Yes, I’m late … life occurs, however there are no shiba group placements this week so maybe it’s just karma. So let’s get started with the ones from last weekend and then I’ll talk just a little about this weekend!

A new dog hits the big rings section this week. Ch. Rihatsu Shizu-San Go Satori strutted his stuff at Sammamish KC in Puyallup WA on January 17, 2010 and picked up a lovely white rosette (that’s a Group Fourth for anyone that doesn’t know) from Judge Rita Holloway. According to the report there were 233 dogs entered in the Non-Sporting Group so that’s a pretty hefty number of points available!

Thanks to Gigi Griffith for the photo of  Shizu

Ch. Rihatsu Shizu-San Go Satori, photo courtesy of Gigi Griffith

Not to be outdone, Ch. San Jo’s Juicy Gossip also took a Group IV at Puyallup Dog Fanciers on January 18, 2010. Gus received this award from Richard G. Beauchamp.

Shibaweb photo from 2009 National weekend

Gus and Tia also took least a couple of breeds at the shows in Portland this past weekend. Also heard via the grapevine that Laura Perkinson’s Oso got a breed as well, and that Lisa Pasquarello finished her Stewie with 3 majors! Her MeMe was also WB the last day of the circuit. Closer to me in Des Moines, Jane Chapin’s Jag was BW both days, Carla Ross & Brenda Richardson’s sesame boy Ku picked up a couple of breeds, and Brenda’s bitch Tatsuiwa Dragon’s Flame was WB on Sat and RWB on Sun (note: this is an addition/correction to the original post), swapping awards with the Trimble’s Takara (related to the mouseman, a great granddaughter I think) who was RWB the first day and WB the other. Feel free to add updates in the comments!

I finally have a show this weekend in Grayslake! It’s my first show since the National in October, hope I remember what to do

Happy New Year to everyone! Did I take a long vacation? No (sadly!), I just didn’t have much to report in the way of show wins.

The National  Specialty winner for 2009, Buddy has taken care of that and jumped into the running again as one of our top shibas in the U.S. On January 10th, Ch. Jogoso’s Fool For Love, picked up a Group III at the Kennel Club of Palm Springs awarded by Mr. Zell Von Pohlmann. Congrats to Austin & Buddy!

Ch. Jogoso's Fool For Love, a Shibaweb photo from the 2009 National Specialty weekend

One lonely placement for what used to be the last weekend of dog shows for the year. But I think now there are some in California just before and after New Year’s. Poor handlers, they don’t get a break

So Ban ventured out to the snowy Midwest … only didn’t realize he was in better shape here than home where nearly two feet fell! Not sure if handler Chris Berg has yet gotten home! Jon Cole was judging the Non-Sporting group at Skokie Valley KC in Rosemont and found Ch. Banshou Go Ryuukyuu Oruma worthy of the 4th place rosette. I assume this is his last placement for the year unless he’s going to jetset out to Cali. It was a good year for him.

Ch. Banshou Go Ryuukyuu Oruma at the NSCA Specialty the day before the 2009 National. A Shibaweb photo.

The Heart of Dixie Shiba Fanciers is hosting an NSCA Supported Entry on March 12, 2010 and NSCA Regional Specialty on March 13, 2010 in conjunction with the Country Music Cluster in Franklin, TN. Also, they will be conducting an All Breed Fun Match on March 13th, 2010 to be held 30 minutes after BIS. Katrina Nielsen is heading up this fun-filled, Shiba Spectacular, so any questions may be sent directly to Katrina. Some conveniences will include Reserved Shiba Grooming, and a Raffle Table.

Winding down toward the end of the year and we still have a couple of nice placements for shibas in the Group rings.

First at KC of Beverly Hills (just before the Eukanuba shows) on 12/9/2009, Miss Virginia L. Lyne awarded a Group III Ch. Jogoso’s Notorious. Rogue has had a great year!

Ch. Jogoso's Notorious, Shibaweb photo from Top Twenty

On the other coast at Lehigh Valley KC 12/12/2009 Ch. San Jo She’s on Fire was awarded a Group III by Mrs. Patricia Hastings and repeated the win the following day at Delaware Water Gap KC under Mrs. Houston (Toddie) Clark. She ended up the year as HOT as her name implies.

Ch. San Jo She's on Fire, a Shibaweb photo from the 2009 Top Twenty competition

Ch. Tobishi’s Sookie of Elfenbein picked up a white rosette (I believe her first group placement) at Granite City KC under Karen McFarlane on December 6th. We can’t take much credit for her, but she does go back to the mouseman!

Jim & Sookie, photo courtesy of Tammy Szabo

Just checking the updates on AKC’s site and lo and behold they are showing Best Junior Results too!

Austin McCarty and Buddy, BISS Ch. Jogoso’s Fool For Love,

Austin & Buddy winning the National, a Shibaweb photo from the 2009 National Specialty Weekend

picked up another BJH at Malibu KC on December 6th from judge Ms. Edweena (Teddy) McDowell.

I actually tried to put this at the bottom of the last report, but Mo’s Grand Thunderstorm kept eating the text up and putting it into his description so after 15 minutes of trying, I have given up and putting it in its own separate post!

Katai's Screamin' Mimi, Shibaweb photo from 2009 National Specialty weekend

And I have a couple of puppy group placements to report. Katai’s Screamin’ Mimi took a Puppy Group First and Third this past weekend. Mimi was BOS in the Sweeps at the National and also RWB at the Friday parent club specialty on the National weekend. According to Bonnie she’s bald as a billiard ball but it doesn’t seem to be hurting her any

Yay, finally caught up and what a nice weekend shibas has in the big rings! It’s getting toward the end of the year and group placements are beginning to become more and more difficult to attain as the top dogs start jetting about the country for those last body points.

Ch. Jogoso's Notorious, Shibaweb photo from Top Twenty

Rogue, Ch. Jogoso’s Notorious was Group III under John R. Shoemaker at the Shoreline DA of Orange County on December 4th.

Our only double group placing shiba this week and one of TWO actually WINNING the group was h. Sonkei Ichi Ryu at Pendragon with a Group III from Mrs. Molly Martin on the 5th, and a big blue rosette from Dr. Roger Pritchard on the 6th. These were both at NW Arkansas KC and sadly Lori was at Belleville so didn’t get to see him in the BIS ring

Ch. Sonkei Ichi Ryu at Pendragon, photo provided by Lori Pendergast

The other Group Winner for the week was Ch. Yuko’s Chief Red Eagle who won under Paula Hartinger but got beat by the lovely malamute bitch for BIS. Hmmm would have been a tough choice for me, I haven’t often seen my two favorite breeds in the ring together like that. This was at Forsyth KC 1 on December 5th.

Ch. Yuko's Chief Red Eagle, Shibaweb photo from 2009 National weekend

Secret Agent Man from the Kawaimaisou Shiba Inu Website

A new name to this list of dogs I think is Ch. Kawamaisou’s Secret Agent Man who captured a Group IV on December 6th under Fred Bassett at Greater Clark County KC. Loved his dad who won the National a few years back.

Ch. Mo’s Grand Thunderstorm managed a Group IV under Ray Filburn at Forsyth KC 2 on the 6th as well. He was the BOB winner the day after the National and now he seems to be on a roll.