Terry McNamee
For the Beaver
Mother’s Day weekend went to the dogs in Napanee as the Maple Leaf Kennel Club held four conformation shows and rally obedience trials over the two days.
Club president Mary Ann Nemisz said last week the show went extremely well.
“The weekend was a huge success,” she said. “We had over 100 entries in conformation each day. Our entries come mostly from Ontario, but we also had entries from Quebec and New York. We did have more entries then last year, but we also offered rally obedience this year which we did not have last year.”
In addition to familiar breeds such as Shetland Sheepdogs, the show featured many breeds not often seen in Canada, as it was held under United Kennel Club rules. The UKC recognizes many breeds and varieties not eligible to compete in the more common Canadian Kennel Club shows, as well as CKC-recognized but very rare breeds, providing an opportunity for visitors and other exhibitors to see dogs with which many people are not familiar. This year’s spring shows included the American Bully, the American Hairless Terrier — which is the size of a Chihuahua, but with no hair — some big breeds like the Presa Canario, unusual colours such as spotted black and white Miniature Poodles, and the rare Thai Ridgeback, which has a ridge of hair growing down the back in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat.
“Some of the (other) rare ones we had were Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dogs, Dogue de Bordeaux, Cane Corso, and also a new breed, Miniature American Shepherds,” Nemisz said. “We also featured a special class to the Maple Leaf Kennel Club called the Canadian Bred Class. Only dogs born in Canada could enter. Everyone was excited about it, and we had a great entry for that as well.”
The show also offered competition for altered (spayed and neutered) dogs, veteran dogs, brace (two dogs of the same breed shown as a pair), junior showmanship for young handlers, and special puppy classes.
Janet Sutcliffe of Napanee discusses show strategy with her beloved 15-month-old Borzoi, Skye, formally known as Kishniga’s Millennium Gal, during the Maple Leaf Kennel Club dog shows in Napanee on Mother’s Day weekend. Photo by Terry McNamee.
The entries from furthest away were both from British Columbia and both named Cooper — a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and a red Miniature Poodle, both visiting Ontario at a time when they could take part in the weekend’s shows. There were also numerous local exhibitors, including Janet Sutcliffe of Napanee who showed her tricolour Borzoi, Skye, Cooper the Poodle’s handler, Cindy McDermaid from Prince Edward County, and one of the companion group winners, Hotrod, a black and white Miniature Poodle handled by Esther Carpenter of Trenton.
Two of the Best in Show awards went to a Whippet, with the other two winners being a Dogue de Bordeaux and an Afghan Hound.
Exhibitors said they liked the relaxed, friendly atmosphere of the shows and the opportunity to compete with less common breeds.
Nemisz said the club encourages new members to join.
“We love to welcome newcomers and junior handlers and help them on their dog show journey,” she said.
The club’s next event is a set of conformation and rally obedience shows on Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14, at Locksley Farm, 3181 Sydenham Rd. in Elginburg. After that, Aug. 3-5, there will be conformation and rally shows at Lepus Farms, located at 64 Goodrich Rd. in Codrington. The final shows will be back in Napanee on the weekend of Oct. 5-6.
For more information, go to the club’s website www.mapleleafkennelclub.com/home