Laura Franchi has been in the business of showing dogs for 20
years, but next week she will show her golden retriever at The
Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show in San Francisco for the first
time.
Gilroy – Laura Franchi has been in the business of showing dogs for 20 years, but next week she will show her golden retriever at The Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show in San Francisco for the first time.
The annual dog show will feature nearly 2,000 dogs and more than 135 breeds at the Cow Palace in San Francisco next weekend. This is one of the nation’s most prestigious dog shows, ranking with New York’s Westminster Dog Show. The Cow Palace is a 6-acre arena where the first Grand National Rodeo was held in 1941.
The prestige of the show is what is bringing Franchi and her golden retriever Seven to San Francisco.
“It’s very difficult to finish a golden because of the high number of entries, and you have to beat a lot more dogs in order to obtain your championship,” said Franchi, who will be competing against 62 other golden retriever entrants. Franchi owns multiple title dogs, and has won at the show before using other dogs, and she is confident that Seven will bring her the same success.
This two-day event will consist of judging on both days.
Judges like Pluis Davern of Gilroy will be looking over 158 dogs one day and 135 the next while the audience enjoys the show.
Earning the title of a judge was not easy. Davern said that all judges need to start off as breeders. One of the prerequisites is spending 12 years in the sport of showing dogs, a certain number of litters have to be bred, and a certain number of champions produced from the litters. In addition to that, judges must attend seminars take courses, and go through a testing process. Then, the American Kennel Club will give a provisional license to allow the judging of all breeds. Davern mentioned that getting hired as a judge is accomplished by word of mouth. Prospective judges are not allowed to publicize for themselves. A deep understanding of all breeds is necessary.
Davern’s love for the sport began many years ago as a child in Holland and New Zealand. She began to read books on golden retrievers and finally got one and began training it.
“I was hooked. I bred her to a dog who had done very well in the show ring,” said Davern. “That’s the name of the game, mix and match.” Davern mentioned that one must sort genetically to get the best dog.
Up to 25 judges will be working both days. The American Kennel Club, an organization whose goals are to adopt and enforce uniform rules regulating and governing purebred dog events, states that every dog should be given two minutes for the judging, but Davern said that it takes a bit longer. The handler must set the dog up so it stands nicely so the judge can “go over” the dog. In going over the dog, Davern usually puts her hand under the chin to see their expression. She lifts the lips to count the teeth, measures the ear, runs her hands down the neck and feels the dog’s chest. She pays attention to the length and depth of the rib cage, and feels underneath hair to see what the dog looks like.
“Groomers can make a dog look like a million bucks,” said Davern. For male dogs, she checks if they have two normally sized testicles, feels the tail, the bones in the tail, and the dog has to stand still while the judge goes through this process.
“When they’re in the show, they can show no signs of aggression, and if they are really fearful they will be excused. They have to feel comfortable in the venue, to have them show well,” said Davern. The best dog is chosen through process of elimination.
Bonnie Hong of Hollister began training her dogs for show since they were puppies.
“To prepare them for the show you work with them on a regular basis,” said Hong. This will be her second year entering the Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show. With five Australian shepherds entering she hopes to receive good results.
“We hope to finish their championships an use some of them for breeding purposes,” said Hong, who will be competing against 47 other entrants.
What makes this event unique is the “Bench Show,” where dogs sit on benches to allow the public to interact with the dog and the breeder.
“There only four left in the United States,” said Davern. The dog is on display the whole day, and people come to look at dog and see if they would like a puppy form that particular canine. It takes time and money for a club to put on a bench show and that’s probably why there are so few in the U.S., said Davern.
To enter a dog, first it must be evaluated to see if the dog is good enough to show because not all dogs are for show. Once the dogs are entered through filling out an application, Davern suggests that entrants attend handling classes where you will get information on how to groom your dog, what’s expected by you and how to dress. Two main criteria is trotting your dog across the arena, and standing still while the judges go over them.
“I recommend that people go to a dog show first. If you do that, there’s always brochures or pamphlets that can really help you get started,” said Davern.
This two-day event includes a “best in show” selected each day. Dog “fly ball” competitions will also be held both days.
“It’s a great way to spend a chunk of your life,” said Davern. “That is my life.”
