February 25, 2015 VOLU M E 5 0 | I S S UE 8 | 7 5 ¢
Tri-LakesTribune.net T R I - L A K E S R E G I O N , M O N U M E N T, G L E N E A G L E , B L A C K F O R E S T A N D N O R T H E R N E L P A S O C O U N T Y
A publication of
Local voluntourist family returns from Guatemala Check out photos and a first-person account of the experience on page 8
Jim and Jennifer Cunningham take a short break from bending rebar and mixing concrete. This was an unforgettable experience for their entire family and they plan to return soon. Photos by Jennifer Cunningham
The vibrant, hand-woven clothing strikes a brilliant contrast to the browns and greens of the countryside. This adorable little girl from El Chocolate wears a traditional dress with a sweater to ward off the morning chill.
Swagger comes close to being the best POSTAL ADDRESS
TRI-LAKES TRIBUNE (USPS 418-960)
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P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Black Forest Old English sheepdog all-time winningest in his class By Danny Summers
dsummers @coloradocommunitymedia.com Los Angeles Lakers fans have “Swaggy P” to cheer on. But the Tri-Lakes area has something even better; a dog named “Swagger.” Swagger, a 110-pound Old English sheepdog, came within a whisker of winning the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Feb. 17. He was one of seven finalists competing for Best in Show at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City. But you don’t have to go all the way to Big Apple or Los Angeles to get your swag on. That’s because Swagger lives among us in Black Forest. Colton Johnson was Swagger’s handler at Westminster and the two captured the hearts and minds of the crowd who cheered with great excitement for the extremely fluffy three-year-old that advanced to the finals after winning the herding group. Best in Show went to Miss P, a four-year old 15-inch beagle. “Two years ago we brought Swagger to Westminster and he was named Reserve Best in Show,” said Doug Johnson (Colton’s father) on Feb. 19 as he was getting ready to board his airplane flight at LaGuardia in New York. “We thought he had a great chance to win it all this year. “He’s kind of a rock star and people really love him. But you never know who the final judge will be.” Swagger’s formal named used in competitions is Bugaboo’s Perfect Picture.
Swagger, an Old English Sheepdog, was a favorite among the fans at New York’s Madison Square Garden during the recent Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Swagger lives in Black Forest and is the winningest English Sheepdog in history. Courtesy photo “When he was born we said That dog is picture perfect,’” Doug Johnson said. Doug Johnson is primarily a breeder and also part owner of Swagger. He and his family own Sunrise and Woodmen Kennels near Woodmen and Interstate 25. The family also owns other dog day care and training businesses. The Johnsons all live in Black Forest. The Johnsons are no strangers to the Super Bowl of dog shows. In 2006, they took Swagger’s uncle, Smokin’, to the finals of the second-oldest sporting event in the world.
Swagger sports a formidable pedigree. Both his parents won best in breed at Westminster, which features more than 2,700 dogs competing for Best in Show. Swagger, with a fluffy white beard, is the all-time winningest Old English sheepdog with 118 best in show titles. He won over 80 best in shows in 2014. Swagger was barely out of puppyhood (10 months old) when he was named Reserve Best in Show at Westminster in 2013. It was just the fourth show he ever competed in. “He’s going into semi-retirement now,” Doug Johnson said
with a smile. “We’ll continue to do all sorts of things with Swagger, like taking him to schools, nursing homes and rides in the car with the kids.” Colton Johnson is Swagger’s handler for most of his competitions. Colton was indisposed most of last week as he worked tirelessly with the dog. Late in the morning on Feb. 19, LaGuardia official informed Colton that the airport was not able to handle Swagger and his large kennel cage. So Colton and Swagger had to hitch a ride to Newark in New Jersey to catch a plane to Denver.