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diversions
Dog days of summer
hit CSULB
By Tanya Dellaca
Summer Forty-Niner
Dog enthusiasts
from across the country gathered last weekend at Cal State
Long Beach to compete in various competitions leading up to
Best in Breed.
On Sunday, CSULB
hosted the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills' Division 9 All Breed
Dog Show and Obedience Trial on George Allen Field. The event
included 147 different dog breeds with over 1,800 individual
entries.
"It's the
premier show in the United States," Marion Bradshaw,
a show superintendent said. "It's a beautiful venue that's
appreciated by the dog people."
Judges had also
traveled from around the world to participate in the show,
including Merlin J. Van De Kinder of British Columbia, Canada
and Keith Lovell of Warralul, Australia.
Jack Bradshaw Dog
Show Superintendents, licensed by the American Kennel Club,
supervised the competitions.
The non-profit
kennel club, a purebred dog registry, approves over 13,000
events yearly and is a resource for first-time and experienced
owners.
Together, Marion
Bradshaw and her husband Jack Bradshaw III, run the family-owned
business. "This is the fourth generation," Marion
said. "All of our children are currently active in the
shows."
The dogs compete
for points toward the championship through the process of
elimination. The entrants are judged physically on their teeth,
muscles, bones and coat texture. Judges also observe the dog's
profile and how the animal looks in motion.
During the display
process owners and handlers use different techniques to entice
their dog's best performance. Some owners use squeak toys
concealed in their pockets, while others tickled their dogs
under the chin and tail to achieve the best poses.
Contestants accumulate
points by placing in various competitions. .Once a dog accumulates
15 points from three different judges, the dog receives the
title of AKC Champion of Record. The dog then advances to
compete for Best of Breed.
"The purple
and gold ribbon, that's all we want," said Lynn Olds,
owner of Ruckus, a Chinese Shar-Pei. "That's the top
award."
The event also
included seminars on dog handling, breeding and grooming techniques.
"It's a lot
of work to get ready for a show," said Leslie Simis as
she combed Scotty, her champion Standard Poodle, on the forehead.
Vendors and club
booths were on hand to provide hand-made gifts and information
to show guests.
Another competition
will be held this weekend at Shoreline Park in Long Beach.
For information, call Jack Bradshaw Dog Show Superintendents
at 1-323-727-0136.
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