Rare breeds win hearts at dog show
he owns with his wife, Tina. Snapple won Sunday’s Best in Show title last weekend.
Salukis, the royal dog of Egypt, date to 329 B.C., according to the AKC’s website. They are sight hounds, bred to hunt using their eyes rather than than their noses.
Snapple, a 5-year-old, has won Best in Show 28 times and lives in Kirtland, Ohio. On Sunday, Snapple beat a Canaan dog, a Shar-Pei, a smooth fox terrier, a Great Pyrenees, a golden retriever and an affenpinscher. Best in Show last Saturday was a Pekingese, Grand Champion Pequest Pickwick.
Local winners
A Bethel Park bloodhound named Higgs, handled by his owner, Kim Briglia, made his first appearance in Best in Show competition in the ownerhandled category on Sunday.
The 2-year-old, whose official name is Grand Champion The Magpie’s Critical Mass, appeared to be having fun in the show ring, baying loudly when the judge gave him top prize in the hound group.
Best in Show in the owner-handled competition went to a Rottweiler and reserve (second place) was a Yorkshire terrier.
The owner-handled competition — which had 373 entries Sunday — gives dog owners the chance to compete without going up against professional handlers. Higgs and Ms. Briglia also competed in the the regular competition against professional handlers and was chosen Best of Breed on Sunday. In 2016, he was the No. 5 bloodhound nationally at AKC shows.
The smallest and youngest handler in the terrier group competition Sunday was Talli Backos, 9, of Greensburg with her 2-yearold Parson Russell terrier, Henley (Champion Windy Ridge New Kid in Town). Though they didn’t “place” in the group Sunday, Talli has finished in the top four spots in group competition three times, said her mother, Dawn Backos.
It was still a good day for the young girl, who won with another Parson Russell terrier, Bobbie Sue, 3, earning a grand champion title. Bobbie Sue is co-owned by Mrs. Backos, Talli and her sister, Alexandra Backos.
Dog shows are a family hobby for the Backos family. Alexandra started showing dogs at an early age and is now paid by other people to show their dogs.