Good Bloggie!

This weekend Vivian earned an International title from IABCA (International All Breed Canine Association). She got a UCICB - International Champion title from the Open Class (Offeneklasse). Thank you to all her judges!

The IABCA is sanctioned by the UCI (Union Cynologie International) which is based in Germany.

Vivian attended these shows last year, bringing home three Reserve Best in Show Puppy awards (two in Bred-by and one in Open). Read about it here and more on the IABCA.
Link to last year

Well this year, not only did she bring home another Reserve Best in Show Bred-by Exhibitor rosette from the Adult class, she topped it off with a Best in Show Bred-by Exhibitor rosette!

But more than the ribbons, she had a great time. She loves the attention and especially the kids who come to pet her. Think she was looking forward to another day of it this morning. She looked a bit sad when we didn’t load up the car.

Pictures were taken and will be posted once they arrive.

If you are interested in what makes a Frenchie look like a Frenchie, or what a judge is looking for in the show ring, enjoy reading and viewing this page with descriptions, photos, and illustrations.

Analysis of the French Bulldog

And you just thought they were cute, snorty dogs, didn’t you?

It’s almost that time again. Time to watch the nation’s top dogs compete at Madison Square Garden in The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. (One of the few remaining benched dog shows in the country.)

This year’s five invited Frenchies are:
CH Bayhill Celebrate!
CH Etoile Billy Joe Royal
CH Fabelhaft Too Hot To Handle
CH Lebull’s Midnight Confessions
CH Sundarby’s Korvette Hot Shot

Last year, there were 38 French Bulldog entries, and the Best of Breed winner was CH Windmarks What A Guy.

You can watch the 2007 breed judging competition by going to this link and searching for “French Bulldog” located near the bottom of the page.
2007 Westminster Best of Breed Results

The 2008 show will be Monday thru Tuesday, February 11-12.

Individual breed judging will take place each day between the hours of 8:30 AM and 6 PM. French Bulldog judging will be on Monday, February 11.

Group and Best In Show competition will be televised live.
Monday - USA Network from 8-9 PM and continuing on CNBC from 9-11 PM
Tuesday - USA Network from 8-11 PM

Judges:
The French Bulldog Breed judge this year is Mr. Fred Bassett of Tulsa, OK.
The Best in Show judge is Dr. J. Donald Jones of Marietta, GA.

For more on the history of the Westminster Show, and how the dogs are selected to compete, visit these links:
The Westminster Kennel Club - Show History
The Poop - Westminster History
Brownielocks.com - Westminster History

Vivian walked away with another Major this past Sunday, pulling me right behind her! She’s decided she likes all that cheering and applause. It suits her “diva-ness” just fine.

Below is her winning 4-point Major picture. And she did give a satisfied snort when she saw it.

First points for Vivian and first points for me!

Vivian earned her first AKC points this weekend in Lubbock, Texas, and she did it with a 3 Point Major. Not only that, she was shown in the Bred-by class, which means, the person on the other end of her lead was…me. So despite nerves, broken AC units, my newbieness, and Vivian deciding to enter that, ah um, “warm” time of year, we must have worked well enough as a team to catch the judge’s eye.

And somehow, she does know she’s done something grand. She’s been snorting extra, extra happy ever since we got home.