Gardens Archives - French Bulldogs by Bullmarket

Westminster Handler Gives Ultimate Gift

Westminster handler gives owner ultimate gift

It’s Westminster Week (and congrats to Canadian bred dog Ch Robobull Fabelhaft I’m On Fire, who took Best of Breed in French Bulldogs). Westminster week is a big, big deal for dog show people in North America, and we’ve all gotten rather reluctantly used to the spotlight that this inevitably shines on our sport.

Stories about dogs in diamond collars, handlers who fly first class with their ‘clients’ sitting on the seat next to them, and articles about how much money it can cost to make it to the Gardens are rampant, and leave all of us feeling (and usually looking) a little bit silly.

In amongst it all, one story illustrates the real reason why most of do this, weekend after weekend – the friendships we make. If donating a kidney to one of your owners doesn’t illustrate that, I don’t know what does.

From the New York Daily News –

Sandy McCabe would love for dog handler Wade Koistinen to lead her fluffy black-and-white Havanese to victory in Madison Square Garden.

But for McCabe, even a Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club show would pale next to what Koistinen has already given her – one of his kidneys.

“I’m just happy to be alive for this,” McCabe said Friday at the Pennsylvania Hotel, surrounded by borzois, bloodhounds and scores of other dogs and owners, all checking in before the show begins on Monday.

McCabe, 49, who breeds Havanese with her husband, Kevin, in rural Iowa, has diabetes and was facing renal failure last summer before her friend Koistinen told her he would help.

“I could just see her getting sicker and sicker. I had to,” said Koistinen, 51, holding McCabe’s entry in the show, Rumor, an outgoing little 4-year-old whose full name is Ch. Heartland’s Rumor Has It.

“I couldn’t walk more than 10 feet,” said McCabe, who was told that it would be four to six years before she climbed to the top of a national waiting list for kidneys. None of her family members was healthy enough to donate one.

But Koistinen, who lives in Kansas City, volunteered. “He stepped forward and said, ‘I will give my kidney,'” McCabe said.

Kentucky Frenchies in the Big Apple

February 14, 2009/in French Bulldog Stuff /by frogdogz

The Examiner newspaper ran a story on popular French Bulldog breeder Bill Schaefer, of “RB” French Bulldogs. Bill, who is from Kentucky, sold French Bulldogs Oliver and Rocky to owner Stanley Zirlin, of New York City, where they lead dual lives as pampered house pets and competitive show dogs.

Bill traveled to NYC to be present for Rocky and Oliver’s debut at the Westminster Kennel Club show at Madison Square Gardens.

Wishbone Brakes for Westminster and Old Dogs with New Homes

February 23, 2008/2 Comments/in French Bulldog Stuff /by frogdogz

This post is sort of a big bunch o’ stuff I wanted to post all last week, but couldn’t, because the internet Gods were angry with me.

I have made them an offering of a pureed 14.4 modem, so hopefully they are appeased and will keep my over priced, stupid, slow-ass satellite internet connection from crashing for just a few days, ok?

Sheesh.

Wishbone Needs Snackage

Your dog wins BoB two years in a row, and what is he famous for? Slamming on the brakes so he can carpet surf for leftover bait.

For those of you who missed it, here’s a video clip of Wishbone’s adorable brake-slamming moment during Westminster 2008. I love how they added the brake action sound effects at the top of the second night.

Old Dogs, New Homes

I was thrilled to see a comment from Lisa Levy over on my post about placing dogs into retirement homes. Lisa adopted Blossom a few years ago (I owned her, but didn’t breed her), and I can’t think of a better home for an older Frenchie. It’s a photo of Blossom working the King David retirement home that is shown on the Wikipedia French Bulldog article that I help to edit.

It’s always so great to hear from past and present owners of dogs…

Blossom, btw, had her own website.. Frenchies are sooo tech savvy.

A Side Note to Owners of Frenchies from Absolut Bullmarket

Hey, you! I know you read this blog, at least sporadically. Get yer butt over to our group on Ning, and upload some bee-ooo-teous photos and film clips of your little flat faced friend.

It’s not scary at all, honest. You just:

– sign up for a FREE Ning account

– Join our group

– start uploading photos and videos, writing blogs, and chatting with other owners

I’m going to start featuring dogs and owners from our group on this blog, so drop me a line if you’d like to be featured! I love braggin’ on our extended four legged family!

