AKC Show Success - Catherine takes RWB

A couple of years ago, when we purchased our first Silken Windhound Honcho, we were introduced to the wide world of dog showing. Silken Windhounds are a rare breed that are not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), and are not shown in AKC venues. These rare breed show venues are usually rather informal, relaxed and quite sociable events. There are also as many as six separate shows in a single weekend. We've known dogs in these venues to start their show career and finish as a Champion the same weekend, if not the same day. True story!

It's with this short history of relative dog show success that we forayed into the world of AKC dog shows this year when we began showing our two new Borzoi girls, Rowan and Catherine. What a world of difference! Showing dogs in AKC is the hardest thing I have ever attempted to do. Which, makes any success that we achieve just that much sweeter. As new handlers, we are learning as we go also.

Today, we drove over 150 miles one way to show in the AKC all breed show in Ridgefield, Washington. Although it was a practice day for Rowan, Catherine at 1 year + 4 days of age and her fifth AKC show, took Reserve Winners Bitch with five bitch entries. We are very proud of her as she calmed down significantly (no bouncing, skipping and kissing Mom in the show ring TODAY...) and she moved smoothly and effortlessly.

Although we didn't earn any points toward either of the borzoi's championships, we are thrilled with Catie's first AKC Reserve Winners Bitch (where there was more than one other entry) and are looking forward to the next show in November.