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French Bulldogs at Crufts 2008

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French Bulldog CC and Class Winners, Crufts 2008

Crufts is over for another year, and the Best of Breed winner is the simply stunning Ch. Birique Prinzessen JW – better known as “Sassi”. She was awarded this win by respected breeder/judge Dr. Christine Towner, and it is the icing on a career that has been nothing short of stunning.

Sassi is the UK’s top winning fawn bitch of all time, with 22 challenge certificates to her credit. She won Best of Breed at Crufts in 2004, and her triumphant return to the ring this year caps off a career that has also seen her win 5 UK Best in Shows. Her breeders and owners, Neil and Jacky Birks, of Birique French Bulldogs, have every right to be thrilled. Not only did they take the bitch challenge certificate, four of their other dogs placed or took first in their classes.

You can find the Birique French Bulldogs web page here.

Our friend Sue Case, of Epic French Bulldogs, was at Crufts and took a great big batch of photos. Sue’s photos of Sassi are in the slide display below, or view all of her Crufts photos full sized here. After the photos, I have a listing of the Crufts winners, which you can also find on the Midland and Northern Counties French Bulldog Club website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results – Crufts 06/03/08

Judge: Dr Christine Towner

BEST OF BREED
CH BIRIQUE PRINZESSEN JW
Bitch | Owner: MR N J BIRKS

BEST PUPPY
FENITON FERGUSON
Dog | Owner: MRS A JENKINS

DOG CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE
ACIREMA COLUMBUS TOMMYVILLE
Dog | Owner: MRS M BOOTLE

BITCH CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE
CH BIRIQUE PRINZESSEN JW
Bitch | Owner: MR N J BIRKS
RESERVE DOG CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE
BARON BERTY AT BREMARS
Dog | Owner: MRS J M MARSDEN
RESERVE BITCH CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE
ACIREMA LADY CHARMAINE
Bitch | Owner: MR P F & MR B KENDRICK & JONES

CLASSES

VETERAN – Dog
Entries: 3 Abs: 1
1st TRUHALI BLACK ICE OF OTTENSTOCK (MRS S STOCKS)
2nd INT CH GLENLEE NIGHT HAWK (MRS E KOZHEVNIKOVA)

SPECIAL PUPPY – Dog
Entries: 4 Abs: 0
1st FENITON FERGUSON (MRS A JENKINS)
2nd AGEANCOURT SWEET ROCKET (MRS K SMITH)
3rd TERRY LEIGH BOONE AVEC LABANJO (MRS C BURTON)
Res AGEANCOURT TOPS AT TOMMYVILLE (MRS L & MRS M BOOTLE & BONSALL)

SPECIAL JUNIOR – Dog
Entries: 9 Abs: 3
1st FRIEND DE LA PARURE (MR D FRIEND)
2nd TUCHOOS PORTHOS (MR G & MRS D PHILLIPS)
3rd RUOMYES BETE BLOND (MRS P W SEYMOUR)
Res AGEANCOURT MARCEL (MISS H ASKINS)
VHC TOMMYVILLE TEMPERENCE (MR A, MRS M & MRS D CUTTER, BOOTLE & RUMGAY)

YEARLING – Dog
Entries: 5 Abs: 0
1st BARON BERTY AT BREMARS (MRS J M MARSDEN)
2nd BIRIQUE WRIEGNMAKER (MR N J BIRKS)
3rd SHOEBRIDGE FRANCS (MR R & MRS J MAVRO-MICHAELIS)
Res KARCASAM DANCING BEAR AT HELDANSTOW (MR D & MRS H THOMAS)

POST GRADUATE – Dog
Entries: 13 Abs: 3
1st ACIREMA COLUMBUS TOMMYVILLE (MRS M BOOTLE)
2nd OCEAN FANTASY IZ PALEVY BULDOG [ATC AH01295RUS] (MRS M A LEBEDEVA)
3rd GLENLEE CHEYENNE AT SHEARDOWN (MR N R SPENCER)
Res TWINHOE BRIAN (MR C J BLAIR)
VHC TWINHOE RAMONE (MISS E THICK)

