Dog Shows Offer Captivating Competition

There’s a civility and a decorum about a dog show that can transcend even a muddy spring day in North Idaho.

Huddled under umbrellas, spectators at the Coeur d’Alene Dog Fanciers All-Breed Dog Show this past May were politely oblivious to the blustery weather as they craned their necks for a better view of an Akita, Boston terrier or Shetland sheepdog.

In the ring, owners and handlers of these dogs skipped gracefully across the soggy, manicured lawn, their nice shoes growing damp from the rain.

As the summer wore on and heat waves - not raindrops - bounced from the ground, curiosity about purebred dogs did not waver across Idaho, Washington, Montana and Oregon.

Dog-show enthusiasts once again donned their umbrellas, only this time to block an assaultive sun.

Quiet beneath their portable shade, they craned their necks for a better view of a shar-pei, Dalmatian or boxer.

The passion will continue in Kennewick at the end of this month as the Spokane Kennel Club, Inland Empire Kennel Association and the Richland Kennel Club co-sponsor a show.

It’s an intriguing mix of compassion, science and ego that drives any dog sport, but perhaps that’s true for conformation - or dog shows - most of all.

The sport of showing dogs took hold in America in the late 1800s. Today, most competitions are sanctioned by the American Kennel Club (AKC), the largest nonprofit dog registry in the country.

On the surface, shows seem superficial, like beauty pageants. But dogs in the ring represent more than the supermodels of the canine world. Such genetic diversity gathered in one place is fascinating.

Look at the terriers and see how their bodies were engineered to kill rats. Observe the Pomeranians and see how they are perfectly suited for their job - companionship.

Take the crowd at one of Annie Davis’ recent show-dog classes.

Basenjis, an Akita, malamutes, a rottweiler, a Siberian husky and a weimaraner, and their owners and handlers, all were there to learn how to perform better in the ring.

In an old Grange building on Rathdrum Prairie, Davis’ human and canine students practiced stacking (posing) and the “L” triangle, and other patterns they must trot in as they are evaluated by a show judge. They were critiqued, and critiqued again under Davis’ trained eye.

Dog-show judges appraise each dog’s conformation - how well it matches the structure, temperament and movement standards for its breed. Ideally, these characteristics are what allow a breed to perform the function for which it was created.

For example, here’s part of AKC’s official breed standard for the miniature (not toy) poodle:

Size: The miniature poodle is 15 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulders, with a minimum height in excess of 10 inches.

Proportion: To ensure the desirable squarely built appearance, the length of body measured from the breastbone to the point of the rump approximates the height from the highest point of the shoulders to the ground.

Temperament: Carrying himself proudly, very active, intelligent, the poodle has about him an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself.

“Judges are supposed to go by the breed standard,” said Chris Johnson, a Spokane woman who has been showing dogs for 20 years. “But some standards are exact; others are vague. That leaves a lot of interpretation for the judge.”

Most owners enter their dogs in dog shows to earn the right to use the term “Champion” - “Ch.” for short - before the dog’s name.

It takes 15 points to complete a championship, and there are restrictions on how the points can be earned. Points toward a championship title must come from at least three different judges, and they must include two major wins (with three, four or five points earned at one time).

At any given show, a dog can earn from one to five points.

There are six competition classes for dogs that have not yet earned their championship title:

Puppy - 6 to 9 or 9 to 12 months old.

12 to 18 months old.

Novice - Never won a blue ribbon or has won less than three ribbons in the novice class.

Bred by exhibitor; the handler is the also the breeder.

American-bred - Dog’s parents were mated in America and dog was born in America.

Open - Any dog of that breed.

Males compete against males; females against females.

Dog shows are a process of elimination.

Here’s how it works:

1. Best of Class - Within each breed, one male and one female winner are selected for each of the six competition classes listed above.

2. Best Male and Female - The male winners from each breed compete against each other for Best Male of that breed. The female winners for each breed compete against each other for Best Female of that breed.

3. Best of Breed - The best male and best female dogs from each breed advance to the Best of Breed competition. At this point, they not only compete with each other but also with members of their breed who have already earned championship points at other shows (dogs with championship points are allowed to skip steps 1 and 2).

4. Best of Group - The Best of Breed winners advance to Best of Group competition. There are seven AKC-sanctioned groups: sporting dogs, hounds, working dogs, terriers, toy breeds, nonsporting dogs, and herding dogs. Every breed of dog falls into one of these seven categories.

For example, Labrador retrievers are in the sporting dogs category. Welsh corgis are in the herding category.

5. Best in Show - Winners from the seven group competition categories compete with each other for Best in Show. The dog that earns this title is the best example of the standard for any of the breeds present.

“A lot of people have the impression that all show dogs are different from pet dogs, that they have a special lifestyle,” said Johnson. “That’s usually not the case.

“Most get to be regular dogs.

“There’s also a stereotype that show dogs are dumb. That’s why I like to compete in obedience as well as conformation. My dogs are smart and pretty.”

If you’d like to begin showing dogs, find a good book on the subject and connect with local people involved in the sport.

Look for books at Thunder Mountain Dog Supply and area pet supply stores.

Attend dog shows or contact the Lilac City Dog Training Club (487-9542) or the Spokane Dog Training Club (922-2645) to meet others involved in conformation.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: About Dogs appears the first Sunday of each month. Mary Sagal is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America.