For these Gilroyans, their dogs are more than just pets. They’re
also dog show champions.
More than 20 Gilroy dogs
– including Alaskan Malamutes, Newfoundlands, Miniature
Pinschers, Silky Terriers, Basset Hounds and Keeshondens – are
entered in the 94th annual Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show in San
Francisco this weekend. Why so many? Well, according to dog owner
and breeder Laura Franchi, Gilroy is simply
a great place to own a dog.
For these Gilroyans, their dogs are more than just pets. They’re also dog show champions.
More than 20 Gilroy dogs – including Alaskan Malamutes, Newfoundlands, Miniature Pinschers, Silky Terriers, Basset Hounds and Keeshondens – are entered in the 94th annual Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show in San Francisco this weekend. Why so many? Well, according to dog owner and breeder Laura Franchi, Gilroy is simply a great place to own a dog.
“We have a lot of good dog people down here,” said Franchi, who has been breeding and training golden retrievers for show since 1986. “Maybe we’re able to because we have more land. I like have property here so I can exercise my dogs. That’s not easy to do when you have a tiny backyard.”
Franchi has five golden retrievers at home and spends much of her time making sure their in perfect health and ready for shows.
“You have to keep them well-groomed, well-trained and well socialized. They’re around a lot of sights, sounds, smells and children (at the shows),” she said. “The dogs I’m actively showing get bathed and groomed once a week, training once a week. And I take them with me everywhere.”
Franchi will be showing Charger at this weekend’s show, and another dog she bred for Gilroy owner Doug Fick named Truman, one of the country’s best show dogs, will be shown as well.
Ray and Christy Gonzales, of Gilroy, also will be showing their three Chesapeake Bay Retrievers in the prestigious San Francisco dog show, but their dogs – and their way of prepping them to show – is completely different.
“We hose ’em off, dry ’em and take ’em to a show and the next day we go hunting with them,” she said. “They’re not foo-foo dogs.”
For these dogs, constantly staying in perfect groom isn’t necessary and there is no special hair cut to conform to.
“They just have obedience training,” Christy said.
The Gonzales’ often go to the Central Valley to duck and pheasant hunt with the dogs, which they’ve acquired over the last three years. However, Ray is no longer able to shoot because of a back injury. He just enjoys the company.
“We’re pretty fortunate. If it wasn’t for my back injury, this wouldn’t have happened,” Ray said.
The couple has owned hunting dogs for many years, but Ray’s injury was the reason for getting their retrievers. The first one, Rocco, was given to him as a companion when he had back surgery a year and a half ago, and he got Zeke after another surgery. But the couple never envisioned putting the dogs in shows.
“They’re hunting dogs,” Christy said. “Showing them was secondary. Somebody saw (Zeke) and said that we should show him.”
Zeke won the second show they entered him in and has now reached champion status. The couple then started showing Rocco, who won his first show and is now a champion.
Rocco also does therapy work at Antonio Del Buono Elementary School once a week.
“There’s a young man there that’s earned the right to meet with the dog,” she said. “He looks forward to us coming.”
Last year, the couple got their third retriever, a 4-month-old from the East Coast named Sally, and she is half-way to becoming a champion herself.
And while the world of dog shows can be confusing, Ray said they have received help even from owners of dogs they were competing against.
“People around here have been really helpful,” he said.
Fick also knows about the help he’s received for shows. While he owns a world-class retriever, he doesn’t show Truman – he leaves that up to a professional show person, Franchi, or his girlfriend, Jennifer Taggart.
“It’s confusing at first, but you get it after a while,” Fick said of the shows.
While dogs show in many different categories that include agility and obedience, the part possibly with the most prestige is called confirmation.
Dogs are paraded around and are placed in a stance to be judged. Judges look to find the dog that most perfectly fits the “standard” for the breed.
“Each dog was bred to perform certain functions,” Franchi said.
There are seven classes of dogs, from hunting and herding to toy dogs. Males and females are rated, and the best of each breed is chosen, then the best of each class of dogs. The winners of the seven classes are brought together to determine the best in show.
It takes 15 points, including two major wins, to become a champion. A major win means beating a large number of dogs from the same breed in a single contest. For each victory in the breed category, a dog will earn points. The number of points won is determined by the AKC and depends on the number of dogs competing.
“When you go to a show, that’s what you want is to win: the best breed,” Christy said.
Franchi said keeping a show dog is no different than a regular pet, but to ensure good breeding and a healthy dog she encouraged everyone to purchase a dog through the American Kennel Association rather than from pet stores, which often get their dogs from puppy mills.
“They need to tell a breeder beforehand to make sure the dog is a good fit,” Franchi said.
Information also is available through the Gavilan Kennel Club, which has 41 local members of the club. The club also has its own annual dog show, which will take place in Hollister April 23 through 25.
But, according to owners, it doesn’t matter if you own a show dog or a mutt, it should still be taken care of and receive training.
“Whether it’s AKC of from the shelter, they should be obedience trained,” Franchi said. “Having a ‘good canine companion’ is what we call it.”
For more information about the dog show or to purchase tickets, call (415) 404-4111 or at www.cowpalace.com. For more information about the American Kennel Club, visit www.akc.org.
