Best In Show

and Best Trained :-)

Maddie had a big day on November 8th! She won conformation at the American Sighthound Field Association's National Greyhound Specialty. The event is primarily a lure coursing event for greyhounds, but they have a conformation match for all of the greyhounds in attendance.

Frances Allen Atmore giving Maddie first place in the bitches class

This year the specialty was hosted by my local greyhound club, Southeastern Greyhound Club, and Maddie's breeder was coming from Texas with Maddie's mom and two brothers so we had to go. Plus, who wouldn't want to come visit such a beautiful place?

The great thing about Maddie's win is that when we showed in regular American Kennel Club conformation, Maddie never got a second glance. In fact, I think we were always dead last.  Often AKC judges are not actual experts in your own breed.  They take seminars and classes to learn about all the breeds, but we probably never showed to anyone that ever took time to watch greyhounds compete in the field.... until now. So it was a huge compliment that coursing and racing greyhound owner, breeder, and vet would pick Maddie from all of the contenders.

I know Kelly, Maddie's breeder was thrilled!

Kelly and I had to do our customary cheesy hug!

Maddie with brothers, Jack & Same with Kelly

Also, I allowed Maddie to run a straight behind a lure.

No, Maddie is not going to start lure coursing. Now that she is officially a competing agility dog, she definitely will not be lure coursing. I just can't risk the injuries.