After earning his AKC championship in January 2009 Kanzu took a break from the conformation ring to concentrate on performance championships in lure coursing and agility.
In May 2010 the AKC initiated the new Grand Champion title (GCH). Shortly after the new program began, Kanzu returned to the conformation ring with a goal of earning his GCH. During a trip to Alaska and his first weekend of showing, handled by his friend Curtis Freeling, he took Best of Breed (BOB) and a 3 point major one day and Best Opposite Sex (BOS) two days. With this first weekend back in the ring he earned 1 of 3 majors and 9 of the 25 points needed for his GCH. In his second weekend of showing during a trip to Montana showing again with Curtis, Kanzu took BOB earning his second major and select dog the following two days bringing his total GCH points to 15 of the 25 points needed.
In 2012 Kanzu earned his GCH in back-to-back majors handled by his breeder and co-owner Mike Patterson. At the Sammamish Kennel Club show in Puyallup Washington on Saturday January 14, Kanzu won BOS and a 5 point major. On Sunday January 15, at the Puyallup Valley Dog Fanciers Show under Judge Sharon Sakson, he won BOB and another 5 point major finishing up the points and necessary majors for his GCH.
The win on Sunday under Judge Sakson was made even more special as it was preceded by Grandpa Kobe son Maxx (Van D Piers Simply To The Maxx CD RA NAJ) taking Winners Dog and his second major, also handled by Mike. It was a very special day for Tigris Rhodesian Ridgebacks http://www.tigrisridgebacks.com/home.cfm with Winners Dog being a Kobe son, BOB a Kobe grandson and BOS was a Kobe daughter.
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Kanzu and his best friend Daisy Mayhem took their very first airline flight this August when they attended the Cook Inlet Kennel Club Dog Show in Palmer, Alaska and a two day “night time lure coursing trial” under the Alaska night time sun. Kanzu and Daisy were accompanied by Daisy’s mom, Jennifer and our good friends Justin and Curtis along with their Ibizan Diesel and new Whippet puppy of their own breeding, Brooke. We had exceptional good luck at the shows. Diesel and Brooke both took placements in the Hound groups. Brooke’s second place on the last day was especially exciting with Curtis showing her in the Bred-By class and Justin taking her into the group ring. What an accomplishment for such a young puppy and an awesome acknowledgment for Curtis and Justin’s breeding program.
Kanzu earned his Lure Coursing Field Championship in July 2009 at the Lompoc Inland Wilderness Hunt Club Trial. His field championship added to his conformation championship resulted in his new title “Dual Champion”.