Top-Winning Pyrenean Shepherd Of All Time Is ‘Silene’

The winningest Pyrenean Shepherd in breed history is a 7 ½-year-old female named “Silene,” who drives energy and enthusiasm as she glides around the show ring, arriving with sparkling vigilance, ready to take on any challenge. MBIS/MBISS GCHG Isaby De Terra-Blue TCQ AOE STDsd has set a few records along the way. Handler Brendan Coleman of St. Cloud, Florida, has campaigned the rough-faced female to No. 5 and No. 8 in the Herding Group in 2020 and 2019, respectively — the first of her breed  to make the Top 10 — and to No. 1 Pyr Shep in all systems both years. In winning the Shenandoah Valley Kennel Club show in June 2019, she became the first bitch of her breed to win a Best in Show. “Silene gives 200 percent every time we show,” Coleman says. Owner David Clayton of Quincy, Florida, a longtime breeder of SunFire Australian Shepherds and Swedish Vallhunds, chose Silene as a 6-week puppy. He finished her at 1 year of age at the 2015 Pyrenean Shepherd Club of America (PSCA) National Specialty. That same weekend, they took Best in Show in the Owner-Handler Series at the Atlanta Kennel Club show — another first for the breed. “Silene has wonderful breed type in her alert expression, solid conformation and proper movement,” Clayton says. He went on to handle her to Best of Breed at the 2017 PSCA National Specialty and repeat Best in Show in the Owner-Handler Series that weekend at the Evansville (Indiana) Kennel Club show. Bred by Terra-Blue Pyr Shep breeder Joni A. Monney-McKeown of Nashville, Tennessee, with co-breeder Jennie Williams of Vesper Aussies in Flinstone, Georgia, Silene is from Monney-McKeown’s “dream litter” sired by her Belgian male, CH Korto de la Tuile au Louip, and French dam, CH Arbouse de l’Oustaou de Padel TCQ HOF. The ever-mischievous Silene is powered by Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula dog food.