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Every dog has its day, but yesterday was not Deuce's.
The Australian shepherd from Auburn lost out to Uno, a beagle, for the top honor at the 132d Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show in New York City.
Though Deuce (inset) will not be trotting home with Best in Show, the 4-year-old female received a lesser award, Best of Group. It was the first time an Australian shepherd has won the herding group since the breed was first entered into the show in 1994, according to records on the club's website. "It's something that no one will ever be able to take away from her and she so deserves it," her owner, Terri Collins, said yesterday before the Best in Show judging. No Australian shepherd has ever won Best in Show.
Deuce, whose registered show name is "Ch. Vinelake Collinswood Yablon OA OAJ," holds titles in agility and won the Best of Breed at the United States Australian Shepherd Association National Specialty show last April, Collins said.
The dog was up against more than 2,600 other canines in the two-day competition that included 169 breeds and varieties across seven different groups. The Westminster show is considered by many the most prestigious in the country.
"She's just ready for anything all the time, she just loves life," Collins said about her dog.
Collins, who owns a kennel and dog training facility in Auburn called Collinswood K-9 Services, said Deuce is playful and loves a good game of tug-of-war with her own leash.
"She's just brutal with the leash," Collins said.
At the same time, she said, the dog is also obedient: She will drop the leash and sit down as soon as told.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
