Purina Pro Plan Fuels 15th Annual National Dog Show Winner, ‘Gia,’ The Greyhound

Pro Plan Dogs

The bright TV lights during “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina” didn’t outshine “Gia,” a 4-year-old blue brindle female Greyhound. Handled by pro handler Rindi Gaudet, Multi-BIS/Multi-RBIS Brazilian, PANAM, Int, FCI, GCH GrandCru Giaconda CGC dazzled the crowd and judge James Reynolds to earn Best in Show and become the sixth consecutive Purina® Pro Plan®-fueled National Dog Show winner.

“Gia has so much breed type. Her head, neck and expression are beautiful,” Reynolds said. “She is a good galloping hound, as a Greyhound should be.”

Gia, who has earned 44 Bests in Show during her nearly two-year show career, is currently ranked No. 7 in all-breed competition and is the No. 1 Hound in the country. The hound’s confident stride and playfulness are qualities that Gaudet admires in Gia.

“She gave 110 percent. Her performance was better than the best I’ve seen,” said Gaudet, who wiped away tears of joy and lovingly placed a cool, damp towel on the ecstatic Greyhound. “When she’s not in the ring, Gia’s favorite thing to do is lounge. She is a clown and also loves to run in the yard and boss everyone around.”

Gia’s stellar performance in the ring also earned her Best in Show at the Greater Philadelphia Dog Fanciers Association Dog Show the day before the National Dog Show. Rounding out the weekend show cluster, she captured her third Group First at the Sunday Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dog Show.

Gaudet attributes Gia’s commanding ring presence to their strong bond and the dog’s outstanding pedigree, as her dam “Era” (Multi-BIS/Multi-BISS GCH GrandCru Clos Erasmus) is the third winningest Greyhound in breed history. Gaudet, a pro handler for 15 years, has co-bred Greyhounds under the GrandCru prefix with Melanie Steele since 2010. They plan to breed Gia when the dog retires from showing in 2017.

Now in its 15th year, the National Dog Show drew 25 million viewers to the two-hour broadcast, which aired on Thanksgiving Day on NBC. The show has become a holiday tradition for many families. This is the third consecutive year that Purina® Pro Plan®-powered dogs swept Group Firsts and Best in Show.

BEST IN SHOW 
HOUND GROUP FIRST 
Registered Name: GCH GrandCru Giaconda 
Call Name: “Gia” 
Breed: Greyhound 
Breeders: Melanie Steele, Rindi Gaudet and Rose Tomlin 
Owners: Melanie Steele, Amy Phelan, Rose Tomlin, and Rindi Gaudet 
Handler: Rindi Gaudet 
Formula Fed: Purina® Pro Plan® SPORT Performance 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula 

RESERVE BEST IN SHOW 
SPORTING GROUP FIRST 
Registered Name: GCH Cerise Blindside 
Call Name: “Timmy” 
Breed: English “Springer” Spaniel 
Breeders: Dorothy Cherry and Donna Herzig 
Owner: Dorothy Cherry 
Handler: Howard Huber Jr. 
Formula Fed: Purina® Pro Plan® SPORT Performance 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula

TERRIER GROUP FIRST 
Registered Name: GCH Lotrando Sunshine Celebration
Call Name: “Rondo” 
Breed: West Highland White Terrier 
Breeder: Marina Kanasova 
Owners: Zane Smith and Vanessa Skou 
Handler: Vanessa Skou 
Formula Fed: Purina® Pro Plan® FOCUS Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula

NON-SPORTING GROUP 
Registered Name: GCHP Kimik’s Who Dunnit 
Call Name: “Clue” 
Breed: Tibetan Terrier 
Breeders: Dina Planche, Mikki DeMers and Lois DeMers 
Owners: Dina Planche, Mikki DeMers and Lois DeMers 
Handler: Lois DeMers 
Formula Fed: Purina® Pro Plan® SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula

WORKING GROUP FIRST 
Registered Name: CH Ingebar’s Tynan Dances With Wildflowers 
Call Name: “Ty” 
Breed: Giant Schnauzer 
Breeder: Maryann Bisceglia 
Owners: Carol Mann and Maryann Bisceglia 
Handler: Katie Shepard 
Formula Fed: Purina® Pro Plan® SPORT Performance 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula

TOY GROUP FIRST 
Registered Name: GCH Pequest Pickwick 
Call Name: “Chuckie” 
Breed: Pekingese 
Breeder: David Fitzpatrick 
Owners: Nancy H. Shapland and David Fitzpatrick 
Handler: David Fitzpatrick 
Formula Fed: Purina® Pro Plan® Natural Grain Free Chicken & Egg Formula

HERDING GROUP FIRST 
Registered Name: GCH Majestic Elite Clever Endeavor 
Call Name: “Slick” 
Breed: Border Collie 
Breeder: Ronni DeLay 
Owners: Ricki Johnson, J. Frank Baylis and Ronni DeLay 
Handler: Jamie Clute 
Formula Fed: Purina® Pro Plan® SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula

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