A dog-eat-dog world
7,000 uncannily smart canines put their best paws forward at rigorous show
There are good dogs, even great dogs, and then there is Swagger.
Swagger — or Bugaboo’s Picture Perfect, according to his birth certificate — is 107 pounds of hairy, slobbery royalty. The Old English sheepdog from Pennsylvania has won 96 best-of-show titles in his three years, and is gracing Pleasanton this weekend with his drooling presence.
“We saw him at the Garden and we knew right away: He had ‘It,’ ” said one of Swagger’s four owners, Debbie Burke of Pennsylvania and Florida, referring to the famed Westminster dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York. “I can’t describe it. He’s just a winner.”
Swagger is in the East Bay for the annual Harvest Moon Classic dog show at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, which extends through Sunday. He is joining 7,000 other pooches competing for ribbons in obedience, agility, appearance and all-around good-dog-ness.
More than 100 breeds are represented, from corgis to greyhounds to Airedales and beyond —all equally glossy, perfectly behaved and, according to their owners, highly intelligent. These are not the kinds of dogs that eat couches or dig
up vegetable gardens, owners said. One woman even attested that her 140-pound long-haired Newfoundland doesn’t shed.
Competition is intense and judging is severe. A dog can lose points for turning its head slightly toward an interesting smell, of which there are many.
“I’ll just be happy if we’re not disqualified,” said Deena Zeidler, a small business owner from Clayton who was showing her golden retriever, Kona, on Friday. “It’s his first show. He’ll probably get his nose involved in something.”
Some might say “golden retriever” and “obedience” are contradictory terms, but that’s exactly what a 4-year-old champion named Shasta did Friday. She sat, lay down, came and — most impressive — heeled, all at the subtle hand signals of her owner.
“I’ve been working with her since she was a baby. We practice almost every day,” said Shasta’s owner, Sue Stauffer, a retiree from San Rafael. “Goldens are actually the easiest dogs to train, very intelligent. They want to work for you.”
Shasta may have been perfectly trained, but the unofficial prize for cuteness went to a 2-monthold border collie puppy. The honey-colored ball of fur was with Amanda Gross, a dog trainer from Sacramento, who was delivering the bouncy pup to its new owner.
Gross had seven border collies with her at the show on Friday, some of which were hers and others she was handling for breeders.
“I love border collies because they’re the smartest dogs,” she said. “They’re so in tune with their owners, they’re the easiest dogs to train.”
Some dogs have an easier road to the blue ribbon than others. Bloodhounds, for example. Only one entered. But the show had 96 Salukis, a willowy, ancient breed that originated with nomadic tribes in the Middle East.
“We just love this breed. They’re elegant, fast … very intelligent,” said Becky Coulter of Concord, who was showing 2-year-old Khaji.
Her partner, Ed Winters, added: “We’re al- ways amazed he doesn’t have opposable thumbs.”
Not all dogs have fancy birth certificates or coteries of attendants. The show allows mutts, or, as they are called on the program, “All-American dogs” or “Misc.,” to compete in the agility and obedience trials.
One of those was Niko, a 3-year-old Labrador-collie mix rescued from rural Stockton. Niko tried his hand in the obedience arena, but fell just shy of the ribbon when he got distracted by an interesting smell.
It’s not easy finding dog shows that will accept mixed breeds, said Niko’s owner, Susan Solomon, a software project manager from Alameda. Only a quarter or so allow non-pedigree dogs to set their paws on the show grounds.
“It doesn’t matter to me, though. I’ve never owned a purebred. I’m more of an All-American type person,” she said. “Besides, rescue dogs are the smartest.”