'Josie,' A Spinone Italiano, Is No. 1 In All-Breed

A fast climb up the rankings makes a 3-year-old female named “Josie,” which is short for Josephine, the No. 1 Spinone Italiano in all-breed competition and No. 2 in breed competition. The two-time Reserve Best in Show winner, the first brown Spinone to win Reserve, won March 26 at the Tupelo Kennel Club in Jackson, Tennessee, and Aug. 22 at the Carolina Kennel Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. Formally known as GCHS Collina d’Oro Solo Un Bacio, Josie was bred by Stacey Anderson Belt, Lorne Belt and Laura Reeves, all of Grants Pass, Oregon. They began the Collina d’Oro breeding program in 2005 with a focus on producing Spinoni with gentle temperaments and natural hunting ability. Her dam, BIS GCHS Collina d’Oro Adele By Royal Design, is the first Spinone bitch to have won a Best in Show. Josie is owned by Claire Wisch Abraham of Lovettsville, Virginia, and Stacey Anderson Belt. Handler Kelly Wisch Shupp of Hallam, Pennsylvania, says “Josie loves being a show dog. She is very social and fun to campaign.” This top winner is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance Chicken & Rice Formula dog food.