County Fair Dog Show participants sit, stay and come
Ally Kendle of Above and Beyond 4-H club shows her Yorkshire Terrier Daisy to dog show judge Kimberly Sneary.
Feeling like tourists for the day, 4-H dogs and their owners took over a corner of the grounds at the Breitenbach Winery near Sugarcreek for the annual Tuscarawas County Fair Dog Show on Saturday, Aug. 25.
Spectators set up lawn chairs in the shade, and some had a barbecue lunch special that was being served on a nearby patio.
The show was held ahead of fair week because of the nature of the dogs. “They are a different species than the animals we have at the fair, and some are distracted easier during the fair. Some dogs have been around farm animals, and some haven’t,” said Carri Davy, an advisor for the 4-H dog projects.
In the 4-H dog program, members teach their dogs to do activities like heel, stop and sit, and come when called. Davy said the hardest exercise to teach a dog is to sit for exam. “Your dog has to sit, and a stranger comes up to touch the dog, and the dog has to sit there,” she said.
Participants taking a dog project met every Monday evening, starting in April and continuing throughout the summer at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds.
In addition to Davy, Jodie Hay and Marcie Dryden also served as advisors to the dog project participants.
The participants competed in two events: showmanship and obedience. The competition was judged by Kimberly Sneary, a professional dog breeder who owns Hangover Chihuahuas. Sneary has more than 40 years of experience as a judge. Points are taken off for extra commands used and if the dog fails to obey a command.
In addition to the show, those taking a dog project had to attend at least 70 percent of the dog training sessions in order to complete their project. All breeds of dogs (mixed or purebred) are eligible to participate and must be at least six months old as of April 15. All the dogs must be up to date on shots and vaccinations and have a current Tuscarawas County dog tag.
Members also must display a poster or educational exhibit in the club’s fair booth to show what they have learned from taking the project. The award winners will be recognized on Sunday, Sept. 16 during the member-recognition program.
Taking the top spots for the day in showmanship were Ally Kendle of Above and Beyond 4-H club in first place with Daisy, a Yorkshire Terrier, and Alyssa Renicker of the St. John’s 4-Hers in second with Cleo, an English Bulldog.
In the Beginner Novice A obedience category, the results were Kendle in first with Daisy; Lydia Raber of the 4-H Pioneers in second with Darby, a Labradoodle; Brianna Clark of the St. John’s 4-Hers in third with Bella, a Siberian Husky; and Autumn Walls of the Country Crusaders in fourth with Roscoe, a Staffordshire Terrier.
In the Beginner Novice B obedience competition, awards went to Renicker in first with Cleo; Audrey Anderson of the 4-H Pioneers in second with Bella, a Goldendoodle; Tiarra Clift of the T-County Critters in third with Tank, a Siberian Husky; and Taylor Clift of the T-County Critters in fourth with Takoda, a Goldendoodle.
As with other animals, the behavior of a dog at a show is sometimes unpredictable. One has to make the best of it.
“It’s a dog show,” Dryden said. “If something bad happens, you’re still taking the best dog home with you.”