Prestigious poodle calls the Northland home

DULUTH - She's nicknamed Princess by many who meet her, she has the "it" factor, and she recently took home a national title for her looks. She's Kaili, the No. 1 miniature poodle in the country.

FOX 21 News caught up with her on a Thursday afternoon at Amity Valley Kennels in Duluth, where she was born and raised.

"Got one more section," said Dawn Strumbel as she separated and combed a patch of Kaili's hair.  Strumbel is Kaili's co-owner and groomer and says Kaili loves getting all dolled up and shaved.  When she's done, she becomes Champion Amity Mystical Horizon's Heaven Sent, her official name when she works the show ring.

"She's a Best in Show-winning, multiple Best in Specialty-winning miniature poodle," said Strumbel.  She's rightfully proud of the 3 1/2-year-old pooch who, this month, won "Best in Opposite Sex" at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York and became a trailblazer.

"She's the first silver poodle in the history of the breed to ever do that," said Trumbel.  She wasn't completely surprised when Kaili won the award, since she's convinced Kaili was born to be a show dog.  Kaili has competed in and won dozens of dog shows, running a very demanding schedule.

"Constantly going to shows," said Strumbel. "She was out almost every weekend, which entails two or three, sometimes even four shows in a weekend."  On February 15th, her experience and personality came together in the culmination of her career in New York and she caught the judge's eye.

Strumbel is schooled on what the judges look for.  "They're actually judging against the standard of the breed and she's a very good example of the breed and her personality on top of it just makes her the perfect package."

She explained there's a reason for Kaili's special grooming that dates back to her early ancestors.  "It's a modified version of a hunting trim that poodles used to wear. There's hair anywhere there's a joint to help protect it and the rest is shaved for buoyancy in water."

As much as Kaili enjoys the pampering, Strumbel says she's not a princess at all.

Outside, Kaili jumped around in the snow, reacting to Strumbel asking, "Wanna go tromp through the woods?"

"She's an absolute tomboy at home," Strumbel said of Kaili.  "If she jumps through mud with a toy in her mouth through the snow banks, which she does on a regular basis, she's happy.  She's a very active dog and she's just like any other house pet at home."

So what's next for Kaili? Strumbel said Kaili will do a few more shows this year, then she'll retire and become a mommy.  She will be the future of Strumbel's breeding program at Horizon Kennels.