Bichon Frise Wins Seattle Dog Show

A little white puffball that's an ordinary house pet made itself quite at home in the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall yesterday.

Champion Moloney's Louie Louie, a dynamic and fun-loving bichon frise owned by Michael and Marcia Moloney of Milton and handled by Sherry Watts of Puyallup won the coveted Seattle Kennel Club best-in-show title over 1,750 entries. The two-day event attracted 6,500 fans.

For Louie (the dog's call name), which Watts began showing only last October, it was a first show championship. Its non-sporting group title Saturday was its second.

"This dog is just getting used to the show ring," said an excited Watts, who registered her first best-in-show title in 22 years of handling. "I've been in finals before but never managed to win."

She and Louie "are just now getting in sync. He was really on today. He was at the top of his game. I saw the judge eying him closely and I began asking myself - is this really our day?

"It's a day I'll never forget."

Judge Peggy Carr of Franklin, Tenn., said, "It's an elegant little dog that didn't miss a step. He was shown perfectly. The dog certainly has the potential to do some more winning."

And that's exactly what the Moloney family intends to explore. Wednesday Louie will be sent to Eddie Boyes of Grass Valley, Calif., a noted professional handler who will enter him in numerous West Coast events.

"We signed the agreement before this win," said Moloney, who also owns an Irish wolfhound. "I'm having some second thoughts about it, but I signed it and I won't go back on my word.

"But it's gonna be hard on me. It's like letting go of your best buddy. He sleeps with us. He's on my lap when I'm watching TV in the evening and he rushes to the door to greet me when I come home each night."

This little, four-legged show man has really been discovered twice. When he was in for grooming at Watts' kennel last summer, she saw potential for stardom. "I encouraged Mike and he agreed to give it a try." Boyes saw the dog at a recent show and he, too, felt it deserved a shot.

So Moloney signed a three-month agreement to see if the talented Californian could coax some wins out of his best buddy.

Louie bested a Select Seven final that was an interesting mix, minus some of America's mainstream breeds.

Champion Ji-Ho's Seabee, a 2-year-old Norwich terrier handled by Mark George of Sonoma, Calif., is a 10-time group winner. It was bred by Richard and Eileen Rourke of Snohomish.

The nation's top English foxhound, Champion Harnett's Ringleader, of White Acres Kennels of Puyallup, was gaited by Carol Lee Tyte of Puyallup. The 4-year-old Leader has won six best-in-show titles.

The toy representative, Champion Cinnabar Movie Star, a 2-year-old Peke, is owned by Duane Doll and Joe McGinnis of Lakeland, Fla., and handled by Greg Robinsen of Yakima. It has one BIS.

Georgia Hymmen of Ferndale, a longtime Great Dane breeder-handler, guided Champion Daynakin's Optimistic Gal to the working-group championship, its first.

For Champion Trosambe Blue Panda Nite Wind, an Old English sheepdog handled by Marta Menshaw of Grandview, it was a third herding group title.

The sporting group went to a 2 1/2-year-old English springer spaniel, Champion Springquest 'N Ridgewyn Vision, co-owned by Patti and Don Kelley and Gary and Cherrie Zayak, all of Maple Valley. The dog has 10 group wins and one best-in-show under Gary Zayak's direction.

The results:

Hound - 1, Champion Harnett's Ringleader, English foxhound, White Acres Kennels, Puyallup; 2, Champion L and Shastina V E Dachs L, longhaired dachshund, L.L. and C.M. Sorenson, Oak Harbor; 3, Champion Findoglen Frost Warning, James Berry and C.A. Barber, Sumas; 4, Champion Kabiks Just in Time, Afghan, Chris Terrell, Anacortes.

Terrier - 1, Champion Ji-Ro's Seabee, Norwich terrier, Cynthia Vogels, Littleton, Colo.; 2, Champion Balcanny Stairway to Heaven, Scottish terrier, Betty Gooch, Covina, Calif.; 3, Champion Doubloon's Quiet Man, soft-coated Wheaten terrier, Elena Landa, Woodinville; 4, Champion Stoneridge Traveler, Airedale terrier, Mary Jo and Bert Toivola, Seattle.

Toy - 1, Champion Cinnabar Movie Star, Pekingese, Duane Doll and Joe McGinnis, Lakeland, Fla.; 2, Champion Langcroft Black Tie Affair, Japanese chin, Harold and Marie Langseth, Everett; 3, Champion Bloom-an's Windsurfer, papillon, Betty Winthers, Lynnwood; 4, Champion Kilbarchan's Jason, English toy spaniel, Jerome Elliott, Seattle.

Non-sporting - 1, Champion Moloney's Louie Louie, bichon frise, Michael Moloney, Milton; 2, Valcopy Candlewood Chanteuse, standard poodle, E.B. Eken and D. L. Plonkey, Chattaroy, Wash.; 3, Champion Lohan Nicolaas, chow chow, Douglas Johnston and Leonard Hanson, Bothell; 4, Champion Jo'Jevon Distant Thunder, Tibetan spaniel, White Acres Kennels, Puyallup.

Herding - 1, Champion Trosambe Blue Panda Nite Wind, Old English sheepdog, Marta Menshaw, Grandview; 2, Jimini's Montego, German shepherd, Tina Woodworth, Kent and Jo Ann Corbin, Calgary, Alta.; 3, Dreamspeaker Bi Parkhurst, Shetland sheepdog, Chris Parkhurst, Snohomish; 4, Champion Sky Acres Chaz de Snowflower, Belgian Tervuren, Michelle Edling, The Dalles, Ore.

Working - 1, Champion Daynakin's Optimistic Gal, Great Dane, Georgia Hymmen, Ferndale, and Linda and Frank Schueller, Marysville; 2, Champion Innisfree's Steppin Up O'Kadyak, Siberian husky, Yataka Suzuki, Japan; 3, Champion LaJosmegyi Dahu Digal, komondor, Patricia Turner and Anne Quigley, Chehalis; 4, Champion Erin's Heart of a Rebel, Akita, Mildred and Robyn Carlson, Seattle.

Sporting - 1, Champion Springquest 'N Ridgewyn Vision, English springer spaniel, Don and Patti Kelley and Gary and Cherrie Zayak, Maple Valley; 2, Champion Meadowlark's Muir Woods, Irish setter, Arlene Skene, Langley, B.C.; 3, Champion Tu-Su's One Temptation, parti-colored cocker spaniel, S. Boyle and C. Paul, Sunriver, Ore.; 4, Champion Blackbrier's Beau, field spaniel, Carla Bunkelman, Fall City.

Top junior - Jesse Brown, Klamath Falls, Ore., with a German shepherd.

Best brace - Champion Karens Dark Krystal and Champion Krystals Midnight Caller, papillons, Karen Murad, Seattle.