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Ann Egan stands behind Baxter at the Tampa Bay Kennel Club show in January 2022. 

Ann Egan sits with one of the puppies and Baxter.

Baxter poses at his home in Mount Pleasant. 

Baxter stands next to a recent award he received for Best of Breed. 

Ann Egan stands behind Baxter at the Tampa Bay Kennel Club show in January 2022. 

Ann Egan sits with one of the puppies and Baxter.

Baxter poses at his home in Mount Pleasant. 

Baxter stands next to a recent award he received for Best of Breed. 

After claiming a champion title as a puppy, it doesn’t seem like the French bulldog from Mount Pleasant is much of an underdog. However, unlike much of Baxter’s competition in the dog show circuit, he doesn’t have a professional handler or backers funding his expenses.

He’s simply a “Lowcountry dog,” according to Ann Egan, Baxter’s owner, breeder and handler. Baxter, who is known as Champion North Point Hello Ladies TKN at the dog shows, spends most of his time chasing birds in the backyard, walking on the beach or curling up on the couch.

However, Baxter’s genetics reveal his status as a show dog. Gretta, Baxter’s mother who is from England, was a grand champion before retiring so her genetics are valuable. Egan and her husband Timothy Egan are the only breeders in the United States with access to her genetics. Baxter’s father is also European and has a championship background.

The Egan’s breeding business, North Point, is considered boutique breeding because they typically only breed one litter every two years. Sometimes the Egans keep the dogs, like Baxter and a couple of puppies from a newer litter, and the others are sold to someone on the waitlist.

Baxter wasn’t Egan’s pick of the litter initially.

“He’s the dog that I didn’t know I wanted,” said Egan.

Actually, none of the puppies were what she was hoping for. This litter was all boys and she specifically wanted a brindle girl. Brindle French bulldogs have a black coat with speckles of brown compared to fawn mastiffs that are a caramel color with a black face.

However, Baxter has become an irreplaceable part of the family. While Baxter is at home, he’s just like any other family dog. He has a basket of toys in the corner of the living room to play with, from squeaky toys to rubber balls, and he jingles a bell on the door to the backyard when he wants to go outside. Egan said his demeanor is happy and goofy. However, when it’s time to compete, he knows how to play the role.

“If I put a leash on him, he’s like, ‘This is business.’ He knows what he’s supposed to do and he demands high value,” said Egan who started showing dogs in junior showmanship competitions as a kid. She showed dogs on and off starting in college. After the Egans got married, they started breeding, training and showing horses until Egan decided she wanted a pet she could cuddle on the couch with. She’s been showing Frenchies for nearly eight years now.

About a year ago, Baxter started competing at six months old, which is the youngest dogs can start competing. They first showed Baxter in Florida — Egan said the Florida circuit is competitive because there are a lot of show dogs in that region. He ended with a five point major in Florida and another five point major at a show in Utah. These two five point majors helped him achieve enough points to complete his championship in the puppy age group.

“For him to become puppy champion, we were out with him maybe six weekends,” said Egan. “A lot of these people with winning dogs travel all the time.”

One of Egan’s priorities is to not make dog shows her life. She appreciates traveling to places she’s never been to for shows, but wants to enjoy the Lowcountry’s nice weather and access to nature.

After taking a break over the summer, Baxter was back to competing in September. Baxter beat the top sporting dog in the country and won group one, which means he was competing against the top dogs of different breeds at the competition.

“It was professional handlers and then me with my little French bulldog from the Lowcountry that has been in the show ring for a few months,” said Egan.

Baxter stands out to the judges due to his standard-looking French bulldog head, said Egan. His face is flat and square shaped, which is what the judges look for.

“He has the perfect French bulldog head. And then he’s got the right silhouette. He’s got all the right pieces and parts they all fit together and he’s a good mover,” said Egan.

Baxter is headed to some shows in early spring. His next big hurdle is the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in May, which will be his first appearance at the competitive show.