US Best in Show!

Canine Chronicle, has posted Joe's Best in Show win, with a couple of nice candid photos (the ones shown here).

This is a big milestone for Darwyn Welsh Terriers.

  * I have co-owned a welsh terrier that has received multiple (5) US All-Breed Best in Shows. 
  * I have bred a few that have received this top honour in Canada.
  * Joe is now my first home-bred US All-Breed Best in Show winner. 
Much appreciation to Mrs. Barbara Dempsey Alderman for the Group Win and Mr. Mark Houston-McMillan for this historic Best in Show Award.

This show, while relatively out of the way in Montana, was a very competitive show (just like how some of the smaller shows in Canada can sometimes be the most competitive).  In fact, a number of the top dogs in the US were in attendance at this show - including the #2 dog, all-breeds, the multi BIS winning GWP pictured below.  Also on this weekend, Joe (GCh Am / Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That) won 2 Terrier Group 1st wins - so now he has 8 Group Wins in the US and 138 career Group Wins overall - and now 29 Best in Shows, of which 1 is in the US.  :)

Click here for the Canine Chronicle details of the wins.

As you can see by the photos (and results), Joe is in beautiful condition and happy.  This is because of his dedicated handlers.  Both Milton Lopes (pictures in the ring) and Ash Oldfield (above) work together on him - in fact, I understand that in the last few months, it is Ash that is doing a lot of Joe's coat work, and together they do finishing touches.  That's teamwork! 
Thank you both for keeping Joe looking so good and so happy!

JOE - Best in Show in the US - WOW!

The details are on one of my favorite US Dog Show Blogs:
CLICK HERE to see the exciting details!

It's been close to 2 years since Joe has gone to a regular AKC dog show (other than Westminster Kennel Club in New York) - so far this weekend, he has won both Terrier Groups and today he was awarded BEST IN SHOW, while many of the US's top dogs were there (including the GWP, which is the #2 dog, among all breeds!).

Joe is a pretty darn special dog ... so far 28 Best in Shows in Canada, an AKC all-breeds Best in Show in the, many Group 1st wins in both countries, BOB at a Welsh Terrier Club of America Specialty, multiple Best in Terrier Specialties, Group placements on both Montgomery County (MCKC) and Eukanuba/AKC Invitational weekends (US), Top 10 dog (all-breeds) for 2011 and 2012 and #1 Terrier in Canada (2012) ... and he started out as a puppy to be awarded such things as Best Puppy in Show and Bred By Group placements at the Northern California Terrier Specialty.

This boy has surpassed my wildest dreams as a breeder.  I have owned another US BIS Welsh Terrier, but this win today is just a bit different .... I bred this boy.  He was a singleton and I raised him, trained him and played with him as a puppy and young dog.  Hard to describe - but being awarded a Best in Show at an AKC all-breed show, with such top competition in attendance (Milton is used to that - since in Canada, he seems to always be at the shows that have the top dogs at!) is a living dream.

3rd weekend in a row -- BIS for Joe!

As of today, Joe (GCh and Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That) is Canada's #6 dog all breeds!

2 weekends ago, Joe was awarded his 2nd Best in Show in a line-up that included both the #1 and #2 dogs of all-breeds.  Truly a thrilling experience for us! 

Last weekend Joe won a Terrier Specialty, an all-breed BIS and an all-breed RBIS!  It was the Terrier Breeders Association National Specialty, and NACA, a well known, and well-attended, all-breed show in Canada.

This weekend Joe and Milton flew up to the Yukon to go GOLD prospecting!  You see, it is a tradition for the Yukon Kennel Club (which surprisingly, even though it is far away, sees some of Canada's top dogs in their line-up each year!) gives a Gold Nugget for their BIS and BPIS wins! 

The gold nugget Joe won yesterday isn't enough to retire on, but it could be made into a beautiful piece of jewelry that can be worn with a lot of pride!

Thank you Mr. Rick Fehler for this wonderful award!

Another Best in Show and a Best in Specialty -- Joe is now #7 Dog ALL-BREED!

June 6, 2011
Best in Show
JOE! BISS/MBIS GCh Am and Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That
Judges: Mr. Ralph (Skip) Scoggins (BIS); Mr. James Ham, USA (Group 1)
Handled by Milton Lopes and Tracy Tuff
CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS!

