`It was my first and only dog show,” Chicago-born playwright and filmmaker David Mamet said of the International Kennel Club of Chicago`s annual spring dog show. ”It was all so beautiful. And it wasn`t `doggy.` It was like watching a bunch of serious and enthusiastic people who loved their occupation. There was a lot of love and care. I found it a very beautiful experience.”
The 50th annual Spring Dog Show and Obedience Trials will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Saturday and Sunday at McCormick Place North. More than 2,700 dogs representing 130 breeds will compete in the Midwest`s largest dog show. It is a benched show, meaning all dogs are required to be on exhibit on the benches all day, unless they are in the show ring.
”The International Kennel Club has had a long tradition of always providing Chicago with benched shows,” explained Sheri Johnson, show chairwoman.
”The goal of a benched show, above all else, is education,” she said.
”It can inform people more than any other type of venue. Where else can you go directly to breeders and see 45 different color variations? Spectators are drawn to the benching areas. You can walk up and down the aisles of benching and see dogs being groomed.
”It`s an opportunity to discover how the dogs react to people, and it`s an excellent way for kids to socialize with dogs. Kids get to see what adult dogs look like and learn about the growth process. The exhibitors
participating also are committed to educating the public, because a benched show is a lot of work for exhibitors. We feel we owe something to the community, and the more information we can provide, the better.
”We also feel that the more educated you are, the better your chances are of making the right decision when it comes to buying a dog. When most people think of buying a dog, they usually think of the popular pet store breeds, such as beagles or bichon frises. This show opens up whole new areas of breeds.”
Asking questions
Visiting the show is an ideal way to meet breeders, ask questions and compare answers if you are thinking of buying a dog. When Nancy and Ed Polich recently moved into a house in Uptown, they decided the time was right to get a dog. ”We had narrowed down the type of dog we wanted,” Nancy said: ”a big dog that doesn`t shed, that`s good with kids.”
The ”show was a good chance to see those kinds of dogs, because we saw many more varieties than we would have been exposed to in a pet store. We had always been interested in Airedales, but the Airedales we had seen were not good quality. When we saw the Airedales at the show, we liked what we saw.
”The breeders were not interested in unloading a dog on you so they could make money, but they were really checking us out as adoptive parents for their dogs. I was very impressed with that. I`m also glad I brought my 7-month-old daughter, Elizabeth, because it was a chance to see how she reacted to dogs in general and big dogs in particular. Going to the show helped us feel more comfortable about our decision.”
You don`t have to be looking for a dog to attend the show, of course. Johnson noted that many spectators go just to be around dogs. In addition to the benching area, the show features conformation judging, obedience trials, special events, demonstrations and more than 90 commercial booths, offering everything from dog food to hard-to-find books, equipment and dog-inspired jewelry. Many booths offer free food samples. The prices are competitive with (and often better than) those at pet stores, and the selection is wider.
”Many people attend the show just to shop the booths,” Johnson added.
In the conformation ring, dogs are competing to earn the title of champion. They are evaluated on excellence of physical structure, condition, gait and temperament. As a judge examines each dog in the ring, he is comparing him to a mental picture of the perfect dog of that breed. When watching conformation judging, pay attention, because ring procedure generally is swift and silent.
The obedience trials are easier for the uninitiated to understand, because the dogs are tested on ability to follow a specified routine. The purpose is to demonstrate the usefulness of the purebred dog as a companion of man. It is spectacular to see the willingness with which the dogs perform complicated exercises with precision.
Cindy Bandle of Lincoln Park always had been terrified of dogs. With much coaxing from a dog enthusiast, she attended last year`s show. ”I was completely charmed and fascinated,” Bandle said. ”Absolutely the most fun were the obedience trials. I had never seen them before, and my friend had to drag me away. It was great to see different breeds competing at the same time, and it was delightful to bitness the wonderful relationship between owner and dog.”
Plot a strategy
The best way to enjoy the show is to plan ahead. Arrive early, because the show gets crowded after noon, and try to attend on Saturday instead of Sunday, when twice as many people usually attend. Pick up a schedule of judging. Decide what breeds you want to see judged and what obedience trial classes you want to attend, and plan your day around those activities. Save some time to wander around, shopping the booths and checking out the benching area.
Buy the show catalog, sold next to the admission gate. It is an invaluable guide to ring locations, judging times, benching rows and the judging procedure. It also lists a directory of breeders and exhibitors.
Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for children under 12. Discount fliers are available at many veterinary offices, grooming shops and pet stores. Also, the label from a can of Pedigree dog food has a coupon for $1 off admission.
McCormick Place North is at 23rd Street and Lake Shore Drive. Parking is available for $5 in a large lot right off 31st Street. Shuttle bus service from the lot to the show is provided. Parking also is available under McCormick Place and in the Soldier Field lot.