LIMIT – Dog
Entries: 10 Abs: 0
1st TOMMYVILLE TANTRUM AT TWINHOE (MR C J BLAIR)
2nd GLENLEE DANCING SHADOWS (MR G & MRS E DRUMMOND)
3rd BIRIQUE PRINZREGENT (MR N J BIRKS)
Res AGEANCOURT FOXGLOVE (MRS K SMITH)
VHC THE PHEASANT CHASER (MRS C HAMMOND)

OPEN – Dog
Entries: 10 Abs: 2
1st ABBEYMILL MR BOJANGLES (MRS L PARTRIDGE)
2nd CH FENITON FERGUS AT MORVERN JW SHCM (MS A & MRS A MCINNES & JENKINS)
3rd TOMMYVILLE TIMMY MCTIMONY (MRS M BOOTLE)
Res TOMMYVILLE TODHUNTER (MRS M BOOTLE)
VHC ELLIOTT DE LA PARURE [ATC AG00709BEL] (MRS FL LALLIARD)

VETERAN – Bitch
Entries: 2 Abs: 0
1st CH TOMMYVILLE TULIP OF GAIS (MRS M LE GALLAIS)
2nd SPANDAPA TANTO TIA (MISS A MITCHELL)

SPECIAL PUPPY – Bitch
 Entries: 7 Abs: 0
1st RICCIBET MISS MINK (MR R E RICHARDSON)
2nd AGEANCOURT SOX (MR L & MRS A GIRLING)
3rd DAPLEDAN PARIS (MR A & MRS J CUTTER)
Res SENKRAH JUST AS HONEST (MR & MRS A W HARKNESS)
VHC REDMIST CRYSTAL MAZE VIA NKUNDE (MR S & MRS J COOK)

SPECIAL JUNIOR – Bitch
Entries: 12 Abs: 1
1st ACIREMA LADY CHARMAINE (MR P F & MR B KENDRICK & JONES)
2nd NOKOMIS LITTLE SNOW BEAR (MRS J KEATES)
3rd ACIREMA FLEURETTE TOMMYVILLE (MRS M & MR I BOOTLE & MOYE)
Res DEZINERLABEL ENDLESS SKY (AI) (MRS D & MS J MCKNIGHT-SMITH & MCKENZIE-MORTON)
VHC FAYLOUI AZURA (MR M & MRS VAILE)

YEARLING – Bitch
Entries: 11 Abs: 0
1st BIRIQUE WINNEROVA (MR N J BIRKS)
2nd CRINDLE’S FABERGE (MR B & MRS E WRIGHT)
3rd ABBEYMILL SHTOOM SHTOOM (MRS C A JOPLING)
Res CRINDLE’S PETITE FLEUR WITH AUDACIOUS (MS A STILL)
VHC SHOEBRIDGE GIENNOIS (MR R & MRS J MAVRO-MICHAELIS)

POST GRADUATE – Bitch
Entries: 14 Abs: 3
1st BIRIQUE WANNAGOTU ANASHELL (MR M & MRS K CONWAY)
2nd ROBOBULL SMEG (MRS C ROBERTSON)
3rd MADAINN HIGHLAND MYSTERY (MISS D & MR J MCAULEY & AITKEN)
Res VAGHNA OOPSA DAISY (D & G GAVAGHAN)
VHC MUGGSHOTTS BETTY BOOP (MRS BONSALL)

LIMIT – Bitch
 Entries: 14 Abs: 3
1st NELLBANK GRACES SATIN BEAU (MRS L BANKS)
2nd NOKOMIS ENDLESS SUMMER (MRS J KEATES)
3rd DAMEJA LUCY LOCKET (MRS S MCKENNA)
Res BIRIQUE TCHARMED BY TOMMYVILLE (MRS M & MR N BOOTLE & BIRKS)
VHC FENITON RUBY TUESDAY (MRS J CRITCHLEY)

OPEN – Bitch
Entries: 13 Abs: 2
1st CH BIRIQUE PRINZESSEN JW (MR N J BIRKS)
2nd CH ACIREMA SEALED WITH A KISS (MR P F & MR B KENDRICK & JONES)
3rd PINK LADY JAZZY V MUPPY’S PLACE [ATC AG00731NLD] (MRS E J & MR F P DE BIE)
Res FENITON FRANCINE (MR D H TAYLOR)
VHC DAMEJA EQUINOXE (MRS S MCKENNA)

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME – Bitch
Entries: 1 Abs: 0
1st NOKOMIS WHISPERING BREEZE (MRS I & MR R STANSFIELD)

 

Wishbone Brakes for Westminster and Old Dogs with New Homes

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This post is sort of a big bunch o’ stuff I wanted to post all last week, but couldn’t, because the internet Gods were angry with me.

