From July 14 to July 17, Sturdivant Park went to the dogs. 460 dogs converged to compete in the 53rd Annual Coos Kennel Club All-Breed Dog Show.
The American Kennel Club only recognizes 195 breeds and over 100 breeds were represented at the Sturdivant event. First, the dogs compete in Best in Breed, then Best in Group and finally Best in Show. There are seven groups: Toy, Sporting, Non-Sporting, Terrier, Herding, Working and Hound. Dogs are judged on 14 qualities which include the size and shape of the dog’s head, the general structure of their tail, the texture and length of their coat and even the length and thickness of whiskers are judged. Then the owner or handler should run with the dog to demonstrate their gait. Poodles are expected to run proud while Doberman dogs are expected to look fierce and intimidating. Breeds are judged on how close they are to all of the traits that make up their breed standards.
Throughout the competition the dogs were brushed and in some cases their hair was braided and lots of hairspray was used. The dogs were obviously loved and deeply adored, as evidenced by all the petting, words of encouragement and many hugs from their owners/handlers. Fans and canopies were installed to keep their dogs comfortable during the first hot days of the event. Owners and judges made sure to keep the dogs in the shade as much as possible.
Dog showing is not a cheap hobby as dogs can cost up to $50.00. There’s also the cost of training, grooming, and high-quality dog food. Almost every human at this event had a huge RV and numerous kennels, many of them on wheels with a grooming station on top.
At this show, there were additional ribbons and prizes including brightly colored napkins, dog mugs, wind chimes, and a folding chair decorated with a dog. At the Best in Show level, cash prizes of $100 were awarded. Not enough to offset the cost of preparing for the show, but there were plenty of smiles and bragging.
The participants, canines and humans, certainly enjoyed the place. Appropriately, there was a hot dog concession truck doing a lot of business.
The largest dog show is the Westminster Dog Club Show, which is the second longest continuous sporting event in the country. Only the Kentucky Derby is older. It’s a sport that combines the science of genetics with athletics, style and psychology. Small shows allow dogs to collect points and eventually compete at the national level. Even at this “smaller” dog show, several dogs placed in the top ten in the nation for their breed.
The dogs were really cute and enjoyed the attention, especially the divas.
Christ Yoder