Today was Joe's 31's time in the ring in Canada this year - and every single time he has gone into the ring (except once) he has either won the terrier group or placed!  I am just so darn proud that he has been received so well. Click here for Joe's page

I loved this dog right from when he was 5 weeks old!  Granted, he took a while to mature (so didn't always win or place), but to those with an eye, he showed great promise.  His second time out he got a Best Puppy in Show, his 3rd time out, with me handling him at Northern California Terrier Association at 7 months old he was awarded a Group 2 in Bred-By Exhibitor (adult) Group!  And, shortly after that he was awarded 2 AKC majors (breeder-owner handled :-)

His (short) US career last year was truly amazing, and now back in Canada he certainly has matured into the promissing puppy I had hoped for.

This past weekend in Edmonton Alberta, at NACA, was a very competitive weekend with the Terrier Breeders Assocation of Canada National Specialty, and 4 All- Breed shows.  Joe (GCh and Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That) WON the Terrier Specialty plus Group 1st at 3 out of the 4 all-breed shows, one Reserve Best in Show and Best in Show!  He placed in the other group, while it was won by a beautiful Bull Terrier (one who also won a US National Breed Specialty) ... like I said, a very competitive terrier group (and the largest one in Canada so far this year!).

We are very thankful to the judges that found the quality in Joe to give him these awards this weekend - and so far in his career.  We are very happy.
Our appreciation from this past weekends awards are to:
Elaine Mathis (Florida, USA) for Group 1st and Reserve Best in Show
James Ham (MI, USA) for Group 1st
Fred Dewsbury (Ontario) for Group 1st
Ralph "Skip" Scoggins (Texas) for Group 1st, Best in Specialty and Best in Show!

Joe rocks! G1 and RBIS at the largest terrier entry in Canada so far this year!

June 3, 2011
Group 1 and Reserve Best in Show
JOE!  BISS/MBIS GCh Am and Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That
Judge:  Mrs. Elaine Mathis (Florida, USA)
Handled by Milton Lopes and Tracy Tuff
CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS!

I am bursting with pride today! 
First off, a beautiful 11 week old puppy bitch went to her new home (a very knowledgeable Welsh Terrier breeder who has been involved for over 25 years).  She's on the other side of the continent from me and I have a lot of trust with my new co-owner (and am very excited about this).  Jessie's safe, happy and her new co-owner is thrilled!  Stay tuned on this one, more will be said about Jessie in future posts...
The other reason that I am so proud tonight is that my boy Joe (MBIS/BISS GCh and Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That) won the Group and was awarded Reserve Best in Show today at NACA!  Click here for results.  I believe this weekend has the largest terrier entry in the country so far this year, and it was a very competitive line-up in both the group and BIS level!
Today's Group and BIS judge is the well known, and respected Mrs. Elaine Mathis from Florida USA.  From the personal notes I have received tonight, Joe showed his heart out and looked amazing even though the weather could have been a tad bit warmer!

As you can see by the photos above, Milton Lopes and Tracy Tuff have Joe looking AWESOME!  Thank you to everyone for your support of this wonderful team!

I finally updated Joe's web page with his Canadian show wins!

I finally updated Joe's web page with some "fast facts" for Joe's career to date, his Canadian show wins, and a link to the 2 videos I did of him at dog shows - one in the US on Montgomery weekend and one in Canada (first weekend out with Milton and Tracy).  It was neat to re-live these 2 days.  I enjoyed it - if you watch them, I hope you do also.

Click here to go to Joe's updated web page.

Click here for the video of Joe and Woody on Montgomery 2010 weekend.

Click here for the video of Joe on the first weekend out with Milton Lopes and Tracy Tuff.

A few facts:

* 6 Group WINS in the US! (California and Montgomery weekend)

* 39 Group Placements in the US!
* Many BOB wins in the US with other top Welsh Terriers in competition
* 2 BIS (in top competition)!
* 27 times in the ring in Canada in '11 - 26 Group Placements
* 12 Group WINS in Canada

I still have more to update.  I haven't put in any (except one) of his US photos - and they are good!

Best in Show! Joe! WOW!

Joe - BISS/MBIS Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That
Handled by: Milton Lopes; Tracy Tuff
Judge: Mr. Walter Pinsker
Show: Regina Kenn Club, May 20 2011 (Best in Show!) - click here for results

When I looked at my iPhone as Michael and I were out doing errands today, I was not expecting to see a text message, let alone a message telling us that JOE went BEST IN SHOW today!

A number of people who were at the show told me that Joe was looking really great (perhaps the best that he has looked since he has been with Milton and Tracy ... while that is hard to believe!). 
Tracy also told me last night that he was in excellent spirits, focused, eating well (as always) and happy!  He should be - he got the chance to breed a really beautiful Welsh Terrier bitch (MBIS bitch!) over the last 3 days!  ;-)

This weekends show was relatively small in numbers, but a LOT of the top dogs from across Canada are all there and very competitive!  As you'll see from the link below, in the Best in Show line-up, Joe competed with other Group Winners that are multi Best in Show dogs, the #1 dog all breeds, the #2 dog all breeds and another one that is in the top 10 dog all breeds.  Click here for the results.

I am very honoured that the judge, Mr. Walter Pinsker, chose Joe for his Best in Show!  Walter and his wife Monika have been in "dogs" for many decades, are known all over the world for not only judging, their very prestigious and well run dog shows, but their absolutely wonderful (and respected world-wide) Mephisto Boxers.  From what I have learned, they have been involved since 1968, bred well over 100 champions, 150 best in shows and produced the dog that was the #1 dog (all-breeds) in 1975.  They have also been terrier breeders.

I am so darn proud that Mr. Pinsker found the quality in my boy Joe to give him the top honours at this show, in such strong competition.  Thank you.

#1 - #2 - #3 Welsh Terrier AND #8 TERRIER in Canada! WOW!

I received official news today that Darwyn Welsh Terriers owns (and BRED) the top 3 Welsh Terriers in Canada in 2010! 
Even more exciting is that the #8 Terrier (#1 WT) was my boy Parker!  BISS / BIS Am.Can.Ch Darwyn's Webslinger!  I don't know the exact numbers, but there were over 1000 individual terriers shown across the country (many of them several times during the year :-) - and Parker was the #8 one out of all of them!  WOW!  Parker officially defeated about 1000 dogs during his 6 months of showing to get to this award (pure coincedence with the numbers).  Over the last 12 years, this is the highest award in Canada that I have recieved.  I am so honoured, and grateful to the many judges that found the quality in Parker, and grateful to Aaron Andriash that presented Parker so beautifully during 2010 - Aaron and Parker made for a beautiful team in the ring.

Parker wasn't the only one!  Monty (Ch Darwyn Bruhil's Flying Circus) was shown on 2 weekends and in that time period defeated about 200 dogs which put him to #2 Welsh Terrier in Canada!  And, Athena (now Addie) came back to Canada after her successes in the US (WB at Montgomery!) and became #3 Welsh Terrier in Canada -- then promptly went to do her motherly duties (and did them very well!  :-)

Parker's not active in the show ring this year, he's watching his 1/2 brother Joe (BISS/BIS AmGCh & Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That) do VERY well with Milton and Tracy ... JOE has already surpassed Parker's record in just 5 weekends!,  and Monty also got to play in the ring a few times with me (Larisa) ... very successfully I might add (many Group 1st wins!) ... and YES, I know, I still need to DO Monty's page on my website and update Joe's page!  I am SO bad!  Facebook is a very bad influence on me ;-)

Parker might be back in the show ring - or he might just sit back and watch his beautiful puppies that he sired and watch how the NEXT GENERATION comes along.  ;-) 

Here is one of the "Parker puppies" at 5 months of age ... looking at this photo, I (as the breeder of both Parker AND TJ), am hard pressed to tell the difference between them - this 5 month old puppy looks very similar to what Parker did at this age in head, expression (a bit bigger ears than Parker, but that's it), bone, body, coat, texture, color, front..... a beautiful dog has sired some really beautiful "very welshie" puppies!  I am so proud.

2 Group Wins & Reserve Best in Show at one of Canada's toughest shows!

Joe!
BISS / BIS / GCh Am & Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That
BIS Judge:  Cec Ringstrom (AB)
Group Judge#2:  Jeannine Dowell (US)
Group Judge#1:  John Ross (ON)
Handler:  Milton Lopes & Tracy Tuff
Show:  Renaissance Dog Association (April 2011)
CLICK HERE FOR THE RESULTS OF DAY 4 (RBIS) and HERE FOR  RESULTS OF DAY 1 (G1)

Canada's #1, #2 and #3 Terriers arrived in Chilliwack BC from 3 different provinces in Apr/11 for the Renaissance Dog Association show - an event that is starting to rival the October BC show for the top show in Canada in both quality and numbers.

I was both nervous and excited about this weekend!

The #1 terrier, a locally handled Westi, is currently the #1 dog (all-breeds, of all-breeds) in Canada.  The #2 terrier, a Skye from Eastern Canada is also one of the top 10 dogs, all-breeds.  And, the #3 terrier, is my boy Joe!  Joe is currently living in Alberta!

With all three of these dogs being Canadian Best in Show winners, and the Skye and Welsh already proven US winners, many people stood ringside and it proved to be a very exciting 4 days!  These 3 dogs, conditioned and handled to perfection by experts, met about 60 other terriers, many of whom were also group winners.

I am very honoured that my boy Joe (BISS/BIS GCh Am & Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That) WON the Terrier Group on the 2 days that Terrier Breeder judges judged. 
I was very honoured by these placements, and will never forget this weekend.

One was Mr. John Ross from Ontario.  It turns out that not only was he and his wife a professional handling team for many years, but he also was a professional dog show photographer for about 15 years (so saw a lot of great dogs!), but they also have had many decades of breeding terriers - Miniature Schnauzers and Airedales (so not only do they know a good dog, they know what to look for in trimming tricks from pro handlers, but also can recognize the work that goes into preparing a hard coated terrier).  Again, I am very honoured by this placement. 

The other Group 1st Win for Joe was awarded by Jeannine Dowell, up from the US, and again someone that has been a terrier breeder herself for many years.
The other 2 shows had the beautiful Skye Terrier represent terriers in the Best in Show ring - a beautiful example of the breed, and one that I did not mind losing to (of course, I would want Joe to win the group, but I also recognize that there are other good dogs out there).

The final day was icing on the cake for me.  Joe was awarded the Reserve Best in Show by very well respected judge, Cec Rinsgstrom who has seen many of the top dogs - everywhere - for many years.  Watching ringside, supporters of Joe in the Group and and BIS ring (many of whom I did not recognize) made me feel these wins were even that much more special.  And, to watch him work with Milton in the ring was a true joy!  Tracy also does an unbelievable job, however, on the first day, she was occupied herself with her own dog in the Best in Show line-up - a beautiful Shelti!

Unfortunately I forgot my good camera on this final day, and no professional candid photographer was working this day - so all I have to share with is what I took with my iPhone! 

Cleraly, as evidenced by the photo above, Milton and Joe work very well as a team!

Joe goes Best in Show! He's now BISS/BIS GCh Am & Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That

Joe!  BISS/BIS GCh Am & Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That
Judge:  Marilyn Mincey
Handlers:  Tracy Tuff (BIS); Milton Lopes (Group)
Assisted by Michelle Gaudet
April 3, 2011
Red Deer, Alberta

Michael and I stayed home this weekend to play with and socialize puppies since we expected to see them next weekend at a show close to our home.  The first 2 days of this past weekend's show were very good  for us since Joe won the Terrier Group each day.  By Sunday, we were thinking that one of the other nice terriers might win the group (a 'hat trick' is not the easiest thing to do) ... but, it's not impossible, Joe has done it before!  The last 2 times were in California - mid October 2010 and in July 2010 in Carmel California (Del Monte KC).  But, you never want to get your hopes too high, and we simply spent Sunday 'out and about with puppies' and doing errands.
Of course I kept checking the canuckdogs website to see if results were posted (see the results now here).
As Michael and I walked into Starbucks we got a text message from Milton...

"Tracy and Joe just went BEST IN SHOW!!!"

And, you can just imagine how large of a grin instantly appeared!

Joe has won at some really prestigious shows before (like the BOB and Group 2 at Devon, the day before Montogmery 2010, at a WTCA Specialty, etc.), but this was Joe's first Best in Show!  And it was a spectacular feeling!   A real honour.

Once I saw the results, I saw that the BIS line-up was beautiful - a line-up that could rival any in the world!  And, it was a real honour to be a terrier and to get the nod from this judge.  Marilynn Mincey has been an all-breed judge for a very long time, judged all over the world, bred close to 100 champion Airedales, and has bred and owned the #1 Terrier in Canada before!  She knows a good terrier, and I am just thrilled that she thinks so highly of one of mine. 

I am very honoured to have BIS now be listed on Joe's many titles and accomplishments.  Tracy and Milton did an outstanding job, as usual, and Michelle Gaudet provided wonderful support and assistance.  This is truly a wonderful team - and I am very happy that they have my boy Joe in their line-up of beautiful dogs this year.

I can't wait to see them next weekend!

Keep on being happy Joe and showing your heart out!  We are all watching and rooting for you!

Joe is now #12 dog - ALL BREEDS in Canada! 

*Apr 5, 2011*

WOW!