Showing at the Westminster Kennel Club show is a dream of many Belgian fanciers. With space limitations, it now means you have to truly have a "top dog". Invitations are sent out to the Top Five dogs of each breed. After a certain time period, the entries are opened up to other champions. Yes, this is a "champions only" event.
Dogs are listed in alphabetical order, not rank. The five Belgian Malinois invited are:
GCH CH Asti Spumante Harmonie Du Chien BN
GCH CH Broadcreek's Marcus Junis Brutus
GCH CH Broadcreek's Mirabella
GCH CH Mystique's Cup Of Joe
GCH CH Trisorts Zoomin Harley
GCH CH Turicks Black Jack HSAds HIAs MX MXJ XF
Belgian Sheepdogs invitees are:
GCH CH Bonntyme's Keepsake At Isengard
GCH CH Chargany's Voyageur
GCH CH Images Texas Hold'Em At Laralee
GCH CH Liswyn's Vaquero RA
GCH CH Sundown's Nitemagic Just What I Do
And representing Belgian Tervuren:
GCH CH Char-Ma's The Chosen One
GCH CH MACH Just Sayno Toujours Jeune VCD2 UD RE OAP OJP XF
GCH CH Mishaook Lulu At Chateau Blanc HSCs
GCH CH Sky Acres Blazin' Blue Angel CDX RA PT
GCH CH Sky Acres Flying Solo
It is nice to see some performance titles scattered among the dogs. All of the Belgians are Grand Champions which also means they had to spend quite a bit of time showing in conformation. Not all of the invited dogs may show up and looking at the entry you can see that some other Belgians also managed to get in. A nice showing for these breeds. Hopefully the Belgian Laekenois will join them next year!
All the herding breeds will be shown on Monday, February 13. The Herding Group will be judged Monday evening with only the Herding Group winner returning for Best in Show on Tuesday. All three Belgian breeds will be judged by Mrs. Kimberley Meredith-Cavanna from California in Ring 3.
Belgian Malinois are first on at 8:30 with 15 entered - eight dogs and seven bitches. Belgian Sheepdogs follow them directly with an entry of 13, consisting of nine dogs and four bitches. Belgian Tervuren are the second breed in the 9:30 am slot. The ten Tervs, divided equally with five dogs and five bitches, follow eight Australian Cattle Dogs.
Group judging will start at 8:00 pm, with the Herding Group going last. Herding will be judged by Mr. Houston Clark of Tennessee.
More to come on the Westminster experience, coverage, etc. If you would like to get free email notices of Belgian news and updates, simply hit the subscribe button near the top.
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