Best in Show – By Chris Sander R.V.T.

I have been very blessed to have had many experiences with showing a variety of animals, including horses, sheep, beef cattle and of course dogs. Showing dogs being the most amount of work, but the most rewarding.

I grew up in a household that was active in dog sports with our Siberian Huskies. My mom mostly trained/worked in the Obedience ring, she also dabbled in Sledding and some Conformation (ie Dog Shows). By the way, Dog Shows are not completely like the movie “Best In Show”, but my husband does have two left feet like Eugene Levy’s character! My mom was the person who not only was my inspiration, but encouraged me. I spent many hours at the Hamilton Obedience Club in the 70’s and 80’s watching the dogs being trained. It was like an extended family! My mom used to quiz me on the different dogs breeds and general information.

My first competitive dog was a Black Miniature Poodle named “Eddie”. She was the smartest and most independent dog I’ve had the privilege to work with. Eddie was capable to training and competing in multiple sports at once, with just a change in her collar and lead, she was able to switch from Conformation to Obedience, Agility or Flyball. Agility was her favourite, she loved to jump! My favourite has always been the Conformation Dog Shows. Preparing a Standard Poodle for a show requires hours of work…clipping, bathing, blow drying and scissoring, as well as the daily maintenance grooming and training/conditioning. I was on a waiting list for over 18 years, before I got my first Scottish Deerhound “Piper”, grooming went from hours to minutes!

Agility, Flyball, etc are also fun, but Dog Shows make me more emotional, watching a well trained dog moving around in the ring is breath taking to me. I literally will sit on the edge of my seat when watching Dog Shows like Westminster or Crufts and my family knows that I’m just as vocal watching them on TV as when we watch the FIFA World Cup. Neither of them can hear me yell through the TV! For those clients that remember “Piper” she was a great example of a Scottish Deerhound, she had a mellow and loving temperament, very quiet (couch potato) in the house and a speed demon outside. She used to, not intentionally, intimidate the Standard Poodles. “Twister” thought that if he stood still, she would not charge or run into him!

“Piper”was actually related to GCH Foxcliffe Hickory Wind, who was Best In Show (BIS) at Westminister Dog Show in 2011; she was the first Scottish Deerhound in history to win! No matter what breed or what sport, purebred or mix, dog sports are like a family community, supporting each other and making new friends and catching up with old ones.

My family and I are are looking forward to when we can start showing again, especially allowing spectators. If you every see “Breeze” and me at the Dog Shows, feel free to come by and say “Hi”