REBECCA BARNETT | The Roanoke Times;Roanoke Kennel Club members cheer during the Westminster Kennel Club dog show at Lucky Dog Pub and Deli in Cloverdale on Tuesday night. Their hero, Peyton, won best of breed and placed third for the second year in a row in the sporting group, which represents 30 breeds of dog.

Alas, Peyton, the hometown favorite to win the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night, came up just short of the coveted prize.

The gorgeous spaniel, bred by a couple that lives just outside of Vinton, did take third in the sporting group and, I think it’s safe to say, first in the hearts of the patrons of the Lucky Dog Pub last night.

And my living room, too, where my family was cheering him on.

Click here to read Liana Bayne’s story about the party in Peyton’s honor as he competed last night.

In case you missed it, a German wirehaired pointer named Oakley took the top spot in the sporting group, but he was no match for Banana Joe, an affenpinscher, who was named top dog last night.

Congratulations to Banana Joe, Oakley and the other five finalists for Best in Show and, of course, congratulations to Peyton for a strong finish.

STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS | The Roanoke Times;
Billie (left) and Charlie Kerfoot have bred English springer spaniels for years. One of their dogs, Peyton (not shown), will compete Tuesday at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

As a longtime Indianapolis Colts fan, the title of the blog entry was easy to type. But I am not referring to No. 18, who now plays for the Broncos.

I am sending out a big cheer for Peyton, the Vinton-bred English springer spaniel that won best in breed today at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and will compete tonight to represent sporting dogs in the Best in Show finale.

This breed has a special place in my heart: the dog I had as a kid was Sparky, an English springer spaniel, was the sweetest I have ever known.

Read reporter Liana Bayne’s story about Peyton (officially Wynmoor Champagne Supernova) by clicking this link and the update about his win today by clicking this link.

You can follow the action tonight on the USA network, or if you are feeling social, you can drop by the Lucky Dog Pub in Botetourt County, where a cluster of Peyton fans will gather to cheer him on.

Good luck, Peyton!

Lots of pet happenings, folks.

Here’s a round-up of stuff to do with for your pet:

The PetEx happens in two weeks at the Roanoke Civic Center. This is two days of nothing but furry-related information and merchandise for lovers of dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, chickens, reptiles and even llamas.

You can bring your well-mannered, friendly leashed pooch with you to try the “My Dog Can Do That!” agility course on Sunday, April 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hear a speech from Luis Carlos Montalvan and his dog Tuesday (OK, Montalvan is likely the one to do most of the talking.) He is an Iraq veteran and the author of the bestselling book “Until Tuesday.” He will be speaking on Saturday from noon to 12:30 p.m. and again from 3 to 3:30 p.m.

Miriam Fields-Babineau might be able to help you determine if your pet has the “it factor” to become an animal star. She will be at the expo from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.  And animal medium Karen Wrigley will advise folks on how to develop a closer bond with their pets on Sunday from 1 to 1:30 p.m.

There’s lots of other activities going on both days. For a full schedule and ticket info, click right here.

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Angels of Assisi will be hosting a rabies clinic at Southern States in Cloverdale on Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Southern States is a very pet-friendly store and is located at 1796 Lee Highway.

Leashed dogs and cats in carriers can get a life-saving vaccine for only $10. Three-year vaccines are also available for those who have a current vaccine certificate.

You all know what a soap box I get on about rabies vaccines. So let me step right up on my soap box and say to all procrastinators,  ”JUSSSSSST DOOOOOOO IIIIIIIIIIT!” It could save your pet’s life and you can’t beat the price for such an important vaccine.

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On May 12 you can bowl for cats.

Barn Cat Buddies is hosting a fundraiser at AMF Hilltop Lanes at 5918 Williamson Road from 1 to 4 p.m. Shoes and three games will cost $20. There will also be a silent auction, all benefiting kitties looking for a employment as environment-friendly rodent deterrent specialists in agricultural and industrial businesses.

Gail Caskie of Lexington sent the newsroom these two awesome shots from the AKC National Agility Championships this past weekend.

Wes Mollard and his dog Tadgh practice on an agility course at Field of Dreams in Vinton.

Here is a link to today’s Happy Wag newspaper column, which is a very basic introduction to the sport of dog agility.

