Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 8, 1993 TAG: 9308080063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CELESTE KATZ STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The bumper stickers and personalized license plates in the parking lot gave it all away.
"On the 8th Day, God Created Rottweilers," preached one sticker.
"It's Hard to Be Humble When You Own a Bearded Collie!" proclaimed another.
One car's plate described the owner simply as a "POM-MOM".
Correct. It was a dog show.
Altogether, 1,222 dogs representing 123 American Kennel Club-recognized breeds, whose owners came from as far away as Michigan and Florida, competed at the Roanoke Kennel Club show. More than 1,300 will compete at today's New River Valley Kennel Club show.
That's a lot of dogs.
Dogs of all sizes, colors, shapes and ages, from Afghan Hounds to Yorkshire Terriers, competed for championship points in conformation or obedience, and were separated into groups such as sporting, herding or terrier in some events.
In the grooming room, one woman blow-dried her Old English sheepdog, while another tied the floppy bangs of a Pekingese up in a topknot with a red ribbon.
Out in the lobby, vendors offered enameled dog brooches, plaques, mugs, brushes, lotions, potions, food and water dishes, bumper stickers, guidebooks, leashes, chains and sample packages of dog chow.
But the real action took place downstairs, where eight fenced-in areas served as the arena for the showdown between the perfectly brushed and the high-stepping.
The Toy Group competition was a real crowd-pleaser, drawing sighs and giggles as five-pound pups with names like "Precious Treasure of Val-Dee" and "Lar-Ana's Mini Mouse" trotted past Great Danes and St. Bernards with hardly a backward glance at those who could have easily swallowed them whole.
Of course, not everyone was equally enchanted.
"They look like yo-yos," muttered one onlooker, referring to the way that some of the seemingly weightless, tiny-boned dogs had a hard time keeping their feet on the ground when their owners pulled on the dogs' leashes.
Meanwhile, in the obedience competition, shelties and Akitas broad-jumped and retrieved wooden dumbbells by vaulting over hurdles similar to those at horse shows - except smaller, of course.
Different dogs received different treatment while waiting in line to be judged. The toy breeds generally endured a great deal of combing and fluffing, while the working dogs had their legs properly stretched, their tails lifted and their ears perked.
In spite of the difficulty of the various obedience judgements, several owners and agents agreed that the "stay" portion of the match was the toughest for many dogs.
Owners and trainers were required to keep out of sight while their dogs sat still for three minutes and lay still for five.
"If they roll over and start throwing their legs around, that's frowned upon," explained spectator Warren Tomlinson of Roanoke. "A few of them seem to have crashed out. It's been a long day."
Kip, Renee Napier's German wirehaired pointer, much to Napier's dismay, conked out during the sitting phase, taking the opportunity to rest her head on her paws and relax.
"She's the No. 1 German wirehaired pointer in Canada, although I guess you can't see that from today," said Napier, of Maryland. "I guess it was just a bad day at the ranch."
"We won't trade her in for a new model, though. She's got a home with us forever. Someone's got to rule over all the other dogs in our house, and it might as well be her. She's a dominant bitch," Napier added.
Marlene Halsey, president of the Roanoke Kennel club, thought the day was a success.
"It was really a smooth-running show - no problems," she said.
Halsey, a professional handler, said few people realize what a big business dog breeding and showing is. It's the only profession she's ever known.
"It's a lot like showing horses, and I'm the jockey," she said.
by CNB