OBC Club member Renee Howard along with her husband Larry were so proud of their dog Ch. Renee's Brooklyn Bruiser better known as Buster. (pictured left) He was bred by and is owned by the Howard's co-bred by Karen Churchill. His first year out as a special he made the Top Twenty and competed with the country's best. This was also both Renee's and Larry's first trip to the Nationals. To make things even more exciting for Renee, Larry made this a family affair by secretly flying their daughter in from Minnesota to surprise Renee! What a guy!  Buster made his owners proud a second time by making two cuts in the breed. Congratulations to the Howard's, co-breeder Karen Churchill and handler Nancy Ingalls for a job well done.

There was so much to do during the week. There were three excellent health seminars. They were on Degenerative Myelopathy by speaker Dr.Natasha Olby, Boxer Genetics by speaker Dr.Jerold Bell DVM, and the new information on the research being done on SAS and Cardiomyopathy by speaker Dr.Kate Muers. All were taped and I believe will be offered to purchase at a later date.  Tons of interesting and new information a definite must have. OBC member Terri Pope took advantage of the heart clinic that was offered. As many of you know it is nerve racking hold your breath until its over experience. The turn out for the echocardiograms I believe were good. I don't know the exact numbers but the list was a long one. Gloria was the last one on the first day and they said they were going non-stop from that morning.

A site to behold are the crowd favorites, The Veterans. They come out of retirement with their gray faces and grace us with their beauty showing us with their puppy like attitudes they still got it! They are all winners in everyone's eyes just being there strutting around like they never left the ring. (below a line up of some of the 8-10 year veterans class)