BEST IN SHOW: NO BONES ABOUT IT

Madison Township purebred event a doggone success

"Everybody knows everybody. It’s like a family. — Sugarbush member Sue Sprague

Donna Francis has always been crazy about dogs.

The 73-year-old Chardon Township resident started out working in a kennel, began showing dogs in the 1970s (one of her huskies won the National Specialty) and is now a successful breeder.

She once co-owned the topranked dog of the year out of all breeds with comedian Bill Cosby and ran a seven-dog Siberian Husky sled team.

Francis is also a sought-after judge, traveling to dog shows all over America and in countries including Russia, China, New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland and Norway.

“I judged Westminster in 2006,” Francis recalled. “I judged herding dogs during the day. It was a little nerve-wracking. There were constant parties! I had three floor-length gowns.”

On Aug. 26 and 27, Francis was one of the judges in the Sugarbush Kennel Club Conformation, Obedience and Rally Summer Shows held at Bill Stanton Community Park in Madison Township.

An estimated 800 dogs in 134 different breeds or varieties were entered in the show, a national owner-handled series. The annual event has been held for more than 30 years — the past two at Stanton Park. It was also previously held at the Chagrin Valley Polo Fields in Moreland Hills.

The Sugarbush Kennel Club is

located in Geauga County. Meetings are open to anyone interested in the sport of purebred dogs as demonstrated through American Kennel Club events.

“Everybody knows everybody. It’s like a family,” Sugarbush member Sue Sprague said. “I used to show my rottweiler years ago and did herding.”

The weekend dog show attracted handlers from all over the country hoping to win awards while having fun with their animals.

New York city resident Tara Darling’s dog, Violet, won a second place obedience award the first day of the event. Violet is a sussex spaniel. “There are only 700 sussex spaniels in the country,” Darling said.

Francis, who bred corgis for decades before moving

“We all come together for one thing — to educate the public about the betterment of purebred dogs.” — Chardon Township resident Donna Francis

to dandie dinmont terriers from Scotland, also serves as the Sugarbush Kennel Club secretary and co-chairman of the dog show. Francis said she was pleased that this year’s show had 170 more dogs than last year’s.

“We all come together for one thing — to educate the public about the betterment of purebred dogs,” she said of the Sugarbush group.

“Dogs just don’t have to be pretty. They also have to be purposeful.”

TRACEY READ — THE NEWS-HERALD Chardon Township resident Donna Francis grooms Clive Kessler, a dandie dinmont terrier she bred, Aug. 27 at an all-breed dog show at Bill Stanton Community Park in Madison Township. The dog is owned by Chris and Ralph Whitman of central Michigan.

TRACEY READ — THE NEWS-HERALD New York city resident Tara Darling competes Aug. 27 in an all-breed dog show at Bill Stanton Community Park in Madison Township with her rare sussex spaniel, Violet. The dog won second place in the beginner novice obedience category.