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

Solene Wins the National Dog Show

Solene and I had a great trip to Philadelphia for the National Dog Show. We were thrilled that she won Best of Breed and got to compete in the Sporting group on the national telecast on Thanksgiving Day on NBC.  Thanks to National Dog Show/Steve Surfman for the photos.

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

Solene: Another Barbet Champion

Right before Westminster, Solene and I went to Indianapolis to show for two days to try and earn her final three points for her championship. At 8 years old, Solene is competing with girls who are much younger than her, but her type, style, and correct movement make her still competitive. The first day she was Reserve Winners to a major and the second day she was Winners Bitch for 5 points to finish her AKC championship. Solene became the second Barbet bitch to earn a championship, following in her daughter Flynn's footsteps. Flynn and Solene are also the first two American bred Barbet with AKC championships. We are incredibly proud of our girls.

American and Canadian Champion Hickory Tavern Intl Intrigue CM

Thanks to judge Anne Savory Bolus

After finishing her championship, Solene won Group 3 in a large OH ring. Thanks to judge James Albrecht.

After dropping off the dogs at home, we flew to New York for the Purina Show Dogs awards dinner. We celebrated Bourbon's incredible year as the #1 Whippet, #1 Hound, and #2/3 All breeds.

Happy Traveler

So many people have asked me about our 4 year old Barbet who was recently rehomed. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Paul Anthony at AB Canine, Industry, PA for his selfless help and assistance. Dallas had a wonderful cross-country journey with his new family where he is now settling in. We have nothing but thanks and best wishes to Andy & Marla, who opened their hearts and home to our little man.

Dallas at Pompey's Pillar National Monument, along the Lewis & Clark Trail in Montana

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!

Final Appearance in Miscellaneous

I couldn't be happier for David, winning Best of Opposite with six month old Jessa at the AKC National Championship show. 9 Barbet were exhibited in Orlando. Hoping for even bigger entries in 2020!

Hickory Tavern Take the Long Way Home

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.