Westminster Re-Cap – French Bulldogs, Patty Hearst and Unfair Hair Cut Advantages

February 12, 2008/4 Comments/in French Bulldog Stuff, Frenchie Family /by frogdogz

Well, the judging is done, and yet again the Frenchie got overlooked for a frou frou poodle. C’est la vie. Apparently a poofy haircut counts for extra super duper bonus points. Actually, I don’t have a clue how good the poodle really is, since poodles are one of those breeds that all look startlingly similar to me (sorry Jan!).

It was good to see yet another of Cody Sickle’s lovely Bulldogs place well in group. Bullies, like Frenchies, are at a natural disadvantage in a group over run with spring loaded, fluffy coated yappers, so I always root for the Bulldog, in lieu of the Frenchie. I mean, take a look at the photos of this year’s Non Sporting group placers –

Notice anything? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Fluffy haircuts will get you to the big ring every time…

French Bulldog Best of Breed was taken by Ch Windmark’s What a Guy, who also won BoB in 2007. He was handled by Jodi Ghaster, who also handled Best of Opposite Sex winner Ch Shann’s Legally Blond (call name Diva). I’m apparently obligated to mention that Diva is owned by Patty Hearst (now Patty Hearst Shaw). She has owned French Bulldogs for quite a few years, so it’s old news to Frenchie people to hear that she has a dog in the ring. It’s big news everyplace else, though – the name “Patty Hearst” was one of Google’s top search terms today.

Isabella, also known as Ch Absolut’s Ooh LaLa V Amron, didn’t do anything in the breed ring, but she did make the final cut, and with 32 other Frenchies in the ring, that’s a pretty respectable showing for a 14 month old pied. I’d like to also point out that she was the only pied in the final line up, and one of only two that I can see of all the judging photos Wayne sent me. The ring was awash with creams and brindles, but the more esoteric pieds were rare, and the other colors were missing altogether.

Here’s a photo of Isabella gaiting for her handler, James Berger, for owner Toni Perone. Next year, guys…

Wayne Kovacs, co owner of Dixie and owner handler extraordinaire, was at the Gardens, and took tons of photos. You can see the entire collection here, or Isabella’s photos here.

Thanks again, Wayne!

Westminster Week Approaches

February 10, 2008/3 Comments/in French Bulldog Stuff /by frogdogz

I had made plans to attend Westminster this year, as I was supposed to be in New York City for work, but the best laid plans go out the window when one is dealing with dogs.

Instead, I’ll be sitting at home and watching it on television, as I have to spend the week running Journey and Paris back and forth to Owen Sound for insemination and timing tests.

Paris has surged, so her insemination is set for Tuesday morning, bright and early. Ironically enough, Paris is being bred via frozen semen to Rebel – Ch Bullmarket Versace.

Rebel won breed at the Gardens (and a nice, hard look in the group) in 1997. We had his semen frozen shortly after that, and it’s that collection, eleven years later, that we’ll be using on Paris.

Dog showing might not be my favorite thing in the world – I’m too cynical to believe it’s the pinnacle of achievement I used to see it as – but there’s no denying the rush that you get from seeing your dog win in the big ring at Madison Square Gardens.

I promptly burst into tears, much to my everlasting shame, and my friend Charlotte’s amusement. I fully believe the stories I’ve heard of owners fainting or going into hysterics when their dogs are pointed to for the big, big ribbon.

My lovely boy Rebel passed away in 2006, and is dearly missed by all who knew him.

Westminster this year is especially bittersweet for Barb.

Champion Absolut Ooh LaLa V Amron, with owner Rita Perone, will be showing at the Gardens. She’s out of Barb’s ‘Dark Lola’ – Pinetree’s Absolut Lolita.

Lola is out of Roseanne, the very first dog that Barb ever got from me, and the beginning of our partnership. Roseanne passed away from cancer two years ago, and Lola was Barb’s last and youngest remaining Rosey daughter. Barb didn’t keep anything from Lola’s first litter – the litter that produced Isabella – because she figured she had lots of time before having to worry about doing so.

Unfortunately, Lola developed a health issue, and has been spayed and placed into a great pet home. She lives with Lauren and her ‘little brother’ Tucker (Bunny’s puppy) in New York City.

Watching Isabella in the ring will be Barb’s last chance to see a direct descendant of Roseanne showing at the Gardens.

Ironically enough, Roseanne’s first litter was the first litter Rebel ever sired. On Tuesday night as I watch the group judging on television, I’ll be holding Paris in my lap, and hoping that Rebbie’s next generation is successfully preparing to make its way into the world.

(BTW, you can follow along with the breed judging on the WKC’s website — here’s the link for Frenchies)