Two Weeks in the Ring: A Major for Shimmer and a Championship for Cheeky

Some weekends remind me exactly why I love this sport. The last two weeks were one of those stretches where everything came together. Great dogs, respected judges, good friends around the ring, and the kind of results that make the early mornings and miles on the road completely worth it.

Let me tell you what happened.

Maryland Sporting Dog Association

February 27 – March 1 | West Friendship, Maryland

The first stop was the Maryland Sporting Dog Association show in West Friendship, Maryland, held in Howard County. It’s always a nice cluster and a great place to see friends and strong competition in the Sporting Group.

I brought Shimmer, and this was a big moment for her. It was her first show.

For a young dog’s debut, you always hope they settle into the ring, enjoy themselves, and show the judge what they’re capable of. Shimmer did exactly that and then some.

Under Judge Barbara Pepper, Shimmer was awarded Best of Winners for a 4-point major.

For anyone outside the dog show world, a major is a big deal. In AKC conformation, dogs must earn two “major” wins (three, four, or five points depending on the entry) as part of the requirements to finish a championship.

To have a puppy walk into her very first show and come out with a four-point major is about as good of a start as you can hope for. I was incredibly proud of how she handled herself in the ring.

Raleigh Kennel Club Show

March 7 | Raleigh, North Carolina

The following weekend I headed south to Raleigh, North Carolina for the show on March 7.

This time I entered Cheeky.

The judge was Honey Anne Glendinning, who had previously given Cheeky a point in Doswell, so I was excited to show under her again.

The competition in the ring was strong. Cheeky was Winners Bitch over four other very nice bitches, including two that were bred or co-bred by me. Seeing multiple dogs from my breeding program in the ring together is always special, and it says a lot about the quality of the breeding program overall.

When the dust settled, Cheeky had earned a four-point major.

And that major finished her AKC Championship. Cheeky finished with three majors. She is now officially known as CH Cryslen’s Too Big for My Britches TKN RATN.

A Special Kind of Win

Finishing a championship is always satisfying, but this one felt especially meaningful.

Cheeky finished over strong competition, including girls that came from my own breeding program. To me, that’s one of the most rewarding parts of being a preservation breeder. It’s not just about one dog winning on a given day. It’s about building a consistent program where multiple dogs can step into the ring and represent the breed well.

Seeing that happen in real time is incredibly gratifying.

Looking Ahead

Two weeks.
Two four-point majors.
One brand new champion.

Not bad at all.

Shimmer is just getting started, and Cheeky is now officially an AKC Champion, which opens the door to the next chapter of her career. She will be giving motherhood a try as soon as she comes into season.

The road trips, the grooming tables, the early mornings, the nerves before walking into the ring… moments like these are exactly why we do it.

On to the next show.

Echo tagged along to the Raleigh show and gave the beginner puppy class a try. She was joined by her sister, Wonton. Echo won, but she needs a lot more training before she’ll be ready for her next shows, which are coming up later this month.