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It's show time
Canines compete in Ventura event
By Erinn Hutkin,
ehutkin@VenturaCountyStar.com
January 22, 2005
Blue Tiffany squiggled as she sat on a
table topped by a cloth made of brown fur and bordered by black
lace.
Her owner, Beverly Waid, brushed her, leaving Tiffany's brown
fur long, straight and silky. Tufts of fluff atop her head were
gathered in a ponytail held in place with a pretty, aqua-green
bow.
Waid brushed liquid hair spray onto Tiffany's tresses like
nail polish, lacquering flyaway ponytail hairs in place.
Then it was time for the straightening iron, which got rid of
kinks in fur over Tiffany's hind legs.
"She's not pampered at all," Waid said, wearing a pin on her
lapel where rhinestones spelled "YORKIE."
The pampering and primping, the fluffing and buffing Tiffany
the Yorkshire terrier underwent Friday were preparations for
trotting in the ring at the opening day of the Winterfest
Cluster all-breed dog show. The third annual show runs through
Sunday at Ventura's Seaside Park, attracting 1,500 dogs and 164
breeds.
Many who brought their fluffy and puffy, teased and styled
dogs said they are regulars on the circuit, traveling city to
city and show to show to fulfill both a love of dogs and of a
sport.
"We want to showcase our dogs and breed better dogs," said
Donna Hollingsworth, the show's coordinator.
At the end of each day, one dog stands alone as best in show.
Friday's event was hosted by the Simi Valley Kennel Club,
while San Fernando's kennel club will crown today's winner. The
Ventura County Dog Fancier's Association will sponsor tomorrow's
event.
As the show began, the fairgrounds was filled with everything
from 4-pound Yorkies -- Ewok-colored creatures with a tendency
to shake -- to elongated dachshunds and golden Great Danes that
weigh more than most children.
Dogs were bathed, brushed and braided. There was baby talk,
plus kisses and coos.
Groomers in aprons held doggie paws and brushed and clipped,
practically giving canine manicures. Some tucked blow dryers
under their chins, freeing both hands to brush and groom.
Anita Berg, of Santa Barbara, is a dog-show regular, spending
48 of 52 weekends in a recent year at shows.
On Friday, she showed her Samoyed, Rusty, a descendent of
sled dogs with white, polar-bear fur.
Berg spritzed and dried Rusty with vacuum-style hoses. She
kissed his cotton-soft coat, leaving traces of pink lipstick and
prompting jokes that dog wears more makeup than she does.
"You become weekend warriors in your RV," Berg said as pugs
with curlicue tails and smooshed faces trotted plump brown
bodies into the ring.
When it came to RVs, the parking lot was full. They were
parked with lawn chairs and penthouse-sized dog cages standing
in front.
Charles Bentley came in an RV from Norco with Desi and Monkey
Boy, two friendly Great Danes who weigh over 300 pounds combined
and are the same breed as Scooby-Doo. Bentley joked that his RV
is for the dogs. He said he sleeps in his truck.
Monkey Boy won best in his class Friday, and Bentley planned
to celebrate by taking his dogs to the beach.
"You get to travel a lot of places," he said of shows. "If
you're going to hang out with your dogs, you might as well go to
a dog show."
Meanwhile, as she readied Tiffany the Yorkie while poodles
with puffball fur around their paws and tails daintily pranced
for judges, Waid said showing her dog was a way of sharing the
uniqueness of her animal.
"It's just sort of pride when you do well," she said. |
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