Dog days

Newton Kennel Club hosts 64th annual dog show, By Jordy Clements Augusta - Most average dog owners are probably as familiar with competitive dog shows as they are with the turn-of-the-millennium niche comedy, “Best in Show.” But for some, the competitive conformation show represents a storied tradition of breeding and handling excellence that dates back much further than the satiric spoof. This past weekend, the Newton Kennel Club hosted its 64th annual dog show on the Sussex County Fair Grounds. The NKC staff braved rough weather brought in by hurricane Ernesto, while playing host to dog breeders from across the eastern seaboard. As always, the event was free to the public and helped to kick off a four-show weekend, beginning with two shows at the fairgrounds and closing with two shows held in Morristown, sponsored by the Sussex Hills Kennel Club and Schooley’s Mountain Kennel Club, respectively. More than just an event for the top dogs, the HKC invited judges to host numerous competitions before culminating in each day’s Best in Show winner. To take home Best in Show honors, a dog first has to be crowned best male or best bitch in its breed. Following this, a dog competes against its breed in the opposite sex before taking on dogs in one of the seven classes. Of the seven class winners, only one can be said to most accurately conform to its breed guidelines, gain the Best in Show ribbon and take home the points on its way to being called a champion dog. For dogs that may not be ready for this grueling schedule, the NKC also hosted what’s known as a “fun match.” A fun match has more lenient age restrictions and does not award points towards a dog’s champion status. Instead, dogs gain valuable competition experience and a chance for handlers to learn a dog’s strengths and weaknesses. While a fun match might seem a jog in the park, dogs are judged just as seriously to prepare them for the many tough shows they might encounter as adult show dogs. As one handler commented, being a professional breeder and handler can be something of a “gypsy lifestyle,” with many competitors and their dogs logging more than 30,000 miles a year between competitions alone. Numerous ribbons, trophies, points, and prizes were given out during the NKC’s four day weekend, and some dogs finally became champions. But for those competitors who don’t dream of the top prize at the Westminster Dog Show or the Eukanuba National Championship, their Best in Show was surely little Rover the Retriever or Spots the Dalmatian. Dog owners who wish to get involved next year can visit the American Kennel Club’s Web site at akc.org to register their dog. Such competitions are open only to pedigreed dogs in recognized breeds.