pet connection

My wakeup call rang at 5:45, but I slept in another 20 minutes, which was almost a mistake. I arrived at the Cavalier ring by 7 and just snagged the last chair at ringside. Thirty-five Cavaliers are entered, judged by Edd (with two Ds) Bivin. He lines them up in catalog order, takes a look at the whole group and then splits them up. Sending the first batch around the ring, he admonishes them to “just walk, not to hurry.” Good for him. Handlers can hide a multitude of sins when they speed a dog up. Every judge I’ve ever interviewed is annoyed when it happens.

There are three Rubys and three or four tricolors, but the rest are Blenheims. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a black and tan in the ring.

I love my ringside seat. I can hear the judge’s instructions and the banter between spectators and the handlers who are waiting for their dogs to be examined. I learn that there are three Best-in-Show winners in the ring. One of them is Ch. Pinecrest Rock the Boat (Rocky), owned and handled by Ted Eubank. He plays and laughs with Rocky as they wait. It’s suggested that Ted probably kisses Rocky more than he does his wife. “Don’t say that in front of her,” he says. When it’s his turn, Rocky turns regal as he gaits around the ring.

I’m interested to get a look at Ch. Covington Paydirt (Dirt) because I’ve interviewed his breeder, Heidi Mohn, for a couple of articles. I saw him at the Eukanuba show, but I was sick then and didn’t stick around long. Dirt is handled by Bruce Schultz, whom I know primarily as the handler of Susan Hamil’s Bloodhounds, but he has many breeds in his string, including Dalmatians, Australian Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, Border Collies and Dachshunds.

Junior handler Julia Johns is showing a cute tricolor puppy, and of course Janet York is here with one of her trademark tricolors. A tri wearing a lavender satin blanket waits outside the ring until the next batch is called in.

Bivin is decisive, and the judging goes quickly. His final cut includes Rocky, Dirt, Versace (bred and co-owned by Cathy Gish, who’s sitting next to me), plus seven other dogs. Dirt is a young dog, but apparently this showing biz is old hat. He yawns as Bivin gives him a last look. Rocky twirls for Ted while they wait their turn. #34 walks away, stops to scratch, and almost falls over.

Rocky wins and #7, Ch. Orchard Hill Where’s the Party, takes Best Opposite Sex. Awards of Merit go to Dirt, Versace, Janet York’s dog, and #38, a very pretty Ruby.

In a few minutes, the press room will host a Swedish Vallhund so we can learn about the breed, and later today we have the opportunity to meet a show dog/seizure dog.