Champion Springtime Blackwillow ("Barney")
Eleven-month-old Barney goes
from the Bred-by-Exhibitor class to Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and
Best of Variety over the Top-Winning Special in the country at the San
Diego Poodle Club Specialty under judge Frank Sabella. (handled by owner, Marilyn
Jensen).
Judge's Critique written by Mr. Sabella for The Poodle Review:
In
Standards, Winners Dog, Best of Winners and Best of Variety to the winner
of the Bred by Exhibitor class, the puppy Springtime Blackwillow.
He is big, sound and his temperament is all Standard Poodle. Being
completely devoid of any flash he does not stand out in a crowd but the
more I went over him feeling his depth of chest, his second thigh and a
front that never had to be set up, I was completely taken with him.. Shown
on a slack lead, with his handler moving him easily and not at a dead run
he could not be beaten on the day.
Look, Ma -- No Dye
!
Barney
wins a 5-point major at Poodle Club of America National Specialty under
Standard breeder-judge James Edward Clark in a record Standard Poodle
entry (Michael Hagen handling).
Barney finished his championship with three majors and made his Mama a Top
Producer.
Judge's Critique written by James Edward Clark for
The Poodle Review
My Open Dogs class was an absolutely magnificent
class, and the dog that won it (Springtime Blackwillow) did it handily in
my opinion, due to a lovely head and a nice way of going. All in
all, a very attractive class. For the record, there were 174 Standard
Poodles -- they say the largest entry ever -- and of really tremendous,
tremendous quality.
Some of Barney's Other Jobs: An
"extra" in the movie The Black Marble, Barney was also an on-call blood donor for a
Veterinary Hospital for several years. Always a perfect gentleman,
Barney was also a pioneer Therapy Dog, visiting hospitals, nursing homes,
and schools long before the concept became a national fad.
Click
here to see some Barney Babies.