Good advice on recognizing an impending dog attack.

We’re back from the American National Specialty weekend in Missouri, with one superstar retired – and another launched.

AmGCh.CanCh.Minuteman Goldikova was awarded Select in her final ring appearance at the American Miniature Schnauzer Club National on Saturday. Also in the final lineup was “Sprite”, AmGCh.CanCh.Minuteman Safety Last was First Award of Merit. At the evening finals: Best Brace in Show

Sunday was the Twin Cities MSC Specialty Show – an new day with a new judge evaluating the same dogs often results in different outcomes. And did it ever! Can.Ch.Minuteman Toxicology came out of the classes in a surprise upset, defeating over 150 dogs to win Best of Breed and complete his American Championship title. And so it begins again.

Thanks to the guest bloggers who keep things running during my road trips. I note that you’ve managed to push the Obama administration into complete meltdown during my absence – SDA gets results with or without my help!
After a few more hours of rest, blogging should resume to normal.

No shit, Sherlock: Dogs more likely to steal food when they don’t think you’re watching. (h/t EBD)

UPDATE! Best of Breed for “Sprite”!!!

You can watch Krystal and Sprite tonight in the Terrier Group judging on Animal Planet, coverage begins at 8pm ET.
(original post follows below)
Miniature Schnauzer judging begins a little after 11:00am EST. (Update: around 11:25 by the looks of things). Am.Can.Ch.Minuteman Safety Last is entered and will be handled by his co-owner Krystal Mason, who piloted him to #1 MS in Canada in 2012. “Sprite” is a decided underdog at this event, but wish us luck nonetheless!


Streaming by Ustream

They don’t work.

My dog, the paradox.

And the American Miniature Schnauzer Club National Specialty
Best of Breed – Am.Can.Ch.Minuteman Goldikova

In addition, a son of Am.Can.Ch.Minuteman Underworld took the dog points, while Venus’ little sister Minuteman Spanish Fly won the girl points and Am.Can.Ch.Minuteman Safety Last was first Award of Merit.
While I was busy conquering Schnauzers, my Scottish Terrier Can.Ch.Gyver Lead Me Not was winning the bitch points at the Scottish Terrier Club of America National with her primary owner and fellow road warrior, Karen.

We fully expect that someone down here is calling Homeland Security right now in an attempt to have us added to the “No Cross Border List”. Heh. Better get moving…
Update: FYI, Prior to the shows since Kate’s been away winning stuff, here were the AKC standings (select Miniature Schnauzer as Breed and hit ‘Get Rankings’).
I don’t know how the two dogs over Goldi did the last couple of weeks, but I think it’s fair to say she’s tightened the race. It’s rare for a bitch to win, or for that matter any dog that isn’t campaigned all year. -lance

Am.Can.Ch.Minuteman Goldikova in the group in Scottsdale, AZ yesterday. She’s following in the footsteps of Venus, and is already top ranked female Mini Schnauzer in the US this year. Thanks to the guest bloggers for helping keep the place humming while Golda’s been ripping up the rings from Portland to Denver to San Diego. Normal blogging will resume in a couple of days.

Under the category of “Wrong, Just Wrong”, here’s a pair of photos I took of a Chihuahua in San Jose, California last Friday evening.

h/t

A video that reduces a 12,225 mile road trip around the USA to 5 minutes.

Reminds me of this past year’s dog show campaign – or at least, a quarter of it.
h/t Dave

And we’re home from the annual Michigan – Montgomery County suicide run. We have some major successes to report, but I’ll just narrow it down to the “big ones”.
We began at the Michigan Terrier Ass’n, in Mornoe, where Am.Can.Ch.Minuteman Goldikova won the schnauzer specialty and went on to place in a huge terrier group, defeating 251 dogs in the cold and driving wind.

Minuteman Metropolis scored both of the major wins required for his American title with a Best of Breed win in Michigan and Best of Winners at the American Miniature Schnauzer Club national specialty at Montgomery County. (pictured here with my friend, Karen).

Over the four days that make up the most important weekend for terriers on the planet – “Montgomery County” – Venus took home “select” and “Award of Merit” wins, as did Golda, who was also “best female” at Hatboro, while our young male, Am.Can.Ch.Minuteman Underworld was Best of Breed at Devon – the most prestigious win of the trip.

(Underworld congratulates his cousin new Am.Ch. Mystique Runway to a Legacy on finishing her title at Hatboro.)
In all, dogs with Minuteman breeding in their immediate pedigrees (represented by a variety of US kennels) made up about 25% of the entry, and took home 75% of the major awards over the weekend.

(After “the cut”. Part of the final lineup at the National. Golda and I are at the front where we would go on to win “Select”.)
We have one more short jaunt to South Dakota in a week, and after that (I think) we’ll be drawing the campaign to a close. According to my records, Am.GCh.Can.Ch. Minuteman Venus Flytrap is currently the number one female in the breed in the US, all systems. Thanks to everyone for making this “once in a lifetime” year possible!

(Click on the photos to view in larger format.)

I don’t generally bore you all with our exploits as Venus and I travel the dog show trail this summer, but today she scored a big one, defeating the #1 and #2 #5 terriers in the US to win the Terrier Club of Salt Lake Specialty show. Thanks all of you for your patience and thanks to the guest bloggers who have so generously picked up the slack around here while we play.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
*Corrected

Actually, it does kinda look like Saskatchewan.
We’re at the halfway point on a show cluster in Topeka, Kansas and it’s “so far, so good”. Venus is extending her points lead for “top bitch” nicely, and a client’s dog will go home with a new championship title.
And for those who keep pestering me for photos – here is the ungrateful creature who has hijacked your blog mistress, in the group ring in Calgary (taken earlier this month).

Thanks once again to the guest bloggers who have so ably filled in the gaps for us. Another 8 weeks or so and we should be able to call it a year.

Me and Racket (new Am.Ch.Minuteman Underworld) at the MSC of Southern California yesterday, finishing his championship. Followed an hour later by new Am.Ch.Minuteman Goldikova finishing hers!
Thanks again to the guest bloggers for making this very excellent year possible.

Quincy Whig Standard;

MISSOURI lawmakers will have at least one bill to consider next year that would repeal the Proposition B vote on dog breeding regulations.
Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, said the proposition that passed by a narrow margin statewide — it failed in rural areas, but won overwhelmingly in St. Louis and Kansas City — misled voters.
[…]
Shortly after the Nov. 2 election, dog breeders started receiving letters from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Breeders were told that the HSUS filed a Freedom of Information act request on Oct. 4, to get access to information on USDA licenses for use in a civil lawsuit.
“These are the people who said ‘trust us’ we’re only worried about the puppies,” said one Northeast Missouri breeder who requested anonymity. “Now they want private information on all of us.”
License forms include information such as the number of dogs purchased, the number sold, the gross revenue and income after expenses. […]
In the meantime, some pet shelters are concerned about being deluged with dogs as breeders either go out of business or have to reduced the number of dogs they own.
David Martosko, director of the Center for Consumer Freedom, has suggested that the HSUS provide money to Missouri shelters to be used for animal care.
“Last year the HSUS took in $100 million but made only six grants to Missouri pet shelters, totaling less than $43,000, according to its filings with the IRS,” Martasko said.