Santa Maria Sun / News

Local dog wins best in breed at Westminster

BY AMY ASMAN

Oh, Johnny boy Local Brussels Griffon Champion Cashin's Walk the Line—better known as Johnny—recently won Best in Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club 2010 Dog Show. PHOTO COURTESY FELICIA CASHIN/WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB

According to his breeder and owner, Felicia Cashin of San Luis Obispo, Johnny “performed marvelously in the Toy Group and was pulled for consideration for the final four.”

“It was very exciting,” Cashin said. “I was a little worried about one of the judges because he’s a Brussels Griffon breeder … so I was very pleased when he put him up [for Best in Breed].

Johnny was bred by Cashin and the late Margie Hamilton of Lompoc, and is co-owned by Cashin and Carole Ross of San Juan Bautista. His father is the Best in Show winner Champion Hilltop’s the Great Houdini and both of his grandfathers are also Westminster Best in Breed winners.

“We have quite a family of Westminster winners,” Cashin said.

Johnny is trained, groomed, and presented by Wood Wornall and his daughter, Jenny, along with assistant Andrew Peel. The Wornalls live in Santa Ynez and Wood has been a professional handler for more than 30 years. Johnny currently lives with the Wornalls at their home in Santa Ynez.

Jack and Felicia Cashin have lived in San Luis Obispo for 12 years, where they own a cinema manufacturing company, Ultra Stereo Labs, Inc. Felicia has served on the Woods Humane Society Board of Directors and is an active member of the Brussels Griffon parent club and the San Luis Obispo Kennel Club. She currently serves as president of the National Brussels Griffon Rescue, Inc., a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the care of homeless Brussels Griffons.

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