Winter 2016  Saber Tails 81    

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America

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he conformation ring was dominated this year by GCH CH Auriga’s Peter Parker 

owned by Wendy & Martin  Doherty, Shawn & Nadeen Bennett, Eddie Dziuk, who 

took Best of Breed five of the six shows and was Best of Opposite Sex in the 6th show.  

His wins are impressive as he added these shows to an impressive list of other ac-

complishments.  Congratulations to all his owners, breeders and his handler on this 

impressive young dog.

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he competition was fierce at the Group level and no PBGV took home any group 

ribbons during the week.  That seems understandable with the Westminster Re-

serve Best In Show being shut out of the group medals at 3 of her 4 shows.  This was 

truly a who’s who of the dog show world and it is a delight to watch them all com-

pete.  

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he National Owner Handler Finals were held on Friday with our breed being rep-

resented by three PBGVs:  Clancy’s Curse of the Were Rabbit (Grommit) - Owner 

Handled by Megan Esherick, GCH CH Jaren’s Put A Girl In It (Brooks) - Owner Handled 

by Karen Clugston, and GCH CH Lacey’s Ain’t No Sour Grapes (Pinot) - Owner Handled by Olga Kornienko.  Olga and 

Pinot walked away with the Top Honors of Best of Breed Owner Handled awarded by Judge Col. Joe B Purkhiser.  The 

National Owner Handler Finals are by invitation only open to OH dogs that ahieved Top 10 Owner Handler rankings 

throughout the year.  

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onformation is obviously the primary draw for the National Championships, but some of the other activities are 

what make this event so entertaining and worth exploring as well.  There are agility competitions, obedience trals, 

junior competitions, dock diving and a Foundation Stock Service Open Show all in the same location.  

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f you have never seen an FSS Open Show, it is worth finding one and checking it out.  An FSS Open show is a conforma-

tion show open to any breeds that are listed with the AKC as participating in the Foundation Stock Service, including 

those that have moved into the Miscellaneous Group.  The FSS is a designation giv-

en to breeds that have an organized parent club in the United States but that have 

not yet met the requirements of the AKC for full breed recognition (because of a 

variety of reasons such as low registration numbers or lack of geographic spread 

in ownership).  This year’s FSS Open show on Friday included representation from 

the following breeds:  Azawakh, Dogo Argentine,  Belgian Laekenois, Grand Basset 

Griffon Vendeen, Kooikerhondjes, Barbet, Biewer Terrier, Bracco Italiano, Danish-

Swedish Farm Dog, Dutch Shepherd, Karelian Bear Dog, Kromfohrlander and Mudi.  

This year, the Best in Open Show went to the GBGV named Jamaica.

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word about Dock Diving.  I’m fascinated by this competition and REALLY want 

to see a PBGV competing in an upcoming show.  This year there were two dock 

diving swimming pools set up next to one another.  Competitions were held simul-

taneously.  For the casual observer, this meant plenty of action watching from the 

bleachers.  Be warned…walking too close to a pool means you might get wet!

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articularly in this event, you see skill levels across the board!  There are serious 

competitors whose dogs are jumping 20+ feet to retrieve their squeaky toy.  But 

there are also big lumbering Leonbergers and tottering old Miniature Poodles who 

just love to get wet.  The only qualification seems to be that your dog is capable 

of swimming and coming back to the walk out point when you call.  Anyone can take their dog over during certain 

advertised times to give it a try.  You definitely want to know in advance if your dog is capable of swimming and not 

Aaron waiting with Sam

Olga with Pinot who was Best Owner 

Handled PBGV at the AKC National 

Championships and placed Group 2 in 

Hound OH earlier in the week

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