I have made them an offering of a pureed 14.4 modem, so hopefully they are appeased and will keep my over priced, stupid, slow-ass satellite internet connection from crashing for just a few days, ok?

Sheesh.

Wishbone Needs Snackage

Your dog wins BoB two years in a row, and what is he famous for? Slamming on the brakes so he can carpet surf for leftover bait.

For those of you who missed it, here’s a video clip of Wishbone’s adorable brake-slamming moment during Westminster 2008. I love how they added the brake action sound effects at the top of the second night.

Old Dogs, New Homes

I was thrilled to see a comment from Lisa Levy over on my post about placing dogs into retirement homes. Lisa adopted Blossom a few years ago (I owned her, but didn’t breed her), and I can’t think of a better home for an older Frenchie. It’s a photo of Blossom working the King David retirement home that is shown on the Wikipedia French Bulldog article that I help to edit.

It’s always so great to hear from past and present owners of dogs…

Blossom, btw, had her own website.. Frenchies are sooo tech savvy.

Blossom and Minnie at the retirement home

A Side Note to Owners of Frenchies from Absolut Bullmarket

Hey, you! I know you read this blog, at least sporadically. Get yer butt over to our group on Ning, and upload some bee-ooo-teous photos and film clips of your little flat faced friend.

It’s not scary at all, honest. You just:

– sign up for a FREE Ning account

– Join our group

– start uploading photos and videos, writing blogs, and chatting with other owners

I’m going to start featuring dogs and owners from our group on this blog, so drop me a line if you’d like to be featured! I love braggin’ on our extended four legged family!

Solo Goes Home and… Paris Hilton, Dog Breeder?

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Well, life out here in the country sure can be a pain in the butt. A wicked winter ice storm knocked my satellite internet out of service from Sunday afternoon until yesterday morning, and I’ve been going through some serious net surfing withdrawal pains.

Needless to say, I also have some blog post catching upping* to do…

*(is that an actual term? If it isn’t, it should be)

Solo’s New Family

As I mentioned previously, Solo went home with his new family on Sunday morning. Having him gone has been really hard — probably the hardest puppy I’ve ever let go. I think a lot of that has to do with losing Delilah’s brother last summer – but part of it is definately about how special a boy Solo is.

Knowing that he’s someplace where he is so well loved has been a definite comfort, although not to Dexter – he REALLY misses Solo, and has woken me up every night since he left.

Susan, Solo’s new mom, has written up a brief bio about herself and her family, and about how Solo is fitting into their home.

Solo’s new family

We are so blessed to have been able to add Solo to our family. We feel so lucky to have been able to have this opportunity and feel he is the perfect fit. My husband and I have 2 boys, ages 9 and 7, both boys have different levels of Autism. They are both extremely sensitive boys, with a very quirky nature, and the usual behaviours associated with Autism. They were raised around dogs and cats and have always had a compassionate way with creatures of any kind. I am a stay at home mom, so I am always available to be there for my kids and the pets. Solo is our first Frenchie, as we have had large dogs before.

He is a joy to have around, he is not just a pretty face. He is so loving and is always following the boys around the house. He just loves to be around people. He loves to be held and cuddled and we hope one day to have him doing therapy work once he is old enough. I see great things for this little guy, who has stolen all our hearts. He is incredibly smart, which was very surprising to me. He has us all trained already!! He has caught on so fast to his new house and routine. I can just gush over him forever, and he is very photogenic to boot.

We thank our lucky stars everyday to have Solo join our family!!!! We are more than thankful to Carol and Barb for all the thought, work, blood, sweat and tears they put into their dogs. Especially the loving care for Solo, for that is what made him what he is today, a true blessing. And I would also like to thank everyone who rooted for him, and sent their thoughts and prayers for him, thank you, thank you, thank you. He is a special little guy, who has made our special little family a very happy one!

Susan, Terry, Sean and Ian Snider, and wet kisses from Solo

Lots of new photos of Solo with his people (and their toys!) here, or in the slide show below.

