13/12/2025
As we count down to the 25th AKC National Champion presented by Royal Canin, we recall the dramatic BIS finale of a decade ago. From the December 2015 AKC Gazette:
Rumor Has It!
GSD Tops Record Entry at Orlando; Wins in Memorable BIS Finale
Orlando, Florida—GCh. German Shepherd Dog Lockenhaus’ Rumor Has It v Kenlyn won her 100th career Best in Show in high style, topping a record entry of 4,670 on the evening of Sunday, December 13, at the 15th AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.
“She didn’t put a foot down wrong,” judge Robert Stein said after making one of the toughest calls in his 50 years of judging. “She’s a beautiful type, balanced, and she has it all.”
Co-owner and handler Kent Boyles entered the ring with America’s number-one dog, all breeds, but was still humbled by the big win: “There were so many beautiful animals out there; all I wanted her to do was perform good.”
Rumor had to perform more than good to prevail over her fellow group winners on the big blue carpet. She squared off against six formidable opponents, all in good trim and fine fettle, who had spent the weekend climbing over America’s best show dogs to reach the summit of seven.
Whippet GCh. Sporting Fields Shameless, the country’s number-one hound and number-three dog, was judge Eugene Blake’s Hound Group winner;
Peggy Hauck put up multi-BIS, multi-specialty winning Chow Chow GCh. Eastern-Magic Fly Me Safe in her Non-Sporting ring;
Out of the classes came the wild card: Malcom Moore’s choice in the Toy Group, a South Korean toy Poodle named Hidden Valley B R8, winner of 28 Asian BIS, who took the group at Central Valley KC three days earlier;
Elliot Weiss’s popular choice in the Sporting Group was the Irish Setter from the Veterans class, GCh. Darnelle’s Pennies From Heaven, a national-specialty winner—grizzled but still grand—who scored an upset Group I over highly ranked competitors;
In the terrier ring Bruce Schwartz looked past the event’s reigning champion, Skye Terrier GCh. Cragsmoor Good Time Charlie, and gave the nod to Scottish Terrier GCh. Roundtown Queen of Hearts, daughter of 2009 National Champion Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot;
Bill Shelton, from among the slew of Top-20 Dogs who crowded his Working Group ring, put up the Portuguese Water Dog GCh. Aviators Ladys Man de Remis, sired by breed legend Matisse, the 2013 National Champion;
And of course, in Thomas Coen’s Herding Group ring, Rumor rose to the occasion against an all-star lineup that featured multi-BIS winners and Top-10 Herding Dogs.
Enter Mr. Stein
Judge Stein strode purposefully to the center of his Best in Show ring knowing what was on the line: the National Champion title and a $50,000 cash prize. As Stein watched, the magnificent seven took their first turn around the ring. From the get-go Rumor, with her stirring Herding Group win just moments before still fresh in the minds of spectators, was the crowd favorite. As she gaited once around, tongue out and flapping in the breeze, the dauntless Shepherd moved as though the cavernous Orlando Convention Center was her personal rumpus room, where she was entertaining a few close friends.
But this was no walkover. If Boyles hoped to take home the red-white-and-blue rosette, Rumor would have to step up and take it.
Her six competitors all showed like champions, nary a false move among them. And yet, on this night and in this building, Rumor owned the ring. The revered all-rounder Bill Kendrick always insisted that the best handling is the least handling; Wild Bill would have been well pleased to see the light touch with which Boyles guided his Shepherd. It sometimes seemed Rumor was showing herself, especially when frozen in one of her signature self-stacks.
The spectators became increasingly vocal as one by one the dogs played their roles to perfection. They sensed they were part of a memorable Best in Show finale—19 minutes of high-stakes drama where each actor was true to their breed’s character: the perky little Poodle moving with the springy step of a sparrow on hot asphalt; the Chow, lordly and scowling, submitting to the judge’s examination with a snobbish aplomb; the sleek-headed Whippet gaiting with the clockwork grace of a good hound.
Stein watched patiently, hands clasped behind his back, murmuring instructions to the handlers in a low, neutral tone. He sent his charges once more around. He gave the lineup a last look, and lingered as though he couldn’t bear to disturb such a thing of beauty. Finally he said, “I just want to say, forty-five hundred dogs, and you’re the last ones left. That’s quite an accomplishment.”
Steak for the Lady
Stein made his way to the judge’s table and reached into his vest pocket for a pen—one of those yellow and purple Westminster ballpoints. He checked his watch and filled out the judge’s book. Bigwigs from the AKC and Eukanuba assembled in the ring with trophies, prizes, and one very large check.
Back at center ring, Stein settled the matter. First, he gave his Reserve rosette to Queenie the Scottie. Then, with the disdain for theatrics he exhibited throughout, Stein made a small gesture with his hand and said simply, “The German Shepherd Dog.” The crowd shrieked. The PA announcer boomed. And the new National Champion looked around the arena like she was wondering, why all the fuss? After all, she had done this 99 times before.
In the post-show interview, Boyles was asked if Rumor had earned a steak dinner for her effort. He replied, “She’s been getting steak dinners all week long, but she’ll get some more tonight, that’s for sure.”—Bud Boccone
(Photo: In Focus by Miguel)
Our December issue contains a preview of the upcoming ANChttps://images.akc.org/pdf/gazette/december-2025.pdf
Gazette Gallery slideshow: “Weird and the Wacky” oddball images from our “Miscellaneous” file https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB8JxePdhcs
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