The Woofstock Cluster, one of the biggest outdoor dog shows in the country, is coming up June 7-10. It's a great chance to familiarize yourself with more than 100 breeds of dogs, but if it's your first show, you might not have any understanding of what exactly is going on in the ring. Here's a guide, courtesy of the Northern California Brittany Club. More information for beginners is available from the American Kennel Club.
DOG SHOW SPECTATOR GUIDE
To experienced exhibitors, the rules, classes, procedures and etiquette involved in showing a canine are as second nature as the rules of football and baseball are to the average American school kid. But if you’ve never been to a dog show, you may be at once enchanted and bewildered by the unfamiliar environment—not to mention baffled and perplexed by what the judges are looking for in the the seemingly look-alike dogs gaiting around the ring on the end of leashes so dainty they’re barely visible from afar.
You’re sure to have questions: Is that handler really pulling something edible out of his own mouth and giving it to the dog? Why is he holding the dog’s tail up? As a spectator, is it OK to bring my own dog onto the grounds and into the gallery? Is it permitted to walk around the area where dogs are being groomed? Why are the exhibitors so unfriendly (or is it only your imagination)?
Here’s an abbreviated guide to conformation competitions, courtesy of the AKC.
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The American Kennel Club sanctions three types of conformation dog shows.
• All-breed shows offer competitions for more than 150 breeds and variety of dogs recognized by the AKC (in reality, only the biggest of the biggest shows will have entries in all 150 breeds).
• Specialty shows are restricted to dogs of a specific breed, such as the Brittany.
• Group shows are limited to dogs belonging to one of the seven groups into which AKC-recognized breeds are categorized.
All conformation shows are intended to evaluate breeding stock. The judges are looking for dogs that best meet the official standards set out by each national breed club.
To compete in an AKC show, a dog must be registered with the AKC and not be spayed or neutered. Judges examine the dogs and give awards according to how closely each animal compares to the breed standard.
Most dogs competing at conformation shows are working toward earning the 15 points required for an AKC championship. Two “majors” (wins of three to five points) awarded by at least three different judges are required in the mix. The number of points awarded at a show depends on the number of males (“dogs”) and females (“bitches”) competing. The larger the show, the larger the number of points to be won, up to a maximum of five.
Males and females compete separately in seven regular classes categorized by age, previous winnings and other criteria. Only the best male (Winners Dog) and best female (Winners Bitch) receive championship points. Those winners then compete with existing champions (called “specials”) for the Best of Breed award. The dog judged as the better of the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch gets a Best of Winners award, while Best of Opposite Sex goes to the animal that is opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner.
Are you confused yet? Understanding comes with experience, and experience can only be gained by attending dog shows.
TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME SPECTATORS
•If the grooming area is open to spectators (and it usually is), feel free to walk around and talk to exhibitors (but please respect their stress level if they are preparing to enter the ring).
•However tempting, do not pet a dog without asking permission first, and do not allow your children to do so, either. The dog may just have been groomed in preparation for judging, and the exhibitor will want to help the animal stay focused.
• Be prepared to bring a chair and/or arrive early, as seating is usually limited.
•If you want to talk to exhibitors, please wait until after their turn in the show ring.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR CONFORMATION SHOWS
Baiting: Using a treat to get the dog’s attention and make him look alert.
Bench show: A dog show at which dogs are displayed on benches (rather than crated) when not competing so they can be viewed by attendees.
Exhibitor: A person who brings a dog to a show and shows it.
Gait: The way a dog moves.
Handler: The exhibitor or exhibitor’s agent who takes the dog into the ring.
Stacking: Posing the dog’s legs and body to create a pleasant, balanced appearance.
Amateur owner/handler: Exhibitor who has never received compensation for handling.
Junior showmanship: Competitions for youth 9-18 years of age.
Sweepstakes: A show event for presentation of puppies and veterans according to age category.
Photo: Brittanys in the ring at 2011 Woofstock Cluster, Vallejo
One of our favorite destination apps for the iPhone and iPad this year is called the
NorCalGuide. This comprehensive app covers both the Gold Country as well as the Central Valley, from Sierraville in the north -- to Lake Tahoe in the east -- to Sacramento and Folsom in the west -- to Bakersfield in the south.