Adventures in Puppy Land

Well, tis finally done. Both Journey and Paris have been bred, and what a long, strange trip that has been. Daily 2 hour round trips northward for blood testing and Draminski testing for the past 2 weeks, numerous snow storm delays, worries over sperm shipping, a vet bill well into four figures and counting, and we’re still not guaranteed that either of them is pregnant.

Someone be sure to let me know when all this lucrative dog money we breeders are supposed to have is going to start flowing, because I could sure use it to pay off my Mastercard bill.

In a month or so from now we’ll haul them both in for ultrasounds and see if there are any babies percolating in their bellies.

Of course, I could go the Paris Hilton route, and just let them free range around the yard reproducing willy nilly…

Thank doG she never ended up with a Frenchie. The mind reels.

The Los Angeles Department of Animal Services paid a visit to the home of Paris Hilton today to investigate a complaint about her dogs.

Captain Bowers tells TMZ his department received a complaint from an animal rescue group, after Paris’ appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Monday. On the show, Paris talked about having 17 dogs — a huge no-no in the city of Los Angeles. A non-breeder is only allowed three dogs per address — though in Hollywood, Paris is considered a notorious breeder!

Captain Bowers tells us he went to her home Tuesday, only to find it’s under serious construction and nobody — including pets — is living there. So Captain Bowers left word with a maid and hasn’t heard back.

We’re told all of Paris’ pets are not currently living with her — they are with animal handlers.

Here’s Paris on Ellen, busting herself. I suppose it’s better she’s pumping out puppies than babies… too bad Brit Brit didn’t think of that before becoming a breeder.

Ellie Has Insomnia

Every breeder I know of has at least one ‘special’ dog or two. Ours is named Ellie, and she has a hard time falling asleep. Y’know how kids will get totally, fall over sleepy, so sleepy that their heads are nodding – but they will still refuse to let themselves fall asleep?

That’s Ellie.

I can’t really explain it more than that, other than to tell you to watch the video.

Westminster Re-Cap – French Bulldogs, Patty Hearst and Unfair Hair Cut Advantages

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Well, the judging is done, and yet again the Frenchie got overlooked for a frou frou poodle. C’est la vie. Apparently a poofy haircut counts for extra super duper bonus points. Actually, I don’t have a clue how good the poodle really is, since poodles are one of those breeds that all look startlingly similar to me (sorry Jan!).

It was good to see yet another of Cody Sickle’s lovely Bulldogs place well in group. Bullies, like Frenchies, are at a natural disadvantage in a group over run with spring loaded, fluffy coated yappers, so I always root for the Bulldog, in lieu of the Frenchie. I mean, take a look at the photos of this year’s Non Sporting group placers –

nonsporting.jpg

Notice anything? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Fluffy haircuts will get you to the big ring every time…

French Bulldog Best of Breed was taken by Ch Windmark’s What a Guy, who also won BoB in 2007. He was handled by Jodi Ghaster, who also handled Best of Opposite Sex winner Ch Shann’s Legally Blond (call name Diva). I’m apparently obligated to mention that Diva is owned by Patty Hearst (now Patty Hearst Shaw). She has owned French Bulldogs for quite a few years, so it’s old news to Frenchie people to hear that she has a dog in the ring. It’s big news everyplace else, though – the name “Patty Hearst” was one of Google’s top search terms today.

Isabella, also known as Ch Absolut’s Ooh LaLa V Amron, didn’t do anything in the breed ring, but she did make the final cut, and with 32 other Frenchies in the ring, that’s a pretty respectable showing for a 14 month old pied. I’d like to also point out that she was the only pied in the final line up, and one of only two that I can see of all the judging photos Wayne sent me. The ring was awash with creams and brindles, but the more esoteric pieds were rare, and the other colors were missing altogether.

Here’s a photo of Isabella gaiting for her handler, James Berger, for owner Toni Perone. Next year, guys…

Wayne Kovacs, co owner of Dixie and owner handler extraordinaire, was at the Gardens, and took tons of photos. You can see the entire collection here, or Isabella’s photos here.

Thanks again, Wayne!

Flashy Solo…

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Dexter and Solo

A little flash gallery of Solo photos, along with a handful of Solo and Dexter together.

Click here to open in new window.