Kennewick canine makes it to final round of National Dog Show

While many spent Thanksgiving gorging themselves or watching football, a dog from Kennewick was shown strutting his stuff on national TV.

Blondheim’s Easy Matters — but you can call him Matt — a grand champion cocker spaniel, won the sporting group at the National Dog Show, earning him a slot in the Best in Show competition.

Matt is owned by Sherry and Barry Blondheim of Kennewick, though he’s living with his handler, Lisa Arnett, in Owosso, Mich.

The Blondheims began showing cocker spaniels in the late 1990s and still have Matt’s littermate Gabby, also a grand champion cocker spaniel.

The show was held Nov. 14 and 15, so Sherry Blondheim knew how Matt fared at the competition but was required to keep it secret until it aired. Matt ultimately lost in the Best in Show competition to a Skye terrier from Florida.

That didn’t dampen his owners’ desire to see Matt’s furry face on the TV screen.

“I’ve recorded it. I’ve watched it a couple of times,” Blondheim said, laughing.

The National Dog Show is organized by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia.

About 1,700 dogs from more than 150 breeds compete in the event, vying for Best in Breed, First in Group and, ultimately, Best in Show.

More than 20 million people are estimated to have watched the program, broadcast after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

The sporting group includes well-known breeds such as the golden retriever, the Labrador retriever and the Irish setter, but also the Vizsla, the Spinone Italiano and the Brittany.

There are three varieties of cocker spaniel as defined by breed experts: black, two-colored or, in Matt’s case, ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black).

Matt was the only competitor in this year’s Best in Show competition from west of Missouri.

While Matt has won Best in Show at other competitions, Blondheim said she was a little surprised Matt made it out of his group.

Many show dogs have multiple owners who invest thousands of dollars in promoting their animals via online and print publications. Blondheim said she bought her first ad promoting Matt just a few weeks ago.

“We’re kind of like the little guy,” she said.

Matt isn’t done yet. He’s only 3 years old, while the prime showing age for cocker spaniels is 4 to 5 years old, Blondheim said.

He has the National Championship Dog Show in December in Florida and then the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in February in New York City, both of which Blondheim says she and her husband will fly out to see.

She doesn’t get to see Matt too often otherwise, making Thursday’s broadcast that much more special.

“It was a thrill to watch him on the screen and see he was so wonderful,” she said.

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Kennewick canine makes it to final round of National Dog Show."