Mariposa News - 'Roy Boy' Wins Big at National Championship's in May, 2009

Toni Killpatrick with Roy Boy

Roy Boy and Toni Killpatrick take home the Ribbon for 'Group Two Placements'
in Merced, California

Toni Killpatrick with Roy Boy who took a ribbon for 'Best of Breed.'
Also in the photo are two dogs that were bred by 'Roy Boy,' Cody in the middle is the 'Winners' dog and Petra on the right won the 'Winning Bitch Best Opposite' ribbon in Merced, California

Mariposa residents Toni Killpatrick with her husband Lyle, raise Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs at their Whispering Pine Kennel, off of Triangle Road, among the tall Ponderosa Pines of Mariposa County. Toni & Lyle raise several show dogs, a business Joan and Herb Gloor had introduced to them in 1998.

Mrs. Killpatrick's latest win came with 'Roy Boy' a three and a half years old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog that is also co-owned by Roy's breeder Maria Jensen. Roy Boy's official name is NBISS TreeNsea's Lupine Serenade.

Roy Boy took home the trophy in the Best of Breed category at the National Specialty Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Show in Farmington, Utah. There were over 125 Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs entered into this once a year show that attracts participants from all over the United States and Canada.

That same weekend in South Jordan, Utah the Intermountain All Breed Dog Show was taking place and 'Roy Boy' took home the trophy for Best of Breed.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs also can compete in other competitions that include Herding, Back Packing and Drafting. In Drafting, the dogs pull a sled with increasing weight a determined distance. More weight is added to the sled until a winner is determined. Roy Boy begins this type of competition pulling 1,200 pounds and working upwards from that weight. In Back Packing, a pack is attached to the dog that has food and water in it. The back pack begins with the pack weighing 20% of the dogs body weight. The competitions are vigorous.

Toni currently also has five other dogs in her Whispering Pine Kennel. Out of those five dogs one has been ranked in the top five dogs in the United States. Elka at eight years old is retired and was the number two 'Bitch' in the Nation. Toni Killpatrick handled Elka at all her shows and Elka has produced nine AKC Champions out of twenty one puppies.

Until the middle of May, 2009 there were six dogs at the kennel, but her dog Adam recently had to be put down due to numerous seizures he was having. Adam was just five years old. Adam had won the Eukanuba Classic National Dog Show, Westminster Kennel Club and other prestigious shows in his lifetime and was also ranked one of the top five dogs in the nation.

Toni has assembled a beautiful Tribute page to Adam. Anyone who has lost a beloved pet will be moved by Toni's loving tribute. To see Adam's tribute on her Website: Adam:: 2004-2009

Local Veterinarian Eileen Bissmeyer, takes care of all Toni Killpatrick's show dogs and family pets.

For more information on Whispering Pine Kennel see the Whispering Pine Kennel website. The website has many wonderful picture and great information on Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs.