Lisa Bowers showing Champion My-
Ida-Ho Look 'N For Trouble, "Abby"

Dog Days

On The Road Again

By Destiny Robertson

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During the winter, I had the privilege of travelng with handler Lisa Bowers to a weekend dog show in another state. Bowers, of Oklahoma City, breeds and shows American Cocker Spaniels. And she does it very well, having finished (titled) over 10 this past year.

For her, the trip starts early–Friday afternoon, loading the vehicle. Getting all the equipment–crates, pens, tables, leashes, food, water, clothes–to fit, is like putting a puzzle together. Once we were on the road, I could sense she was preparing herself: summoning the energy, perseverance and patience needed to drive oneself, to travel far from home, eat dinners out, sleep in a different bed and endure the rigors of the show. I also learned a lot.

Do you know the real purpose of a dog show? It's to evaluate breeding stock. To be eligible to compete, a dog must be registered with the American Kennel Club, be at least six months of age, be of a breed for which classes are offered at a particular show, meet any eligibility requirements in the written standard for its breed, and the dog must not be spayed or neutered, because, after all, the purpose is to breed.

The AKC was established in 1884 to promote the study, breeding, exhibiting and advancement of purebred dogs. The organization approves and maintains the official records of over 15,000 sanctioned events each year. All-breed shows involve seven groups: sporting, non-sporting, working, herding, hounds, terrier and toy. Bower's Cocker is in the sporting group.

Watching the handlers and dogs perform is a beautiful sight, combining excitement with suspense. It takes a lot of effort to reach that point. The handler has to keep the dog in top physical condition, clean and well groomed. The coat, teeth, muscles and bones must be just right. And the handler has to train the dog to respond. That requires a bond between them, a connection that allows them to feel confident in the ring.

There's much a handler must know. She must be completely knowledgeable of the breed and its standards to know how to show the best side of the dog. And a good handler is can emphasize the dog's best qualities, while minimizing the faults.

Saturday morning starts early for us, 5 a.m. And with an extra surprise–a ton of snow to clear off the car before we can leave for the show grounds. Once there, Bowers starts to work: putting her dogs on the table, combing, brushing, attending to last minute details. She has finished enough champions to know how to trim the dogs with special cutting scissors and other tools to best compliment their structure and lines.

Then, it's showtime–a process of elimination with Best of Breeds advancing to compete for the top honor, Best in Show, at the end. Bowers wraps a number around her arm and steps into the ring. There, you witness her professionalism–her perfect timing and the way she stacks (positions) her dog. She has no more than two minutes to impress the judge.

In the ring, the judge is THE expert. And he's looking for the dog that comes closest to being perfect, according to the official standard. He'll examine each, checking teeth, muscles, bones and coat texture. Then, he asks the handler to gait the dog so he can observe the movement (FYI: the official written standard for each breed is maintained by the breed's national club and is included in a book published by the AKC called The Complete Dog Book).

On this day, the judge points to Bowers. With a big smile, she accepts her blue ribbons and the necessary points to call it a great day. The awarding of points is based on the number of entries. The greater the number, the higher the points, ranging from one to five. Each dog receiving an award also gets a ribbon. The color of the ribbon indicates the type of award, and there are lots of ribbons: blue for first place, red for second, yellow for third, white for fourth. Then there's purple for the top winners dog/winners bitch; purple and white for reserve winners; blue-white for the dog that takes Best of Winners; purple-gold for Best of Breed; red-white for Best of Opposite Sex; and the ultimate–red, white and blue for Best in Show. A dog can become Champion of Record once it has achieved 15 points, including two major wins (wins of three, four or five points) awarded by at least three different judges.

Sunday morning arrives, and you can feel the enthusiasm building. Again, Bower's expert style and finesse in handling delivers a major win. And handlers, like her, are accessible to the spectators. If you attend a show, visit the grooming area. Many are cordial, as Bowers was with me when we first met. She didn't make me feel out-of-place or in-the-way, and she answered all my questions. Here's some more hints from what I learned along the way: wear comfortable shoes; arrive early or bring a chair; and even though it's tempting, don't touch or pet the dogs without permission.

You can also find information on classes for agility and obedience, along with catalogs, books and supplies. Attending a show is the best way to learn and understand what's involved. It's also a good way to have fun and make new friends.

Certainly, I made one in Bowers. As we start the drive home, she doesn't seem to mind that home is hours away. Already, she's thinking about the next show.

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