Recently we attended an American Kennel Club Dog Show, something we haven’t done for several years. My parents wanted to take our family out on a family outing before my surgery, while I could still walk. The dog show was always a fun event for me when I was a little girl, and I was excited to see one again with all of my little sisters who hadn’t ever been to one.
I can’t remember the last time I saw so many dogs and I had a hard time trying to decide which ones to photograph. As it was, I had nearly 200 photos by the time we left. The following consist of the very best, but you’ll have to excuse the quality. I was trying to shoot without a flash for most of the trip and the lighting wasn’t as nice as I would’ve liked it, so some of the pictures are a bit fuzzy.
One of the first breeds we watched were the Labrador Retrievers. My brother, Matthew, loves Labs, which are considered to be among the most popular breeds of dog in the world (and certainly the most popular in Texas!). This boy, pictured here, is showing a dog that he bred and trained. Her name is Melody and she is only 14 months old. After being shown, Melody met my family and we enjoyed petting her and talking with her owner about Labs.
This is a Border Collie, one of my favorite breeds. They are widely considered to be the most intelligent dog breed in the world.
This is an Open Senior Class. Since these are all from different groups of dogs (mostly from Working and Sporting), I assume that they are being judged according to their relevant breed standards with the dog winning that most closely conforms to its own breed standard. From left to right, the breeds are: Akita, Pointer, and Golden Retriever.
More from the same class. Left to right: Dalmatian, Greyhound, and Australian Shepherd.
These are Pointers, used for hunting birds in sport. In the old days, gentlemen farmers would have kennels of these dogs that were trained to aid them in the field.
Here is a favorite breed of mine - the Australian Shepherd. When I was a little girl, our neighbors across the street had a beautiful Aussie named Boomer because he had a boomerang shaped marking on his back. This was back in the days before fencing dogs was mandatory, so he would quite often come over and play with us. He was my mother’s companion whenever it stormed because he was terrified of thunder. They’d meet on our front porch where my mother would calm him down. My mother loves dogs. Her dream would be to own a Canine Plantation.
I guess there’s just something about a Beagle. Probably that something is why my sister, Kathy, is so crazy about them. She keeps telling me that when she’s an old lady, she’ll be an old lady with a beagle. Beagles are shown in two sizes: 13 inch and 15 inch. Here is an adorable 13 inch being shown by a young girl of about 13. The judge for the beagles was superior.
Here is a specimen of the majestic Mastiff, the heaviest breed of dog in the world. Despite their huge size and reputation as a formidable guard dog, Mastiffs are gentle and docile with members of their families, including small children. Really, the only thing you would need to worry about is where would you get enough food to feed a dog this size!
Mom calls these dogs caterpillars. Actually, they’re known as Skye Terriers, and they are a most unusual, fascinating breed. It is thought that terriers bred by the Celts were crossed with the Swedish Valhund - the dog of the Vikings - centuries ago, producing this short-legged breed. There is also some speculation as to whether some Maltese was added to the mix following a shipwreck in the 1600s off the coast of the Isle of Sky in the Scottish Hebrides. Unfortunately, they are dying out. It’s been estimated that in 40 years there will be no purebred Skye Terriers left.
This is a breed chocked full with history - the Briard. These French canines go back as far as Charlemagne and have been used to guard sheep, protect farms, and locate wounded soldiers during war. These are good family dogs.
Here is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, the Afghan Hound which hails from Afghanistan (or Russia, depending on how far back you care to go).
The Samoyed breed hails from Siberia Russia. These draft dogs were bred to pull sleds, herd reindeer, and keep the owners warm at night by sleeping on top of them.
A Bearded Collie. They are bred almost exclusively as a pet and show animal today.
This is a Portuguese Water Dog. These rare dogs have water-proof, non-shedding fur and webbed toes. Their closest relative is the Standard Poodle. And speaking of Standard Poodles…
…here’s a fine example of one! Doesn’t he look regal?
Here are some delightful Miniature Poodles. These dogs unfortunately carry the reputation of being prissy, when really they are as intelligent and outgoing as any other good breed.
I especially liked this female. To see a video, click here.
I’m not sure, but I think this dog is a Brittany Spaniel.
These Newfoundlands looked like giant black teddy bears. My father says that if we lived farther north, we’d have one. My mom says, that’s all we’d need in the house — a bear! But then she affectionately says, “We’d name him Pooh!” Or maybe Edward Bear.
Here are some Old English Sheepdogs.
Can you imagine grooming a dog like this? We asked how long it takes, and the owner said about six to eight hours a day, if you’re going to show. Even then the handlers had to keep brushing the dogs throughout the show. With all the hairspray and brushes and felt or silk blankets, my mother wondered if dog shows aren’t meant for frustrated hairdressers??? Actually, my mother thinks grooming a dog is relaxing, similar to how some women think crocheting is relaxing. She says it’s more fun to work on something that’s alive and appreciative and gives kisses rather than dead yarn.
A nice pair of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Chessies are one person dogs that must be properly socialized and trained at an early age. There’s an interesting phrase about the dog’s temperament which goes like this… You can order a Labrador, ask a Golden, but you must negotiate with a Chesapeake.
This is a rare, ancient, noble breed of dog called Dogue de Bordeaux. In English we call this the French Mastiff. Among other things, this breed has been used to pull carts, guard livestock and protect castles in its long history. Some speculate that they go all the way back to the days of Julius Caesar.
However, I think this dog could care less about his heritage.
Yorkshire Terriers. Not my favorite breed, but I have a sister who likes them and other weird canine creations like Pekinese.
And here’s a familiar breed. This dog won second place in the Working Group. We happen to own one of these, which is reported to be the Clown of the Canine World. My mother did not think ours was such a clown when she chewed up one of our wooden benches.
There are two breeds in the world that I simply cannot decide between. The first is the Rough Collie. My love for the breed was inspired early on by Lassie, and later on by Lad and his fellow canines in the books written by Terhune. In 2000, my father made sure to take me to Lad’s Homeplace in New Jersey when we were in the area. A beautiful place it was.
My mother also loves collies (probably another reason why I love them - she influenced me). She particularly liked this Collie, and privately told me that if she could’ve taken any dog home, it would have been this one. This one is a puppy and the chemistry between the handler and dog was outstanding.
I liked this collie too. It was beautiful, no doubt, and carried home the honors of the show that day, but…
…I preferred this one. He had a coat that looked like it was spun from gold. This dog was far and away my favorite of every canine I saw at the show.
To see a video, click here.
The second breed that I have a hard time deciding about is the Shetland Sheepdog. This is also because my mother loves shelties. I was raised with a wonderful sheltie named Bonnee. Her owners had bred her to show, but she grew past the maximum height requirement, so they instead found a good home to place her in. That was our home.
The other dog I would’ve taken home that day was this one. She looked almost exactly like Bonnee, enough to say that they could’ve been littermates.
Shelties are bright and inquisitive. Like the Border Collie, they are ranked as one of the most intelligent dog breeds. They also bark at just about anything … even a leaf falling off of a tree. But my mother says it is the most beautiful sound in the world, other than a newborn baby.
They didn’t walk. They pranced.
To see a video, click here.
To end the day, my brother bought a bag of bones to bring home to our canine family member. She was quite happy with the purchase as you can see here. Until the next dog show, chew on!
