Looks like I was doing this exact same thing one year ago, too! Same beautiful dog, same wonderful handler, same situation with me scrambling to put together an ad for The Total Rottweiler Magazine right on deadline.
As most of you know, Axe finished his championship and earned his RN and CGC about six months ago, but I didn’t get his ad done until just now. So please indulge me once again, and behold the beauty that is Axe:
click image for full-sized PDF version
This ad will be running in Issue 2 / 2010 of The Total Rottweiler Magazine. Please check out the magazine if you love Rottweilers! I am on staff as a volunteer (unpaid) proofreader and copyeditor, so I definitely have a connection and an interest in the magazine’s continued success.
During Axel’s journey to his AKC championship, I collected many, many photos of him stacked nicely, standing pretty with Julia and the judge.
What I didn’t have was action photos, either from conformation or rally obedience. I was very surprised to receive the proof of this photo in the mail. It was taken the very last time he was shown in AKC conformation. It was the last show of the second cluster of the Florida Winter Classic held in Brooksville. He went in the ring solely to hold the 3-point major; he had already finished his championship during the first cluster. So glad he did, as there were no action shots that I know of taken at any of his other shows. Axe moves nicely, and this photo really shows it. Yay for surprises, surprises like this one, anyway!
As mentioned earlier in the week, there are only a very few times over the long history of Westminster that Rottweilers have placed in group competition. Unfortunately, 2010 would not be one of those times. But it was still so exciting to see Julia and Patrone on TV, and what a wonderful team they made.
I’m not one who yells at the TV very often during sporting events. But last night, there was clapping and cheering (and barking) for Julia and Patrone, as if they, or the judge could hear us. And when they made the cut and got pulled into the line at the end, we got even louder. Alas, Patrone would not follow in his great-grandfather’s pawprints as one of the very few Rottweilers to place in the group. Still, a beautiful showing and very excited to see a friend in the spotlight at the Garden! Just a little disappointed that the commentators did not mention Julia by name, as they did with some of the other handlers.
I was pulling for the Whippet for Best In Show, but the Doberman should have had it. Sadie, the Scottish Terrier favored by many to win, did in fact prevail. But you all knew that, too!
I was a little surprised to find myself liking Tamron Hall as co-host. She spent quite a few years on the Chicago Fox affiliate’s morning news show, and I didn’t particularly care for her in that spot. Upon reflection, perhaps it was that I didn’t care for her teamed with David Novarro, or more likely, it’s David Novarro that I still don’t like in that morning spot. Anyway, good job, Tamron! Way better than last year’s co-host.
Oh, yes. I am sure you were hoping I’d forget, but guess what came in the mail recently, and that I finally got around to scanning? That’s right, Axel’s Canine Good Citizen certificate!
I know those of you who knew him as “Junior Gang Member” or “Junior Sex Offender” from puppy classes or as the unruly adolescent who tested me constantly are laughing at the idea of him being a good citizen. Well, there’s the proof. So there!
I had just arrived at work this morning when I got the wonderful news that Julia had gone Best of Breed with Patrone at Westminster. Yes, that would be Axel’s beloved handler, Julia Foster, and Rottweiler CH Chancellor’s Gorgeous Patrone, TT!
I can only imagine how much more interested in the show Axel will be tonight, when he sees “his” Julia on television!
Obviously, Julia’s win today is a big part of Westminster getting personal for me. But there is more.
Axel has actually been in the ring with six of the Rottweilers who were shown today. They were all Champions competing in Best of Breed during the time he was out getting his Championship. As Winners Dog from the classes, he went back in the ring with the specials dogs, or more specifically, to be defeated for Best of Breed by the specials dogs (it’s okay, that’s usually what happens). One of the Award of Merit winners is the son of Freya’s half-brother. His handler owned Freya’s sire. His owner once owned Freya’s littermate.
So, yes, I watch with a bit more interest each year, because there are more and more personal connections.
I was surprised to see the number of searches on various Rottweiler-ly Westminster topics leading here to the blog today. Here are some answers to the questions posed in those searches.
A Rottweiler has never won Westminster. A Rottweiler has won the Working Group only once, in 2006: CH Carter’s Noble Shaka Zulu. I so hope to see that happen again tonight.
Rottweilers have placed in the Working Group only four other times.
All of the Rottweilers, and in fact all of the dogs entered at Westminster, are Champions. Westminster entry is limited to Champions and it is currently the only AKC show with this requirement.
The Westminster website and its associated Facebook page and Twitter stream are being updated lightning fast. The Rottweiler winners are here and the list of Rottweiler entrants is here. If you are not a Rottweiler person, the “2010 Show Results” link on the Westminster website will take you to information on how your own breed of choice is doing. The only thing that seems to be taking a little longer is the videos. I so want to see the Rottweiler breed video before the groups tonight!
I actually missed the phone call from Julia this morning. She must have called seconds after finishing up in the Rottweiler ring, and as luck would have it, I was in the shower and missed being the first to hear the biggest news of Axel’s young life. But, anyway!!
Our Axe is now…
CH Precious Gems Axel vom Viersen!!!
He finished his American Championship (pending AKC verification, of course) this morning at the Manatee Kennel Club’s show at the Florida Winter Classic I in Brooksville, FL. He went Winners Dog and Best of Winners for a three-point major under judge Robert C. Thomas and handled by Julia Foster.
Julia has been so wonderful as a handler and surrogate “mom” to the sometimes overbearing and rambunctious Axel, and with her friendship and support to me as a first-time show dog mom. Axel’s breeder, Denise, has also been here with friendship and support throughout the whole process… from helping us pick the right puppy, with advice through his troublesome teenage times, and on the road to his championship.
Axel will be home at the end of the month. I can’t wait to pick him up in St. Louis! Meanwhile, enjoy a picture of him from the Chicago Christmas Cluster (click for a larger view)…
Well, sort of! Since Axe didn’t finish his championship at home this past weekend, he’ll be home for the holidays only, and then heading out on January 3 to Texas, then Florida, which is way more exciting than what his human family members have planned for themselves for January.
As you’ve guessed by now, if you’ve been following Axe’s championship quest, our much-hoped-for 3-point majors for Rottweiler dogs did not hold for any of the three Christmas Cluster shows at the Rosemont Convention Center. Oh, I guess that should be Donald E. Stephens Convention Center now, but I don’t call the Sears Tower the Willis Tower either, so bear with me, please.
Despite the lack of majors this past weekend, I still have good news to report. Axe went Winners Dog and Best of Winners at Friday’s show for 2 points, giving him 13 total points. Now he needs just one more major win to earn his championship. On Saturday, he had a successful debut in the Rally Obedience ring, qualifying for his first Rally Novice leg with a score of 94 points, which was good enough for 3rd place. Have I mentioned before how much I appreciate Axe’s handler, Julia Foster? Not only does she make him look good, she gets him to work well with her, too.
I’ve added Axel’s November show photos to his gallery for you to enjoy.
Axel’s advertisement for Issue 4 of Total Rottweiler Magazine must be corrected, because he is now not just “AKC pointed, V-rated Precious Gems Axel vom Viersen”… he is AKC MAJOR pointed, V-rated Precious Gems Axel vom Viersen!
His eagerly-awaited first major has finally happened! Today in Belleville, IL, Axe went Winners Dog and Best of Winners to earn a 3-point major under judge Mrs. Barbara Dempsey Alderman at Edwardsville Illinois Kennel Club’s show.
I continue to be amazed and grateful at how Julia Foster transforms my wild child into a handsome and successful show dog every weekend.
