Posted on 03/27/2013 10:32:58 AM PDT by Altariel
Dublin resident Jocelyn Mullins fell in love with Doberman pinschers because they're intelligent, energetic and true companions.
Those traits, coupled with a remarkable pedigree, have helped boost her dog, Fifi, to the pinnacle of the show-dog circuit.
The sturdy, barrel-chested dog with bright eyes and trademark pink collar -- studded with jewels, of course -- may be the most accomplished Doberman of all time.
In three years of competition, she's racked up 71 Best in Show prizes, and in international competition she's been named the best in her breed three years running.
"No Doberman in history has been able to do that," Mullins said.
Fifi -- also known as the "Fifinator" by fans -- might have capped off an extraordinary career this month at the Super Bowl of dogs shows: the 137th Westminster Dog Show in New York City.
The 4-year-old Doberman was favored by bookmaker Johnny Avella, who picked the winner three times in the past six years. He put Fifi on top with 7-to-1 odds.
Ultimately, she was beat out by Matisse, a 6-year-old Portuguese water dog, in the working dog group and failed to make the cut for the Best in Show grand finale.
The setback didn't faze Fifi. During daily trips with her owner to Advanced Boarding and Grooming -- the Lewis Center business Mullins owns -- Fifi is in high spirits.
"She's a very comical dog," Mullins said. "She's ornery and mischievous, but it's not out of badness. She just likes things that have entertainment value."
She loves people, Mullins said. Fifi never passes up a chance for a scratch behind the ears.
Fifi loves the limelight, too. She's a natural in front of a panel of judges, Mullins said.
The Westminster Dog Show has categories for 187 breeds, and judging is based on rigid appearance standards as well as a dog's movement and disposition.
Fifi did crack the show's top tier last year, emerging as one of seven finalists. In 2012, she was ranked No. 3 overall by the American Kennel Club.
An award-winning Doberman should be healthy, alert and determined, with the ability to make good decisions on the fly, Mullins said.
The American Kennel Club describes the breed as "an elegant athlete in a tight-fitting wrapper."
Fifi fits the bill. Bill Shelton of Pomona, Calif., has been involved in dog shows for 50 years and has judged Fifi in competition. He said her physical attributes -- right down to the tilt of her pelvis and the arch of her neck -- as well as her balance and sense of showmanship are the breed standard.
"Fifi is in many ways about as near perfect a Doberman there has been in my time in the sport," Shelton said.
Fifi isn't done competing. Mullins said she'll compete in obedience and will start agility training soon.
She'll also continue to be an ambassador for her oft-misunderstood breed, Mullins said.
"She knows how to make a good first impression," she said. "She makes people smile."
Doggie ping
(and probably a “Disapproving doberman” ping....
My wife and I both picked Fifi to win WKC this past year.
Unfortunetly, the political winds went another direction.
That is he trouble with the WKC show.
Riiiight.
If I have a doberman, I’ll call her Fifi, too.
I live in SC and my husband and I want to get a Dobi for our young daughter because all the research I have done into the breed makes it a perfect fit for us. Having said that, I am having difficulty finding a reputable breeder. Do any of you know of anyone in SC who breeds Dobis??
Great picture, but it causes flashbacks to The Boys from Brazil.
A doberman named Fifi? That’s like a boy named Sue.
Hi, MissEdie. Go to www.dpca.org and then click on accept. Scroll all the way to the bottom and you will find three or four breeders from South Carolina (with their individual emails and phone numbers). Good luck.. they are wonderful family dogs and they adore kids. Hugs, Mom
We’re Weim folks...I like the look of Doberman’s too. Last month we found ourself “Weimless” for the first time in many years (old age took one dog, and a few months later, lymphoma claimed our other Weim.)
So we adopted through the Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida (they merged with a Florida Weim rescue) and have lots of Weims. But they have all breeds. No kill shelter, large acrerage near West Palm, but a lot of the dogs are fostered around the state. There was a doberman mix called Buck and he was a gorgeous dog. (shameless plug for this rescue organization because they do a good job.) http://bdrr.org/adoptable-dogs/
Also, here’s a story about a Weim rescue that turned out to make it to Westminster (video at link.) http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2012/02/rescued-weimaraner-to-show-at-westminster-2012/
Oh my... there’s always one jokester around here... :-) Great movie..
Thanks for posting. That is one beautiful dog.
Damned nice looking Dobe.
I am the pickiest snit on earth about Dobes and the *only* thing I would change about her is for her to have the wee-est bit more under jaw.
And that’s it.
The dog is damn near perfection.
[but her being kinfolk to ‘Halla via the Briarwood lines ~might~ influence me just a *tiny* bit]
She got ripped off by the stinking Peke last year and the politics of the announcers droning on about “hey...who else has a Portuguese Water Dog?” crap this year.
She’ll have the last laugh.
The dog is a compulsive winner.
Her accomplishments are greater because of the sheer number of other Dobes she’s had to beat just to become a champion.
PWDs have a very small breed class and have to beat *far* fewer dogs to win.
“Easy champions” are common in the uncommon breeds.
Action/cut/print.
:)
I'm sorry; but, a Doberman named Fifi???? What has the world come to?
More dog shows need to require the breeds to be able to perform the function for which they were originally bred.
The dog able to perform the most impressive feats would then become “best in show”, as opposed to whomever the judges decide is most deserving of winning a canine beauty contest.
We can’t help it if the larger breeds would, by and large, trump the smaller breeds given those parameters. ;)
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