GREAT BEGINNINGS

In February 1997, a seven-month-old Pekingese puppy went on a long trip to New York with her breeder-owner and as the saying goes - the rest is history. Entered in the weekend specialty shows before the Westminster Kennel Club Championship Dog Show, Dreamville Sun Goddess, nicknamed Regine, a third generation homebred, came away with top honors. In the Pekingese Club of New Jersey sweepstakes, Breeder-judge Irene Reasons gave Regine the nod for Best in Sweepstakes. The following day at the Pekingese Club of America National Specialty Sweepstakes, she repeated the feat under Breeder-judge Jason Ulmer. The regular Championship show of the Nationals had for its judge the well-known and respected Michael Hill of Canada, who bestowed on the young bitch from the Philippines, Winners Bitch, Best of Winners (for 5 points) and Best in Show, a singular achievement considering that Regine had flown eighteen hours to New York and was shown the next day for the three day weekend of shows. When the breeder-owner handler thanked Mr. Hill for the awards, Mr. Hill remarked, "It was my pleasure. She is magnificent."

REGINE'S SHOW RECORD

After the wonderful weekend, Regine was shown by co-owner, Patty Metzger, the following month and garnered the following awards:

• Kennel Club of Columbus - first 6-9 mos., Reserve Winners' Bitch - judge Edward Patterson
• Derbytown Pekingese Club - Best of Opposite Sex to Best in Sweepstakes - judge breeder Edna Voyles and first 6-9 mos., Winners' Bitch, Best of Opposite Sex and Best Puppy in Show -judge Tommy Kilcullen for 4 points
• Evansville Kennel Club - first 6-9 mos., Reserve Winners' Bitch - judge Ralph Lemcke
• Louisville Kennel Club- first 6-9 months, Reserve Winners' Bitch - judge James Reynolds
• Owensboro River Kennel Club - first 6-9 mos., Winners Bitch, Best of Winners - judge Bettie Krause for 4 points
• International Kennel Club - first 6-9 Mos., Winners Bitch, Best of Opposite Sex - judge Alexander Schwartz for 1 point
• Blackhawk Kennel Club - first 6-9 mos., Best of Winners, Best of Opposite Sex-judge Bill Trainor for 1 point
• International Kennel Club - first 6-9 mos., Winners Bitch, Best of Opposite Sex - judge Ed Jenner for 1 point

Regine (now American Champion Dreamville Sun Goddess) finished 11 shows with three majors at the tender age of eight and a half months. She is not the first Philippine-bred dog to win an American title. However, she is the first to win big in an American club national. Pekingese Club of America president, Steve Keatin said that Regine's feat made history in the American Pekingese show scene. This story shows that Philippine dogs, when properly bred can hold their own against all comers in the most dog-crazy country in the world, the USA.

BREEDER OF THE YEAR

While the home kennel takes great pride in Regine's American achievements, it is by no means the only major feat accomplished by her owners, Drs. Ray and Christine Lo. Already named 1995, 1999 PCCI Breeder of the Year, Dreamville Pekingese boasts of more award-winning dogs. In its 26 years of existence, this remarkable kennel can claim the following:

• 50 homebred Philippine Champions
• 12 imported Philippine Champions
• 9 American Champions (including 6 homebreds)
• 20 Philippine Grand Champions
• 18 Best in Group Awards (by 9 different dogs)
• 9 Best Philippine Bred in Show All Breeds (by 5 different dogs)
• 2 Best Opposite Sex in Group Awards (by 2 different dogs)
• 17 Best Philippine Bred in Group Awards (by 6 different dogs)
• 18 Best Baby Puppy in Show Awards All Breeds (by 9 different puppies)
• 30 Best Baby Puppy in Group Awards (by 10 different puppies)
• 6 father-son combinations with Best in Group Awards
• 1 father-son combination with Best Philippine Bred in Show Awards
• 1 Top Ten Dog of the Year (1992)

All these has made Dreamville Pekingese the uncontested dominant force in Philippine Pekingese for the past six years. However, it did not come easy. As with other aspiring breeders, it was difficult in the beginning to obtain good stock since reputable breeders do not readily sell their good ones to unknown entities. It took years to make friends with established Pekingese breeders in the USA, Canada and Great Britain. Fortune smiled on the Dreamville kennel owners when famous Pekingese breeders cam to the Philippines to judge and the Dreamville owners had the chance to make their acquaintances. From Messrs. Aubrey-Jones and Taylor of Canada, the world renowned connoisseurs of Pekingese came Philippine Grand Champion St. Aubrey Casanova of Elsdon and Philippine Champion St. Aubrey Whitney of Elsdon; from England's Shiarita Pekingese came Philippine Champion Shiarita London Bobby and from the Morningstar kennel (USA) came Philippine Champion Morningstar Viva who was bred to the Best in Show winning black, American Champion Hope's Dash of Eberhard to produce the outstanding Philippine Grand Champion Dreamville Dark Obsession.

THE MAKING OF A TOP WINNER

A daughter (Phil CH TNT Mayflower by Dreamville) produced by breeding half-brother and half-sister (common sire - Am Can Ch St Aubrey Mayfly of Elsdon) from St Aubrey Elsdon was bred to the Shiarita import and produced Ph Ch Dreamville Cover Girl. Cover Girl was then bred to group-winning Philippine Grand CH Dark Obsession to produce AM CH Dreamville sun Goddess and Ph CH Dreamville Sun King, another exciting young dog.

BREEDING: HARD WORK AND EXPENSIVE BUT REWARDING

It took backbreaking work, a lot of expense and careful planning, not to mention the various difficulties and heartbreaks that come with breeding, to end up with results like this. Breeding dogs is not for the faint of heart nor is it for making money if it done right. It does have its rewards in the knowledge and satisfaction that one has contributed to the development of the breed and the upliftment of the dog sport in the Philippines.
 

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