Hickory Tavern Barbet Win Big at the AKC National Championship

Every December we travel to Orlando, Florida for the largest AKC event of the year, the AKC National Championship. Normally there are 4,000 dogs entered in conformation, dock diving, agility, obedience, and fastcat. With covid protocols in place, entries were still near 4,000 and no spectators were allowed. By now we've gotten used to showing in masks using social distancing and the competition was keen throughout the week. Shows are held Tuesday through Saturday with different judges each day. 

Tuesday, December 8th, Flynn kicked off the show with Select, Best of Breed Owner Handler, and a Group 4 in the Owner Handler Sporting Group judged by Linda Robey.

On both Wednesday and Thursday, Solene won Best of Breed shown by Justin Smithey. Solene will be 9 years old in just two weeks and we are so proud of her ability to compete with all the younger dogs! Solene won these breeds under Roy Holloway and Ken Murray.

Friday was the highlight for me as it was the Finals of the National Owner Handler series. I qualified two dogs in the Top Ten and both received invitations. Flynn was the #1 Barbet and Solene the #3 Barbet. I opted to show Solene as I feel she deserves so much credit for developing our entire line of Barbet in AKC. We were thrilled to win Best of Breed and then Sporting Group 2 against a huge and beautiful lineup of Sporting dogs. Judged by sporting specialist Doug Johnson, this placement really means a lot to me, particularly with 2020 being the first year of full recognition for the Barbet.

Saturday was our last day of Barbet classes and Justin showed Solene to win Best of Breed at the AKC National Championship judged by Jamie Hubbard. We are so proud!! Flynn won Select and Best Bred-By. I was honored to show Solene in the Sporting group Saturday night in the big arena for AKC.TV while Justin and Cheslie concentrated on Bourbon.

This turned out to be the right decision as Bourbon won the Hound group, then on Sunday night went on to win her 108th Best in Show to become the National Champion. I don't think we could have had a better week in Orlando than we had. The dogs showed great, had fun, and we couldn't be happier with them.

Cheslie Smithey and Bourbon

2020 AKC National Champions

Canine Chronicle November/December Issue

We've been having a really nice fall with the dogs. Going to a few dog shows, lure coursing with Russell, and contemplating our next steps breeding a few litters in 2021. On the horizon, we plan to breed Dana and Jessa, but at this point nothing is firm. As always, we do not maintain a waiting list and cannot promise anyone a puppy until a litter is delivered. 

Celebrating the success of Solene and Flynn, we share our page in the Canine Chronicle Nov/Dec issue. This mother/daughter duo are both AKC champions and in the top of the AKC standings for 2020.

Some of our Summer Memories

Solene in the Canine Chronicle

David and Isabel at the lake house with old men Bob & Skylar

Strava, #1 Barbet in NADD 2020

Sam and Lauren got married at the farm August 1

Flynn #1 NOHS Barbet, #1 Barbet Female

Jessa, Dock Senior title in NADD

Elissa surrounded with puppies

Radar in the soybeans

Sophie in the pool

 

Summer Puppies

Flynn's puppies are two weeks old today. We are so happy with these chubby little pups, 5 girls and 5 boys, sired by Beau. Flynn continues to be a wonderful and caring mother.

There are no puppies available; all are spoken for.

Jessa at Summer Camp!

Lucky Jessa is spending the summer in Tennessee with our dear friends while we are busy with the puppies. Jess has never been in a pool until this week. Looks like she is a natural water dog!

Jessa at 10 Months

Little mud faced Jessa was happy to help me pick up sticks in the yard today. She is now 10 months old and is growing up nicely. We don't plan to show her until later in the year when she is more mature but she enjoys our daily play and training times and is a pleasure to live with.

Hickory Tavern Take the Long Way Home 

"Jessa"

AKC Puppy of Achievement

Can Ch Hickory Tavern Fool For Brookberry CM x Ch Hickory Tavern Wish Upon A Star CM DS FDC

Canine Chronicle March 2020

Happy to see our girls in the March 2020 issue of the Chronicle

Flynn Wins in Erie

At the Erie Kennel Club, Flynn placed in the Sporting group under Paula Nykiel and the Owner Handler group under James Albrecht. I'm so proud of her results in her first month of AKC regular status!

Champion Flynn and other Barbet Wins!

We've had a great start to the year with Barbet entering the AKC Sporting group as of January 1, 2020. We've shown dogs in Maryland, Ohio, and Florida. Flynn earned her AKC championship January 10 and Solene is close on her heels. Flynn also has several OH Group placements. We are so excited to be part of the Sporting group. Our thanks to Justin Smithey, Erica Cross, Janet Evans, and Moira for the help!

OH Group 2 - Dr Norbert Dee

Flynn in the Sporting Group

First AKC Points awarded to Flynn

Flynn's AKC Championship - Barbara Alderman

Other dogs we bred were showing and winning in Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California. We are so proud of our dogs!

Canine Chronicle November/December 2019

Our girls as they appear in the November/December issue of the Canine Chronicle. There is also an article about the Barbet that I wrote for the magazine as we enter the AKC Sporting group in January 2020.

Barbet Puppy Update

 

 

 The puppies are now four weeks old and are just amazing! They are so similar in type and temperament. We are really enjoying their new explorations every day. This is a special litter for us and we couldn't be more pleased with the pups so far. The baby Barbet are meeting new people and having different experiences added to their daily routine. Teeth are just starting to come in but Flynn continues nursing them several times a day. They are eating their food with enthusiasm.

Here's a quick video of Flynn and her ten beautiful babies who are enjoying their feeding time.

New Barbet Babies

Late last night, Flynn began delivering her puppies. Three hours later, we had ten beautiful black Barbet babies. 6 females and 4 males, all doing well. Flynn is doing a wonderful job taking care of her new huge family. We are really excited to watch this litter grow.

Newsworthy Barbet

 

Dana's recent page from the Canine Chronicle. We are so proud of this beautiful girl.

 

Flynn has big news of her own as she is expecting a nice sized litter from Can Ch Hickory Tavern Fool For Brookberry CM.  This litter is 3/4 the same pedigree as Dana and Beth, our stars from Marlee's only litter in 2017.

 

Flynn Receives Her NADD Dock Diving Invitation!

 

Flynn got mail yesterday -- her formal invitation to the NADD Dock Diving National Championships! We are so excited that she'll be participating in Orlando. Good girl Flynn! 2018 is the first year that a Barbet will compete in Orlando. Best of luck to Flynn and Astrid!