Miniature Schnauzer takes ‘Best in Show’.
(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK — The American Kennel Club announces the winner of the 1st ever AKC Virtual Top Dog Challenge. The inaugural event garnered 689 entries. GCHP CH Carmel Sky High Wish Upon a Star, a Miniature Schnauzer known as “Twink,” was awarded Best in Show by AKC Judge and Board Member Mr. Harold Tatro III of Texas. “Twink” is owned by Jorge and Susie Olivera. Best Puppy was awarded to Alletare Royal Neuma, a Doberman Pinscher known as “Neuma,” also judged by Mr. Tatro. “Neuma” is owned by Angela Ferrari.
Dogs were judged in one of two classes, Puppy (6-12 months) or Open Class (12 months and older) of their breed and sex. Champions of record were also eligible and encouraged to enter in the appropriate class. Entries were judged by selected dog people with expertise in their respective breeds. Group judges were: Pat Laurans (Sporting), Tim Catterson (Hound), Bill Shelton (Working), Bruce Schwartz (Terrier), Sandra Bingham-Porter (Toy), Patty Sosa (Non-Sporting), Sam Houston McDonald (Herding), and Dr. J Charles Garvin (Miscellaneous).
A donation of $7,000 from the entry fees will be donated by AKC to Take The Lead, a 501c3 organization dedicated to assisting participants in the dog sport who are suffering from life threatening or terminal illnesses, as well as assisting those affected by natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The winners are:
- Best in Show – GCHP CH Carmel Sky High Wish Upon a Star, a Miniature Schnauzer, owned by Jorge and Susie Olivera.
- Reserve Best in Show – Briarpatch Looking Back, a Bearded Collie, owned by Lucy Campbell.
- 3 – GCH Hug O Bulls All American, Bulldog, owned by Frances Mack.
- 4 – CH Cu Liath Windfall Worthington, a Scottish Deerhound, owned by Loretta Chowing.
Group Winners:
- Sporting – Ch Jada Thank Heaven For Little Girls, an English Setter, owned by Lisa Moreau.
- Hound – CH Cu Liath Windfall Worthington, a Scottish Deerhound, owned by Loretta Chowing.
- Working – Port Fortune’s All In Again, a Rottweiler, owned by Sean Flynn.
- Terrier – GCHP CH Carmel Sky High Wish Upon a Star, a Miniature Schnauzer, owned by Jorge and Susie Olivera.
- Toy – Fields Edge Riding Shotgun, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, owned by Leslie Slusher.
- Non-Sporting – GCH Hug O Bulls All American, a Bulldog, owned by Frances Mack.
- Herding – Briarpatch Looking Back, a Bearded Collie, owned by Lucy Campbell.
- Miscellaneous – Hilarow Never Not Naughty Neska CM2 CD BN RN CGC, a Mudi, owned by Mandy Moore.
- Best Puppy – Alletare Royal Neuma, a Doberman Pinscher, owned by Angela Ferrari.
- Reserve Best Puppy – Harbor West High Explosive, a Weimaraner, owned by Melissa Hampton.
- 3 – O-Na-Pei You Need To Calm Down at Hoo Che’s, a Chinese Shar Pei, owned by Janine Rodriguez.
- 4 – Roschel Foxrun Thistle Do, a Border Terrier, owned by Emily Burdon.
Group Winners:
- Sporting – Harbor West High Explosive, a Weimaraner, owned by Melissa Hampton.
- Hound – Kyrov-Rikov’s Bossa Nova, a Borzoi, owned by Richard Fundom.
- Working – Alletare Royal Neuma, a Doberman Pinscher, owned by Angela Ferrari.
- Terrier – Roschel Foxrun Thistle Do, a Border Terrier, owned by Emily Burdon.
- Toy – Kallmee The Aerialist, a Toy Fox Terrier, owned by Susan Thibodeaux.
- Non-Sporting – O-Na-Pei You Need To Calm Down at Hoo Che’s, a Chinese Shar Pei, owned by Janine Rodriguez.
- Herding – Bonceour’s Waiting for the Sun, a Belgian Tervuren, owned by Elaine Nabors.
- Miscellaneous – Benchmark On Y Va My Sunshine, a Biewer Terrier, owned by Whitney Aronson.
To enter, participants had to submit a video that included:
- Dog in stack from the front and side
- Breed appropriate display of the bite/mouth
- View of the dog gaiting (moving) down and back in a straight line
- Dog presented in free stack
- View of dog moving in profile around in a circle
For more information about the competition, please visit here.