Dog show days of summer

More than 500 keen canines of 88 different breeds, along with their no-nonsense owners, crowded into the A.C. Brase Arena Building Saturday to compete in the 88th Southeast Missouri Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show.

The show drew people from 33 states and Sweden, each longing to return home with their dog as a winner, said Bill Busch, show chairman.

"This is really a perfect dog-lover's hobby," Busch said. "It is also a bit of an ego trip if you win."

Each dog competed for three titles: best of breed, best of variety and best of show.

Judges, appointed by the American Kennel Club, evaluated the dogs' body structure, attitude, condition of coat and showmanship ability.

The rigorous judging is just one trial dogs and owners share.

But despite long weekends, costly road trips, entry fees, the high amount of maintenance show dogs require and the infrequent monetary prizes, participants still cannot seem to get enough of the shows.

"I've been going to shows for 30 years and have had six generations of champions," said Jo Ann James, who traveled from Miami to watch the competition. "I just love it."

Dean Hanna of O'Fallon, Mo., said the expenses that surround her dog show lifestyle are offset by her love of her dogs -- Welsh corgis. Hanna spends $80 a week on obedience training classes for the show dog, hundreds of dollars a year on entry fees and thousands more on travel expenses.

One of Hanna's Welsh corgis recently returned from Canada, where he competed in the Canada Kennel Club circuit and was named a CKC champion.

When Hanna's dogs are not competing this time, she is selling stuffed animals as a vendor outside of the dog-show venue in order to compensate for her costly hobby.

"I am trying to figure out how to live around dog shows," she said.

But beyond a love of dogs, many who travel to shows have developed close relationships with each other over the years.

"We go every other weekend to a different show," said Julie Darrow of Nashville, Tenn. "This has given me and my husband new friends and a new life."

Although the cost has taken a toll on Beth Hughes of Memphis, Tenn., she said she would not be willing to give up her dog-show life.

"We're struggling to break even," said Hughes, who rooms with four other owners while on the road to help reduce costs. "I have been showing dogs since I was a kid. It is just something I love to do."

When it comes time for competition, the regulars are all business. Some owners go so far as to hire a professional handler in order to help ensure success.

"My handler has helped dogs win many championships," Hughes said. "She is known as 'the dog whisperer.'"

The judges, who come from all over the country, specialize in specific breed standards, established by the American Kennel Club, Busch said. Also, the AKC mandates that judges cannot work a contest within 200 miles of any venue they have judged 30 days prior to avoid favoritism.

For dogs that did not have their day on Saturday, another opportunity awaits. The 89th annual show is today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

bchapman@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126