This is the first of two stories I am working on about dog agility. This story, featuring Wes and Tadgh, lets you know about the local trail coming up at Hollins University, a NADAC-sanctioned event hosted by the Star City Canine Training Club.

The next story will introduce you to the local teams that will compete at the AKC  National Agility Championship, which will be held in Lexington the first weekend in April.

It’s root, root, root for the home teams.

The Star City Canine Training Club event is a great way to be introduced to the sport, one that I think most people and dogs would enjoy. It’s great exercise for both the handler and the dog, and it creates such a bond between the two.

Here are the details:

What: Star City Canine Training Club NADAC Agility Trial
When: 5 p.m. March 25; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 26 and 27
Where: Hollins University soccer field
Cost: Free; bring a lawn chair

Between a vacation and a conference, I am just getting caught up with my letters and e-mails, which means I have lots of pet-related happenings and other newsy tidbits to share with you.

Bark for Life returns to the former location of Six Wags Dog Park on Saturday, Aug. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.  Click here to register. The $25 registration fee gets you and one pooch admission to participate in the walk, a bandana, a goodie bag and a paw reading.

The event, which will also include games, food, contests and music, raises money for the American Cancer Society.

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Apparently Aug. 26 is National Dog Day. Someone needs to break this news to three spoiled rotten pooches at my house who think that every day is National Dog Day.  This particular Thursday, however, is set aside to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, to celebrate the faithful love of family dogs, and honor the brave dogs that risk their lives to save others.

Click here for all the details and if you plan to honor this occasion, please post a comment and share.

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Everyone thinks they have the world’s cutest dog or cat. They are wrong, of course, because I have the cutest critters, but I allow others to continue in their delusion.  If you think I am delusional (you would not be the first) and you want to prove me wrong, you can enter your adorable pooch in the Cutest Pet Photo Contest from American Express Gift Cards for a chance to win gift cards up to $2,000.

Money is great, but there are bragging rights here, which are way more important.

Click here for details. The deadline to enter is Sept. 1 and if you send in an entry, e-mail the photo to pets@roanoke.com too and I’ll put it here on the blog.

If your magnificent mutt or fantastic feline is chosen as a finalist, we will rally votes to help you win.

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Taj MaPaw, the doggy daycare/grooming/boarding business located at 3112 Franklin Road in Roanoke, is having a masquerade ball on Sept. 3 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded to the cutest, largest, smallest and “most unrecognizable,” which I believe means if you can pass your dog off as a hippopotamus or a coffee table or a football player, you win.

If your dog just looks like, you know, a dog, I’m not liking you chances.

But there will be free hot dogs and drinks available so even if your dog’s costume fools no one, you’re still fed and happy and your dog got to play dress up, so you win.

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Finally, if you feel up to a road trip, head north to Middleton, Va., on Sept. 18 to 26 for the National Sheepdog Competition.

Think border collies and other such herding dogs, not the Old English dogs with the long bangs.

This is a major dog sporting competition where you can watch skilled dogs do what they were born and bred to do, which is bend sheep to their iron will.  I only wish I could do that with my cat.

Click here for more details.

I confess I fell asleep to Olympic figure skating last night and did not see the Best in Show competition at the Westminster Kennel Club’s annual dog show.

Sadie, a Scottish terrier, is the subject of photographers after winning best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

So I missed Sadie, the Scottish terrier, taking the top honor and I missed the two PETA members that interrupted the show with protest signs.

Sadie, pictured here, was a favorite to win the grand prize, having already claimed 111 Best in Show titles. The Westminster win in New York’s Madison Square Garden completed the dog show triple crown for the black Scotttie. She won best in show at the National Dog Show in November and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in December.

Stealing Sadie’s shine were two women, Dana Sylvester and Hope Round, who stepped into the show ring holding signs that said “Mutts Rule” and “Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs’ Chances” between the judging of the brittany, winner of the hunting group, and the Doberman pinscher, winner of the working group.

The women were escorted out within minutes and will be charged with criminal trespass. According the the Associated Press, Sylvester and Round are PETA members, but were acting on their own.

What do you think of the protest? As the pet parent to four rescued pets, two of whom are purebred dogs, I do indeed support shelter adoptions and finding good homes for all pets. I don’t, however, demonize people who enjoy raising and showing purebred dogs.

