Wire Fox Terrier 'Vinny' Is A Hit At 2020 Country Music Cluster

A 3-year-old tricolor male Wire Fox Terrier named “Vinny” rocked the 2020 Country Music Cluster in Franklin, Tennessee. GCHB Irvonhill Voignier had just won Terrier Group First at the 2020 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show three weeks earlier.

In Tennessee, Vinny took Best in Show March 5 at the Nashville Kennel Club show, Reserve Bests in Show March 6 and 8 at the Tullahoma and Nashville shows, respectively, and Terrier Group First March 7 at the second Tullahoma show – all shows having an entry of nearly 2,000 dogs. 

The No. 2 Terrier in the country and No. 1 Wire Fox Terrier in all systems, Vinny is handled by Robert M. Carusi of Oxford, Massachusetts. “Vinny is the ultimate pet and show dog,” says Carusi, who raised Vinny’s litter and with whom the terrier lives as one of five house dogs. “He has a great expression, unfazed attitude and tremendous desire to please. As the breed standard says, he is constantly ‘on the tiptoe of expectation.’” 

A hint of success to come, Vinny took a 5-point Major in May 2018 when he won Best of Winners from the 15- to 18-Month class at the Wire Fox Terrier Club of the Central States.

In October 2018, at the Wine Country Circuit shows, Vinny won from the classes two Lake Effect Fox Terrier Club specialties and took Reserve Best in Show and three Terrier Group Firsts at the all-breed shows.

Vinny was bred by Antony and Jean Barker of Norfolk, England, and Hailey Griffith of Jordan, Ontario, Canada, and is owned by George and Nannette Herrick of Newport, Rhode Island. He is fed Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula dog food.