BEST OF SHOW

PALMER — It’s all about family, with or without tails.

Cook Inlet Kennel Club’s annual All-Breed Show in Palmer, which concludes today, is a gathering place and reunion site for humans and canines alike. While the competitions are the centerpiece, it’s the camaraderie that makes the event special, according to attendees and organizers alike.

“It’s a great family event,” said Kim Zello of Palmer, who was showing Australian terriers in the breed competition ring. “It also helps dogs and owners develop a special bond with the traveling, training and showing together.”

Zello saw an Australian terrier from Nikiski at another show, which prompted her to bring up a female Aussie terrier. She bred that to the Nikiski dog and Saturday was showing the offspring of that breeding. It was Zello’s third dog show and second time at the Palmer show at the Alaska State Fairgrounds.

While Zello is a relative newcomer to the event, Holly Lewis of Studio North Rhodesian Ridgebacks in Palmer is an experienced dog breeder looking to make a name for her kennel in the Lower 48, too. Her three dogs, all related, were there both for best of breed and lure coursing. Her dog Studio’s Coldfoot Campaign by Freedom, aka “Jade,” won best of breed and a major in lure coursing over the weekend.

Obedience trials and rally trials are also part of the weekend competition.

Lewis said her breed, easily recognizable by the raised line of hair on its back, is notable for its endurance and its intelligence.

“They can go all day if you are out exercising or hunting … or they are very good for holding down the couch all winter,” Lewis said.

“They’re very good guard dogs as well,” added Lewis’ daughter, Amanda Lewis.

According to Jean Hale, a member of the Cook Inlet Kennel Club and one of the volunteer organizers of the event, Alaska has generated several nationally competitive dogs, including Rottweilers and Siberian huskies.Hale has been breeding dogs — boxers — for about 10 years and showing them for about eight.

“We had a couple of puppies that were pretty nice and we just fell into it,” she said. “It’s nice to be around like-minded people.”

At about 750 registered dogs this year, Hale said that is fairly close to typical numbers for the Palmer show. Dog shows, like other events, have been hit by the slumping economy.

“We’d sure like to see more people showing their dogs,” she said.

At 16, Wasilla High student Domonique Hansen already had two Palmer shows under her belt before she stepped into the ring this year. Hansen said she backed into the sport when her mother got a boxer from Hale. They’ve already got a champion in Staffordshire bull terrier Total Recall. This year, she’s concentrating on Phoenix, who is not quite 1.

Hansen said she likes the shows because they allow her to “be with people and one of my favorite animals.”

“My friends from school think it’s really cool to see a thousand pampered dogs,” she said.

While she talks, Hansen casts her eyes toward the next dogs in the ring, Cardigan Welsh corgies. She wants one.

“But I’d keep my Staffie,” she says quickly.

For Hansen’s mother, Jamie Quinn, dogs shows give her a chance to do something fun with her children. Hansen’s 6-year-old sister will start showing dogs as soon as she is old enough.

“It’s a good family sport,” Quinn said, shortly after beating her daughter in the breeder-owner-handler category for Staffies.

As for the corgie, she shakes her head but smiles.

“A herding breed and a terrier might not do well together,” Quinn said.

Events today

Each day is a separate show, so today’s schedule at the Alaska State Fairgrounds will include breed competitions, group competitions and best in show, as well as performance classes, etc.

Beginning at 9 a.m., look for hounds in ring 1, herders in ring 2, nonsporting dogs in ring 3 and working dogs in ring 4; other breeds will take the rings in the afternoon session. Performance classes are concurrent.