Bow Wow Wow: Miami-Dade Dog is Best in Breed

By Erika Beras, The Miami Herald

Feb. 12–A North Miami Beach pup is one step closer to winning best in show at The Westminster Kennel Club 131st Annual Dog Show.

Finnabair Rocket’s Red Glare, a 19-month-old Glen of Imaal Terrier known to his family as “Riley,” took top honors in the best in breed segment this afternoon.

“We were right there on the side of the stage,” said Nancy Henschel, who traveled to New York City with her husband Andrew, four daughters, mother-in-law, breeder and dog trainer for the competition, “And when he won, we were just screaming our heads off.”

The dog-loving entourage arrived in New York Thursday for the competition. On Friday morning, their dog appeared on the Today Show.

Riley is used to the spotlight, having won awards in Miami, Broward and Palm Beach counties, as well as in several other states. Dogs from all over the world compete in the Westminster Dog Show, one of the most prestigious of such competitions.

After the Kentucky Derby, it is the second longest continuously held sporting event in this country.

The event, limited to 2,500 dogs, judges canine on various platforms — even down to the distance between their eyes.

The group competition — when similar breeds compete against each other — will be televised live on USA Network from 8 to 11 tonight.

If Riley wins tonight’s competition, the Henschels take home $50,000.

If he wins the big one — best of show — Tuesday night, they walk away with $250,000. Not bad for a puppy that cost the family $1,000.

But Nancy Henschel says she’s not in it for the money.

“He’s our pet. We have four girls,” Henschel said. “Riley is the only boy. My husband calls him his son.”

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Miami Herald

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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