You'll find destination profiles, points of interest, photos, videos, maps and events in the palm of your hand,showcasing the best of Northern California in a format that's easy to use on the go. Visit the iTunes app store and search for
NorCalGuide. Check out your favorite dog-friendly Gold Country place on
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We’ve all seen it on TV, and many of us have trained and competed in dog agility, one of the most popular and fastest-growing team sports in the country. The rare chance to see the nation’s best canine competitors comes to our region March 30-April 1, when more than 1,000 top teams converge in Reno for the American Kennel Club National Agility Championships.
Both purebred and mixed-breed dogs ranging in size from tiny Chihuahuas to speedy border collies will wow audiences as their handlers coach them on timed runs over jumps, weave polls see-saws and other obstacles. Only competition dogs will be allowed inside the Reno Sparks Livestock Event Center, but Reno’s dog-friendly hotels and campgrounds are sure to be packed with appreciative spectators who wouldn’t think of leaving home without their canine companions. And there’s lots to do with dogs in Reno, which bills itself, with good reason, as “America’s Adventure Place.”
Special rates for event attendees are offered at several hotels and campgrounds; ask for the AKC national agility group rate.
Photo: Mary Burch@AKC
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association, dedicated to getting folks out on the 165-mile, multi-use trail encircling the Tahoe Basin, is sponsoring a “Puppy Pal Snowshoe Hike” at Paige Meadows from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 18. Guides from the association will lead the romp, with treats to be offered at the conclusion. It’s free, but advance registration is required. more »
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Anywhere there’s snow, you can snowshoe. Your hound, however, won’t float atop fresh powder like you do. He risks postholing, floundering in tree wells or even breaking through a snow bridge and falling into an icy stream if you don’t have enough backcountry experience to recognize the hazards. Packed snow, level terrain and designated trails are the best bet for entry-level canines and their uprights.
Among popular venues for dog-friendly snowshoe excursions in the Tahoe area are Blackwood Canyon Road, Echo Lakes, Meeks Creeks, Paige Meadows, Fallen Leaf Lake Trail, Hope Valley, North Tahoe Regional Park, Big Meadow and Tahoe Meadows. Several developed cross-country ski areas, including Kirkwood XC & Snowshoe Center and Tahoe Cross Country, welcome canine-accompanied snowshoers on designated trails.
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Did you know that a product used by barefoot runners to toughen their feet and by basketball players and rowers to toughen their hands can also be used on your dog? Tuf-Foot has long been popular with bird hunters whose dogs run hard on rough terrain and sometimes come back with bruises and abrasions. The product works both to thicken the skin to guard against soreness and injury and to help heal when injuries do occur. Your dog doesn't have to be an athlete to benefit; Tuf-Foot also helps condition paws to withstand icy terrain, gritty parking lots and Sierra trails composed of abrasive granite. A similar product, Musher's Secret, was developed in Canada for use with sled dogs. It's a barrier wax that's absorbed into the paws, forming a semi-permeable shield between skin and ice. Both products are non-toxic, so your dog can lick to his heart's content.
If you’ve never tried snowshoeing, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is, at least on level terrain. But you’ll also be left wondering how your dog can come with you, given the strict leash laws in many areas and the fact that snowshoeing requires holding a pole in each hand. A hands-free solution lies in equipment intended for skijoring, a Scandinavian-inspired sport long popular in northern climes but just now gaining traction at Tahoe. more »
Ever tried finding a parking place on a bluebird winter day at Tahoe? The obvious spots can be as packed as your neighborhood mall during the Christmas season. But there are ways around the crowds, starting with the plowed parking areas at 18 Sno-Park locations in the Sierra Nevada, most of them in the Tahoe Basin. more »
Bay Area pet lovers and marketing whizzes Susan Brautovich and Virginia Lukkes knew a warm and fuzzy niche when they saw one. Putting their know-how together, they recently launched a coupon deals site with a bark all its own. PetsLoveDeals.com lets customers shop local and at the same time give back to non-profit animal rescue and shelter organizations.
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If you have a digital camera, the world’s your oyster when it comes to personalized gifts. At PersonalizationMall, for example, you can have Trixie’s mug (or just her name) memorialized on everything from Christmas-tree ornaments to coffee cups, bowls, treat canisters and more.
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