AUBURN—
To the dog lovers and judges who packed Madison Square Garden this week for the 132nd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, she was Ch Vinelake Collinswood Yablon OA OAJ.
Terri K. Collins and those who go to Collinswood K-9 Services at 81 West St., however, know her as Deuce.
A national television audience also got to know the 4-year-old Australian shepherd Tuesday night as she went through her paces in the Best of Show competition at the dog show that is widely regarded as the most prestigious in the country.
Ms. Collins owns Deuce, as well as Collinswood K-9 Services. The now-famous dog and Razz, another of her Australian shepherds, are well-known to those who stop by.
“They’re really fun dogs,” Ms. Collins said yesterday as she was getting ready to head home from New York City. “They sleep in my bed every night.”
Deuce won the herding group competition of the show Monday night that featured 35 Australian shepherds, and 290 dogs in that group.
Becoming top dog in the herding group lifted Deuce to the Best of Show competition that was won by a beagle named Uno.
“She is by far the nicest dog I’ve ever had,” Ms. Collins said. “She is a wonderful example of the breed. Her movements are just to die for.”
While Uno was clearly the crowd favorite Tuesday night, Deuce, who also won best of breed, drew considerable applause from the audience. Westminster spokesman Erich Mendez said Deuce is the first Australian shepherd to win the herding group competition since it was added to the show in 1983.
The 42-pound, red-and-white Deuce has won several competitions sponsored by American Kennel Club, which allowed her to be entered into the Westminster Dog Show, her breeder Sandra Landry said yesterday.
Ms. Landry said what was impressive about Deuce’s showing is that Deuce had puppies about five months ago. Ms. Landry added that her 5-year-old daughter helped in delivering the young pups.
On Tuesday afternoon before that night’s Best of Show competition, Ms. Collins said that the whole event had been like a dream.
“I keep feeling like I’m going to wake up any minute,” she said.
Tuesday night brought nervousness as she realized Deuce was one of seven finalists out of more than 2,600 dogs that had been entered.
The winners of the seven groups made the Best of Show competition that closed out the event.
“It was very, very nerve-racking,” Ms. Collins said.
“I am not at all disappointed,” she said.
“I’m very proud of Deuce, and I think her showing will bring a lot of awareness and attention to Australian shepherds.”