I also admit I have a negative attitude toward PETA because I have nice family and a pit bull in my home, so I disagree with its rhetoric on banning and/or making pit bulls extinct.

Post a comment and share your thoughts. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civilized and no personal attacks on other commenters.

We took a break from watching the skiing, snowboarding and skating competitions in Vancouver last night to watch a little canine competition in New York City.

Chanel, a two-year-old whippet, wins the hound group at the Westminster Dog Show (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

On Monday night the hounds took the ring at Madison Square Garden for the Westminster Kennel Club show. At the Chez Nelson Spa and Pampered Pets here in Roanoke, home to two retired racing greyhounds, we were most excited that top three spots were awarded to sighthounds.

A whippet called Chanel will represent the hounds in the Best in Show competition. A brindle greyhound, very similar in appearance and personality to our beautiful Coral, and a Scottish deerhound were runners-up. Coral, by the way, seemed unimpressed by her beauty queen look-a-like, snoozing through the whole competition.

Fourth place went to a petite basset griffon vendeen, a scenthound.

(Sighthounds, including greyhounds, whippets and dachshunds, hunt using their superior peripheral vision; scenthounds, including beagles, bassets and bloodhounds, hunt nose to the ground, using their keen sense of smell.)

Whippets, which looks like a merry, miniature version of their greyhound cousins, are usually a crowd favorite at dog shows. They perhaps steal a few more hearts at Westminster since a prized whippet named Vivi was lost at Kennedy airport after the 2006 show. Vivi escaped from her travel crate, darted into the woods and, despite and extensive search, was never seen again.

Tuesday night Chanel will face a poodle (toy group), a French bulldog (non-sporting group), a puli (herding group) and the winners of tonight’s sporting, working and terrier* groups for the Best in Show title.

*Tonight we will cheer for the American Staffordshire terrier, the closest relative we can guess to our mutt Stormy. The favorite to win the whole show is a Scottish terrier.

I got an e-mail from a co-worker who said her veterinarian suggested she take her dachshund swimming as relief for arthritis. She wanted to know if either dog park had a pool.

Alas, they do not, I had to answer. And other than in Montgomery County, on the day before they drain it for the season, I am fairly certain dogs are not permitted in the public pools.

I confessed that I did not know enough about public swimming at the lake to offer any advice there, either. My husband’s cousin has a rescued dachshund, a former puppy mill breeder, that enjoys a good swim in the lakes in her home state of Minnesota and at the family’s summer house in Indiana, but I don’t know if dogs are allowed on the lakefront here.

I can personally attest to the healing powers of water for creaky joints; I have severe arthritis in my knees so all my aerobic exercise happens in the pool.  It does wonders for strengthening muscles and you can get a vigorous workout with minimal impact.  

So where can a dog take a swim around here, folks?  Post a comment and let us know.

I spent a few hours this morning at the Star City Canine Training Club’s agility trials at the Salem Civic Center. I took some photos but let’s just say as an action photographer, I am a very good writer.

This photo is of Dancer, a flat-coated retriever from Harrisonburg. She was done competing for the day and was watching from the stands.

The headline of this blog post has a double meaning. There are plenty of pooches that cruise around the agility course in a very good time, but there is also plenty of good times to be had for the ones that, well, still need to practice a bit.

A perfectly executed run is a thing of beauty, and it epitomizes the concise communication between the dog and the handler. The hang time some of these dogs displayed as they sailed over the hurdles made me gasp. Air Jordan had nothing on a German short-haired pointer I watched glide over every obstacle with plenty of height and width to spare. Superdog looked like he could leap tall buildings in a single bound.

But I always smile when a dog gets a little off-course, maybe running through a tunnel one extra time or bouncing off the table a little too soon because he or she wants to run some more. Sure, there is some disappointment for the handler/pet parent, because hours upon hours of work is put into practicing for these events. But the dog is just having fun. There is sheer joy in these dogs as they fly over, through and around the obstacles.

And there is nothing more joyful than seeing a happy dog at play.

The trials continue today and end on Sunday. Admission is free and when they aren’t competing, most owners/handlers are happy to answer questions about their dogs. But unless your dog is competing, they ask that your leave your four-legger at home.