First Regional CDCA Specialty
Billed as CDCA's "1st Regional Specialty Show," and hosted by MCDC, the Midwest Canaan Dog Club, twenty-three Canaans entered the competition on Saturday evening, May 5, 2007, under judge Mr. Norman Herbel. Only one dog and one bitch would receive AKC championship points and a "major" each, and three others would remain standing as the winners of Best of Breed, Best of Winners and Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Breed. Of the total entry one dog special was absent, and one bitch excused for lameness, leaving 21 Canaans in competition.
Judge Mr. Herbel approached his entry with a decades-long history of interest in the breed. Long before the AKC fully accepted it, both Mr. Herbel and his wife, Caroline, had consistently nurtured and encouraged us over the thirty-five year obstacle course that led to Canaan Dog recognition until we "finally made it." There was a lot of history behind Norm's exclamation at the beginning of the judging: "I love this breed!"
First in the ring was the junior handler, Kaitlyn Carlson, in sole competition for the Novice Senior award. Kaitlyn handled her co-owned dog, CH Blessed-Be Cherrysh Patriot, to their first place win. As she learns the rope from Cheryl Hennings, Kaitlyn's future in dogs is cut out for her. Mr. Herbel had special advice for his Best Junior Handler as he handed her the rosette and trophy prizes.
Three 12-18 month dogs opened the regular entry for championship points. Showing an understanding of their feral heritage and "drive for self-preservation," judge Mr. Herbel greeted his entries from a less threatening sitting position, and invited the dogs and their handlers to approach him. "Let the dog come to you!" is an operable slogan when among Canaans. No dog was excused for failure to allow examination by the judge, and Mr. Herbel suggested training them to stand for examination without otherwise changing their feral behavior that endears the breed to him. The first place dog in this class, Pleasant Hill D'Artagnon of Blue Sky, bred by Donna Dodson and co-owned with NB Woolf, his handler, and TS Woolf, went on to Winners Dog and Best of Winners for a five-point major in dogs. Babrees Pardon My French, "Rocco," who was Winners Dog on Friday, won second place to the Winners Dog, "D'art," and also Reserve Winners Dog; Ian and Jill Terry bred him, and he's owned by Victor and Wendy Sanchez. Victor shows him, and Wendy takes the pictures. Cherrysh Desert Spring was in third place, and bred, owned and handled by Cheryl Hennings.
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