Dozens of dog breeders and handlers have descended on Orillia and area and are braving the heat wave this long weekend — all for the love of their dogs.
The Barrie Kennel and Obedience Club’s (BKOC) annual Dog Show is being held at ODAS Park in Severn Township this weekend.
“All the dogs have to be registered with the Canadian Kennel Club to be eligible to enter,” said Judy McArthur, president of the club. “The judges go over and see which dog meets the breed standards. The dog who is the closest representation of the breed standard is awarded best of breed. Then they all compete to represent their group and the one that wins the best representation of all the breeds in the group goes to the Best in Show.”
And this has to be done for more than 450 dogs competing every day of the three-day event, which ends tomorrow evening at 6 p.m.
The event has been around for more than 70 years. It has been held in different locations around the GTA and Simcoe County, but has been held at ODAS Park for the past several years.
“The facilities are conducive to having this type of event,” said McArthur, talking about sticking with the current facility. “It's on grass, there's lots of space for the exhibitors to camp. There are lots of amenities close by and all that Orillia has to offer.”
For exhibitors who choose to stay in hotels, there are even dog-friendly hotels nearby, she said.
Despite all that, McArthur noted, participation has declined over the last few years.
And it’s probably because of the way the economy is going and the rise in gas prices, but there are also several other shows in the same area.
The dogs are typically judged in seven groups: sporting dogs, hound dogs, working dogs, terriers, toys, non-sporting dogs, and herding dogs
Each group has its own requirements. For instance, the sporting dog category requires competing dogs to be especially muscular and well-toned.
Those are some of the standards the golden retriever Stormy Nights Make U A Believer, also known as Magic, has to live up to, said Kim MacDonald, a breeder and trainer.
“You have to teach them to be standing still for the exam and moving nicely on the leash, not pulling you or forging ahead,” said the Oro-Medonte resident. “They need to have an attitude and she loves it. It's the best game ever.”
It requires lots of exercise and discipline, as well as patience, a lot of money and a lot of time, said MacDonald.
But she does it all with a smile.
“I love it; I really do,” said MacDonald. “I love working with the dogs. It's fun.”
She said she likes bringing her dogs to shows and comparing them with other dogs.
“It lets me know where we are in comparison with other breeders, so it's a nice benchmark to make sure you're on the right track,” said MacDonald.
It's also a chance to gather with like-minded people and discuss dogs, she added.
That’s what Cobourg resident Virginia Patten loves about the event.
“It's about meeting with other breeders and networking and letting people know what a good dog personality is like,” she said.
She spends at least seven hours every day training her five golden retrievers.
“It's not about the hours,” said Patten. “I love my goldens. They're a part of me.”
The other aspect of the show is the chance to have your dog take the Canine Good Neighbour test, said Laura Belisle.
“The test demonstrates that dogs can behave well in the presence of other dogs, people, and distractions,” said the Barrie resident, adding the dog earns a CGN certificate by passing the test. “The steps to pass are similar to what therapy dogs with St. John Ambulance go through. So, this can be a stepping stone to that.”
The test can be taken as many times as is needed, said Belisle, but she recommends taking a couple of days between tests to work on the exercises.
Visit the BKOC Annual Dog Show Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/220554275216354/) page for more information.
