Weekly Grist Gallery, February 5, 2011
A plethora of pooches
Every year, in the the week before Valentine Day – and the vaunted Westminister Dog Show, the Southeast Arkansas Kennel Club puts on The Sweetheart Dog Show at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. The event normally attracts 900-1,000 dogs accompanied by their showdog crews. This year, Mother Nature's recent onslaught of frozen precipitation kept about half of the normal crowd at home. Here are a few of the ones who braved the elements to do their showdog thing, along with one beagle who did not make the show, but steals other shows. See the stories and pix that gave rise to this gallery at Corndancer dot.com and Weekly Grist for the Eyes and Mind.
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Sno, a three-year-old Samoyed yawns as Patty Sontag of Mountain Home, Arkansas goes grooms her in preparation for their turn in the ring. Everthing worked to perfection, Sno copped the "Best of Breed" ribbon.
Brenda Moore, a dog handler from Texarkana USA works on Memo, an Australian Shepherd. Memo's owner lives in New York. The owner sent Memo to Brenda in July of 2010 for what appears to be an extended visit. Both seem pleased with the arrangement.
Christine, a year-old Yorkshire Terrier, AKA "Yorkie," has four hands working on her coiffure. The humans belonging to the hands are Toni Buendpner and Geri Jarolim.
Geri Jarolim, (left) is the dog holder as Toni Buendpner puts the finishing touches on Christine's "do."
Fran Griffis, a Yorkie breeder from Benton, Arkansas works on Lilly who should win the Fu Man Chu look-alike competition for Yorkies. Lilly takes it all in stride.
Despite the sinsiter appearance here, Lilly is loving the attention. Her neighbors cast envious glances in the background.
The final product, Lilly is ready to rock and roll.
One of Lilly's entourage looks at her neighbor and says "bitch!" The statement is true, the intent is still up for grabs.
Donna Crookham of Benton, Arkansas applies the flat iron to Breezy another member of the Yorkie neighborhood at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
This Clumber Spaniel gets a blow-drying session from Terry Smith of Beebe, Arkansas. Like a fool, I neglected to ask for the name of the hairy spaniel.
Terry and Unamed see who will blink first.
This is Potsy, a girl Russian Wolf Hound, who competes in the show obedience competition. These dogs are recognizable by long skinny heads. They could dang-near eat a dog biscuit out of a Coke bottle.
This Doberman Pinscher won Best of Breed. His owner says he is a big baby and loves everybody. He also loves the limelight.
More of Mr. Best of Breed.
Casey, a Cardigan Welsh Corgi likes his job according to his owner, groomer, trainer, handler, Lori Kopreski of Sherwood, Arkansas. Kopreski recently moved to Sherwood from East Burne, New York and says she loves it here in the Natural State. She has shown dogs since 1962.
Casey hams it up for the camera with his best Corgi face.
Beau, a Wire Haired Pointing Griffon cast a wary glance down the concourse as his groomer/handler, Megan Lane of Little Rock, Arkansas. Beau had his own cheering section off-camera including his owner Chris Schaefer. All dogs and humans from Little Rock.
Beau, up close and personal. Despite his concerned appearance, he was in good spirits and ready to blow the judges away.
Say hello to Boom, a well-behaved seven-month-old Corgi. Boom is receiving special attention from his main human, Becky DuBose of Canton, Mississippi.
Boom and Becky smiled for the camera. Boom, polite southern gentleman that he is, appears to be saying "Thank you."
Say "ahhhhhhhhhh!"
This is Demi (as in Moore), your friendly neighborhood Akita from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A kiss is just a kiss. Here Demi applies said gratification to her human, Donna Benett of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Donna is a verteran attendee at this show and says she, "loves it." She and Demi had to traverse some treacherous? interstate highway conditions to make the show.
Magnum and friend
This is Magnum and either Kane or Honey. They were paying close attention to "Momma," Marsha Walden of Walden Kennels of Glenwood, Arkansas.
Marsha Walden and Honey work on some of the finer points of show-dogging. Marsha's dogs outweigh her by better than a ratio of two-to-one.
Marsha Walden working with Magnum. A serious breeder for more than 24 years, Marsha sums up her attitude on her web site, "My dogs aren't just breeders they are my life and they are part of the family. My house is their house and if you don't like wet slobbery kisses you might not want to visit."
You are looking down the bore at Tank, a Cane Korso, sometimes called the "Italian Mastiff." Tank makes our 105 pound Rottweiler look anemic.
Tank and his owner, trainer, traveling compainion, groomer, and handler, Martin Herman of Stamps, Arkansas.
More of Tank. I asked Martin Herman why he settled on Tank. He said he had been experiencing some break-in problems. Once Tank was on the scene, the problems stopped, Martin observed, adding that, "the last one who broke in did not stay long."
Elvis, a good ol' American Coon hound.
More of Elvis
Elvis sticks his tounge out at the camera. After all, he'd rather be treeing coons, an activity, his owner says, is one in which the dog reslishes.
A group of enthrusiatic Akitas and their handlers wait their turn in front of the judges.
Marsha Walden and one of her charges.
Two Walden friends.
This bulldog would be right at home in Athens, Georgia, home of the Georgia Bulldogs.
Reckon he wants to be the next "UGA?"
Bella Donna Star, the reigning beagle in the residence of my good friends W. L. "Pat" and "Dangerous" Darlend Patterson. It is rumored, but not confirmed that she is a descendent of the world -famous "Snoopy."
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