There is no question about which dog was the big winner at this show an Alaskan Malamute, Costello, won all three top prizes at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship on Jan. 15, earning over $80,000 and the prestige of Best in Show.
Registered under the name Ch. Nanukes SnoKlassic No Boundaries, Costello also was named the viewers' choice through balloting by the Animal Planet network, and won Best Bred-By-Exhibiter in Show at the Tampa, Fla., event.
Best-in-Show judge Jane Forsyth explained that her No. 1 choice had a little something extra, noting Costellos exuberance and grace as he moved around the show ring.
Costello is co-owned, bred and handled by Sandra DAndrea of Nanuke Alaskan Malamutes in New York (the other co-owners are W. Corr, M. Peel, and P. Peel). His championship this year extends a successful 2005, when he took home seven all-breed Best in Shows, and was named Best in Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Other winners at the event included Michael Brunner from Vancouver, Canada, who won the Best Junior Handler award and a $2,000 scholarship with his Longhaired Dachshund, Mae Mae (Ch. Barkerville M'Aimez). A Labrador Retriever, OTCH Chaseabouts Dances with Lions UDX6 JH MX AXJ, won the Obedience Invitational. Five dogs a Papillon, a Shetland Sheepdog, an Australian Shepherd and two Border Collies won their height division in the Agility Championship.
Posted: Jan. 16, 2006, 3 p.m. EST