Best In Show

I’m proud and delighted to say that I was asked to present the Best In Show trophy last Sunday at the Ventura County Dog Fanciers Association show--thanks to my being a writer of pet-related mysteries!

One of the show’s organizers sent me an e-mail some time ago telling me that I hadn’t gotten something exactly right regarding shows in one of my Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries. I thanked her, then asked her advice about a situation that I was pondering for an upcoming story, which she very graciously gave. When she asked me to be the presenter, I agreed.

My husband and I arrived at the show grounds in time to meet a really smart Border collie in the parking lot. His owner--servant?--put him through some of his paces, doing everything from turning in the direction indicated to waving. Of course he was there for Obedience trials.

We went to meet my contact in person, and she was delightful! She took us to lunch and introduced us to other show officials and judges. I was thrilled at how friendly everyone was. Some of them knew of my writing, and others didn’t. I enjoyed passing out bookmarks and talking about my writing as well as about the show and all the work involved with putting it together.

Then on to part of the reason I was there: watching the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels being shown! It was so much fun watching members of the breed I’ve owned for years strutting in the show ring. There were so many gorgeous pups that I was glad I wasn’t a judge.

I did ask a judge later, BTW, how she makes her decisions, especially when the winners of the breed shows compete in their group categories. Presumably, each of them is pretty close to their own breed standard. Which one is best? She told me that some of it is, again, looking for the breed standard, and some of it is personal preference. I couldn’t argue with that. How could it be otherwise?

I checked out some of the vendors’ booths, then went back inside to watch the group competitions. Once again, I’d have had a terrible time deciding.

I enjoyed checking out the dogs all over the show. It was fun to see, while the smallest Chihuahua was being shown, there was a huge Great Dane being walked nearby. It was also fun to check out the old, but true, cliché that people often choose dogs that look like them.

Near where I sat, the announcer had his own dog nearby, on a bed on a tall table: a sweet, calm Brussels Griffon, who only got excited when his master took a walk to the far side of the building.

Eventually, each group’s best had been chosen. The Cavalier, unfortunately, wasn’t among them, although she’d placed in the top four in Toys.

Then... the competition for Best In Show! The winner? The Herding Breed group winner--an absolutely adorable Pembroke Welsh Corgi!

And, yes, I was introduced by the show announcer, who gave a wonderful description of my background. Then I got to present the Best In Show trophy, a lovely bowl, and got my picture taken with the pup, the handler, the owners and the judge.

In all, it was a delightful day--especially because of all the really nice, friendly, helpful and instructive people who took part on the show. Thanks to all of you!

Have you ever attended dog shows or other similar kinds of events? Did you enjoy them?

Dog Show Delight

Last Saturday, I visited the Eukanuba National Championship dog show at the Long Beach Convention Center. It was loads of fun, and I’m delighted I was there.

I don’t show dogs--not even my beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. But I admire people who do--who have that kind of dedication to their favorite breed. And I did watch some of the conformation challenges, but I admit I had other primary goals in going.

So why did I attend? Well, for one thing, I was doing some research into dogs I wanted to include in my next Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery. Some of Kendra’s best friends are mixed breeds, but some are purebreds, too. And of course, coincidentally, Kendra’s own pet is a Cavalier named Lexie... just like mine.

Speaking of purebreds, one of the enjoyable things about this show was a booth dedicated to the movie “Underdog,” which will soon be out on DVD. It wasn’t just a plain booth with sample DVDs and movie hype. No, sitting there were a couple of the stars--a beagle who was probably the real Underdog... and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who played his love interest, Polly Purebred. Of course I introduced myself... to the trainer as well as the dogs.

One of the highlights of the show to me was the plethora of other booths, each of which featured a dog breed. I picked up information on several I’m considering introducing Kendra to. And the best booth of all was... you guessed it! The one that featured Cavaliers.

Well, okay, I’m partial. I admit it. But the booth was a work of art. The breeders who staffed it were all dressed in period costumes, possibly from the time of King Charles II, who popularized the little spaniels that were the forerunners of today’s Cavaliers. In the background was a lovely, functioning fountain. And in the front were Cavaliers--one of each of the four colorations--Blenheim (red and white), Tricolor, Ruby and Black and Tan.

I’m not the only one who admired the booth. A lot of attendees stopped and oohed and ahhhed over the pups. And petted them. And probably fell hard for them.

Plus, like the dogs, the booths at the show also were pitted against one another, and the Cavalier booth won in the toy dog category. Definitely well deserved!

I was really happy that I met a few of the really wonderful Cavalier breeders there. I’ve started to contact some by e-mail, and it was helpful to associate names with faces--although I admit that I’m really awful at that and have always been so. That means I probably mistook at least one person for someone else I’d tried to start a correspondence with. Mea culpa!

And why have I tried starting such correspondence? Well, as I reported in earlier blogs this year, we’ve been mourning the loss of our older Cavalier. But I think it’ll soon be time to get Lexie a new Cavalier puppy as an eventual friend... once she gets used to sharing the household again. Okay, I’m projecting here. The pup’s for me, too, and not just Lexie. And for my husband as well, although he’s leaving the quest primarily to me.

I’m finding the search this time a bit difficult, since patience is not my middle name. But I definitely want to go only to reputable breeders who care about their Cavaliers and provide health exams to minimize the health problems that sometimes appear in the breed. I want to make sure people know how to contact me if they happen to have a potentially suitable puppy for me to meet and fall in love with.

Some people reading this may be disgruntled that I’m not considering heading to a shelter and adopting an orphan pup--at least not right now. I understand that, but hope they’ll be understanding of me as well. I’m happy that there are as many opinions about mixed breeds and pedigrees as there are dog lovers. Diversity is generally a good thing.

But I’ve loved Cavaliers for over 30 years, and though each one’s different, I know in general their characters: sweet, loving, cuddly lap dogs. To me, Cavaliers are always winners!

--Linda