Justus Lifes A Game
  • CH Robobull Fabelhaft Im On Fire

Just as it is often is at a local dog show, the French Bulldog ring time is an early, first-breed-in-the-ring 8 AM. (Showing a wash and wear breed DOES have some minor drawbacks.) Monday morning 36 French Bulldogs will be waiting ringside, raring to go into the ring before Canadian judge Mr. James G. Reynolds. They will compete for Best of Breed and four Award of Merits. The BOB winner will compete Monday evening in the Non-Sporting competition for Group placement, or better. It will be up to judge Mrs. Dorothy A. Dalton to pick her best Non-Sporting dogs of the evening. The Group winner will report to the Best in Show ring on Tuesday night, before judge Mr. Eliott B. Weiss.

When dogs aren’t strutting their stuff in the ring they will be at their bench, accepting the favors and attentions of the crowd, as Westminster is one of the few remaining benched dog shows where you can meet and admire your favorite show dogs outside the ring.

French Bulldog Ring and Time
Ring 2, Time 8:00 AM, Row 5
36 French Bulldogs entered

Visit the Westminster website for more details, ringtimes for other breeds, and ticket information.
The Westminster Kennel Club

Television Coverage

USA and CNBC will share broadcast of the live event.
Monday, February 15
Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups
8-9 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network
9-11 p.m. (ET) live on CNBC

Tuesday, February 16
Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups, Best In Show
8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network

2010 WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW

MONDAY and TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 15th and 16th, 2010
Show Hours: 8:00 A.M. E.T. to 11:00 P.M. Each Day
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN CENTER
Pennsylvania Plaza
Seventh to Eighth Avenues and 31st to 33rd Streets
New York City, New York

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23rd January 2010

Upcoming Frenchie Specialty in Central Texas

If you have been considering the Alamo City Cluster of Dog Shows in March don’t forget there is an extra special show: the Heart of Texas French Bulldog Club Annual Specialty. Not only will there be ribbons and points to compete for, there will be very nice prizes for the winners and ringside refreshments and fun for all. To spice things up, there is additional competition for Best Puppy and Best Bred-by-Exhibitor along with Best of Breed Specialty. The specialty judge is the esteemed Peggy Lloyd. Onofrio is the show superintendent. Wednesday noon, February 24 is the deadline for entries. Don’t miss out on the HOT-est French Bulldog event all year!

The Specialty takes place late afternoon Wednesday, March 10 (exact time to be announced later). It will be followed by four more days of all-breed shows at the Joe & Harry Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, not too far from I-35 and I-10 exits. Parking is conveniently located right outside the building.

Book your hotel room at the Alamo Cluster dog show rate ($69-$99) before they are all gone. Alamo City Cluster of Dog Shows booking code: LAD
Clarion Hotel & Suites
3855 IH-35 North
San Antonio, TX 78219
(210) 226-4361

Click here to read more about the shows and download the Show Premium List PDF from Onofrio.

You can read more about the show and get updates as they are released at the Heart of Texas French Bulldog Club website.

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19th October 2009

Rocksie wants to make a point

And she did!

On Sunday, October 18th she won the coveted purple ribbon at the Bell County Kennel Club show. She took both it, and the Best of Opposite ribbon, out of the ring under judge Rodney Merry. Many thanks to him for recognizing our girl’s merits.

And of note, all the point-winning Frenchies on Saturday and Sunday were owner-handled dogs. Congrats to all those hardy souls who got up so early to show their dogs. Rocksie and I even got to see one boy earn his final points to finish!

How did Rocksie celebrate? By picking out a post-win toy, then going home to for a long, well-deserved nap. zzzzzzzzz… :-)

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