Jewel is a local rock star. When last we heard from Jewel; she was in the Best in Show competition at the Westminster Kennel Club show in February. Before that she made the final cut last year at the National Dog Show telecast on NBC on Thanksgiving Day. But now the three-year-old American Foxhound from St. Mary’s County has really reached the big time. On a show telecast yesterday on NBC, Jewel took the Jewel in the Crown by winning the Best of Show competition at the National Dog Show put on by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. .
Jewel was handled by Lisa Miller who co owns her with Ellen Charles of Washington, DC. She was bred by Lisa and her husband Harry Miller, owners of Kiarry Kennels on Route 6 in Mechanicsville.
Jewel has been the dominant American Foxhound on the dog show circuit all year. Her official name is GCH Kiarry’s Pandora’s Box. She emerged the victor from the judging of over 1,500 dogs at the tradition-rich, all-breed show.
The three-year-old bitch is also the first winner in the 12-year history of The National Dog Show to come from the Hound Group. Every other group has had at least one winner over the years that consist of five Terriers, two Sporting, and one each from the Working, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups.
After successfully defending her 2012 Hound Group win at the show, Jewel edged out a Bearded Collie, a Pekingese, a Norfolk Terrier, a Standard Schnauzer, a Bichon Frise and an Irish Water Spaniel on the Best in Show stage.
Jewel is fueled by Purina® Pro Plan® and is the third consecutive Best in Show champion at the National Dog Show to be fed Purina Pro Plan. In fact, six of the seven group winners in this year’s show – including the American Foxhound (Jewel), Bearded Collie, Pekingese, Norfolk Terrier, Standard Schnauzer, and Bichon Frise – all are fed Purina Pro Plan. Purina is one of the show’s sponsors.
Coverage of the show and Jewel’s triumphant moments were broadcast to a holiday audience totaling some 18 million on NBC Thanksgiving Day. NBC will air an encore presentation of the two-hour special Saturday night (Nov. 30) in primetime from 8-10 p.m.ET/PT in all time zones. The show was taped on Saturday, Nov. 16.
“I never have seen one that good [as Jewel] and may never see one better,” said Judge Randy E. Garren. “Not only does she look good but it is clear that she would be great in the field also,” he added in reference to the breed’s function as a hunter of foxes since the 1600s.
Jewel entered the show as the top-ranked American Foxhound, the number-one dog in the Hound Group, and the sixth-ran
