Right : The Miscellaneous Group winner was the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen Sidekick ’ s Amour De Bonami CM4 . Far right : The winner of the National Owner- Handled Series was the Miniature American Shepherd GCh . Love That Jimmy Fallon CM . Bottom left : The Rhodesian Ridgeback Meet the Breeds booth , which won Best Booth in Show . Bottom right : The Standard Poodle GCh . G Hillwood Dassin Ouspenskaya was Best Bred-by- Exhibitor .
Miscellaneous , NOHS and BBE Winners
The colorful World Challenge moved across the Atlantic in 2014 after having been part of the AKC ’ s National Championship since 2007 . The event ’ s 10th anniversary will be celebrated at Crufts in 2017 . Had it not been for the Best in Miscellaneous Group competition in Orlando , many FCI breeds one only got to see at the Challenge would have been missing . Winning the Group this year was Sidekick ’ s Amour De Bonami CM4 , a Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen known as ‘ Ace ,’ owned by Brent Humphrey and Corey Benedict of Howey-in-the-Hills , Fla .
More than 80 percent of show dogs are handled by their owners , so it is no surprise that the National Owner-Handled Series honoring the dedication and enthusiasm of ownerhandlers has grown in popularity and prestige . Dogs that finished ranked in the top 10 for their breeds during the qualifying period ( from October 8 , 2015 to October 12 , 2016 ) were invited to compete in the finals competition . On Saturday night , judge Paul F . Willhauck chose GCh . Love That Jimmy Fallon CM , a Miniature American Shepherd , as his ultimate winner over an invitation-only entry of 711 dogs . ‘ Jimmy ’ is owned by Jeanie Troyan McAdams and Dr . Douglas McAdams
In the Bred-by-Exhibitor class , exhibitors make a powerful statement to a judge that says , “ This is a dog that I bred , own and am proud to handle in the ring .” Breeders support this highly respected win to showcase their best . This year , a Standard Poodle named ‘ Maria ’ ( GCh . G Hillwood Dassin Ouspenskaya ), representing Joseph Vergnetti and Ellen M . Charles was Dr . Robert Indeglia ’ s choice to win Best Bred-By-Exhibitor in Show . Maria is the most recent multiple BIS winner coming out of the Dassin ( Vergnetti ) -Hillwood ( Charles ) breeding program
that has produced such great Poodles for many decades .
Special Recognition
Were it not for breeders , the halls of a championship dog show would be shrouded in silence . The Bred-by-Exhibitor ribbon rewards a breeder for a deserving entry , but a lifetime of work is honored by the title “ AKC Breeder of the Year .” This annual award is bestowed upon “ individuals who have dedicated their lives to improving the health , temperament and longevity of their chosen breed .” At a special presentation on Saturday night , nominees from each of the seven Groups were recognized . They were : Dorothea ( Dot ) Vooris Simberlund , Fieldfine German Shorthaired Pointers ( Sporting ); Ray and Jana Brinlee , Jaraluv Scottish Deerhounds ( Hound ); Alan Kalter and Chris Lezotte , HappyLegs Bullmastiffs ( Working ); Joan Huber , Blythewood Miniature Schnauzers ( Terrier ); Max E . Hurd , Hurd ’ s Chihuahuas ( Toy ); Susan and Gary Carr , Salishan Tibetan Terriers ( Non-Sporting ); and Terry Miller and Dominique Dube , Deja Vu / Popsakadoo Briards ( Herding ). At the conclusion of
MISC .: DON MEYER ; RHODESIAN RIDGEBACKS : COURTESY AKC ; NOHS AND BBE : KAYLA BERTAGNOLLI
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