A breed apart: owners show off
As this story mentions, at the Eukanuba Cup the dogs, owners and handlers are competing for prize money. This sets Eukanuba apart from every other dog show in the country. Some shows offer token prize money — $100 for winning your Group, or a bag of dog food for winning Best of Breed. If you’re really lucky, you’ll get a silver bowl or a nice crystal vase. (At least I always liked the pretty things best.) But the prize money involved wouldn’t even cover your gas and motel expenses for a weekend of being at the shows. And your odds of winning, for most people, are greater than the 2000-1 that might represent the number of dogs entered against you. (Some shows have as many as 5000 dogs entered, while some have only about 1000.) Winning a Group is hard, no matter how few dogs are entered. There will always be some top dogs on hand who are very hard to beat.
Eukanuba is different. It is the one time during the year when there is real prize money involved for those competing, thanks to the sponsors. Even Westminster does not give monetary prizes.
You might wonder why people compete in dog shows if there is no money involved. Many people are under the impression that if you win a blue ribbon, or the big red, white and blue rosette at the end of the evening that you must benefit financially. That’s just not the case. Showing dogs is simply a hobby, like playing golf is a hobby, or riding motorcycles, or collecting things, or Civil War Reenacting. Like any of those hobbies, there are people connected to dog shows who make money from it — the handlers, the dog show vendors, the registries. But the people who are out there showing their dogs are, for the most part, spending their paychecks as fast as they get them on their dogs and their dog show addiction. You just wouldn’t believe how much there is to buy to show a dog! Even if you have one shorthaired dog to show there seems to be a ton of stuff you need! You may start out with one shorthaired dog and a show lead, but you end up buying a dog show van. I’m totally serious. I know lots of people who are deeply in debt because they bought one show dog. That’s how it starts….
Anyway, here’s a good story about some owners and their dogs at the Eukanuba Cup.
From the Long Beach Press-Telegram
A breed apart: owners show off
Dogs and their humans aim to be “Best in Show.”
By Kelly Puente, Staff writer
A six-week-old English Bulldog, Bubba, was on hand Saturday for the AKC/Eukanuba National Championships at Long Beach Convention Center. (Stephen Carr / Staff Photographer)
LONG BEACH - With perfectly primped puffs of fur and a nose held high in the air, Remy, a 3-year-old Standard Poodle, has the attitude of a top show dog.
“Remy just has that air about her,” said groomer Rachel Corbin, of Greenboro, N.C. “She’s beautiful and knows it. She loves to show off.”
Corbin typically spends about three hours grooming the poodle’s elaborate white coat. But the hard work has paid off. Remy is currently the top standard poodlein the nation.
“I think she has a pretty good chance today,” Corbin said. “It’s all about the attitude.”
Nearly 2,500 dogs are competing for a total of $225,000 in prize money at the 7th Annual American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championship, which started Saturday and concludes today at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Dog owners traveled from all 50 states and 40 countries to represent the AKC’s 148 breeds. Organizers also expect more than 25,000 spectators over the weekend.
Bulldogs, Beagles and Basset Hounds pranced in the ring on Saturday for the first round of “Best in Breed” competitions. Spectators could also see rare breeds, such as the Chinese Crested and the Otterhound.
A win in “Best in Breed” makes the dog eligible to compete for “Best in Show,” which will be decided tonight.
Sherman the Otterhound didn’t win “Best in Breed” this year, but he’s still a special dog, said owner Dick Greaver. According to Greaver, there are only about 1,000 of the breed in the world.
The large, rough-coated hounds were originally bred in England to hunt river otter, but lost popularity after the country banned otter hunting in the 1970s.
They are now considered the most endangered dog breed in Britain.
“We’re trying to keep the breed alive,” Greaver said. “They have a great personality, and they’re wonderful family dogs.”
A dog must have all the right qualities to win “Best in Breed,” said Sam Houston McDonald, an all-breed judge from Philadelphia.
McDonald watches the dogs for poise, form and obedience as they loop around the ring.
“Each breed has a written standard,” he said. “But a dog could be having an off day. On any given day, it could be anyone’s show.”
The competition also features two celebrity competitors this year.
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby’s dog, a Lakeland Terrier named Oprah Winforme, will compete for “Best in Breed” today.
Oprah was named after the famous TV personality because of her rare, dark blue coat, said co-owner Capt. Jean Heath.
“She has a lot of personality,” said Heath, who has co-owned show dogs with Cosby since 1972.
Heath, 75, and Cosby became good friends while working in the Navy’s physical therapy program in the 1950s.
“He fell in love with my dogs,” she said.
The duo now own about 10 Lakeland Terriers.
“Bill’s been a big supporter of the breed,” Heath said. “He has a way with dogs. They just melt in his hand.”
Spectators on Saturday might have been surprised to see Olympic diver Greg Louganis, who competed with his Parson Russell Terrier, “Little Nipper,” in the show’s agility competition. Agility is a sport where handlers guide dogs through an obstacle course in a race for time and accuracy.
Spectators could also browse through hundreds of vendor booths with gourmet dog treats, canine jewelry, breed memorabilia and more.
The AKC Meet the Breeds featured educational booths for all 148 breeds.
Owner Scott Everett brought along Largo, his 240-pound Mastiff. But don’t let the dog’s intimidating size fool you, Everett said.
“You could stick your hand down his throat and he wouldn’t bite,” he said. “He’s really a gentle giant.”
kelly.puente@presstelegram.com, (562) 499